US to Grant 10 Mil to Yemen for Security Forces
This is really, really not smart. Right after the Yemeni government closed eight papers? What kind of message does that send?
Whether its a bribe for Gitmo or actually intended for counter-terror, the US funds will likely be used to attempt to subdue the Southern crisis, which (like Sa’ada) may turn into collective punishment of the civilian population. The Yemeni security is already shooting into the crowds. About a hundred people have been arbitrarily arrested in the last two weeks. And there’s the eight newspapers that were closed.
Regardless of the strings attached, or promises of counter terror cooperation, the US is going to be underwriting the state security’s domestic violence.
After a highly publicized week of al Qaeda hunting, Saleh may turn up five low level, teenaged jihaddi wanna-be’s or one senior al Qaeda but he’ll be dead.
The best we can hope for is the money goes straight into Saleh’s personal account in Germany. There’s a way to gain leverage for the US in Yemen; this isn’t it.
US suggests to raise aid ceiling to Yemen up to $52 mln
WASHINGTON, May 08 (Saba) – The Republic of Yemen has welcomed a US proposal to raise ceiling of US aid offered for Yemen up to $52 million.According to the 2010 international aid budget draft, which was discussed on Thursday at the Congress, the US aid to Yemen has reached $41.9 million. The draft also included allocation of about $10 million to support Yemeni army and security forces.
The Congress session was attended by the political official Khalid al-Kuthairi and economic and trade official at the Yemeni embassy in Washington Adonis Fakhri.
It is worth to mention that Yemen is still eligible to get additional aid from the US Department of Agriculture and Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Program in the Middle East as well as aid allocated to train anti-terrorism forces in the region.
This increase in the US allocation for Yemen comes as a positive reflection of Yemen’s foreign policy and its efforts in fighting terrorism and piracy.
