“Like President Saleh, the Ahmars are from the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam, whereas most Yemenis are Sunni Shaf’ists…” (quote from the article above)

Help us out here, Truthdig.  Publish an updated, basic, credible article on Shia and Sunni, the historical impact of their differences, (including the “Zaidi branch” above), the reasons for persistence of animosities, and—most important—who’s trying in any way to heal the breaches.

This battle goes all the way back to the Middle Ages. We might have been able to walk away from it then, but it seems now to be crying out for help in order to prevent increasing violence.  First step:
Broader understanding of differences and similarities.

not only will NATO & Co, not turn away from violence, provocative strategies
persevere from the GLADIO days… recent reports from Pakistan confirm a
GLADIO-like, NATO-run, pseudo-Taliban making false-flag terror

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-Y9Hl2TyC4&feature=fvwrel

Gerard,

Very poignant post.

Do the wrong thing or do nothing.

It is this exact dilemma that causes so much trouble in the world—as if that’s the only choice.
Participating in violence—even if it is for the purpose of trying to prevent violence against innocents—leads, naturally, to more violence.

Doing nothing also leads the wrong way because it doesn’t prevent violence or protect people from violence.

The possible answer:  Give up violence as the answer, starting with violent ways of thinking and planning, and erupting into violent strategies and tactics, violent deaths, punishments and denials.

Try nonviolent methods. Study the strategies, methods, specific behaviors and possibilities—and the proven successes—of non-violent solutions to problems that invite more violence.

If such an effort were adopted and applied in time—in Yemen or anywhere else—it might prove wiser
and less disastrous, and leave less anger and revenge behind.  It’s growing in all kinds of ways in world affairs—generally hidden from wide public view and unrecognized. 

Sad thing is the US military or NATO will be aboue the last to turn away from violence, and are the most ignorant about it.

But there’s hope. AlJazeera has mentioned its significance in a few Middle East situations recently—beginnings, only beginnings.  But an indication of new fresh efforts at humane behavior.
Here’s hoping.