Al-Qaeda Gets The Upper Hand In Yemen

[at-taqwa]

Al-Qaeda gets the upper hand in Yemen.
ADRIAN BLOMFIELD, ZINJIBAR.
January 13, 2010

YEMENI officials have admitted they are losing the battle against al-Qaeda as the terror group extends its reach into remote, virtually uncontrolled areas.

Regional politicians have presented a far bleaker prognosis than the authorities in the capital Sanaa, who play down the extremist threat.

They say al-Qaeda has forged strong relationships with tribes in the sparsely populated mountains and desert of the south that are in near-rebellion.

On the outskirts of Zinjibar, the ramshackle principal town of Abyan province, Ahmed al-Misri, Abyan's governor, works in an ageing villa set deep in a banana plantation.

Mr Misri is a gloomy man who admits he regrets having taken up the job. Along with the provinces of Shabwa and Marib, his fiefdom forms an ungovernable crescent east of Sanaa and Aden, Yemen's main cities, which many have called ''the new Waziristan''.

With al-Qaeda growing ever stronger and local secessionists gaining such momentum that many predict civil war, Mr Misri is so besieged that he is said rarely to leave his residence. ''To speak plainly, [government control] is not so strong,'' he said.

''We don't have enough weapons. We don't have enough soldiers … if something happens in the countryside, we can't respond because there are no helicopters or aeroplanes.''

Such analysis will cause deep disquiet in Washington, which has indicated it has no choice but to let Yemeni forces lead the fight against al-Qaeda.

Since the Detroit aircraft attack, for which the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claims credit, Sanaa officials said thousands of troops had been deployed to places such as Abyan. But the governor claimed the deployment was a charade, with troops rotated between provinces to give the impression of a big offensive.

Al-Qaeda has emerged as a potent force in the past eight months after it was reinforced by well-funded arrivals from Saudi Arabia.

As well, thousands of young Somalis fleeing the chaos at home are sailing to Yemen, where officials worry that they could become the next generation of al-Qaeda fighters.

TELEGRAPH, WASHINGTON POST

http://www.theage.com.au/world/alqae...0112-m4lz.html

[huehuecoyotl]

let me guess. Yemen wants more money so they can fix the problem.

[pakhtoon]

let me guess. Yemen wants more money so they can fix the problem.

In return, the USA will fly its drones and summarily execute anyone who has a beard.

[huehuecoyotl]

Well not quite. Just those who are not as politically connected to the Yemenite government as others. And the random innocent people who are near by. Every one knows what will happen here. Yemen will ask for lots of money to fight " extremism" which really means its political opponents. It will muddle on half heartily at attacking actual Al Qaida operations while constantly warning of an imminent take over, all the while trying to solidify its dominance. EZ money.

[pakhtoon]

Oh i don't dispute that for a second, all one has to do is take a look at Pakistan. It's been soaking up US dollars like the sponge in water and most of the money has lined the pockets of generals and its bloated army.

[Abu Aziza]

they cant fight alqaeda for free when the cash cow's willing to pay up

poor cow!

[Foxhole]

Well not quite. Just those who are not as politically connected to the Yemenite government as others. And the random innocent people who are near by. Every one knows what will happen here. Yemen will ask for lots of money to fight " extremism" which really means its political opponents. It will muddle on half heartily at attacking actual Al Qaida operations while constantly warning of an imminent take over, all the while trying to solidify its dominance. EZ money.

Are you saying that al Qaeda's method of taking power is a political process?

[huehuecoyotl]

I was speaking of political opponents as those who wish to overthrow the Yemenite government or remove some of its power. This includes the secssionist movement, other political opponents and certain factions of Al Qaeda. These are the groups that will be targeted as "extremists" and US dollars will flow against them. Keep in mind that the Yemenite government has also made deals with various factions of Al Qaeda and I am willing to say that these groups will get "the light touch" even though they may very well be the very groups the US wishes to eliminate. All the US can do is give the government money and hope they use it against the groups that the US wishes them to fight.

[Foxhole]

I was speaking of political opponents as those who wish to overthrow the Yemenite government or remove some of its power.

Yes, I was just asking if we would call armed groups fighting to take power "political opponents"? No matter, semantics.

But really we're seeing a civil war, and Yemen is following the familiar pattern: violent internal struggle, with outside support coming in from the US, NATO, etc. on one side and the global jihadist movement (along with far-flung anonymous benefactors) on the other.