The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
Why Al Qaeda Survives in Yemen
by James Dunnigan
March 15, 2005
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
Although Yemen has openly, and actively, aided the United States in the war on
terror, many Yemenis are fans of Osama bin Laden (whose father came from Yemen)
and al Qaeda. There are many al Qaeda sympathizers in the Yemeni military and
government as well. These sympathizers have been discreetly aiding Iraqi Baath
Party officials who have fled Iraq, and now Syria. There has also been some
active, but covert, support for the terrorists operating in Iraq. Cracking down
on this is not easy, even with FBI and CIA agents stationed in Yemen. The
problem is that the Yemeni government is a jumble of tribal and family
relationships. Even if you know an official is helping terrorists, you can’t go
after him if he is well connected. Unless, of course, such support for Islamic
terrorists becomes public, thus embarrassing the culprit, and making him
vulnerable to removal from office, or worse. There’s also a lot of corruption in
the government as well, so it’s often the case that you can’t step on a
terrorist supporter because you are doing business with him on some dirty deal.
This has been going on since (and before) September 11, 2001, and it’s been
driving American officials in Yemen nuts. But these things are typical of the
Middle East (and many other parts of the world.) Family relationships, and
making a buck are more important than what a bunch of foreigners think. The
United States has tried to use money to deal with the problem, but it’s often
difficult to figure out how best to deploy the bribes. And some of the hard core
Islamic radicals are on a Mission from God, and thus difficult to reach with
mere cash.
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