It does take will to put down pirates. It also takes a strong Navy and Marine Corps. Previous regimes have so mismanaged our fleet and stretched our forces with unnecessary foreign commitments. I’m not sure we even have all the right tools. We’ve been using $500,000 missiles to shoot down $1,000 drones. We’ve been so embarrassed in the last year by this tribe of barefoot, toothless heathens, it’s starting to reflect on our world standing. I say we sit this one out for a year and get our forces properly equipped and trained. Then come back and set things aright.
I like where you're coming from, but taking out launching sites is not the answer: the Houthis must be eradicated, which means taking out power, water & ports and let time do the rest.
I may not fully understand the complexities of the situation, but the Houthi problem seems like low hanging fruit.
Granted, the Saudis and Emiratis put a lot of effort into it and have not a lot so show for it. However, at a time when the new administration is establishing street cred in the world, this is a particularly important issue.
I would think that the laser focus of the US with some very local, but very violent, actions could as a minimum successfully send the same message as of yore: "Do not mess with the US."
If I in the White House, I would authorize cruise missile strikes targetting Houthi leadership. Take the top five or six off the board and see who's willing to continue this thing.
The Saudi and Emirati militaries aren't up to snuff. They were involved in ineffective action against the Houthi when I was a Second Class on a boat trying to stay awake for the midwatch. They have fists of steel, but feet of clay.
Human behavior 101: You get more of what you reward, less of what you punish. Sort of a high end example of "The art of the deal"...As noted prior, it takes will and a strong Navy and Marine Corps. Don't make empty threats, state the acceptable conditions and the penalty for non-compliance, and punish violations promptly and violently. FAFO in a nutshell.
The Houthis are sales agents for naval ship and missile contractors and the Red Sea is a nice place to send NATO-member ships and crews for training and career development.
How many Ukrainian drone-operators can we rent for a month or two, to wipe out the Houthi general staff? I'm assuming that American drone-operators are a year or two behind in state-of-the-art dronage.
What's the going exchange rate for Houthi rebels to sunk commercial ship? If the U.S. were on top of its game, guessing 1,000,000 to 1. That might stop the problem. Islam only understands force.
Currently the 26th MEU part of a Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in and or around the Red Sea area of contention. This is the latest info the writer could develop, typically (you all may know this already) the MEU is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with MARSOC capability. Roughly 2400 Marines are in a MEU. That the ARG/MEU is even out there is a miracle, and the Corps is facing elimination as a branch of the US Military due the actions of the 38th and 39th Commandants of the USMC. We currently do NOT meet Title X statutory mandates and the 26th MEU is likely held together with sealing wax and baling wire. That said, it is also equally likely that there is a Presley Neville O'Bannon onboard one the vessels in the ARG. We just need to let him loose!
Start by seizing the island off the coast of Yemen. Seize the airport and if we can’t then destroy it. Those things should have done on day one but Lloyd was out sick.
We saw the impact of Israel’s determination to crush Hamas and Hezbollah. Time for us and the Europeans to demonstrate resolve.
It does take will to put down pirates. It also takes a strong Navy and Marine Corps. Previous regimes have so mismanaged our fleet and stretched our forces with unnecessary foreign commitments. I’m not sure we even have all the right tools. We’ve been using $500,000 missiles to shoot down $1,000 drones. We’ve been so embarrassed in the last year by this tribe of barefoot, toothless heathens, it’s starting to reflect on our world standing. I say we sit this one out for a year and get our forces properly equipped and trained. Then come back and set things aright.
A squadron or three of B-52 bombers, flying abreast, scattering cluster munitions liberally over Houthi launching sites, should do nicely.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
A single B1 can carry 84 500 lb GP bombs.
That sounds about sufficient.
If it's not, a B52H can carry 70,000 pounds of mixed weapons... Best use the Bone, however: Just in case the Houthis have some half-assed ADA
I like where you're coming from, but taking out launching sites is not the answer: the Houthis must be eradicated, which means taking out power, water & ports and let time do the rest.
They seem to have banned cluster bombs. But that would be a solution until they rose up again.
The U.S. is not a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, so bombs away!
I don't believe they are to poison gas either but try to use them and the Euro's will scream like women.
Not signatory doesn't mean it can be used.
"he Euro's will scream like women."
Is there any other way, for the Euros?
Eh. Cluster bombs are quicker.
So is Mustard gas and VX.
I used to know of a specific igloo in the Anderson AFB bomb dump with lots of Cluster Bombs.
Are we willing to inflict the necessary collateral damage?
Some of us are.
I am.
It's Yemen. Any such 'damage' is best considered civilization-building
Sometimes you have to destroy before you can build.
Pretty much always: Even a lean-to, you need to get the rocks off the footprint.
It doesn't need to drag out twenty years and then a disaster retreat.
I may not fully understand the complexities of the situation, but the Houthi problem seems like low hanging fruit.
Granted, the Saudis and Emiratis put a lot of effort into it and have not a lot so show for it. However, at a time when the new administration is establishing street cred in the world, this is a particularly important issue.
I would think that the laser focus of the US with some very local, but very violent, actions could as a minimum successfully send the same message as of yore: "Do not mess with the US."
If I in the White House, I would authorize cruise missile strikes targetting Houthi leadership. Take the top five or six off the board and see who's willing to continue this thing.
It's not like the current incumbent hasn't done that before.
Wouldn't take more than one or two to get their attention.
Nope. It will take boots on ground. I only wish we had a combined arms expeditionary Naval force to do the job.
I believe that's called a MEU.
If we remove the people collecting the money from the chain, that may reduce the motivation of those shooting
The Saudi and Emirati militaries aren't up to snuff. They were involved in ineffective action against the Houthi when I was a Second Class on a boat trying to stay awake for the midwatch. They have fists of steel, but feet of clay.
Human behavior 101: You get more of what you reward, less of what you punish. Sort of a high end example of "The art of the deal"...As noted prior, it takes will and a strong Navy and Marine Corps. Don't make empty threats, state the acceptable conditions and the penalty for non-compliance, and punish violations promptly and violently. FAFO in a nutshell.
Big stick first. Then speak softly.
Is he as crazy as they say he is? Do I feel lucky today? Well, do I?
The lessons of the Danegeld are unfortunately easily forgotten.
I would say something here, but Kipling said it better.
https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_danegeld.htm
I was just copying it to paste it in. Hats off, sir.
This needs to be printed off and hammered to the doors of the NSC.
He most often did
The Houthis are sales agents for naval ship and missile contractors and the Red Sea is a nice place to send NATO-member ships and crews for training and career development.
The correct solution then--and now--is to go ashore and exterminate the problem.
Stomp them into nothingness. Make it clear that you do not threaten us.
Right. You can't say you're serious till you send in the infantry.
With fixed bayonets.
^ The correct solution, to be sure, Captain, but were I ordering troops ashore to exterminate, extirpate, expunge all vestiges of piracy, I wouldn't leave it to chance that the shore party fully appreciated the scope of the order. They might spell out the requirement for fire & brimstone, buckets of bleach, tons of salt, and hog carcasses down the wells. Add another verse to the Marine's Hymn. What rhymes with Houthi, Aden? " ...♫When the Marines come ashore all toothy...The grins will be gone from the Houthi...Just you watch what's happenin' in Aden...With all that piracy a-fadin'. " ©
Gosh. You're much more poetic than I;)
the Magic word is "Disproportionate"
No, "PROPORTIONATE", as The Fat Electrician put it.
The Houthis need to learn that the wages of that sort of behavior is death, applied swiftly and violently.
The Wages of Sin is Death.
Stanza 6: https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_copybook.htm
Rudy the K was a most observant and wise man.
Houthis want to be martyrs. Let’s help them achieve their goal.
Indeed!
How many Ukrainian drone-operators can we rent for a month or two, to wipe out the Houthi general staff? I'm assuming that American drone-operators are a year or two behind in state-of-the-art dronage.
What's the going exchange rate for Houthi rebels to sunk commercial ship? If the U.S. were on top of its game, guessing 1,000,000 to 1. That might stop the problem. Islam only understands force.
Heh! learned those songs when I was in fifth grade many, many moons ago:
"For quarters, for quarters!"
The saucy pirates cried..........
......The quarters that we showed them
Was to sink them in the tide "
Good song, great lyrics, best practice
Proud to be part of that other song..... "from the shores of Tripoli" group, too.
Semper Fi
Perhaps it is time to conduct a punitive raid against known sites. There must be information about them.
Stephen Decatur wouldn’t make it past O3 in Admiral Lisa’s navy.
Yes, but a mustered out LT Decatur would never want for a free burger and beer at any VFW.
I will buy him a steak and champagne
Where are the Marines?
At least a few Marines are at the border, down south of San Diego. It's a start.
At 29 Palms doing vertical envelopment & bayonet drills?
Currently the 26th MEU part of a Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in and or around the Red Sea area of contention. This is the latest info the writer could develop, typically (you all may know this already) the MEU is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with MARSOC capability. Roughly 2400 Marines are in a MEU. That the ARG/MEU is even out there is a miracle, and the Corps is facing elimination as a branch of the US Military due the actions of the 38th and 39th Commandants of the USMC. We currently do NOT meet Title X statutory mandates and the 26th MEU is likely held together with sealing wax and baling wire. That said, it is also equally likely that there is a Presley Neville O'Bannon onboard one the vessels in the ARG. We just need to let him loose!
Start by seizing the island off the coast of Yemen. Seize the airport and if we can’t then destroy it. Those things should have done on day one but Lloyd was out sick.