Biden Re-designates Yemen’s Houthis as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

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In February 2021, not even one month aftah him take da big seat, US President Joe Biden wen’ officially take away da labels from Yemen’s Houthis, dem was called “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO) and “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” (SDGTs). Him wen’ do dis fo’ help more humanitarian aid go to Yemen. But now, on one Wednesday, da Biden administration wen’ slap back on da Houthis da label “SDGTs” ’cause dem been having some tussles wit da US ova dey in da Red Sea. Let’s find out what dis new label mean, yeah? What ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ mean? Dem SDGTs labels, dey fo’ organizations dat make ’em feel like dey “threaten da security of da US.” SDGTs mean da money stuff, braddah! If you stay tagged wit dis one like da Houthis, den no American citizen can give ’em any money or stuff. An’ if dey get any assets in da US, dat go freeze, no mo’ movin’ around. But some peeps say dis not really go do much, ’cause da Houthis no get much goin’ on in da US, no stocks in New York Exchange. Nabeel Khoury, him used to work fo’ da US embassy in Yemen, he say dis label kinda small kine. How SDGTs different from ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization’? So, FTOs, dey foreign organizations too, but dey da kind make ’em think dey danger to US national security. Get one list fo’ ’em, everybody can see, made by da US Bureau of Counterterrorism. Da Houthis, dey goin’ feel dis new move like one insult, might even lead to mo’ fighting, Khoury say. But, get some legal stuff make FTO different from SDGTs. Da SDGTs, dey kinda more narrow, not as big as FTO. Da US, dey wen’ start put da FTO tag on organizations in 1997, aftah September 11 attacks in 2001, den wen’ make da SDGTs label. If you wit one FTO, you cannot step foot in da US, but SDGTs, dey let you in. If one US citizen give money to FTO, and da proof show dey know dis one terrorist group, dey can get in trouble. But fo’ SDGTs, da proof gotta be mo’ strong, gotta show dey wen’ give money to da terrorists ‘wilfully.’ If you stay victim to FTO terrorist attack, you can sue ’em. But SDGTs, no can do dat. Da US, dey can go all ova, prosecute anybody, even in oddah countries, if FTO involved. But wit SDGTs, only prosecute if da rules broken in da United States or one US citizen do ’em. If you help FTO, da punishment can be life in prison. Fo’ SDGTs, max is 20 years in da slammer. What dis new label mean fo’ Yemen? Biden wen’ take off da Houthis labels back in 2021, ’cause da UN and da oddah groups wen’ say dem labels block da humanitarian help from reachin’ Yemen. More than half da people in Yemen, 18.2 million, dey need help from oddahs, according to da UN. Dey stay suff’rin’, no ’nuff food, get kicked out dey homes, an’ money problems. Dis decision might make tings hard fo’ da regular folks in Yemen, da ones who just tryna live, ’cause now da help might not get to ’em. Afrah Nasser from da Arab Center Washington DC, she say dis might be trouble. Can dis stop Houthi attacks? US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, him talk on Wednesday, he say dis new label goin’ try stop da Houthi attacks in da Red Sea. But da US folks also say dis label no start yet, gotta wait 30 days. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan say, “If da Houthis stop dey attacks in da Red Sea an’ Gulf of Aden, den da United States go take one bettah look at dis label.” But da experts, dey no believe dat. Da Houthis say dey no goin’ stop, ’cause dey mad ’bout Israel’s war in Gaza. Brian Finucane, one smart guy from da International Crisis Group think tank, he say dis label, no goin’ do nuttin’. He say Washington jus’ actin’ like dey doing somethin’, but no really get da big picture. He say da Houthis attack ’cause dey mad ’bout Gaza. Afrah Nasser, she one non-resident fellow at da Arab Center Washington DC, she add dat dis label could make da Houthis more strong, an’ da people might start support ’em more, radicalize some parts of da population. Da Houthis demselves, dey say dey no give up. Dey say dis label no stop dem from block Israeli ships goin’ Red Sea, Arabian Sea, or Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Dey stay stand by da Palestinians. What da world politics say? Dis label goin’ make sanctions fo’ anybody, any state, or any group try give help to da Houthis.

NOW IN ENGLISH

Biden Re-designates Yemen’s Houthis as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

In February 2021, just under one month after assuming the presidency, U.S. President Joe Biden officially removed the designations of Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO) and “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” (SDGTs). He did this to facilitate the flow of more humanitarian aid to Yemen. However, on a recent Wednesday, the Biden administration reinstated the SDGT label on the Houthis due to their confrontations with the U.S. in the Red Sea region. Let’s explore the meaning of this new label. What does “Specially Designated Global Terrorists” mean? The SDGT label is applied to organizations perceived as posing a threat to the security of the United States. It primarily affects financial matters. If an organization, like the Houthis, is tagged with this label, American citizens are prohibited from providing them with financial support or resources. Additionally, any assets they may have in the United States will be frozen. However, some argue that this label may not have a significant impact because the Houthis have limited presence and assets in the U.S., such as stocks in the New York Stock Exchange. Nabeel Khoury, a former employee of the U.S. embassy in Yemen, suggests that this label has relatively minor implications. How are SDGTs different from “Foreign Terrorist Organization”? FTOs are also foreign organizations perceived as a danger to U.S. national security. There is a publicly available list of FTOs maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Counterterrorism. The Houthis may view this new designation as an insult, potentially leading to further conflict, according to Khoury. However, there are legal distinctions between FTOs and SDGTs. SDGTs have a narrower scope compared to FTOs. The U.S. began designating organizations as FTOs in 1997, and later introduced the SDGT label. If you belong to an FTO, you are barred from entering the U.S., but SDGTs do not face the same restriction. If a U.S. citizen provides financial support to an FTO and it can be proven that they knowingly aided a terrorist group, they can face legal consequences. In the case of SDGTs, the burden of proof is higher, requiring evidence of willful support for terrorists. Victims of FTO terrorist attacks can sue these organizations, but this option is not available for SDGTs. The U.S. can pursue legal actions against individuals associated with FTOs worldwide, while with SDGTs, prosecution is limited to violations occurring in the United States or involving U.S. citizens. The punishment for aiding an FTO can be life imprisonment, while for SDGTs, the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison. What does this new label mean for Yemen? President Biden removed the Houthis’ labels in 2021 to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Yemen, as recommended by the UN and other groups. According to the UN, more than half of Yemen’s population, 18.2 million people, are in need of assistance, facing food shortages, displacement, and financial hardships. This decision may pose challenges for ordinary Yemeni citizens as humanitarian aid might now struggle to reach them. Afrah Nasser from the Arab Center Washington DC expresses concerns about the potential consequences. Can this label deter Houthi attacks? U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the new label aims to deter Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. However, U.S. officials mention that this label will not take effect immediately; a 30-day waiting period is required. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the United States would reconsider the label if the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Nevertheless, experts doubt that this label will have a substantial impact. The Houthis have indicated that they have no intention of stopping their actions, as they are upset about Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Brian Finucane, an expert from the International Crisis Group, suggests that Washington’s actions may be seen as superficial and not addressing the larger context of the conflict. Afrah Nasser adds that this label could potentially strengthen the Houthis and garner more support, leading to the radicalization of some segments of the population. The Houthis themselves have declared their determination to continue blocking Israeli ships from accessing the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. What do global politics say? This label will result in sanctions against anyone, any state, or any group attempting to provide assistance to the Houthis.