Out of Yemen, U.S. is Hobbled in Terror Fight

Grant · Mar 23, 2015

WASHINGTON — The evacuation of 125 United States Special Operations advisers from Yemen in the past two days is the latest blow to the Obama administration’s counterterrorism campaign, which is already struggling with significant setbacks in Syria, Libya and elsewhere in the volatile region, American officials said Sunday.
The loss of Yemen as a base for American counterterrorism training, advising and intelligence-gathering carries major implications not just there, but throughout a region that officials say poses the most grievous threat to United States global interests and to the country itself.
The rapid rise of the Islamic State has commanded the immediate attention of President Obama and other Western leaders in the past year. But American officials say that Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen, which includes the most potent bomb maker in the terrorist world, still poses the most direct threat to Americans at home, abroad or aboard commercial aircraft. Since 2009, the United States has thwarted at least three plots by the group to bring down airliners.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

Travis007 · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

I guess this is just a sign of an Obama "win"

Obama told us Yemen was a "success"...and we know Obama is never wrong..: )

Maybe Obama could ask Iran to help out since they are the ones who took down our "ally"

shrubnose · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

The USA didn't 'flee' Yemen, it made a strategic advance to the rear. :roll:

Thirty or forty years or so from now,after things calm down a little bit there, we'll probably be back in there.

Travis007 · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

Obama is the best friend a terrorist ever had..

if he only treated terror harboring countries with the hatred he has for the Jews and Israel

Fletch · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

First, Iraq was going to be one of the great success stories of the Obama Administration: then Libya was the beginning of the Obama Doctrine; and now Yemen is a shining example of success that would be used in combat against ISIS.

Fail X3

Travis007 · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Fletch said:
First, Iraq was going to be one of the great success stories of the Obama Administration: then Libya was the beginning of the Obama Doctrine; and now Yemen is a shining example of success that would be used in combat against ISIS.

Fail X3

great post ... well said..

Meadowlark · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Fletch said:
First, Iraq was going to be one of the great success stories of the Obama Administration: then Libya was the beginning of the Obama Doctrine; and now Yemen is a shining example of success that would be used in combat against ISIS.

Fail X3

Failure fits perfectly in a nutshell, well done

Grant · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Travis007 said:
I guess this is just a sign of an Obama "win"

Obama told us Yemen was a "success"...and we know Obama is never wrong..: )

Maybe Obama could ask Iran to help out since they are the ones who took down our "ally"

It is an Obama success until it fails. Then it is the fault of George Bush.

Travis007 · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
It is an Obama success until it fails. Then it is the fault of George Bush.

Yup...

Roadvirus · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Add it to the list of Obama Failures.
I don't know which is longer: the Great Wall of China or that list.

CanadaJohn · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

The US policy in Yemen really has been breathtakingly bad. In the Arab Spring, Obama basically abandoned many of the US's traditional allies in the region, preferring to sit back and watch. In Yemen, when things settled, a very weak leadership remained and Obama and the US used that leadership to conduct multiple drone strikes throughout Yemen, angering many of the citizens of Yemen against both the Yemeni leadership as well as the US. This was allowed to escalate, turning large parts of the country over to terrorists and resistance, egged on by Iran and now the whole leadership/government structure in Yemen has collapsed.

I used to think that the world could survive the remainder of the disastrous Obama administration but that's becoming iffy. It seems quite laughable now that many in the US saw GW Bush as a problem in that region of the world - the absence of strong American leadership is a terrible price this region is paying.

Gladiator · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

How close are Iran and the Houthi Rebels in Yemen?

"Zaidi Shiites in Yemen, about a third of the population, do not belong to the same branch of Shiite Islam as most Iranians, and they are a local Yemeni movement reacting against Sunni and secular dominance of politics. (About two-thirds of Yemenis are Sunni Muslims and they predominate in the south of the country.)"

Yemen: Saudi backs Sunni revolution against Shiite Houthi Rebels linked to Iran | Informed Comment

"Iran has supplied weapons, money and training to the Shi'ite Houthi militia that seized Yemen's capital in September, as Tehran steps up its regional power struggle with Saudi Arabia, Yemeni and Iranian officials say.Exactly how much support Iran has given the Houthis, who share a Shi'ite ideology, has never been clear. Sunni countries in the Gulf accuse Iran of interference via Shi'ite proxies in the region, something Tehran denies.
But Reuters has details -- from Yemeni, Western and Iranian sources -- of Iranian military and financial support to the Houthis before and after their takeover of Sanaa on Sept. 21.
A senior Houthi official denied there had been material and financial support. But the assertions are still likely to reinforce Saudi, and Western, fears that Iran is exploiting turmoil between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain and now Yemen."

Iranian support seen crucial for Yemen's Houthis | Reuters

//

eohrnberger · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

CanadaJohn said:
The US policy in Yemen really has been breathtakingly bad. In the Arab Spring, Obama basically abandoned many of the US's traditional allies in the region, preferring to sit back and watch. In Yemen, when things settled, a very weak leadership remained and Obama and the US used that leadership to conduct multiple drone strikes throughout Yemen, angering many of the citizens of Yemen against both the Yemeni leadership as well as the US. This was allowed to escalate, turning large parts of the country over to terrorists and resistance, egged on by Iran and now the whole leadership/government structure in Yemen has collapsed.

I used to think that the world could survive the remainder of the disastrous Obama administration but that's becoming iffy. It seems quite laughable now that many in the US saw GW Bush as a problem in that region of the world - the absence of strong American leadership is a terrible price this region is paying.

Yeah, it's getting more so every passing day.

The power vacuum that was left when Obama abandoned the position of influence in the region is busily being filled by the Iranians, as they have Obama by the ear with the nuclear talks.

iliveonramen · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

CanadaJohn said:
The US policy in Yemen really has been breathtakingly bad. In the Arab Spring, Obama basically abandoned many of the US's traditional allies in the region, preferring to sit back and watch. In Yemen, when things settled, a very weak leadership remained and Obama and the US used that leadership to conduct multiple drone strikes throughout Yemen, angering many of the citizens of Yemen against both the Yemeni leadership as well as the US. This was allowed to escalate, turning large parts of the country over to terrorists and resistance, egged on by Iran and now the whole leadership/government structure in Yemen has collapsed.

I used to think that the world could survive the remainder of the disastrous Obama administration but that's becoming iffy. It seems quite laughable now that many in the US saw GW Bush as a problem in that region of the world - the absence of strong American leadership is a terrible price this region is paying.

Sooo....the US should of interceded to protect dictators against populous uprisings?

Fearandloathing · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

So if I have this straight, Yemen was the example of a means to a win on which the current war in Iraq is being waged.

So now that it's failing, what does that say about Obama's war? Iraq can't be won this way.

jet57 · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

Yemen has been a mess for some time and this has nothing to do with Obama or what's going on with ISIS elsewhere. It'll be interesting to see what the Saudis do about this. THAT should be our focus.

iliveonramen · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

So what would of you done in a country which has pretty much fallen apart into multiple blocs of power? Would you of kept 125 service members there? Expanded the number of service members?

JANFU · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

shrubnose said:
The USA didn't 'flee' Yemen, it made a strategic advance to the rear. :roll:

Thirty or forty years or so from now,after things calm down a little bit there, we'll probably be back in there.

They have been fighting each other for centuries.
Both sides are nuts.
As it is in Saudi /Omani interests to have a stable Yemen. Well they are not far away.
Scroll way down to see the wars fought in the last century alone.
History of Yemen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WCH · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

CanadaJohn said:
The US policy in Yemen really has been breathtakingly bad. In the Arab Spring, Obama basically abandoned many of the US's traditional allies in the region, preferring to sit back and watch. In Yemen, when things settled, a very weak leadership remained and Obama and the US used that leadership to conduct multiple drone strikes throughout Yemen, angering many of the citizens of Yemen against both the Yemeni leadership as well as the US. This was allowed to escalate, turning large parts of the country over to terrorists and resistance, egged on by Iran and now the whole leadership/government structure in Yemen has collapsed.

I used to think that the world could survive the remainder of the disastrous Obama administration but that's becoming iffy. It seems quite laughable now that many in the US saw GW Bush as a problem in that region of the world - the absence of strong American leadership is a terrible price this region is paying.

Very true but, the Left will never admit it.

DaveFagan · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/23/us/politics/out-of-yemen-us-is-hobbled-in-terror-fight.html?_r=0

This is what Obama said just a few months ago.

"This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out [the Islamic State] wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground. This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years"

It's not that Obama is just the most stupid president in US History, he is quite likely the stupidest leader of any democracy in world history. This man has blood all over his hands.

Looks to me like another success in the USA Terror War. We funded and armed these people and now instability is rampant, the same as Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Iraq, etc. and since we have achieved the same result each time, I have no doubt it is the desired effect. Beyond that, in the realm of ethics and mores, compassion, empathy, and all of the other positive virtues of humankind, it means it must be a CORPORATE plan because that leaves out the issues of humanity and deals with numbers and profits, eh?

Helix · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

U.S. Flees Yemen

good. pull them all out, and close every embassy that is located in a hostile region.

Grant · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

DaveFagan said:
Looks to me like another success in the USA Terror War. We funded and armed these people and now instability is rampant, the same as Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Iraq, etc. and since we have achieved the same result each time, I have no doubt it is the desired effect. Beyond that, in the realm of ethics and mores, compassion, empathy, and all of the other positive virtues of humankind, it means it must be a CORPORATE plan because that leaves out the issues of humanity and deals with numbers and profits, eh?

Yes, it's all the fault of corporate America. Of course.

JANFU · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

DaveFagan said:
Looks to me like another success in the USA Terror War. We funded and armed these people and now instability is rampant, the same as Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Iraq, etc. and since we have achieved the same result each time, I have no doubt it is the desired effect. Beyond that, in the realm of ethics and mores, compassion, empathy, and all of the other positive virtues of humankind, it means it must be a CORPORATE plan because that leaves out the issues of humanity and deals with numbers and profits, eh?

Read the history- place has always been a cesspool.
Saudi Arabia warns of 'necessary measures' over Yemen - BBC News

Asked if the Saudis would offer military aid to Mr Hadi, whom it recognises as Yemen's legitimate ruler, Prince Saud said: "Certainly, countries in the region and the Arab world will take the necessary measures to protect the region from aggression," according to Reuters.

He accused Shia-majority Iran, the Saudis' main regional rival, of attempting to "stir up sectarian conflict".

Grant · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

iliveonramen said:
So what would of you done in a country which has pretty much fallen apart into multiple blocs of power? Would you of kept 125 service members there? Expanded the number of service members?

Everything flows from Obama's decision, against all advice, to remove the military from the Middle East. There should be upwards of 50,000, plus coalition troops, to stop the spread of ISIS and maintain some order. Now everything is getting far worse than when he pulled the troops in 2011 and more deaths and chaos will certainly follow.

iliveonramen · Mar 23, 2015

Re: U.S. Flees Yemen

Grant said:
Everything flows from Obama's decision, against all advice, to remove the military from the Middle East. There should be upwards of 50,000, plus coalition troops, to stop the spread of ISIS and maintain some order. Now everything is getting far worse than when he pulled the troops in 2011 and more deaths and chaos will certainly follow.

So we should of sent more troops to Yemen as the country falls apart into a multi-sided civil war?

Out of Yemen, U.S. is Hobbled in Terror Fight

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