As has been widely reported, Sec. Pompeo is moving to designate the Houthis in #Yemen as a terrorist organization. I can’t stress enough how damaging that decision would be – but I’m going to try.

THREAD

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First, let’s say one thing plainly: the Houthis, like all parties in Yemen, have committed absolutely despicable acts. The victims and survivors of this conflict, including of the Houthis, deserve justice.

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But a terrorism designation is not an instrument of justice or accountability. It is a political tool with financial and reputational repercussions for the designee and far-reaching consequences for others, particularly people in poverty

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In #Yemen, those consequences depend on the mechanism for designation & licenses (exceptions) that are issued. ANY designation of Houthis will deal a blow to an economy whose collapse has already killed tens or hundreds of thousands

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The US government needs to call off plans to designate the Houthis as a group. If they don’t, the best-case scenario is that they’re listed by Treasury, meaning they’d be subject to sanctions

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