President Obama's comments today on the assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki during the change of office ceremony at Fort Myer, Virginia for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
"I want to say a few words about some important news. Earlier this morning Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, was killed in Yemen.
"The death of Awlaki is a major blow to Al Qaeda most active operational affiliate. Awlaki was the leader of external operations for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In that role, he took the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans. He directed the failed attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day in 2009, he directed the failed attempt to blow up U.S. cargo planes in 2010 and he repeatedly called on individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda.
"The death of Awlaki marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat Al Qaeda and its affiliates. Furthermore, this success is a tribute to our intelligence community and to the efforts of Yemen and of security forces who have worked closely with the United States over the course of several years. Awlaki and his organization have been directly responsible for the deaths of many Yemeni citizens. His hateful ideology and targeting of innocent civilians has been rejected by the vast majority of Muslims and people of all faiths. And he has met his demise because the government and the people of Yemen have joined the international community in a common effort against Al Qaeda.
"Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula remains a dangerous, though weakened, terrorist organization. And going forward we will remain vigilant against any threats to the United States or our allies and partners. But make no mistake, this is further proof that Al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world.
"Working with Yemen and our other allies and partners, we will be determined, we will be deliberate, we will be relentless, we will be resolute in our commitment to destroy terrorist networks that aim to kill Americans, and to build a world in which people everywhere can live in greater peace, prosperity and security."
Showing posts with label Yemen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yemen. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Arab Spring Sweep: Saudi women; Syrian hacking; Yemeni Back; Libya Strife
It has been a few days since we checked in on the pro-democracy freedom movement in the Middle East, so here is an update of the most recent losses and gains and other news in the Arab Spring:
The lead story is Saudia Arabia's claim that it will extend voting rights to women in local elections in 2015:
News of womens' voting rights came as quite a surprise and believe it was King Abdullah playing preemptive CYA, ABC News blogs.
Some say voting rights for women will not really happen, CNN reports.
The Wall Street Journal says it is great that women will be able to vote, but ponders when they will be able to drive. Women drivers continue to be prosecuted.
Clean and open elections are not part of the anti-democracy government's plan in Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, the Associated Press reports.
Things are getting nasty again in Yemen:
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's return to Yemen, after recovering from burns and other wounds in an assassination attempt on his life three months ago, has re-invigorated his political opponents, enemy tribes and pro-democracy freedom fighters, Reuters reports.
Tribesmen killed one of Saleh's top generals in a bold attack on a government army base, Voice of America reports.
The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council were blindsided by the return of Saleh, whom they had hoped would just retire in Saudi Arabia, The New York Times Reports.
It is as bad as ever in Syria:
Bashir al-Assad's tanks blockade northwestern city Al-Rastan as crackdown continues elsewhere, CNN reports.
Assad's loyalist followers flexed some mischievous brainpower and hacked into as website at Harvard University, the BBC reports.
It might have been payback for anti-Assad hackers who attacked government websites, according to The Washington Times.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeaks to China to join the anti-Assad movement, Agence France Presse reports.
Turkey and the re-emegence of the Ottomans across the Middle East, remains a key to the fall of Assad, The New York Times reports.
The mainstream media has become bored with the Libyan revolution, but it is far from over:
Residents are fleeing the hometown of Moammar Gadhafi amid food and medicine shortages. Meanwhile, the provisional government declares an end to court that was used by the former dictator to prosecute his enemies, the AP reports.
Like Sirte, the revolutionary army presses on in Bani Walid, the BBC reports.
For the latest Afghanistan and Iraq news, please read longtime colleagues Stephanie Gaskell and Rich Sisk at The War Report.
The lead story is Saudia Arabia's claim that it will extend voting rights to women in local elections in 2015:
News of womens' voting rights came as quite a surprise and believe it was King Abdullah playing preemptive CYA, ABC News blogs.
Some say voting rights for women will not really happen, CNN reports.
The Wall Street Journal says it is great that women will be able to vote, but ponders when they will be able to drive. Women drivers continue to be prosecuted.
Clean and open elections are not part of the anti-democracy government's plan in Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, the Associated Press reports.
Things are getting nasty again in Yemen:
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's return to Yemen, after recovering from burns and other wounds in an assassination attempt on his life three months ago, has re-invigorated his political opponents, enemy tribes and pro-democracy freedom fighters, Reuters reports.
Tribesmen killed one of Saleh's top generals in a bold attack on a government army base, Voice of America reports.
The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council were blindsided by the return of Saleh, whom they had hoped would just retire in Saudi Arabia, The New York Times Reports.
It is as bad as ever in Syria:
Bashir al-Assad's tanks blockade northwestern city Al-Rastan as crackdown continues elsewhere, CNN reports.
Assad's loyalist followers flexed some mischievous brainpower and hacked into as website at Harvard University, the BBC reports.
It might have been payback for anti-Assad hackers who attacked government websites, according to The Washington Times.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeaks to China to join the anti-Assad movement, Agence France Presse reports.
Turkey and the re-emegence of the Ottomans across the Middle East, remains a key to the fall of Assad, The New York Times reports.
The mainstream media has become bored with the Libyan revolution, but it is far from over:
Residents are fleeing the hometown of Moammar Gadhafi amid food and medicine shortages. Meanwhile, the provisional government declares an end to court that was used by the former dictator to prosecute his enemies, the AP reports.
Like Sirte, the revolutionary army presses on in Bani Walid, the BBC reports.
For the latest Afghanistan and Iraq news, please read longtime colleagues Stephanie Gaskell and Rich Sisk at The War Report.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Ally or not, U.S Gives Saleh His Walking Papers
Yemen's ailing President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key ally in the war on terror, is being urged by the U.S. to stay in Saudi Arabia and hand over power to a new government, as the Gulf Cooperation Council has urged.
President Obama's counterterrorism adviser John Brennan visited with Saleh at a Saudi military hospital over the weekend, advising him to sign a deal transferring power. Brennan handed Saleh a letter from Obama that indicated the U.S. leader's support for the Arab Spring freedom movement that has swept out several longtime Arab dictators.
Saleh and Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi are the next despots in line to get the boot.
"During the meeting, Mr. Brennan called upon President Saleh to fulfil expeditiously his pledge to sign the GCC-brokered agreement for peaceful and constitutional political transition in Yemen," a White House the statement said.
"The United States believes that a transition in Yemen should begin immediately so that the Yemeni people can realise their aspirations," thee statement added.
Saleh is recovering from bad burns and other injuries sustained during aJune 3 assassination attempt on his presidential compound in Sanaa, Yemen. In power in Yemen since 1978, Saleh has long allowed U.S. killer drones to fly over his airspace to target suspected members and accomplices of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula.
U.S. counterterrorism officials have been sweating out the demise of Saleh, preferring to look the other way while the unpopular despot tightens his grip on his own people in order to keep him power. But the so-called terror-hunters appear to be on the losing end of that argument.
President Obama's counterterrorism adviser John Brennan visited with Saleh at a Saudi military hospital over the weekend, advising him to sign a deal transferring power. Brennan handed Saleh a letter from Obama that indicated the U.S. leader's support for the Arab Spring freedom movement that has swept out several longtime Arab dictators.
Saleh and Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi are the next despots in line to get the boot.
"During the meeting, Mr. Brennan called upon President Saleh to fulfil expeditiously his pledge to sign the GCC-brokered agreement for peaceful and constitutional political transition in Yemen," a White House the statement said.
"The United States believes that a transition in Yemen should begin immediately so that the Yemeni people can realise their aspirations," thee statement added.
Saleh is recovering from bad burns and other injuries sustained during aJune 3 assassination attempt on his presidential compound in Sanaa, Yemen. In power in Yemen since 1978, Saleh has long allowed U.S. killer drones to fly over his airspace to target suspected members and accomplices of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula.
U.S. counterterrorism officials have been sweating out the demise of Saleh, preferring to look the other way while the unpopular despot tightens his grip on his own people in order to keep him power. But the so-called terror-hunters appear to be on the losing end of that argument.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Drone Strikes Aim at Awlaki; Clinton Says Saleh Broke Promises
The uptick in the CIA's drone war in Yemen shows there is no disguising U.S. concerns over losing the chief Yemeni ally in the war against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
U.S. drones and Yemeni military are "taking advatage of the power vacuum" created by the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to keep American-born Al Qaida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki from solidifying his move to gain control of AQAP, a career counter-terrorism official explained.
The mission's objective is to eliminate Awlaki. The CIA had targeted him since shortly after Osama bin Laden was killed in the daring raid on his compound in Pakistan.
Yemeni military are also engaged in hunting Awlaki and other AQAP operatives, but sources say there are still concerns that the U.S. could lose "assets" and access in Yemen without Saleh, who is being treated in Saudi Arabia for serious wounds in the assassination attempt on him last Friday.
Concerns over whether the predator drones will be given permission to fly over Yemen in the future have not kept the U.S. from calling for Saleh to give up power so free elections can be held. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today Saleh has failed to keep his part of the bargain to allow the election to go forward.
"On several opportunities, President Saleh did not go forward with what we thought had been agreed to," Clinton said in Abu Dhabi at meetings on the future of Libya, another country like Yemen where The Arab Spring freedom movement has taken root.
"We don’t think that the instability can be fully addressed until those changes commence. And so we’re going to continue to consult closely with our friends in the region to determine the best way forward," Clinton said.
"I can’t speculate on what President Ali Abdullah Saleh will decide to do. That’s obviously up to him. But Yemen has a strong constitution, and we believe if their constitution were actually implemented, Yemen would be moving in the right direction," Clinton added.
U.S. drones and Yemeni military are "taking advatage of the power vacuum" created by the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh to keep American-born Al Qaida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki from solidifying his move to gain control of AQAP, a career counter-terrorism official explained.
The mission's objective is to eliminate Awlaki. The CIA had targeted him since shortly after Osama bin Laden was killed in the daring raid on his compound in Pakistan.
Yemeni military are also engaged in hunting Awlaki and other AQAP operatives, but sources say there are still concerns that the U.S. could lose "assets" and access in Yemen without Saleh, who is being treated in Saudi Arabia for serious wounds in the assassination attempt on him last Friday.
Concerns over whether the predator drones will be given permission to fly over Yemen in the future have not kept the U.S. from calling for Saleh to give up power so free elections can be held. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today Saleh has failed to keep his part of the bargain to allow the election to go forward.
"On several opportunities, President Saleh did not go forward with what we thought had been agreed to," Clinton said in Abu Dhabi at meetings on the future of Libya, another country like Yemen where The Arab Spring freedom movement has taken root.
"We don’t think that the instability can be fully addressed until those changes commence. And so we’re going to continue to consult closely with our friends in the region to determine the best way forward," Clinton said.
"I can’t speculate on what President Ali Abdullah Saleh will decide to do. That’s obviously up to him. But Yemen has a strong constitution, and we believe if their constitution were actually implemented, Yemen would be moving in the right direction," Clinton added.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Yemenis Still Say Saleh Will Return to Sanaa
The Yemeni embassy in Washington insists today that President Ali Abdullah Saleh's health is improving and he will return to power in Sanaa, despite reports he has burns over 40% of his body and a collapsed lung.
"President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s health condition is stable and continues to improve after the deadly attack which targeted Al-Nahdayn Mosque located in the presidential compound," the embassy said in a statement.
"President Saleh will return to Yemen from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to re-assume his duties soon after he recovers," the embassy claimed.
Saleh was taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for treatment, where he remains today. Initial reports were that he sustained only minor injuries to his neck and face, but then it was disclosed that he also caught shrapnel in his chest.
It turns out Saleh has burns over 40% of his body and a collapsed lung, as well, according to CNN, which cited a U.S. official as its source.
Forensic specialists and Yemeni law enforcement officials are presently combing over the mosque to see if they can determine who was responsible for the apparant assassination attempt on Saleh.
"The Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in Washington, D.C. strongly condemns the cowardly attack on President Saleh and the worshipers in Al-Nahdayn Mosque during last Friday’s prayer. The perpetrators of this bloody attack will be captured and prosecuted accordingly," the statement said.
Meanwhile, there are fears a humanitarian crisis is brewing in Sanaa and other parts of Yemen. People are stockpiling food and water, staying of the streets and sending loved ones away to safer locations in the countryside, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"Sanaa is no longer what it used to be – a lively city crowded with people and vehicles throughout the day, and filled with brightly lit shops open until late at night. There is now a high degree of tension in the streets," said Jean-Nicolas Marti, the head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen.
"People are in a constant state of alert in Sana'a and elsewhere in the country," Marti added. "Blasts and gunshots were being heard every day until recently. Everyone was afraid that their home would be the next to be hit by a stray bullet or by something even more terrifying. Although an unusual calm has descended on the city, the nervousness and tension remain palpable."
"President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s health condition is stable and continues to improve after the deadly attack which targeted Al-Nahdayn Mosque located in the presidential compound," the embassy said in a statement.
"President Saleh will return to Yemen from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to re-assume his duties soon after he recovers," the embassy claimed.
Saleh was taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for treatment, where he remains today. Initial reports were that he sustained only minor injuries to his neck and face, but then it was disclosed that he also caught shrapnel in his chest.
It turns out Saleh has burns over 40% of his body and a collapsed lung, as well, according to CNN, which cited a U.S. official as its source.
Forensic specialists and Yemeni law enforcement officials are presently combing over the mosque to see if they can determine who was responsible for the apparant assassination attempt on Saleh.
"The Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in Washington, D.C. strongly condemns the cowardly attack on President Saleh and the worshipers in Al-Nahdayn Mosque during last Friday’s prayer. The perpetrators of this bloody attack will be captured and prosecuted accordingly," the statement said.
Meanwhile, there are fears a humanitarian crisis is brewing in Sanaa and other parts of Yemen. People are stockpiling food and water, staying of the streets and sending loved ones away to safer locations in the countryside, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"Sanaa is no longer what it used to be – a lively city crowded with people and vehicles throughout the day, and filled with brightly lit shops open until late at night. There is now a high degree of tension in the streets," said Jean-Nicolas Marti, the head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen.
"People are in a constant state of alert in Sana'a and elsewhere in the country," Marti added. "Blasts and gunshots were being heard every day until recently. Everyone was afraid that their home would be the next to be hit by a stray bullet or by something even more terrifying. Although an unusual calm has descended on the city, the nervousness and tension remain palpable."
Monday, June 6, 2011
Fears That Saleh Will Return to Yemen
Updated at 7:30 p.m. edt
At least 80 British marines are on standby aboard a support ship off the coast of Yemen in case citizens from the United Kingdom have to be evacuated because of escalating violence, according to multiple media reports.
RFA Fort Victoria is already off the Yemeni coast, while another support vessel, RFA Argus, is nearby. The marines are believed to be aboard the Victoria. The RFA Cardigan Bay is also en route, the BBC reported.
end update
---[
Updated at 5 p.m. edt
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today Yemeni President Abdullah Ali Saleh should not return to power, calling for a transition to democracy and stability in the Arabian country on the brink of civil war.
"Obviously I can't speculate on what President Saleh is going to do or say, but we do want to emphasize we're calling for a peaceful and orderly transition, a nonviolent transition that is consistent with Yemen's own constitution," Clinton said at a joint news conference with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.
"And our position has not changed. It continues to remain the same. We think an immediate transition is in the best interests of the Yemeni people because the instability and lack of security currently afflicting Yemen cannot be addressed until there is some process that everyone knows is going to lead to the sort of economic and political reforms that they are seeking," Clinton added.
end update
---[
European leaders urged today a true democratic transition for Yemen, amid concerns that Yemeni President Abdullah Ali Saleh may return to power after he heals from wounds suffered Friday in rocket attacks on his palace in Sanaa.
"We call on the Yemeni people to find the way to reconciliation in a spirit of dialogue and national unity, in particular on the basis of the proposals presented in the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s initiative, which we fully support, in order for the Yemeni people to be able to democratically choose its leader," European leaders said in a statement.
The statement was signed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Saleh fled to Saudi Arabia for surgery after the attack on his palace, leaving Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in charge. Saleh, 65, reportedly caught shrapnel in the chest during the rocket attacks.
Opposition tribal leaders and pro-democracy activists all cringed when Yemen's Deputy Information Minister Abdu al-Janadi declared Saleh would return to power before he officially steps down permanently. "Saleh is in good health, and he may give up the authority one day but it has to be in a constitutional way," according to media reports.
"I don't know what will happen," a spokesman identified for his protection only as Hamid told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "Everyone is waiting for the president to come to Yemen, but no one knows what is going to happen. Everyone is worried about the situation, about what's going to happen now."
More than 370 people have died in Yemen since protests started earlier this year.
At least 80 British marines are on standby aboard a support ship off the coast of Yemen in case citizens from the United Kingdom have to be evacuated because of escalating violence, according to multiple media reports.
RFA Fort Victoria is already off the Yemeni coast, while another support vessel, RFA Argus, is nearby. The marines are believed to be aboard the Victoria. The RFA Cardigan Bay is also en route, the BBC reported.
end update
---[
Updated at 5 p.m. edt
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today Yemeni President Abdullah Ali Saleh should not return to power, calling for a transition to democracy and stability in the Arabian country on the brink of civil war.
"Obviously I can't speculate on what President Saleh is going to do or say, but we do want to emphasize we're calling for a peaceful and orderly transition, a nonviolent transition that is consistent with Yemen's own constitution," Clinton said at a joint news conference with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.
"And our position has not changed. It continues to remain the same. We think an immediate transition is in the best interests of the Yemeni people because the instability and lack of security currently afflicting Yemen cannot be addressed until there is some process that everyone knows is going to lead to the sort of economic and political reforms that they are seeking," Clinton added.
end update
---[
European leaders urged today a true democratic transition for Yemen, amid concerns that Yemeni President Abdullah Ali Saleh may return to power after he heals from wounds suffered Friday in rocket attacks on his palace in Sanaa.
"We call on the Yemeni people to find the way to reconciliation in a spirit of dialogue and national unity, in particular on the basis of the proposals presented in the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s initiative, which we fully support, in order for the Yemeni people to be able to democratically choose its leader," European leaders said in a statement.
The statement was signed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Saleh fled to Saudi Arabia for surgery after the attack on his palace, leaving Vice President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in charge. Saleh, 65, reportedly caught shrapnel in the chest during the rocket attacks.
Opposition tribal leaders and pro-democracy activists all cringed when Yemen's Deputy Information Minister Abdu al-Janadi declared Saleh would return to power before he officially steps down permanently. "Saleh is in good health, and he may give up the authority one day but it has to be in a constitutional way," according to media reports.
"I don't know what will happen," a spokesman identified for his protection only as Hamid told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "Everyone is waiting for the president to come to Yemen, but no one knows what is going to happen. Everyone is worried about the situation, about what's going to happen now."
More than 370 people have died in Yemen since protests started earlier this year.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saleh Reportedly Leaves Yemen for Saudi Arabia
Despots are dropping like locusts in the desert. Credit goes to The Arab Spring.
Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left Yemen, reportedly to seek medical treatment for what his aides had claimed were minor injuries sustained in yesterday's rocket attacks on his Presidential palace.
The New York Times says Yemeni officials are denying Saleh has left Yemen, but the Saudis say they now have him.
There are unconfirmed reports Saleh has a piece of shrapnel lodged in his chest not far from his heart.
Saleh's departure is a mixed bag for the U.S. Many American officials were tired of his strong-arm tactics and anti-democratic regime, but he was "our guy" when it came to allowing drones to kill suspected Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen.
His tyranny was apparently no match for the Pan-Arab freedom movement and well-armed tribal leaders who have long opposed him.
Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left Yemen, reportedly to seek medical treatment for what his aides had claimed were minor injuries sustained in yesterday's rocket attacks on his Presidential palace.
The New York Times says Yemeni officials are denying Saleh has left Yemen, but the Saudis say they now have him.
There are unconfirmed reports Saleh has a piece of shrapnel lodged in his chest not far from his heart.
Saleh's departure is a mixed bag for the U.S. Many American officials were tired of his strong-arm tactics and anti-democratic regime, but he was "our guy" when it came to allowing drones to kill suspected Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen.
His tyranny was apparently no match for the Pan-Arab freedom movement and well-armed tribal leaders who have long opposed him.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Yemeni Rebels Attack Palace in Sanaa
Updated at 1:30 p.m. edt
Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was supposed to deliver an address assuring his people he was fine after a rebel attack today on his palace in Sanaa, but a government official tells MSNBC he is being treated for a wound to the neck.
At least four people, including top officials and body guards, were killed and others were severely wounded, NBC's chief foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports at this hour.
The White House was monitoring the situation, but had no immediate information to shed light on Saleh's condition. A spokesman for President Obama urged Saleh to accept a deal in which he would step down.
"I can tell you that we’ve seen those conflicting reports about what happened there. The President was briefed on this issue this morning," said White House spokesman Josh Ernest.
"I don’t have anything beyond what we’ve said before, which is that obviously condemn the violence on both sides, that we hope that there will be and that there should be a negotiated settlement in Yemen, and that we believe that President Saleh should sign the agreement transferring power," Earnest added.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley suggested on Twitter that Saleh has brought on his own demise. "President Saleh has chosen to literally fight reform rather than respect it. It's a losing battle for Saleh, and tragic for Yemen," Crowley Tweeted.
End update
---[
There are reports Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was hurt today when his palace in Sanaa was shelled by rebels.
Others were also hurt in the attack, the BBC reports.
There are conflicting reports at this time about Saleh's condition.
Saleh has been an ally on the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, allowing U.S. drones to target suspected terrorists.
Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was supposed to deliver an address assuring his people he was fine after a rebel attack today on his palace in Sanaa, but a government official tells MSNBC he is being treated for a wound to the neck.
At least four people, including top officials and body guards, were killed and others were severely wounded, NBC's chief foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports at this hour.
The White House was monitoring the situation, but had no immediate information to shed light on Saleh's condition. A spokesman for President Obama urged Saleh to accept a deal in which he would step down.
"I can tell you that we’ve seen those conflicting reports about what happened there. The President was briefed on this issue this morning," said White House spokesman Josh Ernest.
"I don’t have anything beyond what we’ve said before, which is that obviously condemn the violence on both sides, that we hope that there will be and that there should be a negotiated settlement in Yemen, and that we believe that President Saleh should sign the agreement transferring power," Earnest added.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley suggested on Twitter that Saleh has brought on his own demise. "President Saleh has chosen to literally fight reform rather than respect it. It's a losing battle for Saleh, and tragic for Yemen," Crowley Tweeted.
End update
---[
There are reports Yemeni President Ali Abdulah Saleh was hurt today when his palace in Sanaa was shelled by rebels.
Others were also hurt in the attack, the BBC reports.
There are conflicting reports at this time about Saleh's condition.
Saleh has been an ally on the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, allowing U.S. drones to target suspected terrorists.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Protesters Reject Deal Granting Yemeni Saleh Immunity
The young leaders of the pro-democracy protests in Yemen are rejecting a deal that would allow President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign within a month with immunity from prosecution.
The demonstrators, who faced armed security forces today, want Saleh to step down immediately and they want him and his top aides to face charges after decades of brutal control by the regime.
Dozens of protesters reportedly were injured today when police opened fire with live rounds of ammunition and tear gas in five provinces in Yemen.
The demonstrators, who faced armed security forces today, want Saleh to step down immediately and they want him and his top aides to face charges after decades of brutal control by the regime.
Dozens of protesters reportedly were injured today when police opened fire with live rounds of ammunition and tear gas in five provinces in Yemen.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Protests & Pressure Finally Give Yemeni Dictator The Boot
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is expected to submit his resignation within 30 days, apparently destined to become the third Arab despot to abdicate during the Pan-Arab freedom and democracy movement, joining the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia.
In three decades of rule, Saleh is accused of ordering the executions of some of his critics, imprisoning others without trial and rigging elections.
Saleh has been a two-faced friend of the United States over the years (he supported Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, for example), but more recently he became a darling of the post-9/11 terror-hunter cottage industry because he allowed U.S. drones to unleash hellfire missiles on suspected Al Qaeda leaders.
However, many of his fans, who were willing to look the other way and ignore Saleh's dismal human rights record, never took into consideration that his strong-arm tactics contributed to the growth of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula. All that has changed amid months of pro-democracy demonstrations by angry Yemenis. The United States welcomed his peaceful exit.
"The United States supports a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen that is responsive to the aspirations of the Yemeni people. We applaud the announcements by the Yemeni Government and the opposition that they have accepted the GCC-brokered agreement to resolve the political crisis in a peaceful and orderly manner," the White House said in a statement.
"We encourage all parties to move swiftly to implement the terms of the agreement so that the Yemeni people can soon realize the security, unity, and prosperity that they have so courageously sought and so richly deserve," the White House added.
The Gulf Cooperation Council brokered the deal yesterday, which, along with Salah's resignation, also calls for a presidential election to be held within two months. The deal would grant Saleh immunity in exchange for stepping down.
In three decades of rule, Saleh is accused of ordering the executions of some of his critics, imprisoning others without trial and rigging elections.
Saleh has been a two-faced friend of the United States over the years (he supported Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, for example), but more recently he became a darling of the post-9/11 terror-hunter cottage industry because he allowed U.S. drones to unleash hellfire missiles on suspected Al Qaeda leaders.
However, many of his fans, who were willing to look the other way and ignore Saleh's dismal human rights record, never took into consideration that his strong-arm tactics contributed to the growth of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula. All that has changed amid months of pro-democracy demonstrations by angry Yemenis. The United States welcomed his peaceful exit.
"The United States supports a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen that is responsive to the aspirations of the Yemeni people. We applaud the announcements by the Yemeni Government and the opposition that they have accepted the GCC-brokered agreement to resolve the political crisis in a peaceful and orderly manner," the White House said in a statement.
"We encourage all parties to move swiftly to implement the terms of the agreement so that the Yemeni people can soon realize the security, unity, and prosperity that they have so courageously sought and so richly deserve," the White House added.
The Gulf Cooperation Council brokered the deal yesterday, which, along with Salah's resignation, also calls for a presidential election to be held within two months. The deal would grant Saleh immunity in exchange for stepping down.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Today's MidEast Unrest: The Empires Strike Back
Libya:
Updated 6:20 p.m. est
NATO will take over command of the no-fly zone and Naval arms embargo "in a couple days," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced today.
"NATO has now decided to take over the no-fly zoned over Libya," he said on CNN.
For the time being, separately coalition forces will fly missions aimed at protecting rebels from Moammar Gadhafi's forces, he said.
"We are considering right now whether we should take on that broader responsibility," Rasmussen said.
end update
---[
The Turkish parliament gave the green light today to sending four frigates, a submarine and a support vessel to join a NATO naval operation to enforce a U.N.-sanctioned arms embargo off Libya, a key step toward moving the U.S. closer to handing off command of Operation Odyssey Dawn.
A French fighter jet blasted a Libyan plane on a runway that was in violation of the no-fly zone, the French Foreign Ministry said.
Initially it was reported the French fighter had shot down a Libyan jet today near Miserata, but that report was later clarified.
There is an ear-full of chatter coming from military analysts over whether it will take ground forces to help the rebels defeat Moammar Gadhafi.
Richard Engel on MSNBC last night told Rachel Maddow he has spoken to Libyan rebels who told him they are "looking actively to hire mercenaries" to fight and help coordinate with the coalition. The rebels are also open to having special operation teams on the ground to coordinate air attacks, Engel reported.
NBC's chief foreign correspondent also said out loud what a lot of military strategists have been thinking, but so far has not been hinted at around the Pentagon: Apaches and A-10 tank killers are best suited to do the job if Gadhafi's forces remain in the cities like Misurata. That scenario raises the risks facing U.S. forces, and there is an election next year. At first glance, close-in air support is a long shot, at best.
The Washington Post takes a look deep inside how a languishing ferry loaded with Americans (and other factors) contributed to the timing of the Obama administration's move to freeze Gadhafi's assets.
Turning to domestic politics, GOP House Speaker John Boehner wrote Obama to complain about being kept in the dark about Libya and a mixed message from the administration.
"We obviously take very seriously... the need for congressional consultations. And we have done them and will continue to do them," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. I would also say that it’s important to remember that in the run-up to this action, we were criticized somewhat -- in fact, fairly frequently -- by those who felt like we weren’t moving quickly enough, and now some are criticizing us for going too quickly, and what the President did was make an action based on an imminent threat of a humanitarian nature to a great number of Libyans, and he has done that with a great number of consultations with Congress that will continue. But I think it’s important to remember where we were a week ago and where we are now."
The White House has been walking a tightrope, but nonetheless has been pushing back (in some cases loudly) at reports or comments that it circumvented congressional action when it jumped into the fray in Libya. The genocide that went unchecked in Rwanda (then-President Clinton later apologized for his inaction) played a big role in Obama's change of heart, USA Today's David Jackson blogs.
So far the Obama administration and its allies have tried to brush off those complaints as political not constitutional, and even a few conservative sources proudly but privately acknowledge the U.S. military appears to be getting the job done in Libya as of now.
They know at the White House they dodged a bullet with the successful rescue of the American pilots whose plane crashed in the desert.
"We were very lucky that we didn't have another Mogadishu," an Army source admitted.
The New York Times Nick Kristof's "Hugs From Libyans," his column arguing that the military intervention is historic and essential.
Yemen:
With legislature wired from the start, supporters approved President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s request for a 30-day state of emergency. The embattled tyrant, who has worked with the U.S. in targeting Al Qaeda terrorists, is barely clinging to power and his government fractures.
Yemen's leader says he accepts transition plan by the end of 2011, CNN says.
A thorough and thoughtful photo montage of the Yemenis revolution from Foreign Policy magazine.
Syria:
At least 20,000 mourners and protesters took to Syrian streets today protest the wave of killings of civilians by Syrian security forces.
A day after hundreds of people marched against the government for a fifth consecutive day, Syrian forces killed at least seven protesters in a mosque in Daraa, bringing to 13 the number of demonstrators killed in recent days.
Some counts put the death toll yesterday at 14 Syrian protesters killed.
In an editorial, The Washingtom Post leaves little doubt where it stands: Syria is the next front.
Bahrain:
What diplomacy? MSNBC asks in analysis of Bahrain protests and policies.
Gulf Air and Bahrain Air cancelled all flights in and out of Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport amid the unrest in Bahrain.
"While US and international attention is focused largely elsewhere in the region, especially Libya, the violent crackdown against protestors in the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain may well pose a bigger threat to the entire region's stability," Middle East scholar Salman Shaikh posted on Foreign Policy magazine's blog. "Urgent action is therefore needed to de-escalate the situation in Bahrain and create the trust necessary for the government and opposition to start a much delayed national dialogue that charts the future of the country."
Time reports on its blog "thugs hired by Bahrain's government, posing in civilian clothing at checkpoints around the capital" are "increasingly targeting the country's medical personnel, who have been treating injured protesters since the first day the Shi'ite uprising against Sunni King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa turned violent."
Israel:
A day after a British woman was killed in a bus bomb blast in Jerusalem, the Israelis attacked targets in retaliatory strikes in Gaza today, and Hamas responded with rocket and mortar fire into Israel, Haaretz reports.
AIPAC apologizes for using bombing to raise money. The pro-Israel groups quickly jumped all over the tragedy yesterday, as it was reported here.
Saudi Arabia:
The Wall Street Journal reports Saudis raise pay and plan polls, but their woes linger in the kingdom.
Updated 6:20 p.m. est
NATO will take over command of the no-fly zone and Naval arms embargo "in a couple days," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced today.
"NATO has now decided to take over the no-fly zoned over Libya," he said on CNN.
For the time being, separately coalition forces will fly missions aimed at protecting rebels from Moammar Gadhafi's forces, he said.
"We are considering right now whether we should take on that broader responsibility," Rasmussen said.
end update
---[
The Turkish parliament gave the green light today to sending four frigates, a submarine and a support vessel to join a NATO naval operation to enforce a U.N.-sanctioned arms embargo off Libya, a key step toward moving the U.S. closer to handing off command of Operation Odyssey Dawn.
A French fighter jet blasted a Libyan plane on a runway that was in violation of the no-fly zone, the French Foreign Ministry said.
Initially it was reported the French fighter had shot down a Libyan jet today near Miserata, but that report was later clarified.
There is an ear-full of chatter coming from military analysts over whether it will take ground forces to help the rebels defeat Moammar Gadhafi.
Richard Engel on MSNBC last night told Rachel Maddow he has spoken to Libyan rebels who told him they are "looking actively to hire mercenaries" to fight and help coordinate with the coalition. The rebels are also open to having special operation teams on the ground to coordinate air attacks, Engel reported.
NBC's chief foreign correspondent also said out loud what a lot of military strategists have been thinking, but so far has not been hinted at around the Pentagon: Apaches and A-10 tank killers are best suited to do the job if Gadhafi's forces remain in the cities like Misurata. That scenario raises the risks facing U.S. forces, and there is an election next year. At first glance, close-in air support is a long shot, at best.
The Washington Post takes a look deep inside how a languishing ferry loaded with Americans (and other factors) contributed to the timing of the Obama administration's move to freeze Gadhafi's assets.
Turning to domestic politics, GOP House Speaker John Boehner wrote Obama to complain about being kept in the dark about Libya and a mixed message from the administration.
"We obviously take very seriously... the need for congressional consultations. And we have done them and will continue to do them," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. I would also say that it’s important to remember that in the run-up to this action, we were criticized somewhat -- in fact, fairly frequently -- by those who felt like we weren’t moving quickly enough, and now some are criticizing us for going too quickly, and what the President did was make an action based on an imminent threat of a humanitarian nature to a great number of Libyans, and he has done that with a great number of consultations with Congress that will continue. But I think it’s important to remember where we were a week ago and where we are now."
The White House has been walking a tightrope, but nonetheless has been pushing back (in some cases loudly) at reports or comments that it circumvented congressional action when it jumped into the fray in Libya. The genocide that went unchecked in Rwanda (then-President Clinton later apologized for his inaction) played a big role in Obama's change of heart, USA Today's David Jackson blogs.
So far the Obama administration and its allies have tried to brush off those complaints as political not constitutional, and even a few conservative sources proudly but privately acknowledge the U.S. military appears to be getting the job done in Libya as of now.
They know at the White House they dodged a bullet with the successful rescue of the American pilots whose plane crashed in the desert.
"We were very lucky that we didn't have another Mogadishu," an Army source admitted.
The New York Times Nick Kristof's "Hugs From Libyans," his column arguing that the military intervention is historic and essential.
Yemen:
With legislature wired from the start, supporters approved President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s request for a 30-day state of emergency. The embattled tyrant, who has worked with the U.S. in targeting Al Qaeda terrorists, is barely clinging to power and his government fractures.
Yemen's leader says he accepts transition plan by the end of 2011, CNN says.
A thorough and thoughtful photo montage of the Yemenis revolution from Foreign Policy magazine.
Syria:
At least 20,000 mourners and protesters took to Syrian streets today protest the wave of killings of civilians by Syrian security forces.
A day after hundreds of people marched against the government for a fifth consecutive day, Syrian forces killed at least seven protesters in a mosque in Daraa, bringing to 13 the number of demonstrators killed in recent days.
Some counts put the death toll yesterday at 14 Syrian protesters killed.
In an editorial, The Washingtom Post leaves little doubt where it stands: Syria is the next front.
Bahrain:
What diplomacy? MSNBC asks in analysis of Bahrain protests and policies.
Gulf Air and Bahrain Air cancelled all flights in and out of Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport amid the unrest in Bahrain.
"While US and international attention is focused largely elsewhere in the region, especially Libya, the violent crackdown against protestors in the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain may well pose a bigger threat to the entire region's stability," Middle East scholar Salman Shaikh posted on Foreign Policy magazine's blog. "Urgent action is therefore needed to de-escalate the situation in Bahrain and create the trust necessary for the government and opposition to start a much delayed national dialogue that charts the future of the country."
Time reports on its blog "thugs hired by Bahrain's government, posing in civilian clothing at checkpoints around the capital" are "increasingly targeting the country's medical personnel, who have been treating injured protesters since the first day the Shi'ite uprising against Sunni King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa turned violent."
Israel:
A day after a British woman was killed in a bus bomb blast in Jerusalem, the Israelis attacked targets in retaliatory strikes in Gaza today, and Hamas responded with rocket and mortar fire into Israel, Haaretz reports.
AIPAC apologizes for using bombing to raise money. The pro-Israel groups quickly jumped all over the tragedy yesterday, as it was reported here.
Saudi Arabia:
The Wall Street Journal reports Saudis raise pay and plan polls, but their woes linger in the kingdom.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Freedom Movement Sweeps Arabia
Since there is extraordinary activity, this blogger has compiled a timely nation-by-nation summary of the Pan-Arab Revolution and the freedom movement sweeping the Middle East. It includes links to top stories today and analysis.
Libya:
President Obama cut short today by a couple of hours his trip to Latin America to focus on the fighting in Libya, while NATO steps up its role in implementing the no-fly zone.
NATO started sea patrols as air strikes hit Tripoli again today while some units loyal to Qadhafi were reported to have stalled in Misurata, The New York Times reports.
Obama still insists U.S. will hand over command and control of Libyan operations in a matter of days.
The misery in Misurata: Gadhafi snipers fight on.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signals in an interview with ABC the U.S. would welcome a Gadhafi exit, suggesting he or his friends might be sniffing around for a place for the despot to pitch his tent.
Yemen:
Yemen’s leader remains defiant amid the waves of protests and the increasing number of defections from his government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s proposal was unclear, and the opposition called for his immediate exit, The NYTimes reports.
Saleh warns there could be a civil war triggered by attempts to stage a coup against his rule, the BBC reports.
Al Jazeera English reports: "Major-General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, the head of the north-western military zone and the first armoured division, announced his support for the protesters following a brutal crackdown. Other high-ranking officers that have defected include Brigadiers Hameed Al Koshebi, head of brigade 310 in the Omran area; Mohammed Ali Mohsen, who heads the eastern division; and Nasser Eljahori, head of brigade 121. General Ali Abdullaha Aliewa, an adviser to the Yemeni supreme leader of the army, also deserted the president."
The Washington Post highlights the problems the uprising in Yemen is causing in the hunt for suspected terrorists.
Syria:
Time offers a take on the seeds of the Syrian revolt.
Al Jazeera English ponders the potential for a Syrian revolution.
The BBC's running story on Syrian bloodshed.
And one from Haaretz.
Amnesty International wants Syrian deaths probed, Bloomberg reports.
Bahrain:
Bahrain's dream to be the money capital of the Persian Gulf kingdom are fading fast amid escalating unrest in the tiny island state. The Zawya Dow Jones news service reports it is helping neighboring Doha and Dubai to lure international financial institutions.
Bahrain is not scoring any better with the human rights watchdogs, who say the violations are mounting, VOA says.
Bahrain's monarch Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has said that a foreign plot against his kingdom had been foiled and thanked troops brought in from neighbouring countries to help end increasing unrest after weeks of protests, Al Jazeera reports.
Libya:
President Obama cut short today by a couple of hours his trip to Latin America to focus on the fighting in Libya, while NATO steps up its role in implementing the no-fly zone.
NATO started sea patrols as air strikes hit Tripoli again today while some units loyal to Qadhafi were reported to have stalled in Misurata, The New York Times reports.
Obama still insists U.S. will hand over command and control of Libyan operations in a matter of days.
The misery in Misurata: Gadhafi snipers fight on.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signals in an interview with ABC the U.S. would welcome a Gadhafi exit, suggesting he or his friends might be sniffing around for a place for the despot to pitch his tent.
Yemen:
Yemen’s leader remains defiant amid the waves of protests and the increasing number of defections from his government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s proposal was unclear, and the opposition called for his immediate exit, The NYTimes reports.
Saleh warns there could be a civil war triggered by attempts to stage a coup against his rule, the BBC reports.
Al Jazeera English reports: "Major-General Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmar, the head of the north-western military zone and the first armoured division, announced his support for the protesters following a brutal crackdown. Other high-ranking officers that have defected include Brigadiers Hameed Al Koshebi, head of brigade 310 in the Omran area; Mohammed Ali Mohsen, who heads the eastern division; and Nasser Eljahori, head of brigade 121. General Ali Abdullaha Aliewa, an adviser to the Yemeni supreme leader of the army, also deserted the president."
The Washington Post highlights the problems the uprising in Yemen is causing in the hunt for suspected terrorists.
Syria:
Time offers a take on the seeds of the Syrian revolt.
Al Jazeera English ponders the potential for a Syrian revolution.
The BBC's running story on Syrian bloodshed.
And one from Haaretz.
Amnesty International wants Syrian deaths probed, Bloomberg reports.
Bahrain:
Bahrain's dream to be the money capital of the Persian Gulf kingdom are fading fast amid escalating unrest in the tiny island state. The Zawya Dow Jones news service reports it is helping neighboring Doha and Dubai to lure international financial institutions.
Bahrain is not scoring any better with the human rights watchdogs, who say the violations are mounting, VOA says.
Bahrain's monarch Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has said that a foreign plot against his kingdom had been foiled and thanked troops brought in from neighbouring countries to help end increasing unrest after weeks of protests, Al Jazeera reports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)