The United States opens up military front in Yemen
Obama has escalated the war in Afghanistan,
increased drone attacks in Pakistan, and has now started a military
incursion in Yemen
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Yemen's capital city of Sana’a is believed to have been founded by Sham, the son of Noah
OVERVIEW
- Sept. 2009: Obama pledged to "stand
beside Yemen, its unity, security and stability... The security of
Yemen is vital for the security of the United States" (read).
- Dec. 2009: US sent special forces to Yemen to train its army (read).
- Dec. 17, 2009: Obama orders airstrikes on Yemen (read); 63 civilians killed, 28 of whom were children (read).
- Dec. 25, 2009: Nigerian citizen Umar
Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly attempts to blow up a plane headed to
Detroit. Mr. Abdulmutallab had spent a time in
London and in Yemen as a student where he supposedly received
'terrorist training' (read).
- Dec. 28, 2009: Obama vows 'accelerated offensive' in Yemen (read).
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Photo Slideshow of Yemen and its people
Click image for larger map
Yemen at a glance
Location: The southern most Middle Eastern country.
Area: Twice the size of Wyoming.
Population: 23.8 million. 46% are under the age of 15.
Economy: One of the poorest countries in the Arab world; 45% live below poverty line, and 35% are unemployed.
Government:
The Republic of Yemen, created in 1990. President is Ali Abdullah
Saleh, who regarded Sadaam Hussein as a mentor. Yemen receives tens of
millions of dollars from the U.S. Human Rights Watch has
accused Yemeni security forces of widespread abuses and the killing of
at least 11 protesters in the past two years.
Sources: CIA World Factbook and St. Pete for Peace research.
Welcome, Americans, to Mysterious Yemen
by Eric Margolis (read) |
LATEST NEWS
March 2010
- UN: Millions Face Starvation in Yemen (read).
February 2010
- Yemen agrees to ceasefire with Shi'ite fighters (read).
January 2010
- Pentagon to Send More Special Forces Troops to Yemen (read).
- US seeks backing from European partners in Yemen (read).
- Clerics in Yemen warn of jihad if US sends troops (read).
- Dozens Killed as Fighting in Yemeni North Resumes (read).
- Obama Plays
Down Role in Yemen - “no intention of sending U.S. boots on the
ground”. "The threats that we face ... are networks that
are connecting over cyberspace,” Mr. Obama said. (read).
- US
forges alliance with Saddam Hussein officers in Yemen. Yemeni
president was a strong ally of Saddam, and is said to have regarded him
as his mentor. (read).
- Clinton says Yemen instability a threat to global security (read).
- Obama announced that the U.S. will halt all transfers of Guantánamo detainees to Yemen (read).
- Yemen likely to be new front in global fight against terror (read).
- Yemen dismisses Al Qaeda threat as 'exaggerated' - but the U.S. and Britain close their embassies in the Yemeni capital (read).
December 2009
- Officials: U.S., Yemen reviewing targets
for possible strike. "al Qaeda in Yemen" said to claim responsibility
for Detroit incident (read).
- Sen. Joe Lieberman: "we have a
growing presence (in Yemen)... Special Operations, Green Berets,
intelligence... If we don’t act preemptively, Yemen will be
tomorrow’s war." (1, 2).
- US bombs Sa'ada governor's house, Houthis say (read).
- Man who allegedly attempted to blow up an airplane headed to Detroit on Christmas day has links to Yemen (1, 2).
(Also claimed: Yemen is one of the primary reasons Gitmo's closure has
been delayed, and that a preacher in Yemen is connected to last month's
killings at Ft. Hood).
- US air raids kill 63 civilians in Yemen (read).
- Yemen rebels say American air force behind raid that killed 120 (read).
- Saudi airstrikes killed at least 35 civilians in Yemen (read); 1,000+ Saudi missiles have reportedly been launched (read).
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