Iran Tracker

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 1:30pm EST, the Critical Threats Project held a  briefing on the security situation in Yemen and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Please see an archived version of the briefing below:

Topics To Be Covered:

1. The Security and Economic Situation

Al Houthi conflict, southern secessionists, resource depletion, other factors contributing to the weak economy

2. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

Bin Laden's view on Yemen, location of AQAP strongholds, history, leaders, group dynamics, attacks, ideology and rhetoric

3. U.S. Strategy

Recent U.S. strategy, U.S. cooperation with and support for Yemen, Yemen's current strategy for combating AQAP, U.S. considerations for the way forward

The Way Forward

• Comprehensive strategy focused on enhancing security, preventing Yemen from becoming a failed state, and alleviating the conditions conducive to a terrorist safe-haven

  • Saleh is not an ideal partner, but he is who we have to work with; a failed state would nearly guarantee an al Qaeda safe-haven

• Must work to increase security and intelligence capabilities of Yemeni security apparatus

• Must help Saleh defeat the al Houthi rebels and address other perceived threats

  • Cannot tie aid to only targeting al Qaeda

• Must work to prevent a military conflict with southern secessionists and disentangle southern tribes from AQAP

• Must enhance aid and development support to Yemen

  • Aid should focus on increasing economic opportunities, addressing resource depletion (including the qat addiction), reforming and improving education, democracy and governance (including ending corruption)

Please find slides used in the presentation attached below.