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Islamist Militancy in a Pre- and Post-Saleh Yemen
Nearly three months have passed since the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, first
saw mass demonstrations against Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, but
an exit from the current stalemate is still nowhere in sight. Saleh
retains enough support to continue dictating the terms of his eventual
political departure to an emboldened yet frustrated opposition. At the
same time, the writ of his authority beyond the capital is dwindling,
which is increasing the level of chaos and allowing various rebel groups
to collect arms, recruit fighters and operate under dangerously few
constraints.
The prospect of Saleh’s political struggle providing a boon to Al Qaeda
in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is understandably producing anxiety in
Washington, where U.S. officials have spent the past few months trying
to envision what a post-Saleh Yemen would mean for U.S. counterterrorism
efforts in the Arabian Peninsula. Read more »
Dispatch: China's New Weapons Systems
Vice President of Strategic Intelligence Rodger Baker examines possible
reasons for China’s recent, unusual showcasing of the J-20 stealth
fighter and Varyag aircraft carrier. Watch the Video »
