Thursday, July 12, 2012

We Shall not see Peace in Yemen as Long as Terrorism is a Lucrative Industry for the Yemeni Government

One time Noam Chomsky said, "Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it."

I bear that quote in mind while writing this post because I don't want just to write another chronicle of today's events in Yemen; the horrific suicide bomber's attack in the Police Academy in Sana'a, the security forces' continuous deadly crackdown on people in Aden or where is Yemen heading to?! I don't want to write about all that. I need to write a call for the US administration.

I'd urge them to stop funding the so-called "fight against al-Qaeda" in Yemen because it's not helping at all. That funded fight embodies a huge income for Saleh and his gang that certainly includes president Hadi himself. If you think about it, why the hell would any leader of Yemen who leads a country with a very bad economy, why would that leader work on stabilizing the country and make sure that peace prevails, while a destabilized land and nation represent a fantastic source of income for him?!

What I'm trying to say is, as much as it hurts to say this, we shall never see stable and peaceful period in Yemen while the industry of death -terrorism- is a lucrative industry for the Yemeni government. Hence, I urge the administration to stop funding them and let's see how that would work out! There is a good possibility that peace will prevail since Yemen's socio-political structure is based on tribalism that totally denounces random terrorist acts like the ones Yemen is witnessing lately.

I'm sure there are plenty reports out there; advising the US administration to change its policies in Yemen and many opinion articles written about how the US administration's practices helping al-Qaeda in Yemen, but I wonder, has the US administration ever read them?!

Anyway, back to my point; I have always believed that Saleh has been the master mind behind all the killings in Yemen; starting from the repeatedly war in Sa'adah, till the 1994 war in Aden, till the current crackdown on people in Aden, till the bombs in Sana'a. You'd be really fool if you think that Saleh is not politically active anymore after him stepping down. He is still a very influential man in the country and Hadi is just his pupet - who for the record served him for 17 years as his vice.

Before I conclude, I think this radio interview with Yemeni political activist and writer, Ibrahim Mothana is very good. He made very important points.

Lastly, we all heard/read the news that al-Qaeda was responsible of today's attack, but has anyone read/watch them stating that publically?!

*Graphic: fotoges of the suicide bomber:-


*Here a video about the attack scene: (I used to work in the newspaper located next to the police academy in Sana'a)