01-20-2015, 06:39 PM
The Charlie Hebdo Aftermath
Well, radicals on all sides are having an effin' field day in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France.
Here's the reported chain of command behind the attacks orchestrated from Yemen; AQAP has now formally claimed responsibility.
All over the Middle East, there have been huge demonstrations condemning Charlie Hebdo and condemning those who claim, "Je suis Charlie". Deadly demonstrations have taken place in Niger and other heavily Islamic countries as well. Meanwhile, in Europe, the anti-Muslim radicals are capitalizing on the attacks.
The Shia Houthis who just stormed Yemen's Presidential Palace are aiming to take power over the country. While they claim to be ready to eradicate Sunni Qaeda in Yemen, they also call for death to Israel and death to America. The Houthis are rumored to be closely associated with Iran and ousted Yemini president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh ruled the country for 33 years, until the Arab Spring of 2011. The Houthis deny the affiliation, but it seems pretty obvious to me.
As the shit hits the fan in the power struggle going down in Yemen, two U.S. Navy warships moved into new positions in the Red Sea yesterday. They are ready to evacuate Americans from the US embassy in Yemen if an order comes to do so (according to CNN).
If an evacuation is ordered, the first option would be to have embassy personnel drive to the commercial airport in Sanaa and fly out, an official said. But in the wake of an embassy car being fired today, the safety of the roads in the capital is now being constantly evaluated. If embassy workers did drive to the airport it is likely some sort of air cover would be provided, under the current plan.
If helicopters and V-22 aircraft from the ships are sent to Sanaa, it would be a complex operation that could last for several days to fully evacuate "several hundred Americans" from the embassy, the official cautioned. "Nobody should think this would be easy." (CNN)
The US military is aware the State Department wants to keep the embassy open as long as possible, the official said, noting that it's a valuable tool to monitor Al Qaeda in Yemen. But behind the scenes the Pentagon is pressing the point that if an evacuation becomes necessary they want to do it before the chaos in Sanaa descends into a 'non permissive environment," akin to combat. For now, the US believes the Houthis are not targeting Americans, but its not clear if that will last.
Shitstorm.
Well, radicals on all sides are having an effin' field day in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France.
Here's the reported chain of command behind the attacks orchestrated from Yemen; AQAP has now formally claimed responsibility.
All over the Middle East, there have been huge demonstrations condemning Charlie Hebdo and condemning those who claim, "Je suis Charlie". Deadly demonstrations have taken place in Niger and other heavily Islamic countries as well. Meanwhile, in Europe, the anti-Muslim radicals are capitalizing on the attacks.
The Shia Houthis who just stormed Yemen's Presidential Palace are aiming to take power over the country. While they claim to be ready to eradicate Sunni Qaeda in Yemen, they also call for death to Israel and death to America. The Houthis are rumored to be closely associated with Iran and ousted Yemini president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh ruled the country for 33 years, until the Arab Spring of 2011. The Houthis deny the affiliation, but it seems pretty obvious to me.
As the shit hits the fan in the power struggle going down in Yemen, two U.S. Navy warships moved into new positions in the Red Sea yesterday. They are ready to evacuate Americans from the US embassy in Yemen if an order comes to do so (according to CNN).
If an evacuation is ordered, the first option would be to have embassy personnel drive to the commercial airport in Sanaa and fly out, an official said. But in the wake of an embassy car being fired today, the safety of the roads in the capital is now being constantly evaluated. If embassy workers did drive to the airport it is likely some sort of air cover would be provided, under the current plan.
If helicopters and V-22 aircraft from the ships are sent to Sanaa, it would be a complex operation that could last for several days to fully evacuate "several hundred Americans" from the embassy, the official cautioned. "Nobody should think this would be easy." (CNN)
The US military is aware the State Department wants to keep the embassy open as long as possible, the official said, noting that it's a valuable tool to monitor Al Qaeda in Yemen. But behind the scenes the Pentagon is pressing the point that if an evacuation becomes necessary they want to do it before the chaos in Sanaa descends into a 'non permissive environment," akin to combat. For now, the US believes the Houthis are not targeting Americans, but its not clear if that will last.
Shitstorm.