In the cinematic classic The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow must travel on the Yellow Brick Road through the Haunted Forest to reach the Emerald City. During this journey, the three protagonists of the story speculate they will encounter wild beasts, which leads to one of the famous quotes of the movie: “Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, oh my!”[1] Ultimately, the trio meets their fourth compatriot, the Cowardly Lion, in the Haunted Forest, and he poses no harm to them.
We learned in 2021 the importance of the Suez Canal and Red Sea to global shipping trade. Approximately 12% of world trade flows through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.[2] 40% of trade between Asia and Europe passes through the Red Sea.[3] To say this is an important shipping lane would be an understatement.
Unless our reader lives an analog[4] or Luddite[5] lifestyle, you likely are aware of the current conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. However, for the last nine years, another conflict on the Arabian Peninsula has been arguably as intense but with far less media attention. We write, of course of the conflict in Yemen between the Government of Yemen and Houthi militia forces.
The former group receives backing from Saudi Arabia and several other Middle Eastern governments, while the latter is primarily funded/supported by Iran.[6] The Trump Administration designated the Houthis as a terrorist group in January 2021,[7] but in February 2021 the Biden Administration revoked that designation.[8]
