We're being given the Iraq treatment only this time it's Yemen...

[Subdivisions]

I was just flipping through channels and on MSNBC I saw a promo for Meet the Press that went something like this: "A new year and new fears of a growing terrorist threat in Yemen..." Of course, I immediately moved on to another channel.

Two weeks ago we weren't hearing anything about Yemen. Now it's a our #1 target and reason for "new fears". This administration is no different than the previous one when it comes to manipulation of the masses into yet another front in the War on Terror.

Edited to add: Apparently there is breaking news that the U.S. embassy in Yemen is now closed.

[stray cat]

1. I can't believe Obama really believes terrorism exists or that people do kill people

:sarcasm:

[asdjrocky]

18. It does.

And we do. Let's do the math, how many have "they" killed, and how many have "we" killed?

You keep being afraid.

[IndianaGreen]

21. We are the ones creating new terrorists every day

We have to radically change foreign policy if we are to start draining the swamp.

How's Obama Middle East Peace initiative coming along? This question is meant to make people do some research as to where things stand today.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Terrorism - including radical Islam - existed before we got involved. It's not all about us. nt

[ProgressIn2008]

44. I get the impression that explanation only worked under Bush. It's obsolete now. nt

[Captain Hilts]

2. Too bad it's FAR more legitimate in the case of Yemen. Crying Wolf will come back to bite you. nt

[Subdivisions]

7. Since you know more about the case for targeting Yemen than I apparently do,

could you please lay out the case for why the sudden attention on Yemen? Because two or so weeks ago, no one was even talking about Al Qaeda in Yemen. So, why is Yemen suddenly on our radar? Did the U.S. just realize Al Qaeda moved to Yemen?

[G_j]

9. Yemen is in a freakin' civil war

here we go again..

do we ever learn? Let the Saudis deal with it.

[IndianaGreen]

15. It sure is a civil war, with Shias in North, and the separatists in South

Most DUers are fraking clueless that many Yemenis were opposed to the forcible merger of North and South Yemen, or that the Saudis are backing the tyrant Saleh against a legitimate Shia insurgency.

[Captain Hilts]

20. Yeah, Northern Yemen was the Albania of the Middle East. nt

[Captain Hilts]

19. The Yemeni government has decided the chaos is too much. The border with SA is

completely lawless. Yemen generates the kind of chaos that truly breeds terrorism, unlike Iraq.

Saudi Arabia actually got its military involved, something they rarely do. It's gotten THAT bad.

Everyone hoped the unification of the two Yemens would create a better state, but it didn't work out that way.

[IndianaGreen]

24. And having the tyrant Saleh in power for over 20 years hasn't helped

Saleh is fighting legitimate insurgencies in the North and the South. Al-Qaeda is merely taking advantage of the situation.

[Captain Hilts]

27. Al-Q thrives on chaos. nt

[Subdivisions]

31. Thanks for that. What quantity of armaments have we sold to Saudi Arabia? Didn't

I read recently that the Kingdom has an entire field full of F-16s that are sitting idle? Why have we sent them so much firepower that they apparently aren't using?

[Captain Hilts]

37. It's that deterrence thing. That's why it got my attention when they actually used thier

military in this case. The first time since 1991. It's rare they start fights because their population is so small - the census is secret - and they've got a lot of area to protect. Their border with Yemen has been lawless for a long time, but, evidently, it's reach a level that is too much for both SA and Yemen. Yes, there are civil war elements here because the merger of the two Yemens has not been working out well. But it is the kind of geo-political broth that Al-Q thrives on.

[IndianaGreen]

43. And it is 'the kind of geo-political broth' we should stay away from

Saudi Arabia is the one that pushed for US drone strikes, for they have their own problems with the Shia in Northern Yemen.

We should stay out of Yemen.

[msongs]

3. the job of the president is to provide employment for military and $$ for contractors, yes? nt

[tabatha]

4. There will be no war in Yemen.

[tabasco]

5. No, we're not.

The government of Yemen is cooperating with us and is accepting our help killing these murderous, cowardly terrorists.

[G_j]

6. ABC: Yemen, new home of the terrorists

just heard that..

[TwilightGardener]

8. Not the same. Counterterror only, and we're working with the Yemeni gov, not

looking to topple them. Even if we put boots on the ground, then we might have a parallel with Afghanistan--still not Iraq.

[IndianaGreen]

11. We are working with the tyrant Saleh against legitimate insurgencies North and South

Al-Qaeda is merely exploiting the situation, while Saleh is using the gullible Americans to destroy those opposed to his tyrannical rule.

[Subdivisions]

12. My whole thing is that a couple weeks ago Yemen wasn't even on

the media's radar and now they're promoting it as "A new year and new fears..."

ETA: Also, with the intense military and intelligence attention on the region, how the hell did Al Qaeda sneak out of Af-Pak and into Yemen without being detected?

[Oregone]

17. I heard, more than once, about certain prisoners escaping Yemeni prisons

I always figured it had something to do with corrupt government supporting the terrorists. Who knows.

But yeah, the first major thing I saw lately was on Dec 24, when Obama lobbed two missles into Yemen

Then on the next day, underwear bomber...

Then the US and Yemen started crackin down.

[IndianaGreen]

25. Many DUers were aware of the civilian casualties caused by US drones strikes

and of the Saudi bombing of Northern Yemen. This shit has been going on since November.

[Oregone]

13. How does an insurgency become legitimate?

[IndianaGreen]

32. When you have a tyrannical government in power

The separatists in South Yemen are opposed to the merger of North and South Yemen. The Shias in North Yemen have been oppressed by the Saleh's regime (which is backed by Saudi Arabia). Tribal leaders are opposed to Saleh regime because of its corruption, oppression, and failure to address the country's needs.

The Yemeni insurgencies are legitimate popular movements of national liberation.

Al-Qaeda is just a sprinkle in the mix.

[Robb]

35. Why would Saleh, a Shia, oppress Shias? nt

[IndianaGreen]

40. Saudi money

The Saudis are terrified of the Shias in Northern Yemen. Saudi army has crossed the border into Northern Yemen to destroy Shia villages, and its Air Force has bombed Saleh's opponents.

[Robb]

29. Please educate us

I'm honestly unfamiliar with Yemeni politics, other than around the USS Cole bombing era.

How is Saleh a tyrant? I understood him to be popular until just recently.

[Subdivisions]

33. I have to second this. While I am aware of some of what's going on there,

I don't know enough to know why Yemen is suddenly on our radar. Yes, I am aware of their civil war but how did Al Qaeda suddenly become part of the picture and why has it taken 8 years to get around to the "threat" in Yemen?

[IndianaGreen]

34. Saleh is popular in Washington, like the Somoza family was

Google is your friend. British press has a lot of info on Yemen.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Same lies, different liars, and the same prowar chorus in DU

Here we go again!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Erect bogeyman, wave flag, give money to the Pentagon, send in the bombers. Works every time.

Add a chorus of "God Bless America" and grim looking generals telling us about the "threat" and Voila! the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave is transformed into paranoid, shrinking violets, ready to empty their pockets and send their kids to protect them.

[IndianaGreen]

16. and put a charismatic President to spout war cries

without stumbling on his words like Bush did.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. And, have a gutless congress eager to fund another bout of stupidity.

[G_j]

26. and feel the constant need not to appear weak

and/or have $$ invested in the MIC.

[TheWraith]

23. You're too smart to believe anything that stupid.

I may not agree with you much, but you're not a moron.

[Captain Hilts]

30. Well said. nt

[IndianaGreen]

36. I never thought Obama was going to believe the Petraeus/McChrystal bullshit

It was a rerun of LBJ with William Westmoreland.

President Truman would have fired McChrystal for trying to set policy in public, as MacArthur did. Obama should have canned his ass!

So now we have as President someone that is a prisoner of the military-industrial complex.

[ProgressIn2008]

45. True, that. It's just a different chorus that takes up the war song. nt

[johnaries]

38. Bull.Shit. There is no comparison.

Who in this administration is calling for war? Who is calling for an invasion? Where is the "axis of evil" rhetoric?

al Qaeda is in Yemen. That is a fact, whereas they were not in Iraq until after we invaded. We have worked WITH the Yemeni government and a couple of cruise missles in co-operation with the Yemeni government against some al Qaeda strongholds.

There is NO comparison to Iraq.

[Subdivisions]

42. How long has Al Qaeda been in Yemen? n/t

[johnaries]

48. Remember the USS Cole? nt

[IndianaGreen]

39. A little background on Yemen

Dictator of the Month: January 2006

Politics

Saleh has been accused for much nepotism in his regime, appointing personal friends and family members to important roles in the government. His leadership style is described as autocratic, and some have labeled him a tyrant and there is much opposition to his government in what was South Yemen, yet he does still enjoy widespread popularity in the North. He is extremely repressive of his opposition, and tightly controls the media in the country.

Criminal Activity in the Government?

Saleh has been sharply accused of allowing and/ or fostering numerous criminal activities, including the smuggling of drugs to Saudi Arabia, trafficking of arms into various countries in Eastern Europe. In fact, during Saleh’s regime a large scale militarisation has occurred, with the defense budget tripling between 1998 and 2003, despite that the country is the poorest Arab country in the world. Weapon sales from Yemen have been traced to al Qaeda, various other terrorist groups, as well as countries like Somalia, contrary to UN arms embargoes. It is alleged that the Yemeni government is aware of widespread support of al Qaeda members in top levels of the government, but does nothing against it. There are also reports of the Yemeni military using poison gas on rebel groups on more than one occasion.

The Under Secretary in the Finance Ministry of the government, Abduljabar Saad, who resigned in the Summer of 2005, cited widespread corruption in the Finance Ministry in his resignation letter, and noted that large amounts of publicly subsidized diesel is being illegally smuggled to other countries- other sources specify diesel smuggling to Africa.

The Yemeni Central Bank has also been caught circulating counterfeit Yemeni and Saudi currency, and other government agencies have been accused of money laundering via real estate transactions in Dubai, ultimately funneling the money into German bank accounts. The Central Bank has also been used by high ranking officials to move assets offshore.

http://www.dictatorofthemonth.com/Saleh/Jan2006SalehEN.htm

The supreme irony is how the US flipped Saleh in his support for Al-Qaeda:

December 31, 2009

US Believes al Qaeda Supporting Lunatic Yemeni Dictator "Turned Around"

US officials say Yemeni President Saleh saw the light in July when presented with evidence the Al Qaeda fanatics were planning assassinations against top officials. Do we really have to do this over and over and over again? The US dream of a reformed Saleh has been alive since 2000, but President Saleh has never been sincere. He just comes up with better BS, more interesting theater and catch phrases that seem reassuringly familiar. To go forward on the premise that Saleh achieved any level of rehabilitation after a good talking to is ludicrous.

It's a mistake to trust President Ali Abdullah Saleh on any level, at any time. It is a threat to US security to under-estimate the level of enmeshment between the Yemeni state and al Qaeda- from al Qaeda local to al Qaeda central, from low level security officials up to the President of Yemen.

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/200219.php

[G_j]

41. +100 (Yemen is a failed state)

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5073006,00.html

Increased US military involvement in Yemen could boomerang

The Obama administration has in recent months stepped up its intelligence support and funding of Yemeni security forces in a bid to counter threats by al Qaeda to attack Western and Arab targets in the Gulf.

Yemeni officials say more than 30 operatives of al Qaeda's Yemeni offshoot, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), were killed and 29 others captured in raids in recent weeks that foiled attacks on the British embassy in the capital Sana'a and Yemeni oil facilities. Human rights activists and al Qaeda charge that scores of innocent civilians died in the attacks.

US support for the raids reflects concerns on both sides of the Atlantic that multiple conflicts in Yemen - including the fight against al Qaeda, a five-year war against tribal rebels in the north that has dragged neighboring Saudi Arabia into the hostilities, a secession movement in the south, rampant inflation and unemployment, dwindling oil revenues and an acute water shortage - could turn Yemen into the strategic region's next failed state alongside Somalia.

"We are already a failed state. We can no longer protect the rights of our citizens," said Yemeni opposition politician Abubakr Badeeb. "Al Qaeda is renewing itself and has sympathizers in the Yemeni security and intelligence forces," terrorism expert Said Ali Jemhi told Deutsche Welle.

Analysts say the US intelligence and military support kicked in since the Yemeni government recently bowed to US, European and Saudi pressure to focus more on battling al Qaeda rather than exclusively on squashing a tribal revolt in the north by Al-Houthi rebels and secession in the south. Yemeni officials complained as recently as October that the country's allies were ignoring problems that constituted as much a threat to Yemen's stability and territorial integrity as does al Qaeda.

..more.

[Bigmack]

46. You guys don't understand.

If we bomb/invade/intervene in just one more little country, it will make us safe.

Iraq is sooo last decade. Afghanistan isn't looking so good. But Yemen... ahhh....now we're talking. If we can kill or capture the few hundred Al Qaeda in Yemen, the world will be safe. Well.... maybe a few will escape and go to Greenland or the Falkland Islands or somewhere, but then we can bomb/invade/intervene there, too.

After all, we have an endless supply of grunts and money.

In case you are totally thick.... deep, dark, rotting Empire :sarcasm: intended.

[IndianaGreen]

47. We need wars and fear to keep our oligarchs in power

We are living through our own version of Orwell's 1984.

[spanone]

49. this administraion doesn't control what m$nbc does.