Am I unusual in wondering if there is any connection between the fact that this morning's Washington Post front page featured an interview with Yemeni President ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Salih in which he emphasized how vital his cooperation was with US intelligence against Al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula (he said the same to a Time reporter as well), and the fact that, in what was apparently the first drone strike from a new CIA Predator base "in the Arabian Peninsula", the US finally killed AQAP's Anwar al-‘Awlaqi?
If it was pure coincidence, the timing certainly played into making Salih's point.
Friday, September 30, 2011
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Ali Abdullah Salih is one very shrewd and capable leader. As a political tactician and moral considerations aside, he is the best I ever dealt with in over 30 years of active service in US relations with the Middle East and North Africa. That he has stayed too long and is hopelessly autocratic is also true, but it will be a real triumph for US foreign policy if we can get him to turn over power, go off to a comfortable and secure retirement in Saudi Arabia and leave behind institutions we can continue to work with.
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