Yemen re Iran - False Accusations, False Testimony, False Reports, Fake News & Iran Vilification

ꕤ Article SOURCE Gareth Porter Independent Investigative Journalist / Historian US National Security Policy Link | Source "How False Stories of Iran Arming the Houthis Were Used to Justify War in Yemen" Thursday, 31 December 2015 10:42 By Gareth Porter, Truthout | News Analysis Independent Investigative Journalist / Historian US National Security Policy Link | Source Summary March 2015 Bombing campaign initiated by Saudi Arabia + Gulf allies + US support Rationale for Saudi-led war on Yemen: Houthis portrayed as merely proxies of Iran Houthis allegedly armed by Iran (for years) allegations repeatedly echoed in press allegation not proven yet allegation REINFORCED by UN experts report UNSC PANEL OF EXPERTS - REPORT REPORT UN Security Council from:  Panel of Experts established  pursuant to Security Council resolution 1929 (2010) Link | UNSC Panel of Experts Report Report dated:  1 June 2015 Salomé  Zourabichvili (Coordinator Panel Experts) Mowaffaq al-Refai (Expert) Jonathan Brewer (Expert) Christian Kessler (Expert) Chunjie Li (Expert) Thomas Mazet (Expert) Kazuto Suzuki (Expert) Elena Vodopolavoa (Expert) RESULTS REPORT -- concluded Iran shipping arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen -- allegedly by sea, since at least 2009 HOWEVER -- investigation of x2 main allegations re arms by Yemen govt -- & cited by expert panel -- shows both allegations "CRUDELY CONSTRUCTED RUSES" -- President Saleh govt of Yemen -- claimed vessel (Mahan 1) seized Yemen waters Oct 2009 -- & that weapons found on-board (& Iran crew x5 convicted) WIKILEAKS CABLES 2010 -- (from US Embassy in Yemen) REVEALS -- 'arms onboard' was concocted by Yemen government -- US cable of 11 Nov. 2009 reported to WA that: -- Yemen govt failed to substantiate public claims -- cable stated:  'sensitive reporting' -- (ie US intelligence reports) -- convey that SHIP WAS CARRYING NO WEAPONS AT ALL -- given US knowledge, Yemen govt began changing story -- (subsequent US cable notes) --  Yemen changed story to: --  ship empty, so arms must have been delivered -- Article says, Pres. Saleh, Yemen -- hoped to use Iran arms story to get political support of US -- for war against Houthis (planned 'Op Scorched Earth') YEMEN ARMS - MASSIVE MARKET -- local arms market massive -- directly from Yemen military itself -- would explain where Houthis get arms from 2013 - JIHAN 1 (SHIP) -- seized Jan 23, 2013 -- arms on-board (true) -- but story of arms shipment from Iran is false -- joint patrol: Yemen Coast Guard & US Navy -- intercepted Jihan 1 ship -- cargo:  portable SAM (& misc. multiple other) -- weeks later, UN expert panel inspects arms seized -- 'Ministry of Sepah' labels found on arms boxes -- ie of former Iranian military logistics ministry -- but no evidence connecting this to Iran -- all crew & businessmen who arranged shipment from Yemen -- no evidence for manufacture in Iran -- allegations centred on testimony of Yemen crew -- but GPS evidence not cited by panel -- (as match for crew story) -- panel claimed it had no info re location of loading of arms WEAPONS UNDER DIESEL FUEL TANKS -- weapons hidden under diesel fuel tanks -- weapons could only be accessed after tanks emptied -- report fails to discuss the significance of this fact -- ie points to Yemen origin of arms 2013 - REPORT UNSC MONITORING GROUP -- on Somalia & Eritrea -- says Jihan 1 crew divulged to diplomatic source: -- ship headed for SOMALIA -- confirmed by unnamed Yemen official -- not disclosed to UNSC expert panel -- (per UN Monitoring Report) SOMALIA -- destination Somalia -- Jihan 1 commercial smuggling / not politically motivated -- smuggling diesel fuel from Yemen to Somalia - lucrative -- long-standing combo smuggling arms / Yemen to Somalia -- Somalia outlawed fuel import b/c of arms smuggling -- UN Monitoring Group report -- reveals series of arms shipments to Somalia (late 2012) -- before Jihan 1 seized -- similar weapons main Jihan 1 shipment -- report from Somalia (& own UNSC Monitoring Group) -- Yemen = source of weapons -- key evidence:  Bulgaria govt to UN Monitoring Group -- stating rocket propelled grenade rounds + other -- seized in Somalia -- Bulgaria made & delivered to Yemen armed forces 2010 Going by info in UNSC Monitoring Group Report -- arms on Jihan 1 belong to Yemen arms smugglers -- Yemen govt exploited the situation, after transit busted -- Yemen govt concocted the Iran story -- Yemen govt had Yemen crew feed UN panel concocted story UNSC Monitoring Group Report -- re Somalia & Eritrea -- problematic re concocted anti-Iran story -- Yemen govt Western backers put a new spin on the story -- Reuters quoted 'Western diplomat' -- claimed Iran supplying al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia -- noted C-4 explosives -- (used by al-shabaab terrorist bombings but not Houthi MO) -- claim not credible b/c -- al-Shabaab = close ties to al-Qaeda (enemy of Iran) -- story only reported in pro-Saudi & pro-Israeli media Yemen govt concocted 'Iran arms' on Jihan 1 story +  recycled UNSC expert panel report =  key, widely accepted narrative re Iran in Middle East SOURCE Gareth Porter Independent Investigative Journalist / Historian US National Security Policy Link | Source ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT As the source states no reproduction without permission, I've tried to summarise the article rather than copy over & mark up, like I do. Not sure how I went with summary.  I'm sure I've covered everything, but it's probably not hugely different from the original. Anyway, there it is.  That means the bombing of Yemen and the vilification of Iran is based on false claims, fake testimony, fake reports, fake news stories and fake anti-Iran spin.  Wow. ꕤ