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Title: WSJ: U.S. Looks to Intensify Yemen Campaign
Source:
Wall Street Journal
URL Source: http://online.wsj.com/
Published: Dec 30, 2009
Author: By PETER SPIEGEL, JAY SOLOMON and MARGAR
Post Date: 2009-12-30 17:06:56 by TwentyTwelve
Keywords: Yemen, U.S. Enemy, Another Place to Bomb
Views: 45
Comments: 2
* MIDDLE EAST NEWS * DECEMBER 30, 2009, 10:17 A.M. ET U.S. Looks to Intensify Yemen Campaign By PETER SPIEGEL, JAY SOLOMON and MARGARET COKER The Obama administration is likely to intensify pressure on Yemen's president to focus his security forces against al Qaeda militants, following claims that the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing originated there, according to U.S. officials. Karim Ben Khelifa for The Wall Street Journal The U.S. also is discussing increasing its counterterrorism support to Yemen from $70 million this year to as much as $190 million in 2010, according to a senior military official. U.S. security policy toward Yemen had been increasingly focused on President Ali Abdullah Saleh even before the botched attack, officials said. His government in recent months has shown willingness to coordinate with the Obama administration in counterterrorism operations within his country. "We are acting in response to threats to the U.S.," said Denis McDonough, the White House's deputy national-security advisor, adding that the administration will continue to "address these threats where they arise." But Mr. Saleh is struggling with two rebellious provinces, dwindling financial resources and a significant weakening of his once-strong influence over Islamists in his country. His courting has been a source of debate within the administration: Some officials are concerned he is more interested in seeking American aid to crush local insurgencies than target Islamist militants. "President Saleh is not a consistent and rational player," said another senior military official. "That's the other major worry we have there: What will he do for himself versus what he's doing against al Qaeda." Yemen's government on Tuesday reiterated its desire for more foreign military aid, with foreign minister Abu Bakr al Qirbi telling the British Broadcasting Corp. that Yemen's battle is being undermined by a lack of financial and military support. The Obama administration has praised Mr. Saleh's government in recent weeks for intensifying its campaign against al Qaeda, which includes two major offenses against suspected terrorist camps earlier this month. Mr. Saleh, 63 years old, reiterated his support in combating terror in a telephone call to President Barack Obama two weeks ago, according to the state-run Yemeni press agency. But the U.S. has been frustrated by his unwillingness to open a serious dialogue with the Houthi rebels in the north, a move officials believe would allow Mr. Saleh to focus his attention on al Qaeda. According to the former military official, Mr. Saleh has asked for weapons that he could use against indigenous rebels, including hundreds of tanks and Humvees. Sana'a has claimed the Houthi forces are receiving arms and funding from Shiite Iran. The Obama administration says it has found no such evidence. U.S. officials say Yemen is nearly out of oil exports and facing severe water shortages. Roughly 35% of Yemen's adult population is unemployed. Development projects pursued by U.S., European and Arab donors have been undercut by security threats, U.S. officials say. In the 1990s Yemen, much like Saudi Arabia, re-established ties with and in some cases welcomed back Islamist militants who were returning from fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. Mr. Saleh, mirroring public opinion, treated them as heroes, and gave many of them places in the country's military and security forces. The army used these Afghan veterans to help put down a fresh revolt from southern opposition leaders in 1994. In 2006, U.S. officials became alarmed that Mr. Saleh's political deals risked undermining his support for combating terrorism when 26 al Qaeda militants, including the convicted mastermind of the 2000 attack on the USS Cole, escaped from a Yemeni jail. According to some reports, the militants received assistance from inside Yemen's security forces. Write to Peter Spiegel at peter.spiegel@wsj.com, Jay Solomon at jay.solomon@wsj.com and Margaret Coker at margaret.coker@wsj.com Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A4 Copyright 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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"The Obama administration is likely to intensify pressure on Yemen's president to focus his security forces against al Qaeda militants, following claims that the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing originated there, according to U.S. officials"
"The U.S. also is discussing increasing its counterterrorism support to Yemen from $70 million this year to as much as $190 million in 2010, according to a senior military official."
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