In February of 2021, less than a month after taking office, President Biden and the State Department decided to no longer designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This is what Antony Blinken said in a statement at the time:
Effective February 16, I am revoking the designations of Ansarallah, sometimes referred to as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended.
This decision is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. We have listened to warnings from the United Nations, humanitarian groups, and bipartisan members of Congress, among others, that the designations could have a devastating impact on Yemenis’ access to basic commodities like food and fuel. The revocations are intended to ensure that relevant U.S. policies do not impede assistance to those already suffering what has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. By focusing on alleviating the humanitarian situation in Yemen, we hope the Yemeni parties can also focus on engaging in dialogue.
It couldn't be more obvious that this administration has emboldened terrorists, and U.S. Central Command has the latest example of how Biden & Blinken's "just don't" strategy is going:
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were… pic.twitter.com/Rjkzng5LxW
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2023
Here's that full post:
In the early morning hours of December 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.
Weak leadership invites this kind of thing and puts our servicemembers at risk.
In case anyone is counting USS Carney shot down 14 Houthi armed attack drones today in the Red Sea. https://t.co/rXiLrwFVDn
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) December 16, 2023
How many were launched is not known.
Recommended
The O-Biden foreign policy: leading from behind.
— American Made (@Brain_Pwr) December 16, 2023
This "strategy" has Obama written all over it.
If @POTUS continues to treat the Houthis as a mere pest rather than an Iran-backed terror group freely attacking global shipping, people are going to get killed. https://t.co/pbBcLdfORI
— Andrea Stricker (@StrickerNonpro) December 16, 2023
All this comes as Team Biden has decided to take a tougher rhetorical stance... on Israel's efforts to eliminate Hamas:
As pressure to rein in the Israeli military mounts, President Joe Biden this week seemed to signal that his patience is running out and that he won’t put up with an indefinite Israeli bombardment of Gaza that leaves the enclave in ruins.
Nations that have backed Israel in its war with Hamas are souring on the Jewish state over its “indiscriminate bombing,” Biden cautioned at a fundraising event Tuesday.
Remember what things were like before Biden took office? This White House is hoping we don't.
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