US takes risk on Yemen president to fight al-Qaida

[Flaneur]

Source: Associated Press

SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- Yemeni security forces clashed with al-Qaida fighters Monday, killing two, the latest sign the embattled, longtime president is making good on vows that his country will cooperate with the United States in fighting the terror network.

Washington is embracing Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the battle against al-Qaida's offshoot here, but it may be making a risky bet. The mercurial Saleh has held onto power for 31 years in this fragmented nation by relying on a system of manipulation - centralizing power within his family while buying off rivals and unruly tribesmen, Yemeni and American observers say.

At times, that has meant forging alliances with Islamic extremists, and Saleh has frustrated U.S. officials in recent years by freeing jailed al-Qaida figures on promises they would not engage in terrorism. Several top militants have since broken those promises.

Observers warn that Saleh's rule is buckling under the weight of multiple crises, deep poverty and widespread corruption. The government has full control only around the capital, leaving much of the mountainous nation to heavily armed tribes, some of which have given refuge to al-Qaida fighters.

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Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_YEMEN_AL_QAIDA?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

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Lots of background info in the rest of the article.

With friends like Malike, Karzai, this guy, and whoever we're supporting in Somalia today....