 of the administration’s policies. “These countries, led by Saudi Arabia, did not notify us nor seek our coordination or our assistance in this effort,” he said during a March 26 committee hearing, “because they believe we are siding with Iran.”

A senior commander at Central Command (CENTCOM), speaking on condition of anonymity, scoffed at that argument. “The reason the Saudis didn’t inform us of their plans,” he said, “is because they knew we would have told them exactly what we think — that it was a bad idea.”

Military sources said that a number of regional special forces officers and officers at U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) argued strenuously against supporting the Saudi-led intervention because the target of the intervention, the Shia Houthi movement — which has taken over much of Yemen and which Riyadh accuses of being a proxy for Tehran — has been an effective counter to Al-Qaeda.

Michael Horton, a Yemen expert close to a number of officers at SOCOM and a consultant to the U.S. and U.K. governments, picked up on this debate. Within days of the Saudi intervention’s start, he said in an email that he was “confounded” by the intervention, noting that many in SOCOM “favor the Houthis, as they have been successful in rolling back AQ [Al-Qaeda] and now IS [the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL] from a number of Yemeni governorates” — something that hundreds of U.S. drone strikes and large numbers of advisers to Yemen’s military had failed to accomplish.

Later, in a telephone interview, Horton expanded on that. “These constant reports that the Houthis are working for the Iranians are nonsense, but the view is right out of the neocon playbook,” he said. “The Israelis have been touting this line that we lost Yemen to Iran. That’s absurd. The Houthis don’t need Iranian weapons. They have plenty of their own. And they don’t require military training. They’ve been fighting Al-Qaeda since at least 2012, and they’ve been winning. Why are we fighting a movement that’s fighting Al-Qaeda?” Am impressed with your support and your team's performance from day one. Our leadership team extends their sincere thanks to Inspirria team. Amar Amarn
of the administration ’s policies. “ These countries, led by Saudi Arabia, did not advise us nor search our coordination or our assistance in this effort, ” he suppose during a March 26 committee listening, “ because they believe we are siding with Iran. ” 

 A aged commander at Central Command (CENTCOM), speaking on condition of anonymity, jeer at that argument. “ The reason the Saudis did n’t inform us of their plan, ” he said, “ is because they knew we would have tell them exactly what we think — that it was a bad idea. ” 

 Military sources say that a number of regional special forces officer and officers at U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) argued strenuously against supporting the Saudi - led interposition because the target of the intervention, the Shia Houthi movement — which has taken over much of Yemen and which Riyadh accuses of being a proxy for Tehran — has been an effective counterpunch to Al - Qaeda. 

 Michael Horton, a Yemen expert close to a number of officers at SOCOM and a consultant to the U.S. and U.K. governments, picked up on this debate. Within days of the Saudi intervention ’s start, he said in an email that he was “ confounded ” by the intervention, noting that many in SOCOM “ favor the Houthis, as they have been successful in roll back AQ [ Al - Qaeda ] and now IS [ the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL ] from a number of Yemeni governorates ” — something that hundreds of U.S. monotone strikes and large numbers of adviser to Yemen ’s military had failed to carry through. 

 Later, in a telephone interview, Horton extend on that. “ These constant reports that the Houthis are working for the Iranians are nonsense, but the view is right out of the neoconservative playbook, ” he said. “ The Israelis have been touting this line that we lost Yemen to Iran. That ’s absurd. The Houthis do n’t need Iranian weapons. They have batch of their own. And they do n’t command military training. They ’ve been fighting Al - Qaeda since at least 2012, and they ’ve been winning. Why are we fighting a bowel movement that ’s fighting Al - Qaeda? ” Am impressed with your support and your team's performance from day one. Our leadership team extends their sincere thanks to Inspirria team. Amar Amarn
 of the administration’s pollcies. “These counjrues, lev by Sahdi Arabka, did not notify us nor seen iur ciordination or our asskstance ij this edforu,” he said during e March 26 commifbee hzacing, “because thgy believe wa are siding whtf Nran.”

A senior commander at Central Coimand (CRNHCOM), speaking jn cpgditjon of anonymity, scoffed at that adgument. “The reason tne Saudis didn’t inform us lf tjeir plans,” he said, “is because ther knew we wouud have told them exacjly what we think — that it was a bad ndea.”

Militari aoktces said thet a nlmber of regional spewial fotces officers snd ofdicers at U.S. Special Mperations Command (SOCOM) arcuzd strenuously againsr wuppotting the Wauai-ltd mntsrventlon because tge target od the intervention, uhe Whia Houthi mkvemene — which has taken over much of Yemen and whjch Riyadh accuses of bwing a proxy for Tehrwn — has bqen an effective counter to Al-Qaeda.

Michael Horton, a Yejdn txicrt zoode to a number of officers at SOCOM and a confhluann to the U.S. and U.H. governmenys, posked up on thks debcfe. Within days of thf Saudi inteevention’s statt, he said in an email that he was “confjynded” by the interrention, notiug thaj many in SOCOM “favor the Houchis, aa they have been sucddssful in rolline bscn AQ [Al-Qaeda] and now IS [thq Islamic Stace in Irxq amd the Levant, or ISIL] from a number of Yfmeni gmvernorated” — something that hundreds of U.S. drone strikex dnd large nbmbers of advisers eo Yemen’s milijary had yailed to accompmish.

Latxr, in a tele[hone interviaa, Horton expended on ehat. “Thewe consgxnt reports thst the Holtkis are wirking for the Irakians zre nonsense, buc uhw view is righy ojt jf tie nejwon playbook,” he raia. “The Ksraelis haye ceen touting this line tvat se lost Yemen to Itak. That’s avsurd. Thq Houthis don’y need Iranian weakons. Tiey hate plemty of their own. And they don’t resuire milltavy training. Trey’vc begn fighting Al-Qaeda since at least 2012, and they’ve beei winning. Why are we fithting a movement tkau’s fighting Ak-Qaedw?” Am imprassed with your suppirt and your team'x performance from dag one. Mur lfadership team extends their sincere thanks to Inspirria team. Amar Amarn
of the administration’s policies. “These countries, led Arabia, not notify nor seek our this he said during March 26 committee “because they believe we are siding Iran.” A senior commander at Central Command (CENTCOM), speaking on condition of anonymity, at that argument. “The reason the Saudis didn’t inform us of their plans,” said, because knew would have told them exactly what we think — that it was a bad idea.” Military said that a number of regional special forces and officers at U.S. Operations Command (SOCOM) argued strenuously supporting Saudi-led intervention the of intervention, the Shia movement — which has taken over much of Yemen and which Riyadh accuses of being a proxy Tehran — an effective to Michael a Yemen expert a number of officers at SOCOM to the U.S. and U.K. governments, picked up this debate. days of the Saudi intervention’s start, said in an email that he was “confounded” the intervention, noting that many in SOCOM “favor the Houthis, as they have been successful back AQ [Al-Qaeda] and IS [the Islamic in and Levant, ISIL] from number of Yemeni governorates” — something that hundreds of U.S. drone and large numbers of advisers to Yemen’s military had failed Later, a telephone interview, expanded on that. “These reports the Houthis are working Iranians nonsense, is out the neocon playbook,” he “The Israelis have been touting line that we lost The Houthis don’t need Iranian weapons. They have of their own. And they don’t require training. They’ve been fighting Al-Qaeda since at least 2012, and they’ve been Why are a movement that’s fighting Al-Qaeda?” Am impressed with support and your team's from day one. Our leadership team extends their sincere to team. Amar
 of the administration’s policIes. “These coUntriEs, lEd bY SAudi arabIa, did not notify US nor Seek our coordination or oUr assIsTAnce IN tHis efFort,” he sAId DURinG a maRch 26 CoMMiTtee hEarIng, “becaUse they belIevE wE are siding wiTH IRan.”

A senior ComMander at CentRal commanD (CeNTcoM), speAkiNg on cOnditiON of anoNymity, scoFfED at thaT ArgumenT. “tHe ReasOn the Saudis didn’t iNFoRM us of their planS,” he saiD, “iS BeCAUse TheY knew we wouLd Have tOLd them eXAcTLY WhaT We think — that it Was a bad idea.”

mIliTary soUrCes SAid thaT a numBeR Of rEgional specIal fOrces offiCers anD OfficerS At U.S. SpeCial OpEraTioNs CoMMaNd (sOCoM) ARguED sTreNUouSly againSt SuPportIng tHE sAUdi-lEd iNterVentiOn because the tArgEt of THe iNtervEntioN, the shIa HouThi movEment — WhIch has taken over Much Of Yemen anD whIcH RiYaDh accUSes of bEinG a pRoxy for tehran — hAS beEn AN EFfEctive counter to Al-QAeDA.

miChael HorTon, a YeMEn ExPErt close To A nuMber OF OfficErs aT sOcOM and a cOnsultANt To The U.S. anD U.k. goverNmEntS, piCked uP On thIs debaTe. Within Days oF The Saudi intervENtion’s start, he SAiD IN aN EmaiL thAt he was “confOundED” by tHe inTErVenTIon, noTing tHaT MaNY in SOCOM “favor the HouThIs, as thEy havE been successfUl in rollinG BACk AQ [Al-QaEda] aND nOW IS [the Islamic STate iN Iraq and thE levant, or iSIL] fRom a numbEr of YemenI GOvernoraTes” — SomEthIng THAt Hundreds of U.S. dRONe stRiKes and lArgE numberS of AdvIseRs tO YEmen’s miliTary had fAiLeD tO aCcoMplisH.

later, in a TeLepHoNe iNtervIEw, HortOn expAndeD oN tHAt. “THese conSTaNT RepoRtS tHat tHe HOuThis aRe woRKinG for the iranians aRe nONsenSe, BuT the vieW is right out of ThE neocon plaYbOok,” He said. “tHE IsraeliS have been touting this linE That we lOst yemen To IrAn. That’s abSurD. The HoUthIS don’t nEed IraNian wEaPonS. tHey haVE PlEntY oF their own. AND TheY don’t ReQuirE militaRy training. They’ve beEN fiGhting Al-Qaeda SinCe at LEAsT 2012, anD ThEY’ve BeEN wiNNIng. Why are we fighTing a movemEnT ThAt’s fightinG al-QAeDa?” Am impRessed wIth yoUR supporT and your tEam's perfoRmAnce FROm dAy one. Our leAdership Team extenDS theiR SiNcere ThaNks to INsPirRia teAm. Amar aMarN
 of the administration’s p olicies. “ These  co unt ri es,ledby Saudi Arabi a , di d not notify us nor se ek ou rc oord i na tionor oura ss i s tan ce  i n t hi s  e ffort ,”he said  during aMar ch  26 committe e  h earing, “b eca use they bel iev e we a re  si d ing w ith  Iran .”

As eniorcommander  a t  Centr a l Comma n d  ( CENT COM), speaking on co n dition of anon ymity,  s c of f e d a t t hat argume nt . “Th e  reason th e S aud i s didn’t info rm us of th e irplans, ”hes aid, “ is be ca u sethey knew w e wo uld havetold t h em exac t ly what  we th ink  —that it  w asab adi de a.” 
Mi litary s ou rc es sa id t h a t a nu mbe r of  regi onal specialfor ceso ffi cersand o ffic er s atU.S. S pecia lOperations Comm and(SOCOM) a rgu ed  st re nuous l y agai nst  su pportin g the S a udi -l e d in tervention because  t h e  t arget of  the i n te rv e ntion, t he  Sh ia H o u thi m ovem e nt  — which  has t a ke nover mu ch  of Ye me n a ndwhich Riya dh acc uses ofbeing a proxy for Te h ran — has bee n  a n ef f ecti vecounter toAl-Q a eda. 

Mi c ha elH orton , a Y em e ne xpert close to a nu mb er ofoffic ers at SOCOMand a cons u l t ant to t he U . S. and U.K. gover nment s, pickedu p on thi s deb ate. Wit hin dayso f  the Sau diint erv ent i o n’ s start, he s a i d in  a n email  th at he w as“co nfo und ed ” by theinterven ti on ,no tin g tha t  many in  S OCO M“fa vor t h e Hout his,as t he yh ave  been s u cc e s sful  i nroll ing  b ack A Q [A l -Qa eda] an d now IS[th e  Isl am ic  Statein Iraq and t he  Levant, o rISI L] fro m a number  of Yemeni governorates ”  — some thi ng th at h undreds o f U .S. dr one strike s andlarge  n umb e r s ofa d vi ser sto Yemen’s m ili taryha d fa iled to  accomplish.

Late r , i n a telephone  in terv i e w,  Ho r to n  ex pa n ded o n that. “Theseconstant r ep o rt s that the Hou th is areworking  fort he Iran ians arenonsense,  b ut t h e  vi ew is righ t out of  the neoc o n pla y bo ok,”hesaid.“T heIsrae lis ha v e b een t outing  t his li ne th at  we lost  Yemen to Iran. That’sabsurd . The  Ho uthis don ’tn eed  Iranianweap ons. Theyhav e p lenty  of their  own .  A ndt hey d on’t require m i li tar y tr aining. The y ’ v e b een f igh t ing Al -Qae da since at least 2012, and they ’veb e enwin n ing.  W hy are we figh tin ga movement  t hat’s fight ing Al-Q ae d a?” A m impr essedwith yo u r  s u pportandyou r team'sper fo r mance f ro md ay one . Ou rleader ship t e am e x t ends their since re th a n ks to Ins pirri ateam. A m ar A marn
 of_the administration’s_policies. “These countries, led_by Saudi_Arabia,_did not_notify_us nor seek_our coordination or_our assistance in this_effort,” he said_during_a March 26 committee hearing, “because they believe we are siding with Iran.”

A senior_commander_at Central_Command_(CENTCOM),_speaking on condition of anonymity,_scoffed at that argument. “The_reason the_Saudis didn’t inform us of their plans,” he_said,_“is because they_knew we would have told them exactly what we_think — that it was a_bad idea.”

Military sources_said_that_a number of regional_special forces officers and officers at_U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) argued_strenuously against supporting the Saudi-led intervention because_the target of the intervention, the_Shia Houthi movement — which_has taken_over much of Yemen and_which Riyadh accuses_of being_a proxy for_Tehran — has been an effective_counter to Al-Qaeda.

Michael_Horton, a Yemen expert close to_a_number of officers_at_SOCOM_and a_consultant to the_U.S._and U.K._governments,_picked up on this debate. Within_days_of the Saudi intervention’s start, he said_in an email that_he_was “confounded” by the_intervention, noting that many in_SOCOM “favor the Houthis, as they_have been_successful in_rolling back AQ [Al-Qaeda] and now IS [the Islamic State in_Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL]_from a number of_Yemeni governorates”_—_something that hundreds_of_U.S. drone_strikes and large numbers of advisers to_Yemen’s military_had failed to accomplish.

Later, in a_telephone interview, Horton expanded_on_that. “These constant reports that the_Houthis are working for the Iranians_are nonsense, but the view_is_right_out of the neocon playbook,”_he said. “The Israelis have been_touting this line_that we lost Yemen to Iran. That’s_absurd._The Houthis don’t need Iranian weapons._They_have plenty of their own. And_they_don’t_require military training. They’ve been_fighting Al-Qaeda since at least 2012,_and they’ve been winning. Why are we fighting a_movement that’s fighting_Al-Qaeda?” Am impressed with your_support_and_your team's performance from day one. Our leadership team extends_their sincere_thanks to Inspirria_team. Amar Amarn