A Question About Yemen
August 13, 2013
A Question About Yemen
Over recent weeks, there seems to be a growing undeclared war taking place in Yemen. This is a country where al-Qaeda chose to move much of its leadership in 2010. Shortly after, it is said, that the Yemen government only controlled two of Yemen’s largest cities. The rest of the country was under al-Qaeda control. A new Yemen regime seems to have taken a more effective stand against their al-Qaeda guests.
Recently the US intercepted a “communication” wherein the AQAP was told by its leader to “do something.” The US responded by shuttering its diplomatic offices in the Mid East and northern Africa and ordering all non essential personnel out of Yemen. Not a pretty sight. Certainly al-Qaeda has learned from this experience one of their communication systems has been compromised. It is also possible that such a message was disinformation to ferret out how good we were at counterintelligence. It created a scene of Americans running out of a country because of an al-Qaeda threat. This plays well on the Arab street.
There occurred a series of what is described as “prison breaks” in countries holding al-Qaeda members. Each appears to be more of a military style attack designed to free and return to battle some formerly imprisoned al-Qaeda leaders. You think this might have been part of a larger plan? Is this beginning to look like chess pieces being moved about the board?
During this same period the US drone attack program has increased in ferocity. It seems to be killing al-Qaeda targets in record numbers. The US appears to be responding to the al-Qaeda threats in Yemen and the region.
Recently the Yemen government announced it has defeated al-Qaeda military style attacks on Yemen oil and gas pipe lines and infrastructure. The fact remains that al-Qaeda considered these worthy targets in the first place. What are they really up to? If nothing else, al-Qaeda planners have resources, creativity, and a strong desire to inflict major damage on US soil.
After 9/11, the US declared they would take the fight to terrorists wherever found in the world. It is a far better plan than trying to build a “great wall of China” around the US. We have porous borders as any free society would. Walls and protection zones don’t work. The US has successfully managed to keep the bloody part of this terrorist war far from from our shores. But this is exactly where al-Qaeda wants to take the battle. To our soil. To kill our citizens in our own country. We know this.
So Yemen is so dangerous we have to evacuate our people. al-Qaeda prison breaks serve their purpose. They have augmented their ranks. We appear to lack intelligence until this recent “interception.” al-Qaeda expends effort to blow up Yemen gas and oil facilities? What could be next that would give al-Qaeda a shot at taking the fight inside our borders?
I have seen nothing to indicate the US is even considering to refuse to allow the LNG tankers that presently load in Yemen, not under US supervision, and depart Yemen sailing directly to Boston Harbor. In light of what we know today, does this make any sense? With natural gas cheap and in abundance in the US, why do we even allow this LNG tanker, from one of the world’s most dangerous places, into our country? Why does the US Coast Guard and our present administration allow this potential bomb to transit through one of our most historic and populated cities?
A public discussion about these LNG tankers from Yemen needs to happen now. If we are a thinking, rational, and intelligent people, we must require our government to address this issue. You can bet al-Qaeda is aware of this threat potential.
Postscript
This article was edited by the author on August 13. On Boston.com the morning of August 14, 2013 appeared the following article:
BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is asking President Barack Obama to order the U.S. Coast Guard to review security procedures for shipments of natural gas from Yemen to terminals near Boston.
The Massachusetts Democrat said increased terrorism activity in the Middle East region warrant stepped-up security of deliveries of natural gas to the facilities in Everett.
Markey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has long pointed to the natural gas facilities as a potential terrorist target.
In a letter to Obama, Markey says security threats in Yemen raise what he calls real questions about whether it’s safe and reliable for tankers to continue delivering shipments to the Everett LNG terminal.
The U.S. embassies in Yemen and other Middle East countries were evacuated under the threat of a possible terrorist attack.
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