The dysfunction of US #Yemen policy all rolled up into one staggering piece of journalism. Some key additional points for context:
1. The winning argument- that failure to certify endangers arms sales- is not only depraved, it's also leg affairs malpractice. Congress now doubts Sec Pompeo's good faith and any administration efforts to improve things in Yemen. That makes them MORE likely to block sales
2. Without naming names, some of the bureaus that advised against certification have consistently supported the US policy of mid-air refueling. That's as recently as a few months ago and throughout the Obama administration. HUGE shift.
3. No discussion in @DionNissenbaum story about how Sec. Pompeo was advised on the certifications other than civilian casualties. It's equally scandalous that the US certified that KSA/UAE are improving hum situation & reducing delays in secondary clearance/inspection mechanisms
...and wouldn't be at all surprising if the same bureaus that are finally owning up to the lack of progress on civilian casualties aren't willing to expose the policies and behaviors that are doing the most work to drive and sustain the world's largest humanitarian crisis
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