tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45708636746760493092024-03-19T01:47:10.591-07:00Nasser ArrabyeeThe latest news stories and independent and balanced reports on the political, security, economic and social developments in Yemen by the Yemeni journalist Nasser Arrabyee.Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.comBlogger1888125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-70373181509942243812017-03-02T06:45:00.002-08:002017-03-02T06:45:53.345-08:00Trump helping Qaeda/ISIS in Yemen more blindly than Obama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Trump helps Qaeda/ISIS in Yemen more blindly than Obama<br />
By Nasser Arrabyee, 02/03/2017<br />
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US President Donald Trump has helped Yemen Qaeda/ISIS by his failed commandos raid on one of its strongholds in Al Bayda south east of the country late January.<br />
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Recruitment now is more, support from inside and outside is more. Support with money and weapons from Saudi Arabia in particular is more than ever before.<br />
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The Qaeda/ISIS leaders in Riyadh are angry because they did not do enough to protect their men in Yemen although they receive support from Saudi regime and Trump administration as Yemen "legitimate" government.<br />
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Although, 7 members,at least, of this government are designated by US Treasury Department as global terrorists.<br />
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The Qaeda/ISIS operatives, felt maybe, that those leaders in Saudi capital Riyadh "stabbed them at the back". And the leaders themselves in Riyadh might have felt that Trump and Saudi regime "stabbed them at the back!" as well!.<br />
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The boss of the men killed in the raid (Qaeda/ISIS operatives&leaders) is Naif Al Qaisy who has been directing Qaeda/ISIS operations against Houthis for about two years now from Riyadh. <br />
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Al Qaisy is the ruler of Albayda State ( as called by Qaeda/ISIS).<br />
Earlier last year, Saudi-backed exiled president Hadi appointed Mr Al Qaisy as the governor of Albayda, making it easier for him to send money and weapons from Riyadh.<br />
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Mr Abdul Wahab Al Humaikani, is from Albayda also but another tribe. From Riyadh, he is overseeing the Qaeda/ISIS operations against Houthis. Al Humaikani is one of the 7 members of Yemen exiled government despite the fact that they are global terrorists blacklisted by US Treasury Department.<br />
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Shortly after the Trump failed commando raid, two officials at least from Yemen exiled government confirmed that Trump made a big mistake by killing their men.<br />
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General Muhsen Khusruf, from Hadi army, said in media statements that the men killed had been a part of the "legitimate" government, a part of the "resistance" against Houthis.<br />
"Sheik Abdul Raof Al Dhahab, was the leader of resistance, he was fighting with us against Houthis and we were in full coordination with him and his men," said Khusruf in reference to the Qaeda/ISIS leader killed the raid.<br />
Mohammed Abdul Majid Al Zandani, son of one of the 7 blacklisted, also from posted in his face book that the men killed by the Trump raid were a part of the "ligitimate" army supported by Saudi to Houthis.<br />
These statements, among others, were contradictory to some Saudi statements that men killed were Qaeda. The Saudi media in English would say Qaeda, and the in Arabic would say legitimate army or "resistance" referring to same men. <br />
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Trump failed by sending his men to death, and destroying his advanced helicopters and weapons. He could have asked his Saudi ally to hand over the men, better than risking commandos life.<br />
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))))))))<br />
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More related stories below.<br />
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Obama was seen to support his enemy, Qaeda/ISIS by supporting Saudi Wahabi regime, the spirit of these terrorist groups.<br />
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Qaeda/ISIS is the big winner from US-backed Saudi aggression on Yemen. Not only because of exploiting the chaos to further expand and recruit but also it received direct and indirect support (weapons and money) from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and United States.<br />
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At least 7 members of the government of the exiled President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi are designated by US Treasury Department as global terrorists and commanders of Qaeda/ISIS.<br />
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Naif Al Qaisy, Hassan Abkar, Abdul Wahab Humaikani, Abdul Majid Al Zandani,Said Saleh Al Omgi, Mohammed Saleh Al Omgy, and Abdullah Al Ahdal.<br />
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Some of these men are senior officials and holding posts in the Saudi-backed government of Yemen, the so-called internationally recognized government based in Riyadh and some of them are field commanders fighting in Yemen with Saudi forces against Houthis.<br />
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Naif Al Qaisy,for instance, was appointed by Hadi last year as a governor of Al Baidha, one of the Qaeda/ISIS strongholds north east Sanaa.<br />
Mr Al Qaisy now receives political and financial support as a senior member of the so-called internationally recognized government.<br />
He sends money and weapons from Saudi Arabia to his Qaeda/ISIS followers in Baidha where Anwar Al Awlaki got married to his second wife before being killed by US drone in September 2011.<br />
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Hassan Abkar, is the commander of Qaeda/ISIS operations in Al Jawf and Mareb east of the country. Mr Abkar is also chief of Islah party in Al Jawf. Islah party is the Yemen brotherhood party and it's siding publicly with Saudi Arabia against Houthis and their allies.<br />
Mr Abkar is one of close confidants of general Ali Mussen, who was imposed by Saudi regime as vice president ( Hadi deputy) exiled in Riyadh now, despite the fact that he had links with Qaeda during a long history that goes back to 1980s when he recruited most of those Yemenis who went to Afghanistan to fight Soviet Union.<br />
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The third example is Abdul Wahab Al Humaikani, secretary general of Al Rashad, Yemen Salafi party, whose all leaders are now based in Saudi Arabia and their followers are fighting in the ground with Saudi forces against Houhtis in both Yemen and Saudi territories occupied by Houthis as Najran, Jaizan and Asir in south of KSA.<br />
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Mr Al Humaikani was assigned by Hadi to go for "peace talks" with Houthis in Geneva where he met and shook hands with former UN secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who only later knew from news reports that he had shaken hands with a global terrorist. <br />
He is also a graduate from Al Eyman university owned and run by Abdul Majid Al Zandani, the spiritual leader of Osama Bin Laden.<br />
Al Zandani is a senior advisor of both president Hadi and vice president general Muhsen.From Riyadh, he finances and directs his followers who really are Qaeda/ISIS but camouflaged under different nice names such Ansar Al Shariah, resistance, Salafis, brotherhood etc. <br />
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For instance, in Taiz city, central of the country, on January 25th, 2017, Qaeda/ISIS has become the only authority that govern the city, which is the capital of the most populous province in Yemen with 5 million of the 30 million population. The Salaf Jihadist leader, Abu Al Abbas, Qaeda/ISIS operative, is the ruler of Taiz city now. His declared name is the commander of Abu Al Abbas battalions.<br />
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The two-year old US-backed Saudi aggression and blockade caused a disastrous humanitarian situation in the poorest Arab country of Yemen. The Yemenis now look at US administration as the killer of Yemen with Saudi hands.<br />
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More than 60,000 civilians were killed asleep in houses, schools, hospitals, factories, farms etc, according to local right groups.<br />
More than 3 millions displaced from their houses or became completely homeless. More than 20 millions of the country's 30 million population are food insecure.<br />
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The UN talks about 10,000 killed and about 40,000 injured,and these are figures that have not been updated since almost one year. When I asked Yemen UN chief Mr Jamie McGoldrick last week here in Sanaa why they did not update their figures he said: We do not have documents, and more than 55 % of the country's health facilities are not functioning any more after being destroyed.<br />
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Furthermore, local groups have even higher figures although recognize that documenting is extremely difficult under such barbaric aggression of Saudis who keep trying their best to cover up their war crimes.<br />
"From our active volunteers working all over the country in rural and urban&suburban areas, we have documents showing that 500,000 Yemenis died because of aggression over the last two years," said Abdullah Allaw,chairman of local human rights observatory,(www.medfhr.org).<br />
"They died of diseases and malnutrition, and they would not have died if it hadn't been for the Saudi aggression and blockade." <br />
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About one million government employees did not receive salaries for six months now. Which means the total number of those who depend on government salaries are about 7 millions ( 1 supports 7 on average ).<br />
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The central bank has been dismantled by the Saudi-backed President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, in an attempt to further strangle the people under blockade and bombings.<br />
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Because of the blockade, the Yemenis can not receive food, nor medicine nor fuels easily. More than 90% of food is imported, and 100 % of the medicines are imported from abroad.<br />
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The essential needs of the middle class people are met only by 10 % at most. Which means those who used to buy food for 100 US$ per day, for example, now they buy only for 10 dollars per day for the same members of the family.<br />
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" Our food and other essential things we buy now are 90 % less than those before this war," said Raghad Ahmed, who supports six children from her and her husband salaries. "We have not received salaries for 6 months now, we do not have any other income, our savings near zero, despite the fact that we have only 2 meals per day, and 90 % less than we used to."<br />
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All lower class and majority of the middle class in the capital Sanaa can not buy water any more. They receive water only from local charities that installed water tanks in almost every neighborhood in the city and other main cities. Trucks laden with water come every day to fill the tanks and the residents then take their need of water during the 24 hours.<br />
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"If these good doers did not bring us this water, we would have died now of thirst, we can not buy water, it's too expensive now, and the earnings of my husband is spent for the rent of house and very few of it for the food," said Um Ibrahim, mother of five, whose husband is a construction worker on daily basis. <br />
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The 13-year old Ibrahim and his father Ahmed stay 24 hours in the site of a new building (still being built) to support their family. Ibrahim helps his father by watching the site and equipments when workers are not there.<br />
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"The war killed us all, my kids don't go to school anymore, I need Ibrahim help me here and other kids can not go without money," said Ahmed as he descended from a truck laden with raw rocks nearby his modest house in southern outskirt of Sanaa.<br />
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All electricity stations were destroyed by airstrikes at the first weeks of the US-backed Saudi aggression that started on March 26th, 2015.<br />
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In addition to all these sufferings because of aggression and blockade, the closure of Sanaa airport and other small airports caused a new kind of painful suffering. More than 25,000 Yemenis are stranded outside Yemen after they had finished medical treatments from serious diseases. Even more numbers of Yemenis now want to go abroad for treatments but they can not because the airports are closed.<br />
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"The closure of Sanaa airport is an unprecedented war crime, it is a flagrant violation of all international laws, humanitarian laws, human rights laws," said Minister of Transportation Zakaria Al Shami, who appealed to UN on January 25, 2017 for taking its responsibility for reopening the Sanaa international airport and other Yemeni airports.<br />
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"Tens of thousands of Yemenis can not go abroad for medical treatments or any other civil purposes, and many more can not even come back home. This made the humanitarian and health situation even worse and worse." <br />
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The Saudi flagrant violations of international law caused increasing demands from international human right groups that inquiry should be conducted by a neutral committee especially after hard evidence was obtained by some groups such amnesty international and human rights watch that some crimes amount to war crimes.<br />
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Saudi Arabia repeatedly refused international enquiry into war crimes and other major violations of international law such as using the internationally prohibited cluster bombs.<br />
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When cluster bombs first dropped over residential areas in the heart of the capital Sanaa early 2016, the UN officials based in Sanaa saw the remnants of such banned weapons and helped Yemenis in drawing the attention to such crimes. <br />
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Sanaa-based head of UN Higher Commissioner for Human Rights Office, George Al Zalaf, was declared as grata non persona by Riyadh-based exiled government of Yemen after he had reported that his staff saw the remnants of cluster bombs dropped over residential areas of Sanaa.<br />
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Anti-American Sentiment<br />
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Yemenis know that most of the Saudi weapons are US-made like Abrams tanks, Bradley vehicle and cluster bombs, not to mention the F16 and F15 fighter jets that fly around the clock over their heads.<br />
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So, hatred and Anti-American sentiment is in rise. Almost every Yemeni hates US leaders because of their support to Saudi aggression on their country. Those who lost dears by Saudi airstrikes on their houses or schools, weddings or funerals, they show hatred to US more than their hatred to Saudi. They all believe that Saudis would not have dared to come fight them without American support and consent.<br />
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So activists organized a nation-wide campaign under ( US kills Yemenis people) with all kinds of media taking part until now.<br />
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Huge posters in the streets of the main cities read ( America kills Yemeni people. The State-run Tvs, radios and papers have daily shows with the Hashtag ( America kills Yemeni people)<br />
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"We made this campaign because the Saudi war was declared against us from Washington not from Riyadh, " Said Mohammed Haidra, the chief of the campaign.<br />
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"I and all my sons would go and fight Saudis, killers of our people, and I would call every Yemeni to take gun and go defend our country," said Mohammed Rubaid Wed January 25, 2017 to thousands of people who gathered in Sanaa to commemorate his brother Judge Yahya Rubaid who was killed by Saudi airstrike asleep in his house with his wife and all 7 sons and daughters on January 25th, 2016.<br />
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"We must defend ourselves from such crimes and such Saudi tyranny and brutality that exceeds any brutality over history," he added. <br />
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The judge Rubaid was trying in absentia the Saudi-backed exiled President Hadi for major treason charges when he was killed with his whole family by airstrike that leveled his 3-floor house in northern outskirt of Sanaa. <br />
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Defiance and steadfastness<br />
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" Congratulation dad, for your wedding today, we gonna do the same, promise you," said the 12-year Mohammed while having the last look to his father's dead body before being buried in his village of Sanhan eastern Sanaa. His father,Hassan Al Mulassi, is seen as one of the most respected heroes who led courageous operations inside territories of Najran for about 16 months continuously before he was killed by an airstrikes last September inside Saudi teritories.<br />
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"Thanks goodnesst, I am still alive, give me my gun, and let me go to borders for retaliation," said Saleh Al Bukhaiti, from under rubbles of his house. The 62-year old Al Bukhaiti miraculously survived after Saudi airstrikes destroyed his house killing all his family members in Hada district 100 south of Sanaa.<br />
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"My son is a bridegroom today," said mother of Saleh as she ululated threw flowers on the coffin of her 22-son who was killed in South Saudi of Jaizan earlier this month while fighting Saudi forces. Two older brothers of Saleh had been earlier killed in the same place.<br />
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The father, Ahmed Mohammed, still wants the remaining three to go to the battle.<br />
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"I am honored by God to have three of sons martyrs, my remaining three sons are now preparing to fight this barbaric enemy, I myself will go, we will not kneel down but to Allah," said the father to reporters in funeral of his third son killed here in the martyrs cemetery in southern outskirt of Sanaa.<br />
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United Tribesmen<br />
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The US-backed Saudi aggression united Yemeni tribesmen and made them put aside all their differences and focus on foreign enemy.<br />
Everyday, you see graduation new trained fighters joining the battles.<br />
The tribes boast of declaring the number of fighters they send to battle fields. The rich tribal leaders and businessmen also support army with generous caravans of food and money collected from men and women who can not go fight but want to participate.<br />
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"We support army with food, money, weapons, fighters and everything we can," said farmer Ali Hussein, from Bani Hushaish as he donated two cars laden with raisins and nuts to fighters this week.<br />
"We will never kneel down to such criminals," said Mr Hussein as hundreds of similar farmers (to donate) came to a huge square eastern Sanaa where donations in kind and cash are collected by special committees.<br />
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-54549083108795957782016-10-12T08:32:00.002-07:002016-10-12T08:44:18.405-07:00Obama Is Killing Yemen: A Yemeni Journalist Speaks Out After U.S.-Backed Bombing Strikes Funeral<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">On Sunday, thousands of Yemenis gathered at the United Nations building in Sana’a calling for an international investigation into the U.S-backed Saudi assault on a funeral. The attack was carried out with warplanes and munitions sold to the Saudi-led coalition by the United States. The U.S. Air Force continues to provide midair refueling to Saudi warplanes. According to the U.N., more than 4,000 civilians have been killed and over 7,000 injured since the Saudi-led coalition bombing began last year. Airstrikes have reportedly caused about 60 percent of the deaths. We go to Sana’a to speak with Yemeni journalist Nasser Arrabyee and Sarah Leah Whitson of Human Rights Watch.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: I wanted to see if we can reach Nasser Arrabyee, the Yemeni journalist based in Sana’a, founder and president of the media service company Yemen Now. Nasser, are you with us?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>NASSER ARRABYEE</b>: Yes, yes. Thank you very much.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">AMY GOODMAN: Can you tell us—you’re speaking to us from the capital. Can you talk about what you understand happened, who you’ve spoken to? And what evidence is there of the U.S. support for the Saudi attack?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>NASSER ARRABYEE</b>: Well, no single Yemeni doubt that Saudi Arabia was not the one who did this crime at all, because it is not the first, it is not the last. Saudi Arabia has been committing war crimes since March 26, 2015. So, without doubt, it;s Saudi Arabia.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">But let me tell you what is the—what is also the thing. The big criminal is Obama himself. This is how Yemenis see to the situation, because every Yemeni believe that Saudi Arabia would not have done that at all, would not have done a war in Yemen, without the approval of Obama. And it is very clear to everyone that Obama wanted to appease the Saudis after the Iranian nuclear deal. But, unfortunately, he appeased them by the Yemeni blood. And this is a big problem to the Americans. Obama is destroying the values and the principle of America now. Obama is leading the world to the law of jungle. Obama, unfortunately, is doing—is killing Yemen now, killing Yemen. No killer except Obama in the eyes of Yemenis now, because everybody knows Saudi Arabia and what it would do if there is not the approval of Obama.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Nasser, you tweeted this morning, "Obama Has been killing Yemen humans With Saudi hands for about 20 months now." Also, from The Intercept, they write, "Multiple bomb fragments at the scene appear to confirm the use of American-produced MK-82 guided bombs. One fragment, posted in a picture on the Facebook page of a prominent Yemeni lawyer, says 'FOR USE ON MK-82 FIN, GUIDED BOMB.'" Nasser Arrabyee?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>NASSER ARRABYEE</b>: Yes, yes. Well, let me tell you something very important. You know, the problem why—or the reason why we say Obama is killing Yemen, is killing Yemen humans, is simply because Obama or United States, the administration of the United States, is cooperating. And this is announced. This is known to everyone. But it is not only a matter of cooperating with the refuel or with the intelligence or with the logistic things. No. But it is a will. It is Obama will to support the Saudi Wahhabi regime, which means to us is Obama now is supporting the Qaeda, ISIS, because Obama is saying he’s supporting the internationally recognized government, the exiled government based in Riyadh now. Obama should know—and I think he knows—that three members, at least—three members, at least, of this government are designated by Obama, by Treasury Department, as global terrorists. I can give you the names now. Three, at least, of this government in Riyadh are Qaeda, ISIS leaders. They are leading their operators here in Yemen, using the American weapons, using the Saudi money. This is what Obama is doing in Yemen. Obama is leading the Americans to the law of jungle and the world to the law of jungle. He is crazy now.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: In June, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon removed the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition from a blacklist of forces responsible for killing children. Ban later acknowledged he was coerced into doing so after the kingdom threatened to cut off funding to the U.N.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON</b>: The report describes horrors no child should have to face. At the same time, I also had to concede the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously, if, as was suggested to me, countries would defund many U.N. programs. Children already at risk in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair. It is unacceptable for members states to exert undue pressure.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: That’s U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Sarah Leah Whitson?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SARAH LEAH WHITSON</b>: The fallout to U.S. and U.N. credibility from this support for Saudi Arabia and its disastrous war in Yemen has been quite severe. Not only is the U.S. implicated in the crimes that are being carried out by the Saudi coalition in Yemen, not only has the U.N.'s credibility been tarnished by basically accepting a bribe to take Saudi Arabia off of this list of shame of worst attackers on children, but now we have the U.S. government standing behind a government, the Saudi coalition, that is carrying out the exact same kind of strikes in Yemen—an attack on a funeral—that extremist groups in Iraq, ISIS, has been carrying out in Baghdad for over a year, and, again, making it very hard for people to tell the difference about who the extremists really are. Finally, the recent vote on—at the U.N. Security Council about a resolution on Aleppo was significantly stymied because the U.S. just could not maintain condemning an attack by Russians and Syrian government forces on civilians, while it's supporting, aiding and abetting very similar attacks that its partner, its number one arms client, is carrying out in Yemen.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: I wanted to turn to Senator Chris Murphy, who’s spoken out against the U.S. support for the Saudi-led bombing campaign in August. He was on CNN.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SEN. CHRIS MURPHY</b>: There is an American imprint on every civilian life lost in Yemen. Why? Well, it’s because though the Saudis are actually dropping the bombs from their planes, they couldn’t do it without the United States. It’s our munitions, sold to the Saudis. It’s our planes that are refueling the Saudi jets. And it’s our intelligence that are helping the Saudis provide their targeting. We have made a decision to go to war in Yemen against a Houthi rebel army that poses no existential threat to the United States. It’s really wild to me that we’re not talking more about this in the United States. The United States Congress has not debated a war authorization giving the president the power to conduct this operation in Yemen.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Connecticut Senator Murphy went on to say that Congress can put an end to arms sales in Saudi Arabia, again, speaking on CNN.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SEN. CHRIS MURPHY</b>: Congress may have a chance to weigh in, in September, because the Saudis need more bombs, and so they need the Congress to reauthorize a new sale of weapons. So Congress can step in and say enough is enough.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: And Senator Murphy said that the perception in Yemen is that the United States is responsible for the war, not Saudi Arabia.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SEN. CHRIS MURPHY</b>: If you talk to Yemenis, they will tell you that inside Yemen, this is not perceived to be a Saudi bombing campaign, this is perceived to be a U.S. bombing campaign. What’s happening is that we are helping to radicalize the Yemeni population against the United states.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Which is exactly what Nasser Arrabyee, our guest, just said from Sana’a. So, he was talking about cutting off the weapons supply back in September. It’s now October, Sarah Leah Whitson.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SARAH LEAH WHITSON</b>: Mm-hmm. And there was a remarkable vote in the Senate, which was defeated, to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but there were more votes in support for it than ever could have been imagined. So, clearly, there is a shift and a reconsideration. And, of course, most importantly, on Saturday, the State Department announced that it was going to review what it called its drastically reduced support for Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen. So, clearly, the administration is feeling the heat.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">We need an international investigation, a true, impartial investigation, to understand what is happening with these airstrikes and to hold those responsibility to account. And I think the U.S. Congress has a major role to play, not only in suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but in forcing this administration to tell us exactly what sort of assistance it has been providing and what its involvement has been in every single one of the unlawful strikes that we’ve documented. There are answers that the U.S. government, that the National Security Council, the State Department, owes the American people as to what exactly it’s doing in terms of its support for this war in Yemen. And it’s only given very vague and cryptic answers.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Why is President Obama doing this?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SARAH LEAH WHITSON</b>: Well, as your guest said and as the administration has itself repeatedly conceded, this war in Yemen is the price of the Iran deal. The Yemeni people are paying the bill for Saudi being very upset about the Iran deal. And I think the administration calculated that this would be a very short war, that the Houthis would be quickly dislodged, and they could befriend and win over the Saudis. What they didn’t count on, and what we’ve seen time and again in the region, is that the war unfolds into a massive disaster and the U.S. in way over its head.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Nasser Arrabyee, we have 30 seconds. Your final message to the American people from Sana’a, from Yemen?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>NASSER ARRABYEE</b>: The final message is that the—we want to salute the American heroes, despite all the war crimes of Obama, because there are a lot of people who—I mean, the Americans, all the Americans, we respect them. We know that they are with us. Human Rights Watch and the senators like Chris Murphy and Rand Paul and a lot of senators, they are heroes. We respect them. We salute them. We know they are going to rescue the values and the principles of America against Obama. Obama is misled. Obama is bylined by Saudi dirty money. Saudi dirty money is destroying the principles of American values of America. They should stop Obama and every official who does not know what’s happening in Yemen now.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Let me just ask—let me ask Sarah Leah Whitson, very quickly: Last month, the U.S. Senate approved a billion-dollar arms deal to Saudi Arabia; is there any chance this might be revoked, if there are concerns that the U.S. itself is involved with war crimes?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>SARAH LEAH WHITSON</b>: Absolutely. Even if the deal itself is not revoked, delivery can be suspended, delivery can be delayed. And we’ve already seen the U.S. government, for example, suspend the transfer of various weapons during the courses of various wars. So they can absolutely suspend this. And I think the U.S. government knows that, really, the time is up for this war and its support.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><b>AMY GOODMAN</b>: Well, so let’s see some of the moderators of the debates ask the presidential candidates these questions. Sarah Leah Whitson, thanks so much for being with us, from Human Rights Watch. And, Nasser Arrabyee, thank you for joining us from Sana’a, Yemeni journalist based in Sana’a, founder and president of the media service company Yemen Now. This is Democracy Now! We’ll be back in a minute.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2016/10/11/obama_is_killing_yemen_a_yemeni">http://www.democracynow.org/2016/10/11/obama_is_killing_yemen_a_yemeni</a></div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-85467718605193403752016-09-27T21:05:00.002-07:002016-09-27T21:51:06.818-07:00Yemen: The Graveyard of the Obama Doctrine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">This past Tuesday, President Barack Obama delivered his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Though he tried to sound optimistic, he couldn’t help but strike a rueful tone. Gone was the global media darling who electrified world leaders in 2009—that Obama was “determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity at home and abroad.” The graying, deliberate Obama of 2016 could offer only limited aspirations of a “course correction” in world politics, while pondering why cycles of conflict and suffering persisted. Though the president advocated for the “hard work of diplomacy” in places like Syria, he also elaborated on one of his recent, common refrains, cautioning that in the Middle East “no external power is going to be able to force different religious communities or ethnic communities to co-exist for long.” Across the region, “we have to insist that all parties recognize a common humanity and that nations end proxy wars that fuel disorder,” Obama said.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">A day later, the U.S. Senate held a rare debate on the sale of arms destined for another war in the Middle East. The deal, for $1.15 billion in weaponry to Saudi Arabia, including over 150 Abrams tanks, is a drop in a bucket: more than $100 billion in arms sales to the kingdom have already been approved by the Obama administration. But a year and a half into the kingdom’s relentless war in Yemen, opponents of the new sale see it as an outright affirmation of Washington’s involvement in a deadly, strategically incoherent war that the White House has kept largely quiet about. What’s more, it is at odds with Obama’s apparent distaste for regional proxy wars.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has targeted Yemen’s Shia Houthi militias and their allies, loyalists of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who two years ago seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa by force. Several months later, they drove the Saudi-backed President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile. When Saudi King Salman announced the intervention in Yemen—an intervention the kingdom has painted as a proxy war with Iran, its regional foe—the White House immediately authorized a support package that included intelligence-sharing and logistical support for military operations. That package has seen the United States deliver more than 40 million pounds of fuel to Saudi jets over the past 18 months, according to U.S. Central Command. The Saudis would be crippled without direct U.S. military assistance, particularly aerial refueling, which continues unabated.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Supporters of the new arms package portrayed it as necessary support after the Obama administration’s landmark nuclear deal with Iran. To them, Yemen is a proxy war, and the United States must side with the Gulf—never mind the absence of direct evidence of wide-scale Iranian meddling in the Houthi rebellion. “Blocking this sale of tanks will be interpreted by our Gulf partners, not just Saudi Arabia, as another sign that the United States of America is abandoning our commitment in the region and is an unreliable security partner,” Arizona Senator John McCain said, depicting the very dynamic Obama appeared to warn against the day before. “That’s what this vote is all about.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Those opposing the deal, including Republicans like Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Democrats like Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, urged their colleagues to reconsider the costs of enmeshing the United States in another war. “Let’s ask ourselves whether we are comfortable with the United States getting slowly, predictably, and all too quietly dragged into yet another war in the Middle East,” Murphy said from the floor. Ultimately, the Senate voted to table the resolution opposing the deal. But 27 senators voted against the motion to table—coming out against the arms deal in a considerable, if symbolic, rebuke to the Saudis, the Obama administration, and their largely Republican backers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Earlier this year, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg published “The Obama Doctrine,” in which the president described a Middle East populated by unreliable “free-rider” allies constantly drawing the United States into their petty rivalries, fueled by avarice, tribalism, and sectarianism. Key among those free riders were the Sunni Arab states of the Gulf, Goldberg wrote. The Saudis, along with the Iranians, Obama said, “need to find an effective way to share the neighborhood.” Yet despite the Obama White House’s misgivings about Saudi Arabia, it backed its campaign in Yemen, enabling perhaps the chief free-rider’s war.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">At times, the Obama administration’s support for the Saudis has thrown diplomatic efforts to end the war into confusion. In August, Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Jeddah to meet with officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Britain, and the United Nations. Some Yemenis were cautiously optimistic that Kerry—who says the war in Yemen does not have a military solution—would use his leverage with Riyadh to push for an easing of airstrikes. Instead, he left them with a vague “roadmap” for peace that offered the Houthis certain concessions, angering some in Riyadh, but did little to pressure the Saudis to implement the plan. Within 24 hours, the Saudi-led coalition had intensified its aerial campaign, while its allies on the ground launched a renewed offensive on the Houthi-controlled northwest of the country. The Houthis responded by escalating their own attacks over the border into the kingdom.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Farea al-Muslimi, a Beirut-based Yemeni political analyst and cofounder of the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, said underwhelming diplomatic efforts by the United States like this have left Yemenis feeling like a beleaguered afterthought. “It is quite disappointing, especially because Yemen is easily solved compared to Syria,” where a political revolution morphed disastrously into sectarian cleansing, he said. Yemen’s war, by contrast, is still largely a matter of local rivalries. “But there is simply no interest or concern” from the United States, al-Muslimi said.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">In Yemen, where Washington has outsized influence due to its political and military relationship with Gulf nations, the White House is unlikely to take the kind of gamble Kerry recently took on Syria: a ceasefire between the Russian and Iranian-backed Bashar al-Assad and the rebels supported by the United States and its regional allies. That deal now lies in tatters, in the wake of the U.S. bombing of Assad’s forces and a apparent Russian air strikes against a UN-coordinated aid convoy. It has severely diminished hopes for any similar attempt to end the conflict in Yemen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Even if Yemen cannot be solved via diplomatic miracle, it is puzzling that Obama’s apparent distaste for the kingdom has had remarkably little influence. A critic of the U.S.-Saudi alliance as a senator, the president’s White House has had a troubled relationship with the absolute monarchy since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011—which saw a number of Saudi allies, including Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, ousted from power—and more so since the Iranian nuclear deal. The once-improbable now seems imminent: unless the Obama administration ends refueling and logistical support for the Saudis, it appears all but certain to hand off the war in Yemen to his successor.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The Pentagon’s view of the Saudi war in Yemen is mixed. Some officials have been openly enthusiastic: For the first time, a regional ally is taking the lead in a military campaign, a scenario one senior Pentagon official described as “something we’ve dreamed of.” But among the top brass, there’s uncertainty as to what, exactly, is at stake in Yemen. Shortly after the United States announced its support for the Saudis, Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Gulf, told lawmakers that he didn’t “know the specific goals and objectives of the Saudi campaign.”</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Realism, or Obama’s version of it, perhaps still wins the day. Stephen Seche is the executive vice president of Washington’s Arab Gulf States Institute and a veteran U.S. diplomat who worked on the Gulf states. He served as U.S. ambassador to Yemen from 2007 to 2010. “I don’t think we went into this enthusiastically at all, but Saudis were in such a lather,” over the Iran deal, Seche said.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">The Saudis’ long-term plan for Yemen also remains unclear. Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, officials from both the State and Defense Departments questioned how well the Saudis had thought through their war in Yemen, and how skilled they were at executing airstrikes while avoiding unnecessary collateral damage. According to the UN, more than 2,200 civilians have been killed by coalition airstrikes since the beginning of their war in Yemen. Bombs dropped by Saudi coalition planes have hit schools, markets, factories, and hospitals. A CENTCOM spokesperson said that U.S. tankers offload fuel regardless of what a jet’s target is, or whether the mission has been preplanned and extensively vetted. A recent project to track all Saudi airstrikes since the war began estimated that a full third have hit civilian sites. Accused of violating international law in Yemen, the Saudis have blocked efforts at the UN to establish an independent human-rights investigation. When they were listed on a UN annex for killing children in airstrikes, Riyadh threatened to cut funding to the UN.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 18px;">Some in the Obama administration are unsettled by its position on Yemen. In August, after Saudi jets bombed a bridge that brought nearly all UN aid to Sanaa, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power tweeted out a picture of the rubble, and wrote “Strikes on hospital/school/infrastructure in #Yemen devastating for ppl already facing unbearable suffering&must end.” According to U.S. officials, the Pentagon had put the bridge on a no-strike list, reflecting its importance to the humanitarian response there, only to be ignored. Their plight worsened by a suffocating Saudi blockade, more than 21 million Yemenis are in need of some kind of humanitarian assistance and people in many areas are verging on starvation, as the BBC has shown. A few days after the bridge strike, a spokesperson for CENTCOM said that the United States continued to refuel Saudi jets like the ones that hit the bridge. If the Saudis decided on more bombing missions, the spokesperson said, they would refuel more.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-YE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Obama has said little about the war in Yemen. With mere months left in
his presidency, there is scarce indication that he will.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-YE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">And yet at the UN, Power has had to
publicly stand behind an unrealistic and one-sided resolution drafted by the
Saudis, introduced by the British and passed last April with U.S. support. The
text calls for the Houthis to essentially retreat and lay down their arms—a
non-starter, but one that the administration still considers the basis for
negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-YE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Obama has said little about the war in
Yemen. With mere months left in his presidency, there is scarce indication that
he will. Increasingly skeptical of America’s ability to shape events on the
ground in the Middle East, Obama sees little incentive to overturn the status
quo, even if that means supporting the apparently reckless military forays of a
government he disdains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-YE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">A U.S. official who briefs the White House
on regional national security matters summed up the Obama administration’s
prevailing attitude. Yemen was already a “complete shit show” before the war,
he argued, echoing Obama’s use of a phrase he is said to use privately to
describe Libya. The Houthis are a nasty militia who deserve no favors and Yemen
would be a “shit show” whatever the United States does. So why further degrade
a sometimes-unpleasant, but necessary relationship with the Saudis to produce
the same end result?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "lyon text" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 18px;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-language: AR-YE; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">After a joint U.S.-Russian press conference
held in Geneva to announce the abortive Syria ceasefire this month, journalists
were served vodka from the Russians and pizza courtesy of the Americans. Yemen
wasn’t even worth the takeout order, al-Muslimi said: “There is no pizza or
vodka when it comes to Yemen. Only cluster bombs and arms deals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-46193602018525177482016-09-16T03:17:00.001-07:002016-09-16T03:17:51.802-07:00Saudi Wahabi regime helps Qaeda/ISIS to rule Yemen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Nasser Arrabyee answering questions about the latest developments in Yemen after 18 months of US-backed Saudi aggression and war crimes<br />
<br />
Over the past few months and with the postponement of the third rounds of negotiations, there have been some notable changes in Yemeni power structures as well as shifting of alliances. Can you briefly explain the main changes?<br />
<br />
1) <span style="color: red;">Explain the formation of the new council between the Houthi, and Saleh and when did it start and why?</span><br />
<br />
On July 28th, 2016, and after Saudi princes thwarted Kuwait talks, the Houthi, Ansar Allah group and its allies and Saleh's party GPC and its allies officially agreed to form a supreme political council, that's ruling council to rule and fight the US-backed Saudi aggression.<br />
<br />
With this, Houthi and Saleh became partners to rule in addition to being partners to resist Saudi invasion and occupation. Before March 26, 2015, Saleh and Houthi were still opponents but Saudi aggression on that day united them to fight external enemy but only the Houthi was on power.<br />
<br />
On August 13th, 2016, the 301-seat House of Representatives held a historic session despite public Saudi threats to air strike them with the F16s. The HR ratified the 10-member ruling council (5 from Saleh 5 from Houthi) with 5 MPs more than the constitutional quorum which is half of the all MPs.<br />
<br />
A total of 142 out of 275 MPs attended the session. The speaker of parliament Yahya Al Raye and all MPs started the session with one-minute mourning over 26 MPs who naturally died over the past period, announcing 26 seats vacant, which means the total number is 275 and not 301. <br />
<br />
Some sick MPs asked relatives to carry them on sickness bed such as Rashad Al Shawari who came propelled by 4 of his relatives because of paralysis. One day before the session, the Saudi jets deliberately destructed all main roads leading to Sanaa to prevent PMs from 20 provinces from attending, and banned air flights from landing in Sanaa airport to prevent MPs outside Yemen from attending.<br />
<br />
The MPs Yaser Al Awadhi of GPC and Sultan Same'e of Socialist party, were among 10 MPs who voted via TV circuit from Oman. A total of 154 MPs attended the second day's session when the chairman and members of the ruling council took the constitutional oath before the parliament.<br />
<br />
The 12 late MPs took long time to repair the destructed roads or take more difficult and even longer roads to arrive in Sanaa. Observers called such a dangerous session of the parliament the "death" session.<br />
<br />
The US-backed Saudi jets kept hovering over parliament and striking in some places in the city of Sanaa during the whole 90-minute long session. With huge media covering everything live,thousands of of Yemenis and activists demonstrated in the streets around the parliament building 3 hours before the "death" session started.<br />
<br />
On August 20th, millions of Yemenis from all country's 22 provinces gathered in an unprecedented and historic referendum-like demonstration to support the supreme ruling council and his constitutional chairman Saleh Al Samad ( from north) and his deputy Dr Kasem Labooza ( from south).<br />
<br />
During this demonstration, the US-backed Saudi jets fired 24 missiles on already hit places nearby and around the square and streets where millions were chanting against the war and supporting the ruling council.<br />
<br />
Two of the missiles hit the gate of the Presidential Palace which is located in the same square (Sabeen Square) of demonstration killing 4 demonstrators and injuring 10 others. All that was painstakingly documented by media. This historic demonstration was with one flag (united Yemen flag) and one voice yes to ruling council no to war. <br />
<br />
2) How is it different from the previous council (the revolutionary council)? Does it replace it?<br />
<br />
This council united the two major forces in the south and north of Yemen ( Houthi and GPC). It united the revolutionaries with those who the revolution came against .<br />
<br />
The arrogance and atrocities of US-backed Saudi aggression made the impossible possible.Th ruling council replaced the revolutionary committee.<br />
<br />
3) Explain the Hadi’s appointment of Ahmar, and what it means for the government in exile?<br />
<br />
Hadi's appointments have done nothing not from Riyadh but also his appointments over the 3-year term before Saudis intervened militarily.<br />
For appointment of Ali Muhsen (Al Ahmar) as vice president, it made things even worse and more complicated to Hadi and international community. Muhsen is enemy number 1 of Houthi, Saleh and Hirak of the south. The 70-year old general is very close to Salafis from where Qaeda/ISIS come.<br />
<br />
He lost much of his tribal popularity by Saudi killing and injuring of tens of thousands of civilians asleep in their houses, schools, mosques, hospitals, factories, farms etc.<br />
<br />
His appointment was only one of Hadi's evil skills to make the situation without solution. The only thing that Hadi is good at is to make unsolvable problems even to himself. Saudis liked it (Ahmar apointment) only to try to divide the Sanhan tribes, to which Muhsen and ex-president Saleh belong without success.<br />
<br />
The US-backed atrocities changed the map of alliances, the social, tribal, political and even the sectarian alliances in favor of Houthi-Saleh.<br />
<br />
4) Briefly describe how alliances shifted in light of these changes, where does each actor stand (including Islah, the secessionists, tribal powers, anyone else I might have forgotten).<br />
<br />
The two major groups strengthened and officially announced their alliances by this council, because the step was a popular demand from the beginning of the US-backed Saudi aggression.<br />
<br />
Their opponents ( Islah, Qaeda, ISIS, and Saudis and their fake justification Hadi) bet only on US-backed Saudi military solution and more bloodshed and more destruction. The more bloodshed,the more complicated it gets to them and to all stakeholders.<br />
<br />
5) How many power structures does Yemen now have? (the government in exile under Hadi, the new Houthi/Saleh council? etc)<br />
<br />
Yemen now and all time since March 26, 2015, has 3 powers. The first one is on the ground fighting with majority of people against US-backed unjustifiable Saudi aggression and seeking a modern state for all with freedom,dignity, and sovereignty.<br />
<br />
And the second power is in Riyadh-based exile. All its strength is coming from the term (internationally recognized legitimacy) and from the money and weapons of Saudi Arabia who wants to settle accounts with Iran in Yemen using them.<br />
<br />
The third power is also on the ground working and fighting very hard. It is the power of Qaeda/ISIS and Hirak, the separation movement of the south. Hirak symbolic leaders are divided into many: Some work with Hadi, some with Saleh, some with Houthi, some with Saudi Arabia, some with UAE and some work with Qatar. While Qaeda/ISIS has one leadership,one goal and one enemy. The biggest winner of the war is Qaeda/ISIS. It has been increasingly gaining everyday since the very beginning of the war.<br />
<br />
What is the new council hoping to achieve and where does that leave the other structures vying for power inside and outside of Yemen?<br />
<br />
<br />
1) What does the council hope to achieve?<br />
To form a government whose main task would be the preparation of elections. Parliamentary, local and presidential elections.<br />
<br />
2) Do they want to run the country or break the country into two with them controlling the northern part?<br />
<br />
The ruling council and the would-be government are unionists and their main goal is to preserve the unity. The vice chairman of the ruling council is Dr Kasem Labooza, from very symbolic family from Radfan, south. The family of Labooza were all pioneer revolutionaries against the British colony in 1950s and 60s. The southerners, from all backgrounds, all levels, all parties, all sects, are much safer now in Sanaa than in Aden. I personally know some southerners who bring family members and properties to Sanaa and then go back to Aden to fight with Saudis or Emirates forces against Houthi-Saleh. Sanaa has about 2 million displaced persons from all over Yemen about 500,00 of them from the south. All this means that unity is a necessity.<br />
<br />
3) Does Saudi have any inclination to let them control the north?<br />
<br />
Saudi has always the will to make Yemen a back garden of slaves. Without a State. Saudis work hard to prevent any kind of respected State. It wants a controlled chaos not even like now with real Yemen fighters taking towns and cities in Najran, Jaizan, Asir and astonishingly arming themselves from advanced US-Saudi weapons.<br />
Saudi does not care much about unity or separation as long as it has the key of controlling the chaos.<br />
<br />
4) If this is their aim where does it leave the rest of the political actors? How are they reacting, or will react to this?<br />
<br />
The aim of Saudis is to keep Yemen weak, poor, lawless , stateless and always in a chaos controlled by them (Saudis). It's historic fact unfortunately. <br />
<br />
The third round of negotiations fell through in early August, where do talks stand at the moment?<br />
<br />
<br />
1) Briefly explain why the last round of negations fell apart?<br />
<br />
No negotiations or any kind of talks succeeded before or would succeed from now on as long as the problem maker is not punished. The problem maker is simply Saudi Arabia. The last round of talks fell apart like the previous ones because Saudi Arabia wanted to gain with such talks what it did not gain with more than 18 months of war with 10 armies and most advanced weapons and mercenaries from all over the world. Saudi Arabia wanted Yemenis to surrender and be slaves after all that sacrifices of blood and infrastructure. This is the impossible thing to happen.<br />
<br />
2) Briefly explain what Saudi wants and why is it difficult for them to give up on Hadi at the moment?<br />
<br />
Publicly, Saudis want Yemenis only to implement the "UN" resolution 2216 by handing weapons to Hadi and withdrawing from cities. And secretly, it actually does not want peace but it wants complete surrender and complete hand over of weapons to Qaeda/ISIS leaders who posed as members of Hadi's "internationally recognized" government. US Treasury Department designated as global terrorists 3 of the Riyadh-based Hadi government. Abdul Majid Al Zandani, Abdul Wahab Humaikani, and Naif Al Qaisy. The last one Al Qaisy was appointed as governor of Al Baidha. And Al Humaikani was sent to Geneva to represent Hadi. They all now fund and lead Qaeda/ISIS operatives from luxurious hotels in Riyadh. <br />
<br />
3) Under what circumstances would the negotiation yield a more sustainable solution or at least a cessation of hostilities?<br />
<br />
Simply, cease-fire means only stopping US-backed Saudi airstrikes and lift of blockade. The Yemenis (Houthi-Saleh) would also stop automatically as they only defend themselves with very modest weapons.<br />
<br />
For the sustainable solution, it is there and every body knows it, but Saudis want something else. The solution is a unity government recognizing the new changes ( Houthi and Saleh new realities, new and high popularity) taking all weapons from all militias and handing them to this government not to an "unknown" third party as John Kerry said in his last initiative of Saudi coastal city of Jedda late August, 2016. The first and foremost task of this transitional unity government is to prepare for elections on a date agreed upon and announced.<br />
<br />
What impact has the recapture of Mukalla, Jaar, and Zinjibar had on AQAP and possibly ISIS as well?<br />
<br />
<br />
1) Briefly explain how the conflict has benefited AQAP and ISIS? Not just in terms of operating more freely by gaining external support?<br />
<br />
First of all, Qaeda/ISIS still exist in Aden, Mukalla, Zinjubar, Jaar and everywhere in south as long as Yemen is stateless. About 200 recruits (jobless young people) were killed last week in the heart of Aden by ISIS suicide bombing. The victims, the jobless young people had been told by warlords to go fight with Saudis in Najran. The suicide bomber Ahmed Saif, Abu Sufyan Al Adani was a Quran teacher in Aden. Qaeda/ISIS is deeply rooted in the social and educational systems thanks to Saudi money.<br />
<br />
Second, everything in US-backed Saudi war against Houthi-Saleh was and is in the interest of Qaeda/ISIS. Leaders in Riyadh, Qatar and Turkey take money and weapons and hand them to the "resistance" which means Qaeda/ISIS.Yemenis around Hadi in Riyadh either direct Qaeda/ISIS leaders such as the 3 I previously mentioned or Islah leaders, brotherhood leaders whose supporters in the ground fight with Qaeda/ISIS against Houthi-Saleh in the south, Mareb, Taiz, Jawf, and Baidha.Hadi has no popularity at all neither in the north nor in the south. Even those around in exile, they know that he is very important for them only to have the "title" of internationally recognized legitimacy. Nobody expects from him to play more than such a nominal but essential role for this stage.<br />
<br />
For Saudis, Hadi is a sustainable and renewable mine of gold, bonanza. To do whatever they want of atrocities without being responsuble. The Saudis keep telling the world, shamelessly, they want only to restore the internationally recognized legitimate Hadi, without remembering what this legitimacy is for and about after all this unprecedented war crimes and devastation. Because of Hadi, Saudis portray themselves as peace lovers not war criminals, and mediators not party.<br />
<br />
2) What is likely to happen to both groups if Houthis/Saleh succeeds?<br />
<br />
If Houthi-Saleh succeeds, the Qaeda/ISIS will be vanished especially if the cooperation with US and international community for terror fighting is enhanced again . The Houthi and Saleh are the enemy number 1 for such groups, and no one would fight them more effective than them.<br />
<br />
These groups almost vanished from Sanaa and all northern provinces during 2015 and 2016 after they had strengthened and expanded over the period 2011-2014 when the brotherhood rode the wave of the so-called Arab Spring, the age of Qaeda/ISIS prosperity.<br />
<br />
3) What is likely to happen to both groups if Saudi succeeds?<br />
<br />
If Saudi succeeds, it will be a big victory for Qaeda/ISIS as the war was a big benefit to them to recruit, expand and move freely. The leaders will return from Saudi Arabia including the 3 I previously mentioned who are designated as global terrorists. More than 3500 Salafi schools will return to work outside the regulations of the government with finance and control from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They seem to be normal schools, teaching Quran, but all Qaeda/ISIS operatives graduate from such schools which are not under the monitoring of the goverment.<br />
<br />
However, it does not mean that under Houthi-Saleh , these schools will be banned, but will be monitored to commit to and comply with certain laws and regulations that require all groups and sects to respect each other and coexist with others to turn the diversity to positive thing for more security and stability.<br />
<br />
At the present in Sanaa and all northern provinces, Salafi mosques and schools open and exercise their rights but under strict monitoring for fears of security problems and some of their leaders escaped to Saudi Arabia after they refused or failed to comply with new security instructions to maintain security at the time of war.<br />
<br />
The Saudi-backed Islah party, brthoerhood, for example, refused to hand over weapons in 2014 when Houthi said all groups must hand over weapons to the state not only Houthi. Furthermore, Qaeda/ISIS does not recognize the state nor democracy or any kind of ruling outside their interpretation and Houthi and other Yemenis are considered to be apostates in their eyes until they believe.<br />
<br />
The situation in Yemen is increasingly becoming one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the region, what’s the prevailing feeling within the Yemeni population regarding the international community’s response.<br />
<br />
<br />
1) The humanitarian situation, access to food and medicine?<br />
<br />
Because of US-backed Saudi blockade, more than 20 million of the 30 million population are in need for food and medicine. More than 50,000 civilians were killed and injured most of them women and children,according to local right groups.<br />
<br />
Over 3 million Yemenis displaced from their houses most of them to Sanaa which became the safest city in Yemen despite the fact that no single day passes without Saudi airstrikes here or there. But no assassinations, no plundering, no thefts no suicide bombings like in Aden.<br />
<br />
UN agencies and other local and international organization exert great efforts to help. The people themselves help each other in a way that astonished every one. For instance, in every small neighborhood in Sanaa, you find water tanks being filled every morning and some times twice a day. This is done by richer people from the same neighborhood.This happens in all cities now.<br />
<br />
2) Who do Yemenis blame for the protracted conflict?<br />
<br />
The Yemenis blame the Obama administration for most of their suffering. This is why they keep nation-widely campaigning under slogan (America Kills the Yemeni people) . You find huge posters in the streets with this slogan written on them. Anti-America sentiment is running high and it gets higher and higher when US-backed Saudi jets kill whole families in their houses and when they commit huge massacres in weddings, schools, hosiptals, factories, mosques, and markets where hundreds<br />
of women and children brutally get killed.<br />
<br />
The Yemenis are very sure that Saudis would not have dared to do all that to them without Obama's consent. The Yemenis get happy, however, when they hear and see media and social media, in particular, the criticism of free people from America to Obama administration about Yemen's war crimes and weapons sales. They circulated the tweets of Senator Chris Murphy,for instance, and portrayed him and many others as a heroes in big rallies. This improves a little bit the image made by the (America kills the Yemeni people). All Yemenis know that the war against them was announced from Washington not from Riyadh.<br />
<br />
3) Is Saudi Arabia at all worried about popular sentiment in Yemen given proximity?<br />
<br />
Yes, Saudi princes and Saudi citizens are very worried not only from rising hatred anti-Saudi sentiment but also from the Yemeni attacks on the south of Saudi Arabia, from the photos and videos published almost daily showing defeats of Saudi army with the most advanced weapons in front of Yemeni bare-footed fighters. Everything turns against Saudis. War, blockade and hunger. The 30<br />
million Yemenis would find an easy way to eat if US-backed Saudis keep starving them. Saudis used every dirty means to make Yemenis surrender. Now, Saudis, for instance, wants the world to stop dealing with the central bank of Yemen. Saudis get angry why this bank still pays salaries to army fighting with Saudi Arabia in Mareb and far east of Hudhrmout. The works professionally and neutrally but irritates Saudis. Yemenis not seem to be worried if US-backed Saudis stopped the bank.Yemeni are already in the south of Saudi Arabia and they will not die of hunger, but they like to die in cause of defending themselves and their homeland.<br />
<br />
Yemenis made and circulated a lot of jokes about Yemeni fighters seizing American Abrams tanks and Bradley armored vehicles. The jokes boast of Yemeni brave fighters and make fun of Saudi fighters. Since middle of August and now when these scenes were shown almost daily and sometimes twice a day, the Saudis blocked or hacked Al Masirah Tv that reports from Najran, Jaizan, and Asir. Al Masirah shifted to a new frequency in less than 24 hours. The biggest concern of Saudis is the ballistic missiles that accurately hit vital targets such as military bases and oil facilities like Aramco of Najran that was hit late August with ballistic missile and Saudi retaliated by hitting all electricity stations that had been already hit and oil facilities of Ras Isa in Hodeida and many in her places<br />
killing&injuring more than hundreds of civilians. <br />
<br />
Is there a possible to end the conflict?<br />
The only possible solution is a just and fair one imposed by major powers and more specifically by US. Fair and just solution is known by everyone in all sides. But the biggest challenge is who would implement it?<br />
<br />
Fair and just solution between Yemenis and then fair and just solution between Yemenis and Saudi Arabia who made the problem to allegedly protect itself from Iran.<br />
<br />
When Saudi gets persuaded with this fair and just solution between Yemenis it will be even easier to reach a fair and just solution between Yemenis and Saudi Arabia.<br />
<br />
The first step to this solution is that Saudis should acknowledge that they are the first party and all Yemenis are the second and only party.<br />
<br />
<br />
1) What would it take to resolve this conflict<br />
It would take only American will, American will, American will to resolve the Yemen conflict. The war was American will to just placate Saudis after the Iran nuclear deal that drove the Saudis crazy.<br />
<br />
2) Who will have to rebuild the country? Saudi has been destroying civilian structures, presumably they will have to rebuild, why are they destroying something they know they will have to rebuild?<br />
<br />
<br />
Saudis are happy to kill and pay, destroy and compensate, damage and rebuild. But this is not what humans and US should accept.<br />
<br />
Yemenis think of how to get independent from Saudis much more than rebuilding? Yemenis feel that Saudi regime wanted to keep them busy with rebuilding over the next 100 years. And if they rebuild everything, who would return to life the dead and the injured.<br />
No one!<br />
<br />
The 300-year old problem between Saudis and Yemenis must be re-solved. The solution is easy. The Saudi regime must let Yemenis alone to create their modern state and peace will come to all. </div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-54840866688509229982016-09-13T22:05:00.001-07:002016-09-14T01:05:58.274-07:00Saudi-backed extremism is fueling Yemen outrage <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
Nasser Arrabyee ( http://carnegieendowment.org/sada/64528?lang=en)<br />
The Saudi government wants the Houthis to implement UN Resolution 2216 by surrendering their weapons to the internationally recognized government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and withdrawing from the cities they occupy, including Sanaa and Taiz.<br />
<br />
But what Riyadh wants is the Houthis’ complete surrender, and it seems unconcerned that weapons handed over to the Yemeni government could go to members of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), some of whom pose as members of Hadi’s internationally recognized government.<br />
<br />
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated three members of the Riyadh-based Hadi government as global terrorists: Abdul Majid al-Zindani, Abdul Wahhab Humayqani (who represented Hadi’s government at the 2015 UN-sponsored talks in Geneva), and Nayif Salih Salim al-Qaysi (whom Hadi appointed as governor of Bayda in December 2015). </div>
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Al-Qaeda and IS are the biggest winners of the war. First, despite reports over the past few months that they were driven out of a number of southern cities, they continue to operate in Aden, Mukalla, Zinjibar, Jaar, and elsewhere—and will remain as long as Yemen lacks a strong government. About 70 people were killed on August 29 in the heart of Aden by an IS suicide bombing.<br />
<br />
That suicide bomber Ahmed Saif (also known as Abu Sufyan al-Adeni) was a Quran teacher living in Aden shows how al-Qaeda and IS are rooted in the educational and social system; this is the most dangerous aspect of the<br />
problem. Leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey take money and<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">weapons and hand them to the “resistance,” which is often al-Qaeda and IS. </span></div>
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As the atrocities accumulate and the humanitarian crisis worsens, Yemenis blame the U.S. administration for most of their suffering. Nationwide, huge posters in the streets proclaim, “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USAKillsYemeniPeople/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d71b7; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s; word-wrap: break-word;">America kills the Yemeni people</a>,” as Yemenis are sure that the Saudis would not have dared to do all that to them without the consent of the United States.<br />
<br />
However, many Yemenis happily share media and social media, American citizens’ criticism of the Obama administration’s role in Saudi war crimes and weapons sales.<br />
<br />
They <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/765572525686423552" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d71b7; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s; word-wrap: break-word;">circulated</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/773950739869827072" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d71b7; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s; word-wrap: break-word;">tweets</a> by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy that criticized the Saudi campaign and portrayed him and others as heroes in big rallies, improving a little bit the image advanced by the “America kills the Yemeni<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">people” campaign. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">Anti-America sentiment gets even higher when U.S.-backed Saudi jets kill whole families in their houses and commit massacres in weddings, schools, hospitals, factories, mosques, and </span><a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/04/07/yemen-us-bombs-used-deadliest-market-strike" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d71b7; font-size: 1.3rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s; word-wrap: break-word;">markets</a><span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">, where hundreds of women and children have been killed. </span></div>
<div style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.3rem; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">Saudis are increasingly worried—not only by rising hatred, anti-Saudi sentiment, and the growing number of attacks on southern Saudi Arabia, but also by the photos and videos published almost daily showing bare-footed Yemeni fighters defeating the Saudi army and its most advanced weapons.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;"> Yemenis made and circulated a lot of </span><a href="https://twitter.com/commonsense575/status/769225756685770752" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.2s; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d71b7; font-size: 1.3rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s; word-wrap: break-word;">jokes</a><span style="font-size: 1.3rem;"> about Yemeni fighters seizing American M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles (BFVs), boasting of Yemeni fighters’ bravery and making fun of Saudi fighters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">Since mid-August, these scenes are shown almost daily and sometimes twice a day, leading Saudis to block or hack the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV on August 26,</span><span style="font-size: 1.3rem;">which reports from the Saudi provinces of Najran, Jizan, and Asir. Al Masirah shifted to a new frequency in less than 24 hours. </span></div>
<div style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.3rem; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">
Still, a bigger concern for Saudis are the ballistic missiles that hit vital targets, such as military bases and oil facilities. An Aramco power plant in Najran was hit on August 26 with a ballistic missile, and Saudi Arabia retaliated by hitting electricity stations, oil facilities, and factories, including an attack on the Ras Isa sugar factory in Hodeida, cumulatively killing and injuring hundreds of civilians.<br />
<br />
Yet on September 2 Houthis fired a home-made ballistic missile named Burkan-1 on Taif, unnerving Saudis. The range of this missile is over 800 kilometers (500 miles) and it weighs nine tons.<br />
<br />
Even though Saudis said they destroyed Yemenis’ ballistic capability in the<br />
first week of war, after eighteen months they are stunned by how Yemenis moved such a huge missile and fired it on a military base hundreds of kilometers into Saudi Arabia—let alone how they made it and where. </div>
</div>
<div class="author-summary" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: GaramondPremierW08-Capt, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
Nasser Arrabyee is a Yemeni journalist based in Sanaa and founder and president of the media service company <span style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Yemen Alaan</span>.</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-28675526895434417452013-09-02T02:58:00.000-07:002013-09-02T03:46:11.735-07:00Read Nasser Arrabyee in new outlets <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-90615309074226001162013-08-16T09:50:00.001-07:002013-08-16T09:50:48.207-07:00Why all these drone attacks on Yemen at once?!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nasser
Arrabyee, 16/08/2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Yemen Al
Qaeda second man might have been killed in one of the 13 recent drone attacks
on Yemen where more than 40 Al Qaeda suspects killed over 10 days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Saudi
national Ibrahim Al Rubaish, deputy head of AQAP, was the second target of
those attacks that happened on July 30th, 2013 in Nakabah area, district of
Sayeed district of southern province of Shabwah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier this
month, and amid the media frenzy about big imminent terror attacks, the Yemeni
government published names of 25 men labeled as terrorists behind the security
and military assassinations and those terror threats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The top of
that list was the Saudi Ibrahim Al Rubaish who replaced the slain Saudi
Saeed Shihri as deputy of AQAP, though not yet officially announced as deputy.
If death of Al Rubaish is confirmed, this would be a significant success for
these recent drone attacks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">" I am
not excluding the death of Ibrahim Al Rubaish in Nakabah drone strike, but we
have to wait for statements from Al Qaeda," said Qaeda expert, Yemen
researcher Abdul Razak Al Jamal who had access into inner circles and
interviewed many leaders of Al Qaeda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Security
sources said that 3 of the 25 were arrested this week in neighborhood of
Sunainah, western part of the capital Sanaa where young people calling
themselves Shabab Mujahid, or Jihadist youth. There are at least 2 more similar
neighborhoods in Sanaa city: Musaik and Sawan known to many locals as
neighborhoods of Jihadists activities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yemen
President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi met US ambassador to Sanaa Gerald Feiestein on
Tuesday August 13th, the first day after Eid AlFetr holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although US
embassy was still closed due to alleged terror threats, the meeting between
Hadi and Feierstien gave impression that the two governments felt they
overreacted the threats to the extent that they helped Al Qaeda in a way or
another. The embassy would remain closed even after such a meeting, according
to diplomatic sources. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The meeting
was to discuss the terror threats and alerts that led to closures of
embassies and evacuation of staff from Sanaa, according to the official news
agency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The minister
of defense, Mohammed Nasser Ahmed shortly after the meeting of Hadi and
Feierstien played down the terror threats as " limited" saying that
security forces deal with them wisely capably.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Security
sources, however, said that authorities are taking serious specific
threats released this week by Qaeda top leader Nasser Al Wuhayshi to storm
prisons and let his men go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The sources
said that about 60 Qaeda prisoners were transferred from the intelligence
maximum security prisons in Sanaa and Aden to secret places in the country as
precautionary measures after such threats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">''We ask God
to make us a cause for unlocking your incarceration and relieving your agony,''
said Al Wuhayshi in a statement published Monday by Qaeda-linked website that
was described by experts as reliable. The words of this sentence indicate that
suicide bombing can be used for breaking the jails where Al Qaeda prisoners
have been languishing for a long time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The expert
Al Jamal said the statement was important to say "We are still here"
to raise morale of remaining fighters and give hope for prisoners and
sympathizes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also
he belittled the terror threats came from the two governments of Yemen
and US. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">" The
US and Yemen governments were very skillful in creating justifications
for these drone attacks this time, only to reduce the reactions of the
people," said Al Jamal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He said
" The new thing this time is that the Americans with Yemeni cooperation recorded
many targets and they wanted to strike them all at once , but before the
strikes they were concerned about angry reactions," He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Al Jamal
criticized the simi-ruling Muslim brotherhood and wondered why they kept silent
after all these interventions and violation of sovereignty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"They
were talking day and night about violation of sovereignty now they are not, if
they keep silent over drone attacks, they would be silent also over
any direct American occupation," said Al Jamal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The recent drone
attacks caused a lot of anger and resentment especially after a lot of
Yemenis saw with their eyes drones flying over their capital Sanaa
during Eid holidays. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many
activists of twitter and Facebook made a lot critical comments and jokes about
President Hadi's last visit to White House. Drones started while Hadi was still
paying thar official visit to US late last July. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The drone
attack of August 7th killed three brothers in Damashekah Abeidah Mareb,
and the ministry of interior labeled them as terrorists and identified
them as :1- Abdullah Kayed Salem Afra, 2-Al Hassan Kayed Salem
Afraj 3-Al Hussein Kayed Salem Aftaj, From Raghan, Dahm tribe, Mareb
east of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My local
sources said the older brother, Abdullah is known to everyone as
Qaeda member, he started by making money from Anwar Al Awlaki in return for
easing his movements between Mareb, Al Jawf and Shabwah. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Local
sources are not sure about the two younger brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However,
another source from Mareb ( closer to the youth meaning Qaeda) told
me that all the three brothers were with the "youth" meaning
Al Qaeda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For
strike of August 6th, in Markha area of Shabwah, the locals found only
their man from the neighboring village of Naseen tribe, Sarhan Abdullah Ali Al
Dhumluki.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> His
family and tribe came immediately after the strike and found him only. Family
and relatives buried Sarhan immediately. One of those who attended the
funeral said Sarhan was known as Qaeda local leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Qaeda
men came before local residents and took 4 dead bodies, according to the
locals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, in
the strike of August 1, Al Qaeda came after the strike and took all victims
including a local young man who was given only a ride by Al Qaeda men who were
driving nearby his village At Wadi Ser between Sayoun and Kutn. All the
men were Saudis according to locals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Locals
identified them as Makdad Al Sayeri and two of his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The local
man, killed was from a known family called Ishak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Local residents
from Al Kutn told me that another Qaeda car came and took all dead
bodies including the local man, who had nothing to do with Al Qaeda. Until now
the family of Ishak is looking for their son in his 20s not a child
as reported by some media. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"
Although we need another way to fight Qaeda other than the drones, but we
are not angry at all, we do not know those people, they are Saudis and wanted
by their government and they are doing problems to us by staying here,"
said Aref..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"For
our son who was killed with them, that was his fate to be with them at that
time," said Aref over phone from Al Kutn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-35477670753267397622013-08-16T09:49:00.000-07:002013-08-16T09:49:43.581-07:00Drones war on defiant terrorists <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Nasser
Arrabyee, 16/08/2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yemen is
witnessing an unprecedented war from the sky. More than 40 Al Qaeda suspects
were killed over 10 days by 13 US drone attacks mostly on moving targets
in different places of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> With
this fact in mind, and with some observers saying Al Qaeda is getting weaker
and weaker, the top leader of Al Qaeda in Yemen Nasser Al Wuhayshi threatened
after all those drone attacks that he would raid on maximum security
prisons of intelligence to get out his "brothers" to let them fight
with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
unprecedented drone attacks on Yemen came after allegations based on
intelligence leaks from both US and Yemen that Al Wuhayshi had been ordered by
his boss Eyman Zawaheri to implement big terror operations on Western embassies
and gas and oil facilities of Yemen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In a
statement attributed to Al Wuhayshi and published in Al Qaeda-linked websites
on Monday August 12, 2013, Yemen Al Qaeda top leader said,''We ask God to make
us a cause for unlocking your incarceration and relieving your
agony." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">''Your
brothers are pounding the walls of injustice and the thrones of oppression.
These walls and thrones are coming down every day and victory is but one step.
Victory is one hour of perseverance,'' said Al Wuhayshi who himself broke
the Yemen maximum security intelligence prison of Sanaa in February 2006
along with 22 inmates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">20 of them
were killed or re-arrested later except for Al Wuhayshi and two low-profile
other men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Yemeni
expert on Al Qaeda affairs, Abdul Razak Al Jamal commented on Monday to the
Ahram Weekly that the statement aimed to raise the morale of Al Qaeda fighters
and sympathizes after the painful repeated drone attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Al
Wuhayshi wanted to say to his enemies: we are still here steadfast, and at the
same time raise morale of his remaining fighters and also giving hope to
prisoners," said Al Jamal who met many of Al Qaeda leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The recent
drone attacks, between July 28th, and August 10th, 2013, came during and
after a White House meeting between Yemen President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and
President Barack Obama for discussing Yemen Al Qaeda threats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These
attacks caused a lot of public anger especially the fact that the drones
continued flying over the capital Sanaa for two days day and night for the
first time during Eid Al Fetr.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite
their announced approval, President Hadi and his government were in a big
embarrassing situation especially after US and western embassies closed and
evacuated their staff. Violation of sovereignty by drones was the most
controversial issue among Yemenis although they know of the government approval
and cooperation and coordination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">" The
US and Yemen governments were very skillful in creating justifications
for these drone attacks this time, only to reduce the reactions of the people,"
said Al Jamal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He said
"This time, the Americans with Yemeni cooperation recorded many targets
and they wanted to strike them all but before the strikes they were concerned
about angry reactions," He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Al
Jamal believes that they made two lies: The American lied about the
alleged imminent threats and closures of embassies and evacuation of
staff. And the Yemen lied about the oil facilities when they said Al
Qaeda was planning to destroy oil facilities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The
two sides were lying to justify the repeated attacks," Al Jamal
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His
assessment for those killed by those attacks is that most of them were from
middle level and at least 8 of the 40 killed were Saudi nationals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Saudi
national leading member Ibrahim Al Rubaish might have been among them, and if
confirmed this would be big loss for Al Qaeda. Al Rubaish is the deputy
head of Al Qaeda in Yemen now replacing Saeed Al Shehri who was killed by
drones early this this year and his death was confirmed by Qaeda
spokesman Al Rubaish only in the middle of last July.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The expert
Al Jamal said Al Rubaish might have been killed in the strike of Al Nakaba of
Sayid Shabwah on July 30th, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The last
drone strike killed 2 Al Qaeda suspects and seriously injured one
after they left their car and escaped walking in an area
called Askaria between Yafe'e and Radfan in southern province of Lahj on August
10th. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
drone strike of August 7th, at Damasheka Abeida Mareb east of the county, three
brothers fighting with Al Qaeda were killed by drones and they are
identified by ministry of interior as the terrorists, Abdullah Kayed
Salem Afraj, Al Hassan Kayed Salem Afraj, Al Hussein Kayed Salem
Aftaj, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From Raghan,
Dahm tribe, Mareb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ahram Weekly
local sources said the older brother Abdullah is known to everyone as
Qaeda member, he started by making money from the slain Anwar Al Awlaki
in return for easing his movements between Mareb, Al Jawf and Shabwah.
Awlaki was killed by US drones on September 30, 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-5187613851664800552013-08-02T04:32:00.002-07:002013-08-02T04:32:54.277-07:00Obama praises Yemeni leader, makes no mention of Guantanamo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Obama praises Yemeni leader, makes no mention of Guantanamo</div>
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Source: Reuters, 02/08/2013</div>
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White House- President Barack Obama praised Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi for his work combating terrorism but made no mention of efforts to repatriate detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison in public remarks at the White House on Thursday.</div>
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Hadi met Obama in the Oval Office a day after he tried to persuade U.S. senators to send home dozens of Yemeni detainees held at the controversial U.S. facility in Cuba.</div>
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The Obama administration said last week it planned to repatriate two Guantanamo inmates to Algeria, resuming the transfer of detainees for the first time in nearly a year and raising expectations that the United States was moving closer to shuttering the prison, which Obama has promised to do.</div>
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Yemen's support is critical to closing Guantanamo because 56 of the 86 detainees who have been cleared for transfer or release are from the impoverished country on the Arabian Peninsula.</div>
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Al Qaeda's regional wing is active in Yemen, causing concern for U.S. officials, who fear that released prisoners would eventually join up with Islamist militants.</div>
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Obama promised in May to end a ban on transferring Yemenis back home, but the Republican-controlled House of Representatives recently voted twice to block the transfer of detainees to Yemen.</div>
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During remarks before journalists after the meeting, Obama thanked Hadi for his government's cooperation on counterterrorism.</div>
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"Because of some of the effective military reforms that President Hadi initiated when he came into this office, what we've seen is al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, move back out of territories that it was controlling," Obama said.</div>
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"And President Hadi recognizes that these threats are not only transnational in nature, but also cause severe hardship and prevent the kind of prosperity for the people of Yemen themselves," he said.</div>
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The United States sees Yemen as a front line in its war on al Qaeda and has used drones there for years to target the group.</div>
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Hadi noted that cooperation with Washington on counterterrorism had helped his country.</div>
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"As a result of the activities of al Qaeda, Yemen's development basically came to a halt whereby there is no tourism, and the oil companies, the oil-exploring companies had to leave the country as a result of the presence of al Qaeda," he said through a translator.</div>
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"So our cooperation against those terrorist elements are actually serving the interests of Yemen," he said.</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-53659086440292197492013-08-02T04:29:00.001-07:002013-08-02T04:29:25.155-07:00Joint Statement by the United States and Yemen after Hadi met Obama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Source: White House press release, 02/08/2013</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Joint Statement by the United States and Yemen</span></span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In their meeting today at the White House, President Barack Obama and President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi of Yemen affirmed their desire to broaden and strengthen the U.S.-Yemen relationship. President Obama reiterated the United States’ support for the stability, security, prosperity, and unity of Yemen. He also commended the Yemeni government and people for their commitment to an inclusive democratic transition and the progress they have made thus far. President Hadi thanked President Obama for the United States’ steadfast support to Yemen during this critical moment in its history. He also commended the President’s efforts to advance peace, security, and opportunity in the Middle East. The two Presidents pledged to continue working together to help the Yemeni people realize their aspirations for strengthened governance, security, and the rule of law; protection of universal human rights; and enhanced economic opportunity. Presidents Obama and Hadi reaffirmed their commitment to a strong and enduring counterterrorism and security partnership and agreed to cooperate closely to enable the return of Yemeni detainees at Guantanamo Bay who have been designated for transfer.</span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Political Transition</u></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Presidents Obama and Hadi discussed Yemen’s efforts to implement the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and the strong support of the international community for its timely completion. President Hadi recounted Yemen’s progress restructuring the military and undertaking a comprehensive National Dialogue, and affirmed that preparations for a new voter registry, constitutional referendum, and national elections were progressing. President Obama commended the inclusive and representative nature of Yemen’s ongoing National Dialogue and the efforts underway to develop a shared vision for the country’s future. He praised the vital role that women, youth, and civil society are playing in Yemen’s political transition, providing a powerful example to the region. </span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Economic and Social Development</u></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">President Hadi highlighted the importance of social development and economic reform for Yemen’s political transition, as well as the country’s overall stability, security, and prosperity. The two Presidents agreed to continue working together to expand economic opportunities and foster private sector development in Yemen. President Hadi noted his productive discussions with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank regarding how to advance Yemen’s economic reform agenda while protecting Yemen’s most vulnerable, and President Obama expressed U.S. support for these reform efforts. The Presidents urged donors to continue supporting Yemen as it addresses a serious humanitarian crisis and begins fulfilling its commitments to responsible governance and reform. President Hadi thanked President Obama for unprecedented levels of U.S. humanitarian and development assistance. </span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Security and Counterterrorism</u></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Presidents Obama and Hadi reaffirmed their commitment to a strong counterterrorism partnership, discussing a range of efforts to counter the threat to both countries posed by al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). They recognized the extraordinary sacrifices of Yemeni military and security personnel killed in the fight against terrorism. They affirmed the importance of combating terrorism within the framework of the rule of law and of supporting Yemen’s efforts to build capable, effective, and professional security forces. </span></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Guantanamo Bay Detainees</u></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. He noted his decision to lift the moratorium on detainee transfers to Yemen, and the two Presidents agreed their governments would work together to facilitate the repatriation of Yemeni detainees who have been designated for transfer. President Hadi affirmed his intention to establish an extremist rehabilitation program to address the problem of violent extremism within Yemen, which could also facilitate the transfer of Yemeni detainees held at Guantanamo. Presidents Obama and Hadi agreed to remain in close consultation on this critical matter.</span></div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-11899394469254060472013-07-24T05:53:00.001-07:002013-07-24T05:53:17.776-07:00Yemeni eyes on Egypt!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Yemeni eyes on Egypt!</div>
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'Conspiracy in Egypt to have new President agent with Israel' </div>
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By Nasser Arrabyee,24/07/2013</div>
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A global terror-linked Yemen cleric said what's going in Egypt now is a conspiracy against Islam and Egyptian people and its President who "refused" to be an agent for Israel.</div>
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In a lengthy statement from his own view on "conspiracies" on Islam of Yemen and Egypt, Sheikh Abdul Majid Al Zandani said the aim of such conspiracies is to cancel Islam and make "partners" for Allah to rule instead of the rule of Allah.</div>
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"By the conspiracy in Egypt, they want to impose a President working as an agent with Israel ," said Al Zandani who is accused by US and UN of global terror. He is also accused of sending Jihadists to Egypt.</div>
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And on conspiracy against Yemen, Al Zandani said there is an attempt to cancel Islam and make "partners" for Allah in the Yemen 6-month long national dialogue which ends <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on September 18.</a> </div>
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Al Zandani who was not chosen as a member of dialogue for his extreme views, said the dialogue members conspire with the West to separate Islam from the State and make Shariah the main source of legislation not the only one.</div>
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Al Zandani, the son, Mohammed, made the statement of his father very clear by mentioning 37 names of dialogue members describing them as the enemies of Islam. </div>
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In a conservative country like Yemen where rule of law is almost zero, mentioning names as enemies of Islam may encourage extremists to kill some or all of them to "please" Allah. </div>
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The dialogue members suspended work and filed a law suit against Zandani and his son for calling them Kafer ( infidels). They also voted for a draft article in the new constitution criminalizing religious Fatwas calling people Kafer. The team of State Building, 39 out of 44 voted for the article. One voted no and 4 abstained. </div>
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Yemenis are arguing over the fall down of Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt and following everything as if it were a Yemeni issue. </div>
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The media, social media and all kinds of forums and public discussions are almost talk about the deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and future of Muslim Brotherhood in Yemen. </div>
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The Yemeni divisions are almost the same as in Egypt over "revolutionary" or "democratic" legitimacy of the deposed Morsi and whether or not Muslim Brotherhood and all religion-based parties or groups can ever rule Yemen or any other country after their dishonorable failure in Egypt, the origin and the inspirer.</div>
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Morsi is my president, Morsi is my president chanted some angry members of Yemen Muslim Brotherhood in a Sanaa demonstration supporting Morsi and blaming Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi for supporting what they called the "military coup" against Morsi. </div>
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The climax happened when some Yemeni leading members of Muslim Brotherhood threatened to take to the streets to overthrow President Hadi if he did not withdraw his congratulation to the new Egyptian President Adli Mansour and did not stop supporting the Egyptian army.</div>
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Mr Fares Al Saqqaf, one of Hadi's advisors, called on leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood's party, Islah, to stop inciting against President saying the congratulation to the Egyptian new President was a protocol that should take place whether what happened in Egypt was a coup or not. </div>
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The Yemeni President Hadi again on Monday July 22nd, 2013, congratulated Egyptian President Adli Mansour on national day ignoring the anger of Islamists. </div>
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However, general Ali Muhsen, Hadi's advisor for defense and security, strongly refused deposing of Morsi. The Islamic-oriented general Muhsen seems to have encouraged Muslim Brotherhood against President Hadi in a way similar to that when he encouraged them to overthrow President Saleh in 2011 when he played the role of the protector of revolution against his long standing boss and kinsman Saleh.</div>
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On her part, the Yemen Noble prize winner Islamist leading member Tawakul Karman finally yielded to pressure of her party Islah, local name of Muslim Brotherhood. Ms Karman changed her mind about Morsi and his legitimacy. Before he was deposed, she said the people in the street of June 30 was the real legitimacy not election. But, hours later, she apologized for Morsi and her party and everyone supporting Morsi for siding with those against Muslim Brotherhood.</div>
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She acknowledged that she fell under "dangerous conspiracy" saying the "real legitimacy" is the election, and Morsi was elected in free and fair elections and must return and continue in power. Now, she is using her social media day and night for supporting return of Morsi and ignoring all those who were behind his dismissal. </div>
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A lot of Yemeni activists criticized Ms Karman saying she is trying to please four groups at the same time: The committee of Noble Prize, Americans (Turkey Qatar and Al Jazeera), and number 4 is her group Muslim Brotherhood. </div>
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On the other side, 12 Yemeni civil society organizations demanded in a joint statement that one of the main streets in Sanaa be called "Al Sysi" in acknowledgment and appreciation of "efforts" made by the commander of the Egyptian armed forces Abdul Fatah Al Sysi who was capable enough to protect the national security of Egypt from chaos by deposing Morsi and putting him on trial for major treason charges.</div>
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In Yemen, arguments and controversy continue now in all levels about whether or not Morsi will return to power after his supporters took to the streets also.</div>
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They make a lot of sarcastic comments on the dreams of some "devout" Muslims being promoted by some speakers that Morsi will return by a divine miracle.</div>
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Jamal Mujahid, an Egyptian activist based in Sanaa, said "The return of Morsi to power is impossible because there is a new reality now"</div>
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"But Morsi and his aides should be released from prison and the Muslim Brotherhood should participate in the coming parliamentary and presidential elections"</div>
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The clamor in Yemen is all about whether or not what happened in Egypt will happen in Yemen? Will Yemen Muslim Brotherhood, who became very close to power now, will they fall down also?</div>
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The activist Adel Al Kateb, sees that what happened in Egypt must happen in a way or another in Yemen. " Yemen Brotherhood will fall also because they are doing the same thing in Egypt,they exclude all others as evils, and they are extremists in taking decisions because they belief that they are absolutely right always, and because they believe that they are closer to Allah," said Al Kateb.</div>
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However, Moneer Al Omari, analyst, said,"The Yemen Muslim Brotherhood will not fall like their counterparts in Egypt, but they will not be able to recruit more and more, and people will not believe them any more as in the past"</div>
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Al Omari also said that Saudi Arabia and UAE will not be supporting opponents of Muslim Brotherhood (like leftists and secularists) the same way they do now in Egypt. </div>
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The military expert, Wada Tahri, sees that Yemen Muslim Brotherhood will not take power without support from army and tribesmen.</div>
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"And if they dominate army and tribesmen and take power, I think they will try to reduce exclusion of others," said Tahri.</div>
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A lot of Yemenis from all levels exchanged congratulations via SMS after Moris was deposed on July 3rd, 2013. Many of them also celebrated by firing to air at night especially in the rural areas.</div>
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Observers say at least the fall of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt will reduce exclusion and discrimination against political opponents in civil and military institutions where Islamists have the upper hand as revolutionaries despite the fact that they form a national unity government with the party of the former regime of Saleh and other secular forces.</div>
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"In some ministries like ours, if you want to get promoted or continue in your post, you have to bring a recommendation from a brotherhood-run local mosque that you are devout," said Mohammed Hamdan from ministry of information. " I think these things will disappear after what happened in Egypt," he added. </div>
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The spokesman of Yemen Brotherhood party(Islah), Rajeh Badi, said that his party will not be affected by what happened in Egypt but will learn from the lessons and mistakes.</div>
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"I think what happened in Egypt will positively affect Islah, the party will make use of all mistakes that happened in the Egyptian experience and then it will do its best to avoid repetition of those mistakes here in Yemen," said Mr Badi.</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-76967048403590746342013-07-18T04:43:00.001-07:002013-07-18T04:43:41.325-07:00 Sister of Yemeni Guantanamo Detainee Pleads with Obama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mr President,please help me get my life back</div>
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By Nasser Arrabyee,</div>
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18/07/2013</div>
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A sister of Yemeni detainee in Guantanamo pleaded with President Barack Obama for releasing her brother promising to keep him peaceful.</div>
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Ms Amina Rabeii is the only one now who takes care for her old and sick mother after husband died more than one year ago.</div>
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The mother Safia keeps weeping all the time when she finds herself alone in a house that used to be crowded with boys and girls and husband supporting all of them.</div>
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Mrs Safia, who suffers from many diseases including diabetes and pressure, is now living alone in a small and unfinished house nearby the Sanaa international airport of Yemen.</div>
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Her daughter Amina lives not far away but always extremely busy with her own kids and her job.Amina teaches in a primary school and her salary goes for her mother and her own family. </div>
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Amina, in her late 20s, is not only busy with old and sick mother, kids, husband and teaching, but also she seems to be spending a lot of time following up cases of her two brothers who are in prisons only because of their brother Fawaz Rabeii who was killed in October 2006 by security forces as a leading terrorist.</div>
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Fawaz along with 22 other terror suspects had escaped from intelligence prison by digging a tunnel in February of the same year 2006.</div>
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Her brother Salman is in Guantanamo and brother Abu Bakr is in a maximum security prison in Sanaa for terror charges as well.</div>
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"I want at least one of my brothers be released to help my mother and help me, I am very tired," Amina said as she sits patting her mother's head and shoulder in their house last week.</div>
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"My father sent my brother Salman to bring Fawaz from Afghanistan and he was detained, and my brother Abu Bakr was put in prison here only because he is the brother of Fawaz," said Amina "Now Fawaz is dead, they killed him, what else they want, why they didn't let his brothers go?"</div>
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Abu Bakr is about to finish his 10-year sentence, but she said that one of Yemeni security officials told her that Abu Bakr will not be released even after he finished period.</div>
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Although Salman was put within a list of 26 detainees considered to be dangerous and should not be released from Guantanamo,Amina says she has hope that President Obama would cancel such a list and release them all especially her brother who has no time to do anything but to help his mother before she dies. </div>
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Amina said her brother Salman, when released,would get married and find a job for supporting himself to please his mother before she dies.</div>
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She said he always expressed his repentance and remorse for not being with his father and mother when they needed him.</div>
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"Mr President Obama,I would assure you that my brother Salman would not join any armed groups for fighting when he arrived home," said Amina in the appeal to Obama.</div>
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"Salman wants only to kiss feet of my mother to have her forgiveness,he wants to help me and my daughters, he always says in his letters he will put us in his eyes and in his heart," said Amina in her letter.</div>
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" How would such a nice and repentant man go to violence and be terrorist?," Amina wondered. </div>
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"Mr President, my brother Salman was deprived from helping and seeing our sick father until he dies, now I plead with you as a father, to let Salman see his sick mother before she dies," said Amina.</div>
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The mother wants to see Salman getting married and having kids before she dies. This is a will from the father Yahya who died out of injuries he developed while being arrested for investigations about his son Fawaz.</div>
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"For me, Mr President, I would say I am very tired taking all this responsibility alone,I feel I am lost, I need my brother to help me get my life back," pleadingly Amina concluded her handwriting letter to Obama.</div>
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Salman is one of 88 Yemeni detainees out of the total 166 remaining Guantanamo Bay. They spent about 12 years in this prison.</div>
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Some detainees have been on hunger strike since early this year to draw the attention of the world to their problem demanding release or fair trials.</div>
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And in Ibb province, the 12-year old Aisha has not seen her father Abdul Malik Abdul Wahab who has been languishing in this badly reputed detention since she was born. Aisha said her top wish is only to see and hug her father." I want to be like other girls who have fathers," said Aisha as she sings an emotional song about the moment of her meeting her father for the first time.</div>
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And in the old city of Ibb, the old and sick mother of the detainee Saeed Hatem lives alone in the fifth floor of an old-fashioned house. When she was briefed last week by the American lawyer David Remes who represents her son and 14 other Yemenis. She was only saying " When my son is getting back?" Not listening to any other news. </div>
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This question is always raised by families but it's always very difficult to answer by lawyers or human right activists. </div>
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When she was told that the Congress is still refusing a decree by President Obama to close Guantanamo and send all detainees home including her son Saeed, she said," Don't Congress have kids!?". She thought that Congress was a man.</div>
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Then she started to pray to Allah to give the Congress kids and take them to Guantanamo as indefinite prisoners so that he ( The Congress) feel her feelings about her son. </div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-89884499697772153482013-06-28T09:48:00.000-07:002013-06-28T09:48:03.751-07:00Guantanamo Detainee Lawyer Calls for Removal of Prison Warden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Source : The Guardian,by David Remes ,American lawyer representing 15 Yemen detainees, 28/06/2013 </div>
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On 6 February, reacting to the military's attempt to search their Qur'ans, Guantánamo detainees began a general hunger strike. The strike has since broadened into a protest against indefinite detention. The strike is now in its fifth month and shows no sign of abating. The hunger strikers have vowed to strike until the US government stops searching Qur'ans and resumes transfers, even if that means they will strike until they die.</div>
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The military initially denied that there was a hunger strike. It now concedes that 104 of the 151 "low-value" detainees are hunger-striking, and that 44 of the 104 are being force-fed (although the military does not use the term "force-fed"). More than a dozen of my own clients are hunger-striking, including four who are being force-fed.</div>
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The Joint Detention Group (JDG) is responsible for detention operations, including handling the hunger strike. Previous JDG commanders approached detainee hunger strikes as management challenges. They sought to restore peace and order by finding solutions to the detainees' concerns. Under that approach, hunger strikes didn't last very long.</div>
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The current JDG commander, Colonel John V Bogdan, takes a different approach. Incredibly, Bogdan had never run a prison before his Guantánamo deployment. Even without such experience, he felt qualified to write the security SOP.</div>
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Bogdan won't reach out to the detainees to discuss anything until they end their hunger strike. The men, however, won't end their hunger strike until Bogdan starts addressing their concerns, particularly with respect to Qur'an searches. (Transfers must be addressed higher up.)</div>
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But Bogdan won't budge. He appears to view the hunger strike as an insurrection, not a protest, and is using every trick in the book, however brutal and cruel, to put it down. A modern-day Captain Bligh, Bogdan has eliminated communal living, moving almost all detainees into isolation cells. His guards have confiscated family letters and pictures and legal materials, and even toothbrushes, toothpaste and towels. The guards prevent the men from sleeping by keeping bright lights shining all night and removing the men's eye-shades. My clients report to me that guards also deliberately make enough noise to keep the detainees awake all night, and they are chilling the detainees by keeping their cells freezing cold.</div>
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In early May, when I was last at the base, Bogdan started using what amounts to religious humiliation to break the strike. Under a new search policy, if a detainee leaves his camp to meet with his lawyer, or have calls with a lawyer or his family, he must submit to a pat-down in which guards feel his genitals and buttocks. The detainee faces the same excruciatingly degrading search when he returns. Bogdan well knows how insulting this new invasion of personal space is to these devout Muslim men.</div>
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Predictably, such searches are inhibiting many men from making calls to their families and having contact with their lawyers. Two of my clients refused to meet with me, or take my calls, because of the searches. Many other lawyers have experienced similar refusals. In this way, predictably, these searches are preventing detainees from exercising their constitutional right to seek relief from the courts.</div>
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We have asked US District Court Judge Royce C Lamberth to order the government to stop placing detainees in this unacceptable position; the judge is due to rule any day. Whatever that decision, Bogdan will undoubtedly continue to find new ways to make the men suffer until they break their strike.</div>
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In a 20 May letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, military defense lawyers called for an examination of Col Bogdan's fitness for command, "based on the rapidly deteriorating detention conditions under his command and his heavy-handed response to the current hunger strike".</div>
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Bogdan should immediately be relieved of his command. But removing Bogdan would not go far enough. His practices are condoned by his superiors. When Marine General John Kelley, the Commander of Southcom, returned from a recent visit to the base, he dismissed the hunger strike as "hunger strike lite" and denied that any detainees are being force-fed.</div>
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To bring this human tragedy and military embarrassment to a close, the military should appoint a high-ranking officer with sound judgment and humane instincts to mediate an end to the hunger strike. Habeas defense counsel can make an important contribution to this process; we stand ready to assist.</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-71707589782849329972013-06-25T02:32:00.000-07:002013-06-25T02:37:13.608-07:00Beyond Reproach: Who Rules in Yemen? Insurgents Or State?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Source:<a href="http://www.majalla.com/eng/2013/06/article55242658">The Majalla</a>, By Nasser Arrabyee, 25/06/2013</div>
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Four Yemeni provinces in the north and east have witnessed
extremely dramatic events over the past few days. Despite the sporadic nature
of insurgent clashes, the fighting in Sa’ada, Hajjah, Jawf and Marib provinces
all had one thing in common: the absence of the government.</div>
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In Sa’ada, the main Houthi Shi’ite stronghold, at least two
people were killed and twelve others seriously injured on Wednesday when a
motorcycle suicide bomber, Ali Salem Al-Gharazi, blew himself up in the crowded
Othman Mujalli Market in Sa’ada city. </div>
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Observers say the bombing had the hallmarks of Al-Qaeda,
especially as it came only days after a renowned Shi’ite cleric called at a
funeral for jihad for those killed in clashes between Houthi Shi’ites and
soldiers guarding the country’s intelligence headquarters in the capital,
Sana’a.</div>
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In the neighboring province of Hajjah, groups of armed
tribesmen have surrounded Hajjah’s central prison for more than ten days. The
tribesmen are seeking to kill nineteen men languishing inside the prison before
they may be released.</div>
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The men inside the prison, who are also from Hajjah, were
put on trial for ambushing and killing Colonel Hamoud Kayed Hamza and three of
his bodyguards in April 2011.</div>
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The Islamist party to which the accused men belong, Islah,
demand their release, claiming that they are “revolutionaries” like the
seventeen men who were released from Sana’a central prison after similar
appeals were made earlier this month. The men were accused of involvement in
the failed assassination attempt on former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh
in June 2011.</div>
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Concerning the case in Hajjah, Islah submitted documents to
the general prosecutor and the current Yemeni president, Abd Rabbo Mansour
Hadi, in which they demanded the accused be released on the grounds that the
men were revolutionaries. The party called for the file to be closed and the
case be examined according to a transitional justice law currently being
drafted by those involved in the national dialogue process.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the twenty-three-year-old son of the slain colonel,
Bashir Hamoud Hamzah, disagrees. “No, this is a purely criminal case, it had
nothing to do with the revolution at all,” Hamzeh argued.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hamzeh has the backing of his tribe, as well as those who
knew his father as a “sincere security officer and tribal leader,” according to
one of the men surrounding the prison. “If these men are released, this would
mean that there is no need for courts and prosecutors; then we will be in
complete chaos,” agreed Alaa Taher.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last month, President Hadi, under pressure from Islah,
ordered the general prosecutor to suspend the trial until the transitional
justice law passed. “It would be easier for us to kill these killers if they
are released, but it would be even more difficult for the president and all
Yemenis to have justice and a civil state; there would be chaos,” Hamzeh
contended.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Tuesday, June 18, hundreds of armed tribesmen stormed and
gained control of local government buildings in Jawf, a province in the
northeast of the country that runs along Saudi Arabia’s southern border.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The tribesmen accuse the Islamist governor, Mohammed Salem
Abood, and his aides of embezzling millions of Yemeni rials. They also believe
he is favoring his own men and relatives from the Islamist party. Abood and
other officials, including the man in charge of security, escaped the scene
beforehand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The spokesman for the attacking tribesmen, Hassan Abu
Hadrah, also accused the governor of having signed secret documents with Saudi
officials. “The documents signed in our names were only to justify more
injustice against us,” Abu Hadrah said over the phone from where his men now
occupy government buildings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Jawf tribesmen, especially Thu Hussein tribesmen, have
appealed to Hadi to replace the runaway governor with someone who can prevent
further bloodshed. Jawf’s tribesmen have closed the local branch of the central
bank, fearing it may be looted. They have also formed, from among their number,
popular committees to protect private and public property in the absence of
government authorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Abood escaped to his tribesmen in the neighboring province
of Marib, where angry tribesmen keep sabotaging the country’s most vital supply
routes for oil, gas and electricity. Abood refutes claims that he left for
Marib because his office was stormed. He stated that he went to Marib on
assignment, saying that things were all right in his governorate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week, the Yemeni government sent additional military
personnel to protect the electricity towers and oil and gas pipelines from
saboteurs in Marib. Those deliberately disrupting supply hope to wield some
power in having their demands heard. Often, they are pushing the government for
the release of relatives accused of murder or linked to terror.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before sending the additional forces, the government tried
to appease some of the local leaders by paying them approximately USD 250,000,
in the hope that they would then allow technicians in to repair the damage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, paying off some tribesmen angered others. Salem
Ahmed Al-Dhemen, a leader from Damasheka, a region in Marib, defiantly
announced he would keep sabotaging electricity and oil pipelines if the
government did not meet his demands. Dhemen says he wants fair compensation for
his father and seven other people from his family who were killed in 1994.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dhemen says that the government has been procrastinating
since 1994, and have yet to meet his demands. The ultimatum he gave ended on
Tuesday, June 18, 2013. He threatened that, should the government not
compensate him, he would sabotage electricity and oil lines in his area in
Damasheka. Dhemen is one of three tribal leaders who publicly admit to sabotage
to leverage the government. The government is unable to meet their demands, but
it is also unable to prevent tribesmen from holding the country’s supplies
hostage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tanks and armored vehicles with hundreds of soldiers are now
surrounding the areas where saboteurs are based in the east of the country. The
tribesmen who sabotage are not hiding: they are actually readying themselves to
fight.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-75647868888037147112013-06-18T03:05:00.002-07:002013-06-18T03:08:41.861-07:00UNDP support small projects in Hodeidah and Socotra island.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
UNDP support small projects in Hodeidah and Socotra island.<br />
<br />
<br />
Source: UNDP 18\06\2013 <br />
<br />
GEF-Small Grant Programme and representatives of NGOs and CBOs signing five Memorandum of Agreements to address environmental problems in their localities<br />
<br />
Sana’a, Tuesday, 18 June 2013 – A signing ceremony took place at United Nations Development Programme office in Sana’a between the Global Environmental Facility, Small Grant Programme and five Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) from Hodeidah and Socotra to implement specific interventions to address environmental challenges in their localities. <br />
<br />
“Water is already a scarce resource in Yemen, and the situation is getting worse. In the midst of transition and humanitarian challenges in Yemen, irreversible environmental degradation must be stopped – not least when we look at water resources and its management,” says Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen.<br />
<br />
Two of the five projects in Wadi Mawr, Hodiedah Governorate will focus on improving optimal utilization of flood water resources through rehabilitation of existing irrigation system to enable efficient methods. Both projects are co-financed by the Tihama Development Authority and the respective NGOs and will cover 14,500 hectors of agriculture land. Almost 11,180 families and 54,600 inhabitants will benefit from the two projects. <br />
<br />
The three projects at Socotra Island aim to help local herders in Diksam Plateau to harvest rain-water for 430 families and livestock..<br />
<br />
The total budgets of these five community projects amount to US$ 441,470. The Small Grant Programme of the Global Environmental Facility will provide US$ 151,500,the remaining amount of US$ 290,970 will be mobilized locally. <br />
<br />
Since 2004, the Small Grant Programme of the Global Environmental Facility has financed projects in 57 communities across the country aiming at addressing local environmental challenges. The projects have been implemented by non-governmental organizations and community based organizations.US$ 1.6 million has been provided by the Programme and US$ 2.7 million was mobilized from respective local partners<br />
<br /></div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-39774190131221964242013-06-16T22:33:00.000-07:002013-06-16T22:33:09.433-07:00Families and US activists demand release of Yemen GTMO detainees <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Families and US activists demand release of Yemen GTMO detainees </b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Source: Press release, 17/06/2013</b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>US Peace Delegation in Yemen and Families of Guantanamo Prisoners hold vigil at US Embassy demanding release</b><u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sanaa, Yemen—<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">At</a> <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">10am</a> <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on</a> <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Monday, June 17</a>, a visiting US delegation organized by the peace group CODEPINK will join families with loved ones in Guantanamo prison for a vigil outside the US Embassy in Sanaa. Motivated by the dire life-and-death condition of prisoners who have been on a hunger strike since <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://7" x-apple-data-detectors-result="7" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">February 6</a>, they will demand that the 56 Yemeni prisoners cleared for release be released immediately, and that the others have speedy and fair trials.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It took a dramatic hunger strike to call the world’s attention to the plight of these abused prisoners, most of whom have been held for over 11 years with no charges,” said Terry Rockefeller, a member of <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://8" x-apple-data-detectors-result="8" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">September 11</a> Families for Peaceful Tomorrows whose sister died during the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9" x-apple-data-detectors-result="9" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">9/11</a> World Trade Center attack. “Will it take the tragic death of a hunger striker for President Obama to move from words to action?” </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This past week, the US delegates heard heart-breaking stories from the Yemeni families. Working with the Yemeni NGO Hood, they decided to organize the first ever Yemeni-American vigil in Sanaa. The Yemeni families will bring letters to US Ambassador Feierstein explaining their plight. The American delegation will be fasting in solidarity with the prisoners. They will have banners, photos of the prisoners and some people will be dressed in orange jumpsuits. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I spoke out during President Obama’s May 23 speech, asking him why he refuses to release the 86 cleared prisoners,” said CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin. “Weeks later, the prisoners’ health continues to deteriorate but we still have no action from President Obama. That’s just unacceptable</span></div>
</div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-83094191834592292412013-06-12T00:35:00.003-07:002013-06-12T00:37:10.852-07:00Yemen transition political process going well, says UN envoy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yemen transition political process going well, says UN envoy<br />
<br />
Source: Report presented UN Security Council, 12/06/2012<br />
<br />
Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final Check Against Delivery Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council Resolutions 2014 (2011) and 2051 (2012)<br />
<br />
1. Yemen is in the heart of its transition. Only a few days ago, I sat at the side of <br />
<br />
President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Secretary-General of the GCC, Dr.<br />
<br />
Abdel-Latif alZayani, to witness the 565 delegates of the National Dialogue Conference celebrate the midway mark of their deliberations with the launch of the 2<br />
<br />
2. Delegates from all of the major political groupings in the country, including women <br />
<br />
and youth are, together, shaping the future of their country.<br />
<br />
In a country awash with arms and a history of conflict, such an inclusive process of dialogue is a great achievement. It shows the commitment of the Yemeni people to choose dialogue over violence and consensus over division. <br />
<br />
3. Yet as the sad incident of Sunday shows, this transition is delicate. I regret to inform the Council that a clash erupted between security forces and Ansar Allah demonstrators outside the National Security Bureau in Sana’a, resulting in the death of several individuals and injuries to dozens more. <br />
<br />
4. Nevertheless, Yemen is the only country in the region to emerge from the violence of 2011 with a peacefully negotiated agreement including a clear road-map and timeline for a broad-based democratic transition. <br />
<br />
The Government and people of Yemen are <br />
<br />
to be congratulated for standing by their words despite the challenges, and I urge them <br />
<br />
to stay the course. <br />
<br />
5. For the past few weeks, delegates have been divided into nine Working Groups, deliberating upon all the major issues facing the country, including the long-standing conflicts related to the North and the South. <br />
<br />
As is to be expected when such large and diverse groups sit together, including political opponents and even enemies, existing wounds and grievances have been difficult to overcome and good will has been tested. <br />
<br />
Deep divisions remain in the more contentious Working Groups such as on Sa’ada and <br />
<br />
the South. <br />
<br />
These will require careful facilitation and maximum good will on all sides. <br />
<br />
6. Still, I am pleased to report that progress has been achieved across the board. <br />
<br />
The majority of Working Groups have submitted their reports to the Plenary.<br />
<br />
Over 100 recommendations, many of them involving constitutional guarantees for human rights, have been submitted to the Plenary for endorsement.<br />
<br />
Despite the deep divisions in the Saada group, they managed to achieve consensus on a common vision of the roots of the conflict.<br />
<br />
Going forward, the delegates still need to build consensus over major issues <br />
<br />
Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final Check Against Delivery including the structure of the State, the system of government, and addressing the questions of the South and of Saada. <br />
<br />
This work will be substantially assisted by the <br />
creation of the National Dialogue Consensus Committee which was recently established <br />
with the tasks to harmonise and reconcile the various recommendations and to assist in the reaching of consensus. <br />
7. My team and other contributors have been working closely with the Conference bodies to share the full range of international experience, expertise and facilitation. <br />
While we have no recipes to solve Yemen’s many challenges, sharing comparative experiences from other country situations has enabled the delegates to make more informed decisions as they explore different options.<br />
The next and final session of the Plenary and Working Groups will be critical in reaching agreement on the principles and main contours of a future Constitution. <br />
8. I am pleased to note that the “dialogue” is extending well beyond the Conference. <br />
Men and women in Yemen are engaged in discussions and debates about the problems <br />
of their country and its possible future.<br />
People are participating in seminars, roundtables, and open tents put up in town squares.<br />
<br />
The developments within the National <br />
<br />
Dialogue Conference’s Working Groups are discussed daily in television and radio <br />
<br />
programmes, newspapers and new media. <br />
<br />
In the past few weeks, the Working Groups began their outreach to citizens across various parts of the country. <br />
<br />
Collectively, they have visited 18 Governorates, and have spoken to over 12,500 people of all ages and backgrounds including members of local authorities, NGOs, labour unions, women’s and <br />
9. On one such visit, a delegation member of the Military and Security Working Group was moved to tears at a visit to the Political Security Headquarters. She stated that, for her, this represented the “breaking of a wall of fear”.<br />
In 2011, it would have been unthinkable for a delegation comprised of women and youth to be welcomed at the headquarters of an intelligence agency. <br />
As President Hadi has remarked, we are engaged in more than a political transition; we are witnessing a transformation of the <br />
<br />
10. The National Dialogue now underway will be followed by a constitutional drafting process.<br />
<br />
The Government of Yemen has committed to make this constitution-making process fully transparent and inclusive. <br />
<br />
The new constitution will be confirmed by a referendum followed by general elections for a new government, which will be endowed with full popular legitimacy.<br />
<br />
We understand there are no guarantees for what lies ahead.<br />
<br />
It is an undertaking of great hope in a fragile environment, where a range of perspectives and diverse interests are seeking to realize a new and better order. <br />
<br />
Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final Check Against Delivery <br />
<br />
11. In order to develop the foundations of a new Constitution, National Dialogue will need to find a consensual settlement to the Southern question. This is being addressed by a dedicated Working Group with a specific composition weighted in favour of the Southern Movement, “Hiraak”. <br />
They will soon begin to debate proposals on the status of the South and a new State structure for Yemen.<br />
Yet, some Hiraak remain outside the process.<br />
The NDC in its first plenary, called for a committee to be set up to reach out to other Southern leaders. It is important for this to occur. <br />
<br />
12. In the South, the streets are heating up.<br />
Pent-up resentment of more than two decades of unaddressed grievances and systematic marginalization is reaching a tipping point. Southerners have grown wary of promises unmet. Since February, there has been a significant increase in the frequency and number of demonstrators flooding to the streets.<br />
Organized acts of civil disobedience have been observed weekly, sometimes resulting in injuries and deaths. The establishment of the two Commissions to address the unlawful or illegitimate seizure of property and unjust dismissals from military and civil service was an important first step in addressing main grievances.<br />
But while the huge task of collecting complaints and related submissions is well underway, the Commissions need far greater resources to accomplish their tasks and deliver effective remedies.<br />
Moreover, without further confidence-building measures by the Government or tangible improvement in people’s daily lives, the voices of discontent will amplify, narrowing the space for dialogue. <br />
<br />
13. There should be no doubt that the only peaceful route to progress of any kind is through open dialogue and importantly, addressing the legacy of the past. <br />
The government has yet to meet its obligation to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the events of 2011 or to adopt a law on transitional justice.<br />
Only with critical steps like these can Yemenis ensure a path to national reconciliation and embrace a new Yemen. <br />
In the media, unfortunately, the partisan war continues to be played out.<br />
Misinformation, fabrication and incitement are rife. Its time for politicians to stop instrumentalizing the media. A media truce is badly needed. <br />
<br />
14. Other serious challenges weigh heavily on the transition. <br />
The security situation remains fragile in many parts of the country.<br />
Despite all efforts to counter Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), they remain a lethal threat.<br />
Most recently, they have been trying to establish a foothold in Hadramawt with a view to control territory again. <br />
Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final <br />
Check Against Delivery <br />
<br />
15. The number of assassinations of mid and high level security officials has increased. Although participating in the political process, key political factions remain armed and appear to be amassing more weapons, creating the conditions for further violence and instability. <br />
Arms smuggling into Yemen continues with several shipments. <br />
<br />
16. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues unabated, with more than half of Yemen’s population in need of humanitarian assistance to access food, health care, safe water and sanitation and more than one million children suffering from acute malnutrition.<br />
Meanwhile, as stability has improved, 90 per cent of those displaced by fighting in southern Yemen (162,000 people) has returned to their homes. <br />
In northern Yemen, the prospects for the return of 300,000 IDPs remain distant, and their basic needs are acute. <br />
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Humanitarian Response Plan is only 30 per cent funded to date. <br />
<br />
17. Despite these challenges, the political transition in Yemen continues largely on course. <br />
Preparations for the electoral process by the elections commission are already under way, including steps to create a new biometric voter registry. <br />
Registration is scheduled to begin in September.<br />
The timeline leaves no room for any delays.<br />
For the success of the electoral and voter registration process, close cooperation and coordination will be critical among the political parties, donor community and the government. Political parties of the former opposition expressed concern that local authorities, most governors, security chiefs and electoral staff were all appointed under the former regime and are all linked to the ex-ruling party. <br />
They demand action be taken to build confidence in the electoral process. <br />
GPC leaders, on the other hand, are opposed to any change in appointments, viewing that to be contrary to the GCC Initiative and the Implementation Mechanism (“Transition Agreement”). <br />
<br />
18. Critical steps have been taken to restructure the armed forces. <br />
Many of the military commanders who played major roles in the violent clashes of 2011 have been removed from their posts or been reassigned outside of the military. <br />
A new structure for the military is being implemented, including the establishment of seven military regions.<br />
Both the republican guard and the first armoured division have been dissolved and their units integrated in the new regional structure.<br />
Despite these substantial moves, much remains to be done to ensure the professionalization of the armed forces. <br />
<br />
19. Let there be no illusion, there are those who wish to undermine the transition. <br />
Sabotage attacks on electricity lines have increased, causing misery and anger Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final Check Against Delivery throughout the country. Families are being plunged into darkness and unbearable heat.<br />
I have witnessed people’s resulting frustration, exhaustion and increasing anger. <br />
Last week, I spoke to many people in the city of Hudaydah, which has seen frequent protests in recent months. <br />
Here and in many parts around the country, patience is wearing thin. <br />
Attacks on oil and gas pipelines also continue.<br />
The interruption of Yemen’s energy exports and constant repairs of its electricity lines is costing Yemen hundreds of millions <br />
of dollars. <br />
And while the perpetrators of the sabotage are said to be known, impunity prevails. <br />
The people of Yemen are demanding justice. <br />
Those responsible for these crimes must be brought to account. <br />
<br />
20. I reiterated in all my consultations with political leaders that the only way to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Yemen is through the National Dialogue and the transition process.<br />
All Yemenis have a solemn responsibility to advance their legitimate interests and aspirations through this process, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Transition Agreement. <br />
<br />
21. Yemenis have embarked on an extraordinary course, based on an agreed roadmap. They deserve to be supported and are counting on the international community, especially this Council, to fully understand the importance of continuing to walk with Yemenis through the entire transition process, to meet the challenges; and to deliver all available political and financial support. <br />
<br />
22. Perhaps the most important ingredient for a successful transition is the persistence of all those involved. Experience shows that there is no off-the-shelf recipe, perfect formula or predestined outcome. <br />
Yemen is its own unique country and people, <br />
with their own rich history and complex dimensions. <br />
<br />
23. A new dynamic is emerging in Yemen with the new inclusive politics. <br />
Cooperation from all Yemeni sides is critical.<br />
And this cooperation is not always forthcoming. <br />
In tackling its own difficult political situation, Yemen needs at this time all the support of its friends. Unfortunately, despite substantial pledges of financial contributions through the <br />
Friends of Yemen process, so far very little of this has materialised in actual transfers, outside of the significant Saudi contribution.<br />
Here, I would like to pay tribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been the largest contributor and the first to deliver. <br />
I hope others will follow suit. <br />
This is the time to help Yemen by delivering on pledges and supporting the transition in every way. On the Government’s side, key reforms need to be completed as envisaged in the Mutual Accountability Framework. <br />
<br />
24. For the Secretary-General, Yemen remains a priority and I will remain fully engaged with all sides to assist them along the way.<br />
I commend President Hadi for his Yemen 11 June 2013 Security Council Report - Final Check Against Delivery leadership and the efforts of the Government of National Unity led by Prime Minister Basendwa. <br />
The Yemeni people are counting on the Security Council to continue speaking in one voice in support of the transition. I commend the contributions and support of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Additionally, I want to thank the EU, Friends of Yemen and the active diplomatic community in Sana’a.<br />
Together, we must do everything possible to ensure that the progress we have seen in the National Dialogue and other areas will lead to meaningful changes in security, governance, and development, with concrete improvements in the lives of all Yemenis to a more peaceful, stable, democratic and prosperous future, in which human rights are protected by the rule of law. <br />
The Yemeni people are demonstrating that they deserve no less.<br />
Thank you Mr. President. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
-END-</div>
<br /></div>
Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-62966129446668088262013-06-05T01:35:00.002-07:002013-06-05T01:37:11.546-07:00Deaths and injuries in battle of announcing Taliban-Style Emirates eastern Yemen <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Deaths and injuries in battle of announcing Taliban-Style Emirates eastern Yemen </div>
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New tactics and strategies of Al Qaeda</div>
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By Nasser Arrabyee,05/06/2013</div>
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Deaths and injuries are reported from fierce confrontations happening now in Safad area of Ghail Bawazeer in Hudhrmout east of Yemen where Al Qaeda is establishing Taliban-Style Emirates exploiting the country's unrest.</div>
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Recently Al Qaeda in Yemen has started a new war with new tactics and strategies. Exploiting chaos and unrest of transition, Al Qaeda is determined to establish Taliban-Style Emirates in remote areas where government is completely absent. </div>
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The Yemen transition President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi is extremely busy with western-supported dialogue to establish a new state with new constitution while Al Qaeda is expanding and recruiting everywhere in the poverty and conflict stricken country. </div>
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Al Qaeda started this new war only this week by killing the top security officials and targeting by suicide bombing the country's most vital resources like gas and oil in the far eastern part of the country where Al Qaeda is establishing its Taliban-Style Emirates.</div>
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Asheher and Ghail Ba Wazeer towns in the eastern province of Hudhrmout were the first to be declared as Emirates, despite continuous threats by the weak government that keeps saying it would not allow any establishment of these terrorist Emirates. On Saturday June 1, 2013, two Al Qaeda operatives riding motor-cycle killed brigadier Yahya Omaisi, commander of Air Force police in Sayoun city, Hudhrmout province where Emirates are being established. </div>
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Only less than two hours later in the same city, colonel Abdul Rahman Ba Shakil,director of criminal investigations of Sayoun was killed by placing and detonating an explosive bag in his car.</div>
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The following day, Sunday June 2, at least 10 soldiers killed and injured when they tried to drive away two car bombs targeting the Yemen most vital gas refinery of Belhaf at border of Sayoun. Only one of the two car bombs exploded in the security barrier outside the huge gas stations of Yemen LNG. </div>
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The suicide bomber was cut into small pieces that were scattered at the outer entrance of gas stations.</div>
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The other car bomb was able to escape in the desert areas where government troops are less familiar than Al Qaeda operatives who know the ins and outs of those areas. </div>
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The targeted Liquified Natural Gas ( Yemen LNG), dominated by the French company Total said after the suicide bombing that neither the production nor the exportation of gas had been affected by the terrorist bombing.</div>
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The 5 billion US dollars gas project of Belhaf was subjected to many similar terrorist operations despite the fact that the government assigned thousands of soldiers to safeguard and protect it.</div>
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If survived from repeated terrorist attacks, this huge project is expected to give Yemen 50 billion US dollars over the coming 25 years, that's 2 billion by year. </div>
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One week earlier, colonel Majid Mutair commander central security of Sayoun was killed by Al Qaeda operatives. A total of 85 carefully chosen security and military senior officials were killed by Al Qaeda since the beginning of 2011, most of them in the eastern part of Yemen.</div>
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Despite all these assassinations and bombings by Al Qaeda which tries to take control and establish its state,the semi-ruling party of Islamist ( Yemen brotherhood) keep saying there is no Al Qaeda here in Yemen, it's only supporters of ExPresident Saleh who are behind all those assassinations and bombings. </div>
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The spiritual leader of Islamists party, Abdul Majid Al Zandani had asked the President Hadi to allow Al Qaeda to participate in the current national dialogue. </div>
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After Hadi refused such proposals, Al Zandani described the whole dialogue process as a western conspiracy against Islam.</div>
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At the beginning of Yemen political crisis of 2011, Al Zandani went to the square of protesters, majority of them from his party, and told them that the Islamic Caliphate must be established and declared by 2020.</div>
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President Hadi and all his external supporters from West and Gulf seem to be very busy with the dialogue and optimistic about its results which are expected to be announced by next September as solutions for all these problems.</div>
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Maybe, they all believe that US drones will eradicate Al Qaeda before elections of February 2014. </div>
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But military commander of Al Qaeda, Kasem Al Raimi, said this week in sound statement that killing Osama bin Laden and Anwar Al Awlaki was not and would not be the end of Al Qaeda.</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-75871703749605457832013-06-04T21:19:00.000-07:002013-06-04T21:19:11.693-07:00Actions not words Yemen says to Obama on Guantanamo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Actions not words Yemen says to Obama on Guantanamo</div>
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Source: Reuters, 05/06/2013</div>
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JEDDAH, June 2 (Reuters) - Yemen gave a qualified welcome on Sunday to U.S. President Barack Obama's promise to lift a ban on repatriating Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo Bay, saying he now had to back up his words with actions.</div>
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Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said his government was building a "rehabilitation centre" to house Yemenis who have been detained at the U.S. camp in Cuba for more than a decade.</div>
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Obama promised last month to end the ban on transferring Yemenis back home, one of the main obstacles to clearing out the detention camp, and altered the rules for U.S. drone strikes.</div>
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Qirbi said that Obama's announcement "brings hope to families of the detainees in Guantanamo and to the detainees themselves who for 12 years have been in prison and have lost hope of getting out of Guantanamo".</div>
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"Obama now has to really put his words into actions," he told reporters in the Saudi city of Jeddah. "We will take (up) with the authorities in Washington how we can start the process based, of course, on the conditions that may be set by the Americans."</div>
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Of the 86 detainees who have been cleared for transfer or release from Guantanamo, 56 are from Yemen where al Qaeda's regional wing is active. Most of them were captured more than a decade ago following the 2001 attacks on the United States.</div>
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Repatriation of Yemeni prisoners was halted in 2010 after a man trained by militants in Yemen attempted to blow up a U.S.-bound plane in 2009 with a bomb concealed in his underwear.</div>
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However, Obama laid out conditions on May 23 for removing the moratorium including the construction of a rehabilitation centre for militants in Yemen.</div>
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Qirbi said the government was getting ready to take the detainees. "We are now in preparation of the rehabilitation centre for the detainees," he said after a meeting with Gulf foreign and finance ministers.</div>
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In the same speech, Obama said drone strikes could be launched only when a threat was "continuing and imminent" and would primarily be directed by the Defense Department instead of the Central Intelligence Agency.</div>
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Qirbi said drone strikes against suspected al Qaeda figures were unpopular in Yemen due to civilian casualties. "But they are at times a necessity... I think the conditions he has set will make sure these drone attacks are used in a proper manner."</div>
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On Saturday local officials in southern Yemen said seven suspected militants had been killed in two drone strikes that morning. (Reporting By Angus McDowall; editing by David Stamp)</div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-15678288039404968612013-05-26T10:36:00.003-07:002013-05-26T10:36:51.392-07:00More than $ 15 m to Support the Electoral <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Source: UNDP Press release ,26/5/2013<br />
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The new voters registry remains a major challenge for Yemen and its partners, said UNDP<br />
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SANA’A- The United Kingdom, Sweden and Japan announced today a contribution of US $15,200,000 in support of the coming voter registration, Referendum and electoral process in Yemen.<br />
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This support will be channeled through the Multi-donors Basket Fund, administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and will serve to bolster the implementation of the Support to the Elections during the Transitional Period (SETP) project in Yemen. <br />
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The SETP project aims to support the planning and administration of voter registration, the constitutional referendum, and remaining elections of the transitional period; to support inclusive electoral legal framework reform and to increase participation of civil society, political parties, women, youth and persons with disabilities in electoral processes. <br />
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The contributions of United Kingdom [US $9,200,000], Sweden [US $4,000,000] and Japan [US $2,000,000] were confirmed by their representatives in Yemen today at a press conference organized by the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referendum (SCER) and UNDP.<br />
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The Chairman of the SCER, Mohammed Hussein Haidar Al-Hakimi, stated that “this support is integral in assisting the SCER in the implementation of the electoral events envisioned during the transitional process”. <br />
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Gustavo Gonzalez, UNDP Senior Country Director, highlighted that “these contributions not only demonstrate the commitment of international partners to support the Yemeni transition, but also their trust on the capacities of SCER to conduct the coming elections. <br />
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An important part of this financial support will be allocated to the preparation of the new voters registry, which remains a major challenge for Yemen and its partners”, he added. <br />
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The UNDP Multi-donors Basket Fund (MDBF) is a large donor’s platform to support the electoral cycle in Yemen, composed of the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, United Nations Peace Building Fund and UNDP. <br />
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This platform will shortly be reinforced by the participation of The Netherlands and Turkey. <br />
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Through the MDBF, UNDP will technically and financially assist the SCER in assessing, planning and fostering partnership in support of the elections, while also developing national capacities through obtaining knowledge from global experiences. Through the previously established Multi-Donor Basket Fund, UNDP will support the implementation of critical electoral operations as envisioned in the transitional period. <br />
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In addition to the MDBF, voter registration and the electoral processes in Yemen are also benefiting from bilateral contributions from USAID and the European Union.<br />
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-33004513381763542072013-05-26T03:40:00.000-07:002013-05-26T03:44:43.563-07:00Saudi Arabia feeds south Yemen IDPs with dates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Source: WFP press Release, 26/05/2013<br />
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SAUDI ARABIA SENDS 340 METRIC TONS OF DATES TO REFUGEES IN SOUTHERN YEMEN<br />
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SANA’A – The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed a 340 metric ton donation of dates, worth more than US$680,000, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.<br />
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The dates, destined for distributionamong refugees from the Horn of Africain southern Yemen, were officially handed over to WFP in a ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Sana’a attended by officials from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Finance in Riyadh and the Saudi Embassy in Sana’a.<br />
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“This is a timely donation, and WFP is grateful for this example of Saudi generosity,” said WFP Country Director Bishow Parajuli. “We’ll begin delivering these dates in June, on the eve of Ramadan, when thousands of poor, unfortunate people, far from their homes and seeking shelter in Yemen, could use whatever small measure of comfort we can provide.”<br />
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WFP will distribute the Saudi dates in monthly rations between June and December. Almost 20,000 refugees will eventually be reached, most of them located in and around the sprawling Kharaz Camp, isolated in the desert outside Aden in Lahj governorate.<br />
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In 2013, WFP is providing food assistance to a total of 70,000 refugees from the Horn of Africa. The budget for the operation is US$4 million, of which all but US$600,000 has been provided. Aside from Saudi Arabia, major donors to WFP’s refugee activities are Denmark and Switzerland.<br />
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The majority of refugees are scattered across urban centres in Yemen, with a particularly heavy concentration in the Al Basateen district of Aden. More than 20,000 are housed in remote Kharaz Camp, where there are few prospects of employment, leaving the camp dwellers almost entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance.<br />
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In previous years, most refugees were from Somalia. But recent trends have seen heavy increases of refugees from Eritrea and, especially, Ethiopia. Since the beginning of 2013, almost 30,000 people have landed on Yemen’s coast, 25,000 of them from Ethiopia. <br />
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Saudi Arabia has been a consistent contributor to WFP activities in Yemen. In 2012, the Kingdom contributed US$1.5 million to support WFP programmes, and this year the Saudis have donated US$5 million towards WFP’s Emergency Operation, a US$242 million programme that is the agency’s primary activity in Yemen in 2013. The operation is aimed at delivering food assistance to nearly 5 million people. As of mid-May, it still needed US$95 million to meet all of its objectives.<br />
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-43058486330362146242013-05-23T12:32:00.000-07:002013-05-23T12:32:01.610-07:00Obama would close Guantanamo and transfer Yemeni detainees to Yemen <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Obama would close Guantanamo and transfer Yemeni detainees to Yemen<br />
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Source: Press Release, 23/05/2013<br />
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Contact for interviews: Megan Lubin, Communications Manager, (202) 684-2552<br />
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BREAKING: Former Guantanamo Chief Prosecutor Responds to Obama’s Plan for Detention Center<br />
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Washington, DC--In a speech held this afternoon at the National Defense University in Washington, President Obama announced concrete steps to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, including appointing a senior envoy in the State Department tasked with closing the facility, and lifting the ban on detainee transfers to Yemen.<br />
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Col. Morris Davis, a former Chief Prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay who left his post in 2007 over the interrogation tactics used, provided the below response to the news. His popular Change.org petition calling on President Obama to close the facility has drawn more than 200,000 supporters in a number of weeks:<br />
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“With the President’s announcement today, it seems years of rhetoric have finally turned into action. Since its beginning, Guantanamo has been costly, inefficient, morally wrong, and a stain on our human rights record. Most people know this is an issue I’ve been personally invested in for years, and I am thrilled to see Obama take a real stand to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.”<br />
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“I’d like to thank the countless groups and individuals who helped get us to this announcement. I’m especially thankful for the hundreds of thousands of people who signed the Change.org campaign in the last three weeks. When I launched it, I said we’d need help to do this. And boy, did people step up. <br />
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“Americans know that real patriots don't abandon their principles or surrender their liberties for temporary security. We’re ready for closure. No more excuses, no more stalling, just get it done as quickly as possible.”<br />
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Col. Davis flew to Washington to attend the President’s speech this afternoon.<br />
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Link to Col. Davis’ Petition on Change.org: www.Change.org/CloseGitmo<br />
Additional Background: As the Chief Prosecutor for Terrorism Trials at Guantanamo Bay. Col. Davis personally prosecuted Osama Bin Laden’s driver Salim Hamdan, David Hicks, and Omar Khadr. Davis stepped down from his post due to disagreement over the use of certain interrogation techniques. Since leaving his post at Guantanamo, Davis has become one of the prison’s most outspoken critics. In early May, he started a Change.org petition calling on Obama to fulfill past promises to close the detention facility and to transfer the 86 detainees cleared for release.<br />
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-38691246478483477772013-05-20T13:02:00.005-07:002013-05-20T13:02:57.148-07:00 Is it Al Qaeda or users of Al Qaeda behind targeting Yemen Air Force?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Is it Al Qaeda or users of Al Qaeda behind targeting Yemen Air Force?</div>
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By Nasser Arrabyee, 21/05/2013</div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yemen President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and his commander of Air Force Rashid Al Janad finally admitted that "bad" people" were behind the crash of military air planes over Sanaa and killing of pilots cold-bloodedly. </span><br />
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Three military airplanes crashed over Sanaa over the last few months, the last of which was that <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="address" x-apple-data-detectors="true">one crashed in street 50</a> south of Sanaa last week in which the pilot Hani Aghbari died.And three at least came back to base with bullets on them over the previous months according good sources in the base. </div>
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Two weeks earlier, three military pilots were assassinated by a motor-cycle riding gunman while in their way to their work in the second most important air base of Anad in Lahj province south of the country.</div>
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The terrorist motor rider who killed the 3 pilots, all of them from south, was later allegedly arrested and identified by security authorities as the " missile" as he called him self according to investigators. </div>
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"These repeated incidents happening with Air Force indicate that there are centers (of force) who want to destroy the Air Force," said President Hadi who was speaking this week to thousands of officers and soldiers of Al Dailami Air Base in Sanaa, the country's most important base. </div>
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One day earlier, the commander of Air Force brigadier Rashid Al Janad said in televised interview that the three military airplanes that crashed over Sanaa had been shot down. Brigadier Al Janad was showing pieces of the stricken airplanes with bullets on them to prove that someone from Sanaa was shooting them down deliberately. " Now it's clear to us that there is conspiracy against Air Force," Al Janad said. </div>
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Shortly after the crash of the last military airplane,Russian-made Sukhoi22 over Sanaa, the military intelligence in Anad air base arrested a soldier originally from Lahj. The soldier, who is now under investigations, was accused of having bombed the main reservoirs of fuel of military airplanes in the Anad base.</div>
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Who is behind all these terrorist incidents? Is it the conflicting parties over power? Is it those who lost their interests by reorganization of army and security? Or is it Al Qaeda who hates all as agents of American and as not good Muslims?</div>
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Both groups, Al Qaeda and conflicting influential figures whether those ruling now or those who were ruling, can be behind these terrorist acts. Because both of them have interests. </div>
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The conflicting politicians exploits and uses Al Qaeda for settling accounts with their opponents and Al Qaeda, in turn, exploits and uses the chaos resulting from their conflicts for recruiting more and more and spreading wide and wide. </div>
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Al Qaeda is growing more and more in the south where chaos is more than anywhere else. Al Qaeda knows very well that American trainers and some American special forces are based in Anad air base. So, this fortified bases has been always one of Al Qaeda targets. </div>
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Al Qaeda is always complaining from US drones as ghosts coming down from the sky guided by agents from " bad Muslims", and Yemeni air planes as long arms of government betraying its religion or Kafir government. </div>
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Al Qaeda justifies killing Yemeni Muslim soldiers by saying "we kill them because they are the first barrier between us and our enemy America". </div>
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They also justify bombing any interest of both Yemeni and American or western government by saying "we are in a war and they ( Yemen and US gov) hit us with things that we do not have, and we hit them with things they do not have ( suicide bombers, and other terrorist means)."</div>
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"We kill pilots and destroy airplanes because Yemeni government who works under commandership of its master America, tries to kill us and destroy us with these things," said member of Al Qaeda via email.</div>
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Last US drone attacks</div>
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On Friday 17 May,2013, the US drone hit a car carrying Al Qaeda operatives killing at least seven of them in the most mountainous stronghold of Mahfad between Abyan and Shabwah according to local source. The local top leader, previous top leader of Abyan State, Jallal Beleidi was allegedly killed by that drone attack. However, a relative of Beleidi denied that Jallal was saying he is not dead and he is no longer working with Al Qaeda.</div>
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"A deal was made by tribal leader from Marakisha between Beleidi and President Hadi, according to this deal, Beleidi gives up Al Qaeda and in return manhunting him will stop," said the relative who preferred not to be named. </div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-6387295283667186782013-05-16T02:56:00.003-07:002013-05-16T02:56:27.143-07:00If Arabian leopards of Yemen live longer, then revolution wins, says Friedman <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If Arabian leopards of Yemen live longer, then revolution wins, says Friedman </div>
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Source: New York Times, by Thomas Friedman, 16/05/2013</div>
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Arriving in Yemen last week, I had an experience I’d never had before. I drove from the airport into Sana, the capital, on the main thoroughfare, through a raging torrent of water. I was staying in the old city, a United Nations World Heritage site, which is accessed primarily by an ancient, moat-like road, known as the Sailah. It used to be made of dirt, shrub and pepper trees, which for generations absorbed water in the rainy season, although in downpours it would still flood. </div>
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But, in 1995, at Yemen’s request, the United States paid to have it paved. Because Yemenis have largely deforested all the mountains around Sana, the lack of trees, vegetation and topsoil means the rainwater now rushes off the mountains, enters the paved city and finds its way to the paved Sailah, turning the road into a rushing aqueduct. Our S.U.V. eventually made it upstream to our hotel, giving a whole new meaning to the expression “we sailed into town.”</div>
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The other day, it hailed in Sana, piling up in some spots like a winter snow to a degree no one could remember. Meanwhile, up north, the most violent rainstorms in 25 years in Saudi Arabia just killed 13 Saudis in flooding and had Saudi television airing “footage of people clinging to trees and cars trapped by water,” the BBC reported.</div>
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It is impossible to say if these more powerful storms are the result of global warming, which is expected to make the hots hotter, the dries drier and the wets wetter in certain areas. What is not in doubt is that something is changing. Yemeni farmers traditionally divided their growing season into 13-day increments for each aspect of planting and harvesting. “That is how dependable the summer rains were — but not anymore,” said Abdul Rahman al-Eryani, Yemen’s former minister of water and environment. They have become both more erratic and more violent.</div>
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What also is not in doubt is that these weather changes are adding to the stress on frail infrastructure across the Arab world. This, combined with continued high population growth, is helping to fuel the Arab uprisings against the old Arab regimes and adding to the challenges for the new ones. For instance, the water table here in Sana has fallen so low from overdrilling, and has dried out the bedrock sandstone so much that it appears to be triggering geological faults, said Eryani.</div>
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Sana just built a new airport terminal, but, while it was under construction, a fault opened underneath it, extending for miles and requiring an injection of concrete to keep it stable.</div>
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Most of the old generation of Arab leaders never gave much thought to natural capital: the forests, shrubs and ecosystems that naturally store water, prevent runoff, flooding and silting. The new generation will have to be environmentalists, otherwise their new politics will be overwhelmed by environmental stresses.</div>
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Yemen is the leading edge of this trend. In 2009, Eryani encouraged then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh to name the endangered Arabian leopard as Yemen’s “national animal,” in hopes of preventing its extinction and promoting more environmental awareness. (Where the wildlife thrives, the people usually thrive.)</div>
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“The Arabian leopard is at the top of the food chain here,” explained Eryani, “so if we can keep it alive in the wild, it is a strong indicator that the ecosystem is still intact.” As the biggest predator, the Arabian leopard can survive only if the antelope, the rabbits, the partridges, gazelles, ibex and hyrax that it feeds on also survive. Those animals, in turn, need a healthy ecosystem of springs, shrub lands, topsoil and forests. Not surprisingly, since all of those are disappearing, so, too, are the leopards.</div>
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In 2009, an American teacher in Yemen, David Stanton, set up a foundation here to protect endangered wildlife, focusing on the leopards. We met the other day outside the leopard zone at the Sana Zoo to discuss their future, while one of these sleek animals lounged on a shelf in his cage — waiting for his daily diet of donkey meat.</div>
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“Generally speaking, the Arabian Peninsula is drying,” said Stanton, and while the Arabian leopard can roam wide areas for a long time without water, their prey cannot. “So when you destroy the habitat of the prey, you destroy the habitat of the predators.” </div>
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Stanton started his work before the democracy revolution here in 2011, and back then, he recalled, “people would come to me and say: ‘Why are you protecting leopards when we have leopards in the government?’ ”</div>
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Of course, they were right. Arab dictators were at the top of the food chain in their countries — the ultimate predators. Eventually, though, they and their cronies and families ate so much themselves — while also despoiling their natural capital — that there was too little left for the rest of their burgeoning populations, and their people revolted.</div>
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The governments experiencing Arab awakenings, though, will never sustainably rebuild their countries’ human capital if they don’t also rebuild their natural capital. If you visit Yemen in five years and hear that the Arabian leopards are extinct, you’ll know the revolution here failed. But if you hear that the leopard population is on the rise again, there is a high likelihood that its people will be as well. Watch the leopards. </div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570863674676049309.post-42197529057529155002013-05-16T02:56:00.001-07:002013-05-16T02:56:19.000-07:00If Arabian leopards of Yemen live longer, then revolution wins, says Friedman <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If Arabian leopards of Yemen live longer, then revolution wins, says Friedman </div>
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Source: New York Times, by Thomas Friedman, 16/05/2013</div>
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Arriving in Yemen last week, I had an experience I’d never had before. I drove from the airport into Sana, the capital, on the main thoroughfare, through a raging torrent of water. I was staying in the old city, a United Nations World Heritage site, which is accessed primarily by an ancient, moat-like road, known as the Sailah. It used to be made of dirt, shrub and pepper trees, which for generations absorbed water in the rainy season, although in downpours it would still flood. </div>
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But, in 1995, at Yemen’s request, the United States paid to have it paved. Because Yemenis have largely deforested all the mountains around Sana, the lack of trees, vegetation and topsoil means the rainwater now rushes off the mountains, enters the paved city and finds its way to the paved Sailah, turning the road into a rushing aqueduct. Our S.U.V. eventually made it upstream to our hotel, giving a whole new meaning to the expression “we sailed into town.”</div>
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The other day, it hailed in Sana, piling up in some spots like a winter snow to a degree no one could remember. Meanwhile, up north, the most violent rainstorms in 25 years in Saudi Arabia just killed 13 Saudis in flooding and had Saudi television airing “footage of people clinging to trees and cars trapped by water,” the BBC reported.</div>
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It is impossible to say if these more powerful storms are the result of global warming, which is expected to make the hots hotter, the dries drier and the wets wetter in certain areas. What is not in doubt is that something is changing. Yemeni farmers traditionally divided their growing season into 13-day increments for each aspect of planting and harvesting. “That is how dependable the summer rains were — but not anymore,” said Abdul Rahman al-Eryani, Yemen’s former minister of water and environment. They have become both more erratic and more violent.</div>
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What also is not in doubt is that these weather changes are adding to the stress on frail infrastructure across the Arab world. This, combined with continued high population growth, is helping to fuel the Arab uprisings against the old Arab regimes and adding to the challenges for the new ones. For instance, the water table here in Sana has fallen so low from overdrilling, and has dried out the bedrock sandstone so much that it appears to be triggering geological faults, said Eryani.</div>
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Sana just built a new airport terminal, but, while it was under construction, a fault opened underneath it, extending for miles and requiring an injection of concrete to keep it stable.</div>
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Most of the old generation of Arab leaders never gave much thought to natural capital: the forests, shrubs and ecosystems that naturally store water, prevent runoff, flooding and silting. The new generation will have to be environmentalists, otherwise their new politics will be overwhelmed by environmental stresses.</div>
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Yemen is the leading edge of this trend. In 2009, Eryani encouraged then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh to name the endangered Arabian leopard as Yemen’s “national animal,” in hopes of preventing its extinction and promoting more environmental awareness. (Where the wildlife thrives, the people usually thrive.)</div>
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“The Arabian leopard is at the top of the food chain here,” explained Eryani, “so if we can keep it alive in the wild, it is a strong indicator that the ecosystem is still intact.” As the biggest predator, the Arabian leopard can survive only if the antelope, the rabbits, the partridges, gazelles, ibex and hyrax that it feeds on also survive. Those animals, in turn, need a healthy ecosystem of springs, shrub lands, topsoil and forests. Not surprisingly, since all of those are disappearing, so, too, are the leopards.</div>
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In 2009, an American teacher in Yemen, David Stanton, set up a foundation here to protect endangered wildlife, focusing on the leopards. We met the other day outside the leopard zone at the Sana Zoo to discuss their future, while one of these sleek animals lounged on a shelf in his cage — waiting for his daily diet of donkey meat.</div>
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“Generally speaking, the Arabian Peninsula is drying,” said Stanton, and while the Arabian leopard can roam wide areas for a long time without water, their prey cannot. “So when you destroy the habitat of the prey, you destroy the habitat of the predators.” </div>
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Stanton started his work before the democracy revolution here in 2011, and back then, he recalled, “people would come to me and say: ‘Why are you protecting leopards when we have leopards in the government?’ ”</div>
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Of course, they were right. Arab dictators were at the top of the food chain in their countries — the ultimate predators. Eventually, though, they and their cronies and families ate so much themselves — while also despoiling their natural capital — that there was too little left for the rest of their burgeoning populations, and their people revolted.</div>
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The governments experiencing Arab awakenings, though, will never sustainably rebuild their countries’ human capital if they don’t also rebuild their natural capital. If you visit Yemen in five years and hear that the Arabian leopards are extinct, you’ll know the revolution here failed. But if you hear that the leopard population is on the rise again, there is a high likelihood that its people will be as well. Watch the leopards. </div>
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Nasser Arrabyeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07726697369157455554noreply@blogger.com2