Yemen, Syria suffering from US, Saudi intervention: Scholar

Press TV has conducted an interview with Wahid Azal, an independent scholar and political commentator from Berlin, on the Saudis’ constant bombardment of Yemen despite agreeing  to a truce to hold UN-brokered peace talks in Switzerland.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Looks like despite the UN-brokered ceasefire that is in place, the Saudis have increased their airstrikes on the Yemenis, what was the point of talks in Switzerland, when none of the requirements have been met? And we’ve seen this before. It doesn’t really come as surprise anymore.

Azal: Well, this is typical Saudi behavior to buying time. I mean, look since March this intervention began, this Arab [Persian] Gulf coalition, that involves – Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE – have carried out constant indiscriminate airstrikes despite calls by the UN and attempted brokered peace, it continues unabated.

I mean, Amnesty International reported that back in September the Saudi coalition was even targeting schools in Yemen. So, this is as usual as far as the Saudis are concerned.

Press TV: Not only schools; schools, hospitals, infrastructure and unfortunately 7300 people being killed since the violence started. How do these constant violations of the truce undermined the UN as world governing body?

Azal: Well, the issue is this. This conflict in Yemen can end tomorrow, if the United States puts its put down and told its client petrodollar kingdom, Saudi Arabia, to quit it. It’s very simple.

But the fact of the matter is that we have US special forces operating on the ground, helping the Saudi coalition. And the American drones are flying over Yemen and providing intl. to the Saudis. So, this is farce. This is just basically buying time.

Press TV: What is the likeliness of an end to the bloodshed in Yemen? Do you think there is any hope of peace and stability finally being restored in that country?

Azal: God willing, but like I said unless the United States puts its put down, which doesn’t seem to be and want to do it. It will be in long haul with this one.

Press TV: We’ve already being hearing about different rights organizations, Amnesty International for example, all of them standing up criticizing what’s going on in Yemen. We also heard about the United States condemning, as far as I remember, but we’re not really seeing any serious action being taken that will yield result.

Azal: Well, this is the same situation in Syria, I mean, these two situations are nearly identical and both of them have Saudi and American involvement. So, it’s basically the same situation in another part of the Middle East.

Press TV: So, do you think it’s Saudi Arabia not obeying orders or has the US weakened as world power?

Azal: I don’t think American power cares anymore about international law or even the perception of implementing it. And this is why we have these conflicts even though you have sound bites from politicians condemning the status and the other things.

Where it matters on the ground, they don’t really care. I mean, because basically the arms dealers are making money and American foreign policy is attaining its goal of continuing to fuel the chaos in the region.

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