Yemeni Official: More Counterterrorism Support Needed From West
The Christmas Day incident on Northwest Flight 253 has brought Yemen further onto the U.S. radar, and now Yemen's foreign minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, is calling for more help from the West to deal with what he considers to be a sizable al-Qaida network operating within his country.
The Christmas Day incident on Northwest Flight 253 has brought Yemen further onto the U.S. radar, and now Yemen’s foreign minister, Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, is calling for more help from the West to deal with what he considers to be a sizable al-Qaida network operating within his country. –KA
Dig, Root, GrowBBC:
Yemen was getting some support in this conflict but it was inadequate, [Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi] added.
“We need more training. We have to expand our counter terrorism units and this means providing them with the necessary training, military equipment, ways of transportation – we are very short of helicopters.
“The United States can do a lot, Britain can do a lot, the European Union can do a lot in that regard,” he said.
He said he thought that 200-300 al-Qaeda members were operating in Yemen, but that this was just a rough guess.
“Of course there are a number in Yemen and they may actually plan for attacks as in Detroit,” he said.
But Mr al-Qirbi said warnings about the situation made by US officials like Gen David Petraeus, head of Central Command, were overstated and “exaggerated in some media”.
This year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.
Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.
Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.
This spring, stand with our journalists.
Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.
Donate today.
Opinion
Where’s the headline-making outrage over the never-ending travesty of Gitmo?
Military
America's forever wars have yielded an astronomical 75,000% increase in terrorist attacks.
A closer look at the Trump administration's agreement with the Taliban reveals all the president's concerned with is bragging rights.
The agreement could see the withdrawal of all American and allied forces in the next 14 months — but it could also easily unravel.
The pact sets the stage for U.S. troop withdrawal more than 18 years after George W. Bush ordered bombing in response to the 9/11 attacks.
The planned Feb. 29 signing depends on the success of a week-long nationwide "reduction in violence" agreement.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.