Al Qaeda Entrenchment In Yemen Is Not A Forgone Conclusion
American Security Project re-releases a report on the potential terrorist threat in Yemen
WASHINGTON D.C., 8 November 2010 – Today the American Security Project re-released its June 2010 report titled “Yemen and U.S Security,” which analyzes U.S. efforts to counter Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
Germain Difo, author of the report and adjunct policy analyst at the American Security Project (ASP), said: “Given the recent developments on the Yemen bomb plot, the findings in our report continue to remain relevant. The terrorist threat from Yemen remains very real, as we’ve observed this past week. Binding the United States closer to the Saleh regime could make extrication difficult and will likely prove to be a long-term liability.”
Difo added: “U.S engagement in Yemen requires thinking long-term and strategically. We can’t afford to sacrifice strategic effectiveness for short-term, tactical gains.”
Yemen is one of the poorest in the Middle East, and suffers from a worsening economic system, poor governance, and internal conflict. According to the ASP report, Al Qaeda is attempting to deepen its relationship with Yemeni tribes by capitalizing on widespread resentment against Western influence and the U.S.-backed Yemeni central government. The report also notes that the risk of Yemen-trained terrorists with American passports being used to conduct future attacks could be increasing.
Dr. James Ludes, Executive Director of ASP, said: “It’s not as simple as providing substantial development support to President Saleh’s regime, and increasing our military footprint in Yemen, as those steps could prove counterproductive to U.S. efforts in the region by providing a propaganda tool for AQAP.”
Ludes went on to say: “The recent bombing attempt is an eye-opener to the serious national security threat we face and to the complexity of the terror threat in Yemen. We hope that policy officials carefully consider the conclusions and recommendations set forth within our report, which highlight the dire need to look at this problem within a strategic framework. ”
Download the press release here.
Read the complete “Yemen and U.S. Security” report here.
