Armies of Liberation

Jane Novak's blog about Yemen

I Wish I Understood Diplospeak

Filed under: General — by Jane Novak at 9:33 pm on Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Ambassador Krajeski’s Interview with Nabil al-Sofi of News Yemen.

Maybe if I read it twenty or thirty times, I’ll start to get some clue.

I used to complain the US never said anything, and now when they do, Im not quite sure what they are saying. I agree with this:

We are prepared to help, in any way that we can, to encourage Yemenis to build democracy. It is a big election next year. We will help with the election, as will many outsiders, but it will be for the Yemenis to decide how open, how free, how successful that election is. And here the role of the press, the role of newspapers, the media, the role of non-government groups is very important.

You can put much more pressure on the government, or on the political parties, or on anyone – the Yemeni press can put more pressure than we can. Much more. You are the guarantee of a free election and a democracy. We can help you, but you are much stronger than we are.

The rest of it with the terrorism, I have to review.

12 Comments »

1

Comment by Final Historian

12/7/2005 @ 4:10 am

This is directed at the Yemeni gov’t:

“We are prepared to help, in any way that we can, to encourage Yemenis to build democracy.”

We won’t be asking your opinion on whether you need help or not.

“It is a big election next year.”

We will be watching the next election very carefully.

“We will help with the election, as will many outsiders, but it will be for the Yemenis to decide how open, how free, how successful that election is.”

If the people of Yemen aren’t satisfied with the results and the process, we won’t be satisfied. (unsaid: you wouldn’t like us unsatisfied)

“And here the role of the press, the role of newspapers, the media, the role of non-government groups is very important.”

Crack down on these, or try and manipulate them and you will regret it.

This is for the press:

“You can put much more pressure on the government, or on the political parties, or on anyone – the Yemeni press can put more pressure than we can. Much more.”

Not sure. Can be taken two ways. One, its a sort of attoboy, you can do it. Or two, that if you guys can’t do it, we won’t be able to help you, sorry.

“You are the guarantee of a free election and a democracy. We can help you, but you are much stronger than we are.”

You have to be willing to take risks, and demonstrate you are willing to go all the way, if you want us to be willing to take the risks to help you.

That is my take. Perhaps wildly wrong, but that is what I get from it.

2

Comment by Jane

12/7/2005 @ 7:24 am

Thanks FH, sometimes I need a translator more for the State Dept than the Arabic papers.

3

Comment by Country Man

12/7/2005 @ 2:53 pm

Ambassador Krajeski’s and the U.S knows well that Yemen is run by a gang and they knows well everything but the regime still valid not expire yet..

4

Comment by Jane

12/7/2005 @ 3:06 pm

I think the US is afraid of Islah. A good technocrat as a candidate might change the equation. Their first priority is very clearly the War on Terror, someone who would continue the idea of cooperating might change the US stance a little toward being more supportive of democracy, real democracy, not democracy words with tyranny actions.

But in a way Krajeski is right, its not the US keeping Saleh in power, no matter what support he gets, and its not going to be the US that takes him out of power. Its not up to the journalists like he says but the people who are lacking a leader at the moment. The people are also lacking a way into the political process because the parties are somewhat dysfunctional.

5

Comment by Country Man

12/7/2005 @ 3:26 pm

Jane
Believe me u.s can remove him very easily just remind him of Sddam

6

Comment by Jane

12/7/2005 @ 3:39 pm

Well they have to be ready to back it up and they’re not, so it might just push him completely to the side of Syria and Iran, and then he could cut off whatever small access the US has to intelligence in Yemen.

He won’t leave willingly when theres all the money coming into his pockets and all his relatives and cronies. And we *don’t* want a war. At all. Not even a violent revolt. Not me. A peaceful transition of power as per the democratic ideals that Yemenis agree to is the best way.

But also what comes after, or who comes after. You know what the US admin thinks of Zindani. Qahtan I would assume is a different matter all together. But the opposition parties themselves are not fully opposed, the leadership I mean. What is there for the people besides the journalists, the honest ones with integrity? If the US changed its policy to forget the War on Terror and only stand for democracy, the Yemeni people still wouldn’t be free without some popular movement to bring everybody together, to mobilize them, to unify them to go in the same direction at once, whcih need a leader. The will may be there among the people but there’s little way to execute it at the moment. Things might change.

7

Comment by Country Man

12/7/2005 @ 3:49 pm

Jane
I agree with you

8

Comment by Jon

12/7/2005 @ 4:23 pm

The US is very opposed to the Islah party due to the main faction being spiritually led by Zindani. And the moderates of the party do not have the power to take the lead. Unfortunately, none of the opposition parties has the popular support of the masses to seriuosly challenge the GPC and to maintain unity of the country to keep it from fracturing into total anarchy. Their support derives from reasonable specific geographical areas of the country. The Northern tribes predominately want autonomy, the southern people just want to be reconized as equal and have a voice.

I do believe the US was reasonably stern when Saleh visited on corruption, human rights and press freedoms. I believe this is why the GPC made the big announcements on reform across the board. The Ambassador said it in his interview with the saying it is one thing, now impliment it. I also believe it is just lip service to the population to placate the US and give the people a small glimps of hope. Historically, the regime has announce sweeping reforms after every visit to the US or an upcoming election. Though nothing ever came from any of them.

9

Comment by Jane

12/7/2005 @ 7:01 pm

On the other hand, I’ve read descriptions of Islah as not a radical party, but as a moderate party with a radical wing. Its possible the unity of the JMP, under the impetus of the reform platform, will strenghten the moderate base of Islah.

Also a lot rests upon the designation of a joint JMP candidate, who if equally appealing to all the parties, would necessarily appeal to a broad spectrum of the Yemeni public. I don’t think thats a radical figure, rather what the Yemeni public is seeking now is someone of integrity and competence and patriotism (nationalism), as opposed to someone designated by hostility to the West. Also someone who can rise above the narrow spectrum of identity associated with each party to appeal as a truely national candidate, a representative of all the people equally.

10

Comment by Jane

12/7/2005 @ 10:38 pm

On the third hand, any serious candidate would be taking a great risk to himself and his family.

11

Comment by John

12/11/2005 @ 9:29 am

Jane, I think Final Historian parsed the Amb’s remarks exactly right. Your follow-up is exactly right, too.

12

Comment by Jane

12/11/2005 @ 9:34 am

Where is the opposition candidate? Its really getting late in the game. Don’t they understand theres a campaign to conduct?

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