Obama Fumble's Yemen

I have posted some of Jane's articles on my site before, and with her permission of course.  And Jane's newest article is extremely important at this time considering our governments relationship with not only Yemen but Libya as well.  If you have been reading my posts then you know that I have never been able to follow the twisted logic that three different administrations have used and are currently using with dictators, and countries such as Yemen and Libya.   Our own government has helped to create and is now in the process of creating even more hostile feelings and even more future attacks against our military and country with their failed policies that they continue to use even when though policies had shown over and over that they do not work.  Yet here we are seeing those polices implemented again in both Yemen and Libya. I include Libya for many reasons, one being is that we are now supporting know terrorists, Jihiadists, former Gitmo terrorists, and former members of Al-Qaeda just like our government has done in Yemen for years. So it now appears that our own  government's insanity in dealing with terrorists continues to worsen.
  Jane is considered one of the top experts on Yemen, and on the corrupt regime of Saleh and his family who have ruled Yemen for over 30 years with an iron fist. With the support and help of our own government.  Please take the time to visit her websites. Jane was instrumental in helping my wife and myself in many of our successes that we have had since attempting to hold our own government responsible for the promises that they all made to the murdered sailors, and the crew of the USS Cole. She helped us achieve a small measure of justice for not only our own son's murder, but the murder of his mates and 39 more sailors who were wounded. One of those sailors later died as a result of the trauma he received in that attack. Thanks again Jane for standing by me when no-one else would. And always there to tell me that it was and is possible for a small group of people to bring about big changes when battling our own government that would rather forget its own mistakes and failures than set those mistakes right.

Obama Fumbles Yemen Jane Novak

Yemen is a complex country that has been under considerable turbulence. Yet understanding Yemen tells us a great deal about the contemporary Middle East, Obama administration foreign policy, and the direction of the “Arab Spring.”

While Americans may think that their government’s recent policies and leadership have made the United States more popular in the region, the truth — as polls show — is generally the opposite. Obama administration policy is to support the existing dictatorship or at most to back a relatively cosmetic change in the regime. Thus, the Yemeni opposition weekly al Sahwa asked, “Why is America silent about the use of `counter-terror’ forces against the Yemeni people?”

It’s a good question. Since February, youth protests in Yemen morphed into a nationwide and intergenerational revolution to overthrow President Ali Abdullah Saleh and all his relatives, after 33 years in office. Protesters said they wanted a civilian interim council to oversee a new constitution and fair elections, with the ultimate goal of achieving a civil democratic state. In response, state security forces have murdered nearly 1,000 citizens around the country.

Thomas Krajeski, former U.S. ambassador to Yemen, summed up the policy as follows: “Ali Abdullah Saleh is our main conduit to everything we are trying to do in Yemen.” The U.S.’s primary goal in Yemen is to vanquish al-Qaeda. And the Obama administration believes that Saleh, or at least his apparatus, is best able to do that.

This is precisely the short-sighted approach that Obama has criticized when attributing it to predecessors’ policies in the Middle East. Under Saleh’s regime, torture is systemic, political kidnapping common, and artillery fire a frequent remedy to anti-regime sentiment. Economic opportunity, political power, and local authority are available only through access to Saleh and his family. Corruption and embezzlement of oil revenues and international aid mean a near absence of basic services. Water scarcity and hunger were already at critical levels, but as the economy ground nearly to a halt, things are even worse.

After snipers killed 58 demonstrators in March, much of the Saleh administration resigned, galvanizing the revolution. The unsavory General Ali Mohsen al Ahmar, a powerful military commander and Saleh’s half brother, brought the First Armored Division to Sanaa to protect the protesters and offered to leave the country alongside Saleh. In May, after dozens sleeping in tents were burned to death by security forces, Sadiq al-Ahmar, paramount sheikh of Saleh’s powerful Hasid tribe, announced his support for the opposition, calling Saleh a butcher.

The opposition Joint Meeting of Parties (JMP) initially disavowed the national uprising in fear of regime reprisal and due to Western pressure, reinforcing the schism between the formal opposition and the revolutionary youth.

In June, an explosion rocked the presidential palace leaving President Saleh severely injured. Millions rejoiced when Saleh flew to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment, assuming he would never return. However neither the Saudis nor the United States want too much change. Thus, the Obama administration endorsed Vice President Mansour Hadi as interim leader although Hadi refuses to assume the presidency as required by the Yemeni constitution.

The U.S. government opposes the protesters’ demand for a transitional council and instead supports a deeply flawed plan drafted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC plan calls for Saleh to pick his successor and resign in return for immunity from prosecution. It proposes a unity government of the hegemonic ruling party and ineffective opposition parties, the JMP. This approach followed by quick elections would re-entrench the Saleh regime. Saleh agreed and reneged three times, using weeks of negotiations to empty the banks, smuggle oil, and reposition troops. The protesters were incensed.

With nearly half the government and military and most of the public calling for regime change, in March, Saleh’s pretense of legitimacy was bolstered by U.S. statements and especially the State Department’s urging dialog among political parties to resolve the “political crisis.”

In his Middle East speech in May, President Obama devoted one line to Yemen, calling on “our friend” Saleh to follow through on his commitment to transfer power. During a July visit, U.S. officials warned the JMP against escalating protests or recognizing a transitional council. Obama administration officials merely meekly urge Saleh to accept the GCC deal, which in fact signals tolerance toward the regime.

The hundreds of millions of dollars in counter-terror funding allocated to Yemen since 2006 ran through Saleh’s son and nephews (known locally as the Four Thugs) who head the security services, counter-terror units, and other forces. The aid is stolen by them and at times they even help al-Qaeda. Since February, the Four Thugs are too busy attacking the Yemeni public to take on al- Qaeda. After warning of an al-Qaeda takeover, the state withdrew forces from Abyan and al-Qaeda quickly moved in to occupy Zinjibar City. Yemenis rather uniformly assert coordination of the events, as the Saleh regime historically has had cordial relations with al-Qaeda.

Thus, American policy is aimed at defending an unpopular, corrupt, and repressive system on the grounds that it helps combat al-Qaeda. The problem is that the regime is not effective in doing so.

The Saudis, too, support the regime, seeing it as a bulwark against Shia rebels. The irony is that while al-Qaeda has very little popular support in Yemen, the U.S and Saudi policies, by destroying any political alternative and backing a government that doesn’t really fight al-Qaeda, may end by strengthening that group’s appeal and the territory it controls.

Obama and Holder Hire Top Gun Lawyer To Help in the Defense of Cole Bomber

  The defense for the terrorist who helped to murder 17 American sailors, and wound another 39 others is getting some extra help from Rick Kammen  an Indianapolis lawyer who has worked on 30 other federal death penalty cases.
  The defense believes that al-Nashir should be given the death penalty because he was given some dunking sessions at Gitmo, and a over zealous interrogator held a power drill to the side of his head at one time during an interrogations. The defense was able to use the services of Kammen as a result of Obama Reforms for the Military commissions. These so called reforms were to make the commissions more "terrorist friendly". Which they have.
  As I have said before, I really don't believe that Al-Nashir would ever  be put to death if he was ever convicted in the first place. But I guess that Obama, Holder and their crew want to hedge that bet in their favor even more with this latest "terrorist friendly" action. Al-Nashir would no doubt just the spend the rest of his miserable life on the tropical island of Gitmo if it remains open.
 Also, I would like to clear up the ever present, and prevailing myth that other Cole bombers have been tried and convicted. The paper which you can read where I took some of this information claims that other Cole bombers have been tried and convicted. They are telling an enormous white lie! Yes, some of the other Cole Bombers were tried and convicted in the corrupt courts of President Saleh of Yemen some years back. But what this paper conveniently leaves out is that our own government looked the other way as their good friend President Saleh of Yemen released them, reduced their already light sentences, and or allowed them to escape! Oh! And Saleh even provided some of them with a government job and car. The ones still alive are back with their old friends and still trying to kill innocent people regardless of their nationality. I know its hard to believe that our own government would sell out 17 murdered sailors, and dozens wounded who were only doing their job in the defense of their country, and their spineless and ungrateful politicians but its the hard, and stone cold truth. Click on the title to read the paper. But our own government has used and is still using an effective propaganda program to justify their backing of the thug Saleh of Yemen, and his rotten regime.
  Their unquestioned support of this homicidal, and brutal dictator came real close to blowing up in their faces this past spring when Saleh's own people kicked his worthless hide out of the country. Up till then Obama kept up his support for his old friend, but then realized that he would have to denounce him if he wanted to have a chance at deciding who would be the new dictator of Yemen. So now Obama and company are putting their support behind the people who are just like Saleh. Instead of the young people who want a democracy, and to have Saleh stand trial for the murder of innocent Yemenis, and stealing the country's wealth. The last thing our government wants is a trial for Saleh which would put our own government in the world spotlight for all the support that three administrations have given him, even as he interfered with the FBI investigation of the attack into the Cole, released the Cole bombers, freed Gitmo terrorists, and other terrorists to return back to Al-Qaeda. Way too much embarrassing and incriminating information would be revealed that would leave many politicians and at least three presidents that would have to answer for some serious mistakes.
   Why else would our government over look all the anti-American behaviors demonstrated by Saleh of Yemen. Besides releasing all the Cole Bombers, he has had know terrorists working in his own government that were and are wanted by the FBI. His courts routinely freed terrorist on their way to Iraq to fight our troops there, and  some of those freed Cole bombers, and Gitmo terrorists are now in the upper echelons of command in the new and improved Al-Qaeda in Yemen. Courtesy of two presidents, Bush and Obama !
  So keep your eyes on Yemen. With Yemen in such a state of disarray,  sooner or later someone is going to let the cat out of the bag in such a way that our government will not be able to contain that kind of incriminating news with all the propaganda in the world. Even if they have our media buying all their BS about what a wonderful guy Saleh and his regime which is riddled with corruption, and support for Al-Qaeda.
  And an update on the Art Classes at Gitmo. I just read where 40 of the terrorists have signed up for the classes. The liberal press is praising the artistic talent of these natural born artists. And even the prison's cultural coordinator" has remarked that they have demonstrated artistic talent!" How cool is that, huh! One terrorist even wrote what his inner child was feeling, " this soul which has suffered at the hands of the protectors of peace." Wow! So profound that it makes one wonder how a whacked out terrorist could be such a deep thinker on so many issues.
  I guess its a good thing that they can re-direct all that artistic talent into painting instead of blowing people up with bombs. But so far many of the freed Gitmo terrorists have gone straight back to their favorite way of expressing themselves by butchering innocent people with all kinds of unique and interesting weapons. And regardless of what the liberals feel and think, I don't think that kind of behavior could leave any sane person feeling all warm, cozy and giddy with delight when thinking about terrorists and their artistic talents.
 
 

Obama Ignores Congressional Prohibitions on Transferring Terrorists

  Obama and his main man Holder pulled a quick one on congress by sneaking a terrorist into the civilian court system. They found a loophole which allowed them to by pass congressional prohibitions on transferring terrorists to the United States to stand trial. Why am I not surprised at Obama's continued persistence at giving the terrorists the same rights as American civilians, instead of having them tried as enemy combatants?
 He did after all promise his liberal base that he would close Gitmo, and have the terrorists tried in civilian courts when he was running for president. So it now appears that Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame will be his and Holder's guinea pig to implement this new plan to circumvent the will of congress and the majority of the American peoples belief that the terrorists belong in Gitmo, and need to be tried in a Military Tribunal as well.
  But Obama and his liberal base believe that the terrorists will have access to more rights in a civilian court than a tribunal. And unfortunately they are right. One has to look no further than the Casey Anthony trial where this woman murdered her own little daughter, and then found innocent. Liberals all over the net are rejoicing in the latest insane verdict. Yet most Americans feel as I do, first that little girl was betrayed by her own mother in the worst way imaginable, and now she has been betrayed by the American Justice System. Verdicts like Casey Anthony's are not all that uncommon either in our civilian courts. And these horrible miscarriages of justice are becoming more and more numerous everyday in our new progressive, and brave society.
 And why? Numerous reasons really. But first and foremost our courts and media no longer focus on the victim. Instead the suspect is made into an unfortunate victim over and over again. Common sense and logic have been discarded in favor of building sympathy and empathy for the killer.  And our courtrooms are turned into The Oprah Show where the liberals motto of "its unfortunate that the victim is dead, but now we must focus all of our attention on this poor, poor woman/man who is the real victim now" which prevail in our courtrooms now.
  Granted Obama and his crew have re-wrote the laws that govern the tribunals to be more terrorist friendly, but they are still concerned that the terrorists may be found guilty, thereby infuriating Obama's base. Which could translate into less votes for him in 2012.
  Since our own son was murdered over 10 years ago we have seen President Saleh of Yemen not only free the killers as our own government did nothing but reward him with even more money each consecutive year. And we have had to watch as both Bush and Obama released know terrorists back to Saleh where most of them returned back to Al-Qaeda. Those newly released terrorists are now trying out new and improved ways to kill our troops in the middle east, and here at home. Some days we feel as if we are strangers in a strange land, where up and is now down.  Where insane behaviors are now accepted as normal, and sane behaviors are ridiculed.
  Yet whats even worse than the insane actions of our leaders, and courts are their own supporters who demand that we all accept those insane behaviors as normal, and necessary. I know what is normal and sane today. And it is sure as hell not freeing terrorists to kill innocent people again, and or letting a mother go free after killing her daughter only to become rich and famous. And if you want to argue those points then find you some like minded crazy people and have at it. I am more than certain that they will agree with you.
And may Caylee find the happiness, love and respect in her new world that was denied her in this world by her mother, and our criminal justice system.

Obama Continues To Play Catch and Release With Terrorists

Our government is up to more crazy antics with the terrorists our military catches in the war on terror. Vice Adm. McRaven told a Senate panel this past week that in many instances whenever a terrorist is captured by the Seals and or Delta Force that the terrorist is confined in a U.S. Navy ship till he can be tried in a U.S. Court, or transferred to an allied country. And if neither of those two options are open the terrorist is released. He also stated that Gitmo is still off limits for the military to send terrorists too. The last time a terrorist was sent to Gitmo was back in March of 2008 during the Bush Administration.
  When if ever will our government quit playing politics in the war on terror? Politics which endanger the lives of our troops, and the distinct possibility of more innocent people being killed by released terrorists. Instead they always put the captured terrorist lives ahead of our troops, and the public safety.
 How many people have been murdered by all the ex-Gitmo terrorists that Bush and then Obama freed back to their own countries? And or Yemen where both Bush and Obama knew exactly what Saleh of Yemen would do with them. He released them, and or they were allowed to escape from prison. And most of them made a bee line right back to Al-Qaeda. No-one likes to talk about that embarrassing solution that two presidents used in their attempts to get rid of the terrorists in Gitmo. Just so both presidents could appease the liberal left a small minority of our population that the problem of Gitmo was being resolved. But only at the cost of creating a much bigger problem, a re-organized Al-Qaeda in Yemen. Short term political gains, that created long term nightmares for all the innocent peoples of the world.  Both sides know that if one accuses the other side of having let know terrorists return back to Al-Qaeda that the other side will do the same thing. So both the republicans, and the democrats keep quiet on that  little topic. And do you hear any of their supporters cheering those disastrous decisions? No. Nary a word.
  So in the end the decisions of both presidents to free the terrorists back to Yemen were politically motivated in the futile hope of appeasing the liberal left, and as a bargaining tool to persuade Saleh to keep his worthless promises.  Our presidents and their supporters will usually say something like "A few must suffer, so many can prosper!" But even they know when they cannot justified such irresponsible behaviors as letting terrorists free to kill again. So everyone remains as silent as the terrorists victims about such incomprehensible behaviors committed by both presidents.
  And now Obama is still playing the same political game with the terrorists, and Gitmo. What will it take to get our leaders in both parties to stop such insane and dangerous behaviors, another massive attack on American soil? Why do they forget the painful lessons that America had to pay for in blood, and is still paying for to this very day.
"The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility." John A. Fisher