Kenen Malik is right to criticise Saudi Arabia for its refusal to allow any form of dissent, its appalling record on executions and, of course, its "barbarous foreign policy" (Don`t be deluded - our Saudi "partners" are masters of repression, 26.08.18). The Saudis` "viciousness" is indeed "matched only by the cynicism of western leaders", with Jeremy Hunt`s justification for the government`s continued supply of weapons and military advisers typifying their lamentable response.
What is also worrying is the failure of the media to maintain any focus on the plight of the Yemeni people; admittedly there was outrage at the killing of the innocent children on the school bus, but next to nothing about what has happened since. The Guardian did report on the latest round of airstrikes killing at least 26 children and 4 women, but only on page 24 of the weekend edition, whilst there was no television or radio coverage whatsoever.
Without media pressure our wretched government will neither stop supplying arms to this murderous regime, nor even apply pressure on it to lift the restrictions imposed on the delivery of aid. Meanwhile, international humanitarian law continues to be broken every day. How many more have to die before politicians act?
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