U.S. quietly takes terror war to Yemen

[cal04]

Covert front against al-Qaida was opened a year ago, military officers say
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34606578/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

In the midst of two unfinished major wars, the United States has quietly opened a third, largely covert front against Al Qaeda in Yemen.

A year ago, the Central Intelligence Agency sent many field operatives with counterterrorism experience to the country, according a former top agency official. At the same time, some of the most secretive Special Operations commandos have begun training Yemeni security forces in counterterrorism tactics, senior military officers said.

The Pentagon is spending more than $70 million over the next 18 months, and using teams of Special Forces, to train and equip Yemeni military, Interior Ministry and coast guard forces, more than doubling previous military aid levels.

(snip)
American and Yemeni officials said that a pivotal point in the relationship was reached in late summer after separate secret visits to Yemen by Gen. David H. Petraeus, the American regional commander, and John O. Brennan, President Obama’s counterterrorism adviser.

(snip)
Al Qaeda’s profile in Yemen rose sharply a year ago, when a former Guantánamo Bay detainee from Saudi Arabia, Said Ali al-Shihri, fled to Yemen to join Al Qaeda and appeared in a video posted online. Several other former Guantánamo detainees have also joined the group.

U.S. Widens the Terror War to Yemen, a Qaeda Bastion
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/world/middleeast/28yemen.html?_r=1&hp

[valerief]

1. The U.S. is at War with the World, it seems. nt

[StarfarerBill]

3. We're definitely addicted to the two-war front, for sure:

Winding down in Iraq (I hope), only to be ramping up in Afghanistan and now Yemen.

On edit: stupid of me; forgot about Pakistan...make that a three-war front.

[PDJane]

7. Has been since the end of WWII.

That's how the standard of living is maintained.

[jwirr]

2. Yemen, Pakistan, Irag, Afghanistan. Where are we not fighting a war

in the middle east? Oh, yeah, Saudi Arabia.

[thunder rising]

4. Here we go again. The same strategy that's lost the last wars strikes again.

This is fucking insane. We keep killing and for some reason we just can't get them to love us. In fact, it's like we are challenging every Arab with a gun to take a shot. Then cry when they do.

[dflprincess]

5. And how are we going to pay for this little extravaganza?

I don't suppose anyone will insist this be "deficit neutral".

[Andy823]

6. We should take a vote

And anyone who supports it should be taxed to pay for it! Those who make the most from war should be taxed the most! If the right wing wants to support these wars, let them be taxed to pay for it. Those who support it should also join up and help fight the wars they support. It's easy to sit back here in the safety of their homes and demand we fight, but it's not the same if they had to back those words with actual service in the military, and pay a tax to help fund those wars!

[bemildred]

8. Quiet my ass. Lieberman is all over the place hawking this war. nt