The Following piece is written by a Yemeni-based journalist who writes for the Foreign Policy Blogs network and, due to serious security concerns, remains anonymous.
Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Saud al-Faisal
In a recent interview with news channel al-Alam, Naif Alsharabi, a Yemeni political analyst and member of Yemen’s Public Committees revealed that in his mind: “Saudi Arabia is making every effort to wage a civil war in Yemen with the aim of diverting the country’s revolution.”
He also added that he believed the US was supporting the Regime in order to further its political agenda within the region, with no regards to people’s wishes.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen
For many decades, Saudi Arabia has been both a foe and an ally of Yemen.
Indeed the Kingdom had often been accused of financially supporting the al-Houthi fighters’ rebellion in Sa’ada. The Houthis, a Shia northern Yemeni tribe would like to see Yemen revert to the ancestral rule of the Imams. They have been a thorn in Saleh’s thigh for several years now. Despite a full out military intervention, the government has so far been unable to bring peace back to the area.
The relentless attacks on civilians have created a humanitarian crisis of such widespread proportion, that many organizations had had to arrange relief campaigns.
In the same time, the Kingdom has showered Yemen with millions of dollars every year. Confusing?
Well, not really.
If Saudi Arabia does not want Yemen to strive economically it is not in its immediate interest to see it fall into too much of a crisis either. This has been pretty much its policy on Yemen for the last century or so….
If Yemen was to be stable politically, it would mean that its government would turn its attention towards developing its natural resources and its commercial position within the World maritime route. The Port of Aden could very well become a serious competitor of all mighty Dubai in a matter of years with its better access towards Asia, Africa and Europe via the Red Sea.
Furthermore, one has to consider the fact that Yemen has a much greater military capacity than its Oil giant neighbor. A rich, stable and military mighty Yemen would in essence spell the end of Saudis hegemony in the Arabic Peninsula and across the Arab World as a whole.
On a more ideological standpoint, the Kingdom does not want to promote democratic feelings by supporting the Youth Movement; hence it is backing President Saleh. If democracy was to take roots in the Peninsula, how long will the Arab monarchies be able to ward it off from their shores?
The US and Yemen
As for the US everyone knows that their main worry is the terrorist organization: al-Qaeda. Whether this fear is rational or not, is another story…..
Since President Saleh made the trip to Washington in 2000, in the wake of September 11th, he has managed to convince the Americans that he and only he could help them in their “fight against terror”. An eager George Bush jumped on the wagon, throwing tens of millions of dollars at his new ally.
Many, more wise maybe, analysts in Yemen said that Saleh simply banked on terrorism, increasing his personal fortune and that of his family along the way, while assuring his presidency. As a bonus the President could get rid of annoying opponents using the “terrorist” tag.
However, 10 years and one Anwar al-Awlaki later the US is no closer to dismantle al Qaeda and Saleh is not even sure of where they’re at….
Well no matter, once an ally always an ally as far as the US is concerned. President Obama has actually declared so many times that Yemen was an essential friend and partner that we are wondering why no more visas are being issued. And even in the midst of the Revolution, Obama is eager to downplay the events by saying that Yemen is going through a political crisis. As for the American Medias, they have their own agenda, and Yemen is not on it.
If the US was quick to condemn Colonel Gaddafi and Bashar al-Assad, it remained strangely silent when it came to Yemen and Bahrain. One is home to the 5th Fleet so we understand. But what about Yemen?
The Obama’s administration is throwing a fit at the idea of having al-Islah, an Islamist oriented political party, take over. Surely it would mean the end of its free-hand collaboration with Yemen, as the next government might not be so keen at letting the Americans dictate the country’s policies. So while they do support the Opposition financially, they are still hesitant at officially demanding Saleh departure.
In the meantime, Yemenis, real people, are stuck in the middle of all those political games, trying to carve their own future. But there is one thing that both Saudi Arabia and the US neglected to weight in, it is the tribes.
Those very tribes whom everybody thought were the cause of Yemen’s instability are showing that they can indeed show a great front of unity. The tribes could actually be the glue that the nation needs to remain united. Ancestral a system it may be, but an affective one surely.
