YEMEN

Pentagon and US intelligence are moving to militarize a strategic chokepoint for the world’s oil flows, Bab el-Mandab

Abdulmutallab, reportedly has been talking, claiming he was sent on his mission by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen

In early 2009 Tariq al-Fadhli announced he was joining Southern Movement (SM)

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, southern Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY)

Unification ended in a brief civil war in 1994, corrupt crony state rule of northern Yemen with President Ali Abdullah Saleh

Southern army revolt failed as Saleh enlisted al-Fadhli. The recent break with Saleh by al-Fadhli and his joining the southern opposition group mark a major setback for Saleh.

After al-Fadhli joined the Southern Movement, April 28, 2009 protests in the southern Yemeni provinces of Lahj, Dalea and Hadramout intensified. The April demonstrations included for the first time a public appearance by al-Fadhli. His appearance served to change a long moribund southern socialist movement into a broader nationalist campaign

In the north Saleh faces an al-Houthi Zaydi Shi’ite rebellion. On September 11, 2009. Saleh accused Iraq’s Shi’ite opposition leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, and also Iran, of backing the north Yemen Shi’ite Houthist rebels

What about Al Qaeda?

In 2008 world oil prices collapsed. Saleh sits in former North Yemen in Sana’a, while the oil is in former South Yemen, buying off opposition impossible.

Into this chaotic picture, January 2009 announcement Al Qaeda new branch in Yemen, group’s leader Nasir al-Wahayshi. Also, former Guantanamo detainee (Number 372), Abu-Sayyaf al-Shihri, would serve as al-Wahayshi’s deputy

Days later al-Wahayshi appeared. "We Start from Here and We Will Meet at al-Aqsa."

Also a statement from Abu-al-Harith Muhammad al-Awfi a field commander and Guantanamo detainee 333. Real goal at Guantanamo to train or recruit sleeper terrorists.

Al Qaeda in Yemen is apparently anathema to al-Fadhli. al-Fadhli declared, "I have strong relations with all of the jihadists in the north and the south and everywhere, but not with al-Qaeda." there are a grand total of perhaps 200 Al Qaeda members in southern Yemen. Al-Fadhli gave an interview distancing himself from al Qaeda in May 2009. The same day, Al Qaeda made a large profile declaring its support for southern Yemen’s cause. On May 14 al-Wahayshi, leader of al Qaeda "What is happening in Lahaj, Dhali, Abyan and Hadramaut and the other southern provinces cannot be approved.

Obama has now offered military assistance to the Saleh Yemen government. Somali Pirates escalate as if on cue. As if on cue, at the same time Somalia pirate attacks escalated dramatically December 29. RAI Novosti reported Somali pirates seized a Greek cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden. The same day a British-flagged chemical tanker were also seized in the Gulf of Aden. pirate commander Mohamed Shakir told The Times "We have hijacked... Stratfor, reports neo-conservative financial backer, Rupert Murdoch is sometimes used by Israeli intelligence to plant useful stories.

The open question is, who is providing the Somali "pirates" with arms and logistics sufficient to elude international patrols from numerous nations? On January 3, President Saleh got a phone call from Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told Saleh he would share information terror activities that might be launched from Somali territories targeting stability and security of Yemen and the region.

The Oil chokepoint and other oily affairs

Bab el-Mandab lists as seven strategic world oil shipping chokepoints an estimated 3.3 million barrels a day Bab el-Mandab would give Washington another major link in its pursuit of control of the seven critical oil chokepoints around the world, a major part of any future US strategy aimed at denying oil flows to China deter the Saudi Kingdom from
transacting oil sales no longer in dollars also threaten China’s oil transport from Port Sudan. In addition Yemen is reporte untapped oil reserves. Yemen’s Masila Basin and Shabwa Basin "world class discoveries."