Another drone launch by the Houthis. If we can't deter the Houthis how are we gonna deter China?

At approximately 8:30 pm (Sanaa time) Jan. 17, an assessed one-way attack UAS was launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen and struck M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden. M/V Genco Picardy is a Marshall Islands flagged, U.S. owned and operated bulk carrier ship.

There… pic.twitter.com/kAXPaCqYxV

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 17, 2024

I trust that everyone has seen enough to come to the conclusion that deterrence is a sad and failed concept. If we can't deter the Houthis then how can we deter China? How can we deter anyone? So why has the US failed to deter the Houthis? Because we have not used credible lethal force against them. Much talk. Much chest thumping but little actual action. Without strong leadership and resolve, deterrence is a joke.

A weak administration means there is no deterrence.  

We have a weak administration so the Houthis, Iran and others view all the tough talk as the whining of a weakling, not a threat they should worry about.