Oh shit, I think I actually know this one...Shi'a* Muslims believe that Mohammed designated his son-in-law as his religious successor** while Sunni Muslims believe that he didn't have anyone formally in mind for that role. While an incredibly forced analogy, think Roman Catholics believing that Jesus went so far ad to designate Peter the first pope, while many Protestant sects eschew any form of rigid hierarchy.
*I may have them reversed, but I'm pretty sure it's the Shi'a who go with son-in-law dude.
**A significant number of Muslim scholars believe Mohammed saw his daughter as his theological heir but, ya know, she was a chick so . . . ::shrug emoji::
Thanks for a clear, concise rundown of the issue. Sounds like the Houthis "support" Gaza the same way transphobes "support" cis women by deminising trans women.
"Billions of years from now, when Earth is hurtling toward the Sun and there is nothing left alive on the planet except a few microorganisms, the microorganisms living in the Middle East will be bitter enemies."
From 25 things I have learned in 50 years by Dave Barry
When w hathisname name said "Never get involved in a land war in Asia," he was thinking of Viet Nam but the memo applied to the middle-east as well. Nobody there is our friend.
i did a production of Romeo and Juliet (i was neither) in Rockford IL. all the streets had the same number, like 120th. i wondered at the time if they had run out.
Fun fact: coffee was invented in Yemen (disputed by Ethiopia though) and at some point in the past it was death penalty for taking coffee plants outside of Yemen.
I worked with a guy from Yemen. He’d sent his son to visit his parents there and the civil war boiled over; the young man had to be airlifted to Germany I think, getting home to the U.S. must have been quite the adventure for him although it’s an adventure he shouldn’t have had. Yemeni guy is very proud of his country and says Sana’a is beautiful and there are lovely beaches. I am partial to the candy castle buildings there (or at least were there). That’s all I’ve got; a human, instead of geopolitical angle. I’ve eaten his Mom’s cooking for heavens sake.
The Saudis are trash that have been bombing and killing civilians in Yemen for years now often with the specific blessing of our governments past both Democratic and Republican.
The Houthis are trash that are now fucking around and finding out.
Hamas is trash that butchers and rapes and murders innocents.
Likud is trash that bombs and maims and murders innocents too.
Our government is sometimes trash that sells the other trash people the means to kill innocent people or sometimes blows up innocent people for the benefit of corporations or trash kingdoms.
I wish a very specific divine pox on all of the guilty.
In the interim, OHJB protecting shipping and innocent sailors is probably one of the least trashy things the United States has done in the region so far.
Joe never gets credit for ending the grinding combat between the Yemeni government in exile and the Houthis. Yemen is divided these days with the Houthis controlling Sanaa and the north while the STC, Southern Transitional council controls Aden and the south. There is oil in various parts of Yemen and I have no idea who has what oil. The attacks on boats are absurd and seem more like a pirate move than any political statement.
The STC is not the recognized Yemeni government, though. It's a UAE-backed militia, separate from the recognized government.
Plus, google searches tell me there's bits of territory controlled by both ISIS and Al Qaeda. Memorably Donald Trump defeated the former, yet somehow they still control territory.
The STC is an alliance of a number of groups including the exiled Yemeni admin. I don't think ISIS or Al Qaeda control much of anything now. They were scattered by the war. They haven't regrouped and all sides in Yemen want them out.
Did some field work in Yemen years ago, pre-unification, back when it was North and South Yemen. Wild country. Lots of blame for the continuing misery. Failed British colonialism, proxy conflict during the Cold War, tribalism va secularist-socialist. Throw in some adventurism by Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. Add a bit of petro-corruption and there you are.
Ooo ooo do the difference between Sunni and Shiite next!
Oh shit, I think I actually know this one...Shi'a* Muslims believe that Mohammed designated his son-in-law as his religious successor** while Sunni Muslims believe that he didn't have anyone formally in mind for that role. While an incredibly forced analogy, think Roman Catholics believing that Jesus went so far ad to designate Peter the first pope, while many Protestant sects eschew any form of rigid hierarchy.
*I may have them reversed, but I'm pretty sure it's the Shi'a who go with son-in-law dude.
**A significant number of Muslim scholars believe Mohammed saw his daughter as his theological heir but, ya know, she was a chick so . . . ::shrug emoji::
Copy and save this one: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Why do I get the impression that alotta people are being told, "No supper until you've killed someone."
I genuinely appreciate you clarifying this issue that I am embarrassed to say I didn’t know enough about to be confused about
Where does one find these potluck orgies, asking for a friend.
Thanks for a clear, concise rundown of the issue. Sounds like the Houthis "support" Gaza the same way transphobes "support" cis women by deminising trans women.
"Billions of years from now, when Earth is hurtling toward the Sun and there is nothing left alive on the planet except a few microorganisms, the microorganisms living in the Middle East will be bitter enemies."
From 25 things I have learned in 50 years by Dave Barry
No ham, sir, nor bucket. It was a basket of prime rib.
When w hathisname name said "Never get involved in a land war in Asia," he was thinking of Viet Nam but the memo applied to the middle-east as well. Nobody there is our friend.
Customers (Saudi Arabia), clients (Israel) or spots to park those missiles (USAF Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar).
I have cousins in one family whose names all start with 'D'. I don't know why. Why did Iran name all their militias to start with 'H'?
It's the Middle Eastern version of the suburban USian "Kayden, Jayden, Brayden" thing, except they are all named "Slayden".
i did a production of Romeo and Juliet (i was neither) in Rockford IL. all the streets had the same number, like 120th. i wondered at the time if they had run out.
I think you were actually in Queens.
Fun fact: coffee was invented in Yemen (disputed by Ethiopia though) and at some point in the past it was death penalty for taking coffee plants outside of Yemen.
I worked with a guy from Yemen. He’d sent his son to visit his parents there and the civil war boiled over; the young man had to be airlifted to Germany I think, getting home to the U.S. must have been quite the adventure for him although it’s an adventure he shouldn’t have had. Yemeni guy is very proud of his country and says Sana’a is beautiful and there are lovely beaches. I am partial to the candy castle buildings there (or at least were there). That’s all I’ve got; a human, instead of geopolitical angle. I’ve eaten his Mom’s cooking for heavens sake.
Would that we ALL had only human angles.
I want the Yemeni people to be happy, well-fed and prosperous. They're the ones who grow those coffee beans I like!
And barely get any rain.
The Saudis are trash that have been bombing and killing civilians in Yemen for years now often with the specific blessing of our governments past both Democratic and Republican.
The Houthis are trash that are now fucking around and finding out.
Hamas is trash that butchers and rapes and murders innocents.
Likud is trash that bombs and maims and murders innocents too.
Our government is sometimes trash that sells the other trash people the means to kill innocent people or sometimes blows up innocent people for the benefit of corporations or trash kingdoms.
I wish a very specific divine pox on all of the guilty.
In the interim, OHJB protecting shipping and innocent sailors is probably one of the least trashy things the United States has done in the region so far.
I don't think.there are any good guys in the Yemen conflict and the citizens are targets for both sides.
A pithy and correct analysis.
OK, first of all "potluck orgy" is why I am here, folks. Now, to read the actual article.
Joe never gets credit for ending the grinding combat between the Yemeni government in exile and the Houthis. Yemen is divided these days with the Houthis controlling Sanaa and the north while the STC, Southern Transitional council controls Aden and the south. There is oil in various parts of Yemen and I have no idea who has what oil. The attacks on boats are absurd and seem more like a pirate move than any political statement.
The STC is not the recognized Yemeni government, though. It's a UAE-backed militia, separate from the recognized government.
Plus, google searches tell me there's bits of territory controlled by both ISIS and Al Qaeda. Memorably Donald Trump defeated the former, yet somehow they still control territory.
The STC is an alliance of a number of groups including the exiled Yemeni admin. I don't think ISIS or Al Qaeda control much of anything now. They were scattered by the war. They haven't regrouped and all sides in Yemen want them out.
Did some field work in Yemen years ago, pre-unification, back when it was North and South Yemen. Wild country. Lots of blame for the continuing misery. Failed British colonialism, proxy conflict during the Cold War, tribalism va secularist-socialist. Throw in some adventurism by Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. Add a bit of petro-corruption and there you are.
" Failed British colonialism, proxy conflict during the Cold War, tribalism v. secularist-socialist."
The litany of Original Sins that are the sources of the political quicksand of the whole region.
Pretty much the worldwide status quo during the Cold War.
That Peter Gabriel song is playing in my head.
That looks like an AOT,K program for conflict...
Thanks for the background...