I agree with our President that we should disengage and choose different methods to influence that region.
You are incorrect about Yemen: control of Yemen means control of the Suez Canal - which means the main supply line to Europe is severed - and brackets the Saudis and Egypt. Iran knows what it has been doing and we have to help find some way to solve this. The Saudis have been doing a horrible job of it.
Yemen has had an interesting although rather underappreciated role in international affairs over the centuries. As you say, control of Suez and the Red Sea is important. I don’t have the impression that SA is doing much in Yemen with ground troops. Is that true? Engaging in Syria would certainly give their military a different kind of experience than just bombing cities in Yemen.
From reading Simon Winchester’s book Krakatoa, I could see the subtle influence Yemen had in Islamic affairs. After the Haj to Mecca, Indonesian Muslims went to Yemen where training and preparation was made for rousing Muslims in Indonesia to overthrow the Dutch because the volcano showed that “God” no longer supported them. I wonder how many other Muslim related international situations have had a genesis or an assist from Muslim forces residing in Yemen. More info would be good. If, in fact, agitators have been traveling from the Haj in SA to receive training and advice in Yemen, this would certainly help explain their interest in controlling Yemen.
There were at least 2 pretty major wars over the Suez. There is no way that Yemen is going to get away with any kind of blockades no matter how much support they get from Iran.
As for Yemen, perhaps my dismissiveness in the post has to do with my great distaste for the war SA has been waging there, with our support. I get it, I understand the basic issues at hand. But it’s been barbaric. I am glad Trump told the Saudis to knock it off. The 5th fleet will take care of the Canal if Yemen were to try anything, and iirc I believe part of the 7th fleet is stationed across the strait in Djibouti along with a squadron of F-15s and other attack craft.
Yeah I do tend to write longer. I type fast, and throw a lot of stuff into some posts to get a reaction from someone - anyone! LOL. In my 20th Year of the Freep, where has the time gone?