Editor’s Note: Yemen is among the most vexing allies the United States has in the struggle against terrorism. Like Pakistan, the government in Sana’a is both a key partner and part of the problem. On the one hand, one of al-Qaeda’s most important affiliates is based in Yemen, and the Yemeni regime supports the U.S. drone program, among other counterterrorism measures. On the other hand, numerous reports persist of Yemeni government incompetence and even complicity with jihadist groups. Sama’a Al-Hamdani, a Yemen analyst who writes the blog Yemeniaty, examines this tension, assessing the problems Yemen faces in combating terrorism and offering her thoughts for how the government there should change its approach.
Read the piece at Lawfare Blog
Yemen is not so much two-faced as inept.
They cannot rule their own people from a centralized government.
The Saudis caught a lot of international flack because they wanted to erect a ”separation wall,” between their country and Yemen.
The wall would have been identical to Ireland’s ”Peace Wall,” as well as Israel’s ”Separation Fence.”
Both work, but Israel’s was the target of a PR war.
So the Saudis had to abandon their plan.
I recalled something not in the article.
The oldest continuous Jewish community was forced out of Yemen sometime since 2003.
Jews were suddenly being attacked, so they all left.
Richard Fernandez’ article about Obama’s misguided policies in the ME might be conjecture but it sure makes sense.
http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2014/05/11/the-day-obamas-presidency-died/
Otherwise why ally with Yemen?