Comments on: Why Yemen?

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

I completely agree Lauren. Yemenis are some of the poorest educated in the Arab world, and many simply do not know much, if anything, negative about Al Qaeda or Saddam Hussein (many have never heard of the Halabja gassing, for example, and anti-Semitic 9/11 conspiracies appear to be common). Other than some modern media like satellite television, for those who can afford it, Yemenis generally rely on their own experience and the communicated experiences of their relatives to form their opinions. The absence of any personal negative experiences with Al Qaeda, combined with the heavy coverage of Arab casualties in Iraq in Palestine on satellite TV, I think, as you rightly point out, forms a large part of this equation.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:36:17 +0000

Great article, Andre. I wonder if there is still so much sympathy for AQ in Yemen because major attacks have largely focused on outsiders so far. (Think USS Cole, random attacks on tourists and so forth) I know in Saudi Arabia public opinion did not really turn against AQ until many Saudi citizens were killed in a series of suicide bombings in Riyadh a few years ago. But it seems that Yemen has not yet come to that point.

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:32:46 +0000

Very informative Andre. The article is written with intelligence and wisdom and is something all students should read. Thank you.

By: Ben Wel

Ben Wel — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:22:07 +0000

Very interesting article, America need to focus on Yemen more often and need to get the Yemeni government involved in targeting this Terror network around the Middle-East.It is possible Yemen could become the next Pakistan, a safe-haven for all terrorist, the United States must work with the Yemenis to insure safety and security cooperation and to further advance peace talks in Palestine.

By: Artour

Artour — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:00:40 +0000

Its too often that we simplify events going on throughout the world, especially within the Middle East. Thank you Andre for your refreshing insight into the events that have been occurring as of late involving Al-Qaeda in Yemen.

By: Andre

Andre — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:14:06 +0000

Today from CNN: Yemen: Al Qaeda ‘most dangerous’ arrested, http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/12/31/yemen.alqaeda.arrests/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29