02-14-2015, 08:22 AM
Well, I very much hope Yemen doesn't implode, Mo.
There's no sugar-coating it -- right now, it's a hot unstable mess there and if the Houthis wanna maintain control or open the door for Salah's return, they're gonna have to legitimize themselves and organize very quickly. I don't know how they're gonna manage that. Following from the very distant sidelines, it sure looks like Yemen is taking big steps backwards, at least in the short term -- back to old Shia Muslim vs. Sunni Muslim battles and rival tribal conflicts.
France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia and now UAE have closed their missions in the capital Sanaa and withdrawn staff.
It's being reported that heavy fighting is ongoing in the southern mountainous province of al-Bayda where 16 Houthi Shiite rebels along with 10 Sunni tribesmen and militants are reported dead. The locals are said to be aligning with al-Qaeda fighters against the Houthis.
The resurgence of AQAP strength is what western partners with the now ousted Yemeni government feared would happen after Hadi and his regime were overthrown. It's now the Houthis -- instead of President Hadi and western alliances -- trying to stymie AQAP. In my opinion, that's advantageous to AQAP, but maybe I'm underestimating the current power of the Houthis outside of Sanaa and overestimating the level of contempt that Saudia Arabia holds for Houthis?
Anyway, I'm really curious to see what happens next too and I feel for the people of Yemen. I know you're right that even in the poorest of nations, there are some very wealthy individuals and families. That's almost always the case. I've only ever heard of 2 Yemeni billionaires, but whether there are two or 50, they're the lucky ones who have the means to help others if they care, or to go elsewhere if things get too bad. A very small percentage of Yemen's large population has those options.
There's no sugar-coating it -- right now, it's a hot unstable mess there and if the Houthis wanna maintain control or open the door for Salah's return, they're gonna have to legitimize themselves and organize very quickly. I don't know how they're gonna manage that. Following from the very distant sidelines, it sure looks like Yemen is taking big steps backwards, at least in the short term -- back to old Shia Muslim vs. Sunni Muslim battles and rival tribal conflicts.
France, the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia and now UAE have closed their missions in the capital Sanaa and withdrawn staff.
It's being reported that heavy fighting is ongoing in the southern mountainous province of al-Bayda where 16 Houthi Shiite rebels along with 10 Sunni tribesmen and militants are reported dead. The locals are said to be aligning with al-Qaeda fighters against the Houthis.
The resurgence of AQAP strength is what western partners with the now ousted Yemeni government feared would happen after Hadi and his regime were overthrown. It's now the Houthis -- instead of President Hadi and western alliances -- trying to stymie AQAP. In my opinion, that's advantageous to AQAP, but maybe I'm underestimating the current power of the Houthis outside of Sanaa and overestimating the level of contempt that Saudia Arabia holds for Houthis?
Anyway, I'm really curious to see what happens next too and I feel for the people of Yemen. I know you're right that even in the poorest of nations, there are some very wealthy individuals and families. That's almost always the case. I've only ever heard of 2 Yemeni billionaires, but whether there are two or 50, they're the lucky ones who have the means to help others if they care, or to go elsewhere if things get too bad. A very small percentage of Yemen's large population has those options.