Source: US sees progress in Yemen

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The Obama administration welcomed moves by Yemen’s longtime leader Wednesday to reach out to political opponents.

But there still are fears that anti-government sentiment in the key U.S. counterterrorism ally could explode into unrest like that in other states such as Egypt and Tunisia.

Administration officials told The Associated Press that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s announcement that he would not seek another term in office or try to pass power to his son was “positive” and “significant.” They allowed that it remained to be seen whether Saleh would fulfill the pledges.

The situation in Yemen is of particular worry because it is the home of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the terror group that U.S. officials believe poses the most immediate terror threat to America.

And, with the threat of violence growing as a result of the unrest, U.S. counterterrorism officials are worried that Yemeni security forces will be more focused on protecting the government, allowing AQAP to take advantage of any diminished scrutiny.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

“There is a lot to be concerned about. This is a country awash in guns; things can get violent a whole lot faster,” said Christopher Boucek, a Yemen expert at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. needs a government in Yemen that can be a strong partner to continue the counterterror fight there.

The key, he said, is who replaces the Saleh regime, if it collapses. If it’s a stronger government, it could be a positive thing for the U.S., he said, but if it’s one sympathetic to AQAP’s views, then that will be a bigger problem.