Is Trump wrong? The history lesson that could defeat Yemen
The article argues that sporadic American strikes against the Houthis will not bring about change, and offers a historical lesson from the United States' wars against the Barbary Muslim states in the early 19th century. The author compares the Houthis to a de facto state called 'West Yemen' and calls for a total policy including a naval and aerial blockade, economic boycott, and political isolation, similar to President Thomas Jefferson's policy.
The article, published on Walla! News, argues that sporadic American strikes against the Houthis, as considered by President Trump, will not bring significant change to the arena. The author offers a historical lesson from the United States' wars against the Barbary Muslim states in North Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He describes how Muslim pirates from four states (Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco) attacked American ships, and Presidents Washington and Adams were forced to pay tribute. President Jefferson changed policy, built a navy, and imposed an effective naval blockade, leading to the release of prisoners and the renunciation of tribute within 15 years. The author claims that the Houthis are essentially a de facto state called 'West Yemen', with a government, foreign policy, and army. He calls for a total policy including a naval and aerial blockade, economic boycott, and political isolation, while stopping all international aid to the region's residents. The author criticizes Western policy, which he says leaves Saudi Arabia alone in the campaign, and calls on the US, Europe, India, and Arab states to adopt an approach similar to Jefferson's.