Biden Should Be Ashamed of His Treatment of the UAE

by Con Coughlin

• "After the terrorist designation was lifted, it is clear the Houthis believed they could resume their terrorist operations because no one was prepared to stop them." — A senior Gulf security official, to the author.
• Emirati leaders have publicly called on US President Joe Biden to reimpose Washington's terrorist designation against the Houthis, a move Gulf officials say would ultimately disrupt Iranian attempts to supply the rebels with sophisticated weaponry.
• In addition, Washington should also pay heed to the Emiratis' request, and that of other oil-rich potential targets in the Gulf, for enhanced defence capabilities to counter the Houthi threat.
• At the very least, therefore, the Biden administration should make amends for its ill-conceived decision to lift the terrorist designation against the Houthis, and provide the Emiratis with the sophisticated weaponry they require to defend themselves against the deadly threat posed by the Iranian-backed rebels.
• The continuing escalation by Iran and the Houthis is -- as most likely is their intent -- threatening to destabilise the region. If they are not stopped, and quickly, the Biden legacy, along with its catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan, will consist of appeasing and emboldening groups that draw on terrorism -- for instance the Houthis, the Palestinians and possibly the Taliban -- as well as hostile regimes, including Russia, China and Iran.
• The Biden administration should hang its head in shame over its February 2021 decision to lift the terrorist designation imposed on Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, in the wake of the deadly attacks launched last month against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of Washington's key allies in the Gulf.
• Ever since US President Joe Biden made his controversial decision to lift the Houthis' designation as a terrorist organisation shortly after he took office last year, there has been a marked escalation in the Houthis's terrorist activities.
• Gulf security experts say the Houthis have increased their attacks against the Saudi-led coalition, of which the UAE is a key member, since the terrorist designation was lifted. These have included the use of missiles and drones supplied by Iran, which has emerged as the Houthis' main military backer.

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