Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Yemeni Conflict Drones On

And on... and on... and on.... 

"A suspected US drone aircraft fired a missile at a car in southern Yemen yesterday, killing two brothers.... The United States originally carried out a campaign of drone strikes similar to the one that killed many Al Qaeda figures in Pakistan until a local official was accidentally killed"

Oooooops!

"Yemen’s president asked a key mediator from a powerful alliance of neighboring Gulf countries to indefinitely delay his visit, two of his associates said yesterday, in the latest blow to efforts to resolve the country’s crisis.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s move was a political slap to attempts by Yemen’s neighbors to resolve nearly three months of unrest in this impoverished Arab country. It suggests the Yemeni president hopes to buy time at the expense of good relations with the alliance of his oil-rich neighbors.

--more--"

"A suspected US drone aircraft fired a missile at a car in southern Yemen yesterday, killing two brothers believed to be Al Qaeda militants, said security and tribal officials....

In September, the country’s foreign minister said it was no longer allowing missile strikes by pilotless planes. But after Al Qaeda smuggled explosives aboard cargo planes bound for the United States in late October, it is believed the strikes resumed. 

Pffft!

Yemen, which is wracked by massive protests against the country’s deeply unpopular president, is also home to one of the most active branches of Al Qaeda, which has planned several attacks against the United States.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the local branch calls itself, is estimated to number around 300 fighters with built-up strongholds in the provinces of Shabwa, Abyan, Jouf, and Marib, regions of daunting mountain ranges where central authority has nearly no presence.  

That's all?  

And our TRILLION-DOLLAR MILITARY and SECURITY APPARATUS can not stop them?

In addition to attacking government targets, the group has inspired attacks by Muslims inside the United States and twice smuggled explosives aboard aircraft headed to America.

The United States originally carried out a campaign of drone strikes similar to the one that killed many Al Qaeda figures in Pakistan until a local official was accidentally killed.  

--more--"

Some days deserve only a photograph:

"YEMEN PROTEST -- Demonstrators carried a large flag in Sana yesterday while calling for the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Some released balloons that drifted over the presidential palace, with the words "Leave, Ali." (Boston Globe May 7 2011)."  

Maybe he can't read.

"One demonstrator was killed and 11 injured yesterday in the southern Yemen town of al-Maafir when police descended on thousands rallying for the ouster of Yemen’s longtime president, an activist said.

Nouh al-Wafi said police fired tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters. The demonstrators were mainly students but other residents joined.

Meaning it is all the people.

In several other cities — including Aden, Saada, and Hodeida — protesters observed a one-day shutdown of offices and businesses yesterday as part of the civil disobedience campaign called by the opposition to pressure President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. Thousands of people also demonstrated in Ibb and Hadramawt, the latest in daily protests that have been staged for almost three months.  

Are you SEEING a LESSON IN THERE somewhere, Americans?

--more--" 

Certainly American "security" forces could not act the same way:

"Security forces backed by army units opened fire yesterday on protesters demanding the ouster of Yemen’s longtime president, killing three, an opposition activist said.

Related: Ohio

Oh, I guess we already have.

In all, tens of thousands of protesters mobilized in several cities and towns, according to activists — the latest installment of daily protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh that have been staged for almost three months.

You would think the guy would get a clue.

One protester was killed in the western port of Hodeida, and two were killed in the city of Taiz when elite Republican Guard forces tried to disperse protesters by firing in the air, according to activist Nouh al-Wafi.  

And somehow the bullets came back to earth and killed 'em.

--more--" 

And where is that U.S. criticism?

"Yemeni security forces opened fire on demonstrators and launched rocket-propelled grenades at an office building yesterday as they cracked down on a protest in the flashpoint city of Taiz in the country’s south. Three people were killed and dozens wounded, witnesses and medics said.

The attacks came a day after protesters began a new sit-in on one of the city’s main streets, and as tensions escalate across the country between embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh and protesters seeking his ouster.

And you SEE WHO is DRIVING those TENSIONS, right?

The security forces opened fire on demonstrators and turned water cannons and tear gas on them at dawn, witnesses said.

The security forces also chased protesters into side streets. They launched rocket-propelled grenades on a building where they believed protesters were hiding, said activist Nouh al-Wafi. The explosion set the building on fire, but there were no reports of casualties there.

--more--"  

Also see: Yemeni 180

They must have done another 180 -- or it was all lip service lies.