Posted on 12/27/2009 10:50:15 PM PST by onyx
PARIS - By claiming to have been equipped and trained in Yemen, the apprentice Nigerian terrorist who tried to blow up an Airbus over the United States last Friday, illustrates the importance of this country for Al-Qaeda, experts say.
According to a U.S. federal quoted by CNN, Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab (or Oumar Farouk Abdulmutallab), 23, would immediately after his arrest, say acting on behalf of Osama bin Laden and that he had gone for equipment and instruction in Yemen.
For Bernard Haykel, a specialist in the Arabian Peninsula at the American University of Princeton, "it is indisputable that Yemen has become increasingly important for Al-Qaeda".
In fact, "it has always been," he says. "It is a very old connection, which dates back to the 80s, when many young Yemenis went to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets.
"And after the defeat of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, many Saudi members of the movement who survived regrouped in Yemen," he said.
Faced with the two rebellions, one north and one south of the country and armed tribes traditionally jealous of their autonomy and guardians of their territories, the Yemeni authorities are struggling to control their vast country, including mountainous terrain which offers many hideouts.
The French Dominique Thomas, a familiar with the region and a specialist in jihadi movements at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS, Paris) said that "Yemen is a land of traffic, a country that no central government has ever reached crisscross effectively.
"The great figures of the southern rebellion have always been fairly close to theses jihadists, and Al-Qaeda has managed to garner a true capital of sympathy with them. They offer their support and protection," he says.
After repeatedly stressed dialogue and policy of reaching out to the movement of Osama bin Laden, whose family is originally from Yemen, Sanaa government has recently launched a series of deadly attacks against what is considered the bases of Al Qaeda with the support of the United States.
According to ABC News, cruise missiles have even been fired from U.S. ships on the basis of the Islamist organisation.
The Yemeni authorities say they have killed over the past two weeks, a hundred members of Al Qaeda. The regions concerned are closed to the press and any outside observer; this figure can not be independently verified.
Dominique Thomas said that "Saudi and Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda have merged, and the movement's number two in Yemen is currently a Saudi.
"Bin Laden has always been surrounded by Yemenis, especially from the southern regions, where his father originated," he said. "He understands and trusts them. And on the other hand, the Saudis have never really considered him a Saudi, but as a Yemeni.
Birthplace of the bin Laden family, populated by rebel tribes, easily controllable, Yemen occupies a privileged place in the jihadist universe, he says.
"The Yemenis have a special role in speech and jihad legends," added the French researcher. "The prophetic stories, speak of an army that will come from Yemen to save the Muslims ... It remains to prove that the Nigerian has indeed gone to Yemen, but the fact that he cites this country is naturally quite revealing. .. "
“Birthplace of the bin Laden family, populated by rebel tribes, easily controllable, Yemen occupies a privileged place in the jihadist universe.”
Lone act, according to Janet.
"Oh, he's from Yemen. We do this all the time"
How long will it take for Obamassiah and his posseeee to connect the dots just in the article you posted?
BTTT !!
Yep. It was reported that the well dressed Indian looking man said something very similar to that.
Just think, one way ticket to USA paid for in cash, no luggage, name on a list with 500,000 others, but hey, he goes sailing through screening and Janet says the system worked.
Meanwhile, people like you and me will have to continue to be screened and forced to take off our shoes and to submit to idiotic restrictions regarding the sizes of personal items.
As one of the guests said on John Batchelor’s program tonight, Janet thinks we are morons.
Boma not finished a year yet and three IslamOfascist attacks in America.
Yemen is more of a key than we know.
I was just watching the replay of Fox news Sunday.
Ole Joe Lieberman made sure to mention Yemen and he also made sure he listed the three terrorist attacks on US soil this year under Obama’s watch.
1. Murder in Arkansas of recruiter
2. Ft. Hood
3. Airliner in Detroit
Detroit terror attack: Yemen is the true home of Al-Qaeda
The Detroit airline bomb plot was planned in the land of bin Laden’s ancestors. Richard Spencer reports.
That report still hasn't been confirmed in any case.
Thanks for the links and for being on top of the story.
Seems to me it would be very important to find out if this “manager” either was an Islamist themselves or whether or not they received a bribe from the Rich looking, Indian looking man who was with the terrorist.
Seems to me also there would be video of this terrorist ally and his picture should be on a most wanted list for our security forces.
You are welcome.
No ties to al-Qaeda and “the system worked” my a$$. Nappy needs to be canned.
Ain’t that the truth.
Fire Napolitano.
Fire Holder (”alleged terrorist” aboard the Detroit flight)
Fire Obambi and have him arrested for treason
Oh yes, that’s right. From the Sudan and we do this all the time.
Fox ‘ Friends highlighting this story this morning!
It will be interesting to learn whether he had a passport in his possesion when he was arrested and removed from the airliner.
He has a woman lawyer now and she has already objected to the US obtaining a DNA swab from him.
"That report still hasn't been confirmed in any case."
OK......my bad...
There is another trans security problem that has not been discussed. Once a bomb carrier begins their attack, they have to mask their origins, where ever they acquired the bomb.
In this case Yemen.
If the bomber flies from a known jihadist haven, they will much more likely get searched.
If every country that originates a flight has a solid ability to stamp visas and passports, we can then track the bombers route.
In this case, the bomber flew from Yemen to Ethiopia to Ghana to Nigeria to Netherlands to Detroit, carrying the bomb the whole time, five security check opportunities, all defeated.
Why Ethiopia? Because it is easy to enter Ethiopia from Yemen with out ID or a visa, by claiming they are Somali.
Somalis are granted automatic entry to Yemen without passport, to make it easier for migrant workers to travel through the Middle East, and ID requirements are minimal.
Just like Mexicans coming to the US and getting driver’s licenses and fake ID’s.....Still happening here, can you imagine how easy it is to do in the Middle East/Africa?
Until every passenger on every international flight is required to have a legitimate passport that gets stamped, and a legitimate visa to enter the destination country we cannot stop the movement of jihadists and bombers.
Since Yemen is so accessible by boat from Somalia, Ethiopia and the Sudan, it has a deliberately open border that has allowed Yemen to make money being the “Labor Ready” capitol of the Middle East and Africa for ages, formerly the center of the slave trade that still operates.
I too saw parts of the replay of FOX News Sunday.
Lieberman is onboard when it comes to our security, national defense and understands who the enemy is.
Yes, glad re reminded folks of the Ark. one.
Pete Hoekstra who was on with him is always great on these issues. Greta has him on often.
Of all the threads up on this recent attempted attack, it speaks volumes as to the absence of many posters on FR who
are the anti war loons.
They either play that this did’t happen or that we drove the terrorist to do this.
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