Are you in Yemen? If you're reading this in Yemen, you might not be able to read Armies of Liberation. So I'll clip a few of Jane's latest posts for you.
Exiles to return?
Political passivity in exchange for re-patriation
Al-Motamar
almotamar.net - Assistant secretary General for Political Affairs and External Relations of the General People’s Congress (GPC) Sultan al-Barakani has Wednesday expressed his welcome of return home of the political personalities living abroad bur affirmed non-existence of justification for opposition abroad.
Al-Barakani said in a country under pluralism it is shameful to talk about the outside opposition and ” Personally I cannot call them opposition because he who considers himself an opponent he has to practice opposition from inside Yemen and as for connection with certain regimes or intelligence apparatuses abroad or does an information work meant for reaching some ambitions they are not called opposition as long as the rule or the constitution has guaranteed to all the practice of their right inside the country, so what is the justification of the presence of opposition outside?”
DNI Testimony:
Michael McConnell, director of national intelligence, in testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence doesn’t mention Yemen’s committment to combating the terror threat but highlights the Saudis’.
DNI
Other Affiliates Worldwide. Other al-Qa’ida regional
affiliates kept a lower profile in 2007, but we judge that they
remain capable of conducting attacks against US interests. Al-
Qa’ida is active on the Arabian Peninsula and presents a long term
threat to both Western and host nation interests there,
particularly in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Yemen. In 2007, Saudi
authorities detained over 400 extremists, highlighting both the
threat and the Kingdom’s commitment to combating it. We
judge al-Qa’ida will continue to attempt attacks in the Arabian
Peninsula, particularly in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab
Emirates, and Bahrain.
Ali Mohsen on Houthi Negogiations in Qatar:
Well thats good, he’s the one who has been instigating it for years.
YemenTimes
SA’ADA, Feb. 6 — A state of relative quiet prevails in most of Sa’ada’s districts; however, the army continues striking nearby villages and citizens’ property with mortars and heavy machine guns in Juma’a Bin Fadhel and other areas, thereby breaching a recently reached truce with the Houthis, a truce expected to go into effect Wednesday, Feb. 6, mentioned Sheikh Saleh Habra, who attended the Doha Peace Deal’s proceedings on the Houthis’ behalf. Habra contacted the Yemen Times by phone.
“As Houthi supporters, we ceased operations against the army and security forces, lifted the siege on two military detachments and allowed military vehicles, loaded with food supplies and medical equipment, to reach solders,” the sheikh added. “But, the army prevents any vehicles, loaded with foodstuffs and other supplies, from reaching Houthi supporters. Despite this, we are still optimistic that government officials may behave reasonably and abide by the Doha Peace Deal.”
A well-informed source stated Monday that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered army commanders to cease firing at followers of the religious cleric Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, according to a Doha-brokered peace deal on Friday.
Al Feida: Bin Laden's Son to Lead al-Qaeda
Following up on yesterday’s post where al-Fida says al-Qaeda did not perpetrate the tourist attacks in Yemen, today he announces the line of sucession for bin Laden. So apparently he is in touch with his old buddies.
Al-Fida speaks and negotiates on behalf of al-Qaeda frequently, check the links in the other post but here’s a few direct: In an interview, Abu al Fida’a (Rashad Mohammed Saeed Ismael) denied AQ involvement in two attacks on tourists, saying attacks within Yemen are prohibited by central leadership. Al Fida’a blamed the attacks on “congestion in the security forces” or an Al Qaeda imposter. Al-Fida’a was a high ranking member of the Taliban and close associate of Usama Bin Laden. He negotiated on behalf of al-Qaeda with Yemeni President Saleh in June 2006.
Saana, 6 Feb. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s youngest son Hamza is being groomed to take over from his father as leader of the terror network, says former Islamist Yemeni militant, Muhammad Sayd.
Sayd told the Arab satellite TV network Al-Arabiya that the 16-year old had been selected for the role.
“Young Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama, has been chosen to lead the al-Qaeda organisation in the future,” said Sayd, who has been close to the al-Qaeda leader in the past.
