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U.S. Sending More Troops to Yemen

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Posted on Jan 27, 2010
Yemen
Wikimedia Commons

The Pentagon is planning to ramp up the number of U.S. special forces troops in Yemen, pointing to the botched Christmas Day attack on Northwest flight 253 as part of the impetus for the increase. It’s not clear yet how many more American troops will be sent over, but the boost will be significant, according to the Wall Street Journal.  —KA

The Wall Street Journal:

The Obama administration plans to increase its counterterrorism support to the government of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh from $70 million in 2009 to roughly $190 million this year, and the U.S. and U.K. have agreed to jointly fund a new counterterrorism police force inside Yemen.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the U.S. supported Yemen “in many different ways” and credited Mr. Saleh’s government with an “aggressive and forceful response to this growing terrorist threat in their country.”

Mr. Morrell, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said the U.S. was already providing Yemen with financial support, training and other forms of military assistance.

“If that is something that the Yemeni government continues to find helpful, we will look for ways to continue to do that, if not broaden it, but this is obviously a sensitive issue for the Yemeni government and we are mindful of their sovereignty,” he said.

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By dihey, January 28, 2010 at 11:36 am Link to this comment

There is a Dutch saying which, in translation, says: “people consider, God acts”. When applied to this case it sounds: “the Pentagon considers, the commander-in-chief acts”.
It is the task of “Pentagons” all over the globe to prepare for defense or war, whichever the case may be. One should not be surprised that our Pentagon does just what it is paid to do. However, in our system of governance it is only the President who has the authority to send armed persons to Yemen or bomb the country. Keep your eyes on the ball folks!

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By amex, January 28, 2010 at 8:58 am Link to this comment

The last time I was in the USA, I almost tore my trailer and truck suspension system apart coming over highway 80 at Lake Tahoe.  I then went up highway 5 and noticed, not for the first time, that the highway maintenance was nonexistent.  The trash and debris on the side of the road reminded me of Mexico, and I’m sure other 3rd world countries.

I have paid more taxes than most people will ever pay, and I used to grumble on tax day, pay the bill, and go on making money.  But this has become total bullshit to me, and I can say LOUDLY - FUCK YOU AMERICAN GOVERNMENT!!!!  I WANT ALL OF THEM PITCHFORKED, TARRED AND FEATHERED, AND THEN THROWN IN A TURKISH PRISON.

Somebody help me to figure out how to stop these fucks from stealing American treasure and wealth and bring this fascist nightmare to an end.

I have never been so angry at anything in my entire life.

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Samson's avatar

By Samson, January 28, 2010 at 6:35 am Link to this comment

So, lets see .... we need to freeze ‘domestic spending’ that actually helps American citizens.  But, we can easily come up with $120 million more to give to freakin Yemen.

Obama and the Democrats have the same screwed up sense of priorities that Bush had.

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By Humanoid, January 28, 2010 at 4:56 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Control of Strait of Hormuz. Need anything else be said?

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By francfist, January 28, 2010 at 3:17 am Link to this comment

I think the three? major American oil companies were there first. All else followed and more to come. Just remember - these people only hate us for our “freedoms”, not because our corporations are there looting their resources.

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By Jim Foley, January 27, 2010 at 6:12 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

First the advisors, then the protectors, next up, the monster is on the loose,. Viet Nam deja vu.

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By eir, January 27, 2010 at 5:14 pm Link to this comment

Let’s all keep quiet and be supportive and maybe things will work out, and most importantly we can hope that our tender pride won’t be injured at having mis-judged somebody/something.

The Fucking Empire LOVES you.

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