Mark Weber: Saudis enjoy US support in military campaign against Yemen

Press TV has interviewed Mark Weber, California-based director of the Institute for Historical Review, to discuss Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against Yemen.

A rough transcription of the interview follows.

Press TV: The Saudi aggression started on March 26, way towards the end of July now. Are you at all surprised that it has continued this long?

Weber: No, not at all. The air campaign by Saudi Arabia is continuing because there is nothing to oppose or resist this continuing campaign. It is important to remember, of course, that Saudi Arabia has this air power, because it is the most important ally of the United States and it has been well supplied for many years with the most modern warplanes, bombs and other logistical equipment for this, and the campaign is being carried out with the support of the United States.

Press TV: Right, also let us not forget that Saudi Arabia continues to claim that it wants to bring back the government of the former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, but considering how almost the infrastructure of Yemen lies in tatters, what does Hadi hope to rule once this aggression ends?

Weber: The more that the conflict continues and even escalates and carries on, the more difficult it is going to be to have any kind of peaceful political resolution of this terrible conflict. I would stress that one important reason why the attacks almost certainly will continue is that the American media and American politicians have been almost entirely silent about the Yemen conflict and the Saudi role in it and as long as it has the backing of the United States, Saudi Arabia will continue this campaign and therefore making a political and peaceful solution all the more difficult.

Press TV: Saudi Arabia, internally, does face a lot of problems as well, specifically its budget shortfalls. Can it continue this aggression indefinitely without these cracks appearing from within?

Weber: That is difficult to say. Yes, there are a lot of cracks within the Saudi society and government. This has been papered over for a long time, but the conflict in Yemen and the - you might say - discontent throughout the region and unhappiness with what Saudi Arabia has been doing has been growing and it is anyone’s guess just how long Saudi Arabia can continue to do this.

One of the most important aspects of it is Saudi Arabia is almost alone in its close relationship with the United States, because most of the region rejects this kind of relationship with the United States and, of course, an implicit relationship, support or alliance with Israel.

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