Saudi Arabia stuck in Yemen quagmire: Commentator

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Sleboda, a political commentator in Moscow, to discuss the ongoing Saudi military aggression against Yemen.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: I am wondering, at this point, how do you feel about this war? It is well now into its third month.

Sleboda: Yes, it is well into its third month. We have seen so far, according to the UN, at least 2,000 Yemenis dead as a result of it. The number may be much greater; other sources put the number [at] as high as 4,000. We are seeing starvation beginning to set in as food is blocked by Saudi, the US and its axis of allies for their attacks on Yemen. And the one airport that is able to get aid in according to the UN is continually being bombed by Saudi Arabia once again.

But all of this has come… for it very little results because the Saudi puppet Hadi, who was driven out of the country some months ago, has no support, very little support on the ground. So even despite the massive airstrikes, they have been able to recover essentially no ground; in fact the Houthis have advanced in several places. The only other faction that has gained ground is the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which are very active on the ground; and the end result of Saudi Arabia’s bombardment of Yemen may be a growth in al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in Yemen.

Press TV: So, what you are describing, Mr. Sleboda, is that this obviously is not going well for the Saudis. How much longer do you think they will hold on? Will they be forced into a political solution of some sort?

Sleboda: I think that they have reached a point where they are beginning to realize that this American idea of warfare from above to achieve political results on the ground is completely ineffective. Saudi Arabia should have already realized this. They have interfered militarily in Yemen before, and each time previously it has ended disastrously for them. They have hesitated at the brink and have not sent the ground forces they have collected from them and their axis of allies into Yemen because that would only lead them further into a quagmire.

However, what we are seeing now is desperation, a continuation of airstrikes because they have nothing else to do. To back down now would be a tremendous humiliation for them and to engage further would be disastrous as well. So they are left with bombing as the lesser of evils as far as they are concerned at this point.

Press TV: We just have like a few minutes left Mr. Sleboda. I am wondering what would a political solution look like because many people say that Hadi does not have any legitimacy left?

Sleboda: Yes, I would have to agree to Hadi. Hadi has a little legitimacy to begin with. He was a US- and Saudi-installed puppet in an election where there was no other candidate. This is the façade of democratic process. He had very little support to begin with. During his brief time in power, that support lessened even further; and because of the Saudi-backed war to reinstall him on his behalf by bombing the country in this submission, that support has eroded even further.

I do not see a political settlement in the near future that will satisfy anyone. The Houthis have repeatedly offered a power-sharing government. They have offered a political settlement of all sorts. It has always been rejected by Hadi and his Saudi backers.

I do not know what a political settlement looks like at this point and I do not think anyone knows what a political settlement in Yemen will look like for years to come unfortunately.

AHK/HJL

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