Yemen

Fighting in Yemen Escalates

Fighting in Yemen as yet again escalated and is now bringing about more deaths after a brief break when President Saleh announced his return, and a ceasefire. After 3 months in Saudi Arabia receiving medical treatment for a failed assassination attempt, President Saleh returned on September 23. While the Saudi Arabia has hoped for a peaceful resolution to this conflict, President Saleh’s return seems to have given more resolve to the protestors as fighting restarted in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The revolt started earlier in the year with the Tunisian revolt and the Egyptian revolt. The protestors have refused deals to give them the vote and remove Saleh over time. They are calling for his immediate removal and want to install their transitional government immediately.

While a country going to a democratic style form of government is a good thing for the people, the unrest in Yemen has the potential to cause so serious unrest in the region. Right now, with the renewed fighting, Saudi Arabia is worrying about sending troops into the region because of the potential of casualties of fighting in Yemen’s tough terrain. Initially, Saudi Arabia and other powers, including the United States, supported President Saleh’s governance because the region was stable. While Saudi Arabia is trying to keep Saleh in some position of power a little longer, most foreign powers have withdrawn their support of Saleh and are supporting the idea of removing Saleh from power and allowing the set up of a transitional government. A lot of concern comes from the United States and Saudi Arabia. They are afraid that an all out civil war and serious destabilization of power could lead to a faction of al Qaeda taking advantage of the situation and causing problems for western interests.

Realist

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index.php/opinion/2993-regime-desperate-as-end-game-approaches-in-yemen

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/29/us-yemen-idUSTRE78S0OF20110929

September 30, 2011 at 12:31 pm