Allgemein / General
6.12.2015 – RT
Helping you to #QuestionMore: RT coverage of Yemen destruction
As RT continues to recount its explosive coverage from the world’s hotspots, we head over to Yemen, where the Saudi-led, US-backed, bombardment campaign against Houthi rebels has left close to 2,400 people dead since March.
https://www.rt.com/news/324886-rt10-yemen-airstrikes-evacuation/
Commentary: The English language Russian media does a much better job of reporting what is going on in Yemen than the British media. This is a good item because it gives lots of little clips of what is going on in Yemen, some of them go back a couple of months. Thank you RT.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068766466609177
5.12.2015 – Daily Camera
Ron Forthofer: The destabilized Middle East
How did this horrendous situation [in the Middle East] come about? Was it an unintended consequence of a major war crime, the 2003 US-led attack on Iraq? Did the Arab Spring turn into the Arab Winter? Did someone plan this or did it just happen?
Although not widely known, in 1996 U.S. neo-con supporters of Israel, including a number of people who would hold key positions in the next Bush administration, prepared a report for Binyamin Netanyahu. The report, "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm," laid out a major shift for Israel from the idea of trading land for peace. One of its proposals said: "Work closely with Turkey and Jordan to contain, destabilize, and roll back some of its most dangerous threats..." Netanyahu rejected the proposal.
The neo-cons then formed a think tank, the Project for the New American Century. In September 2000, PNAC proposed Rebuilding America's Defenses (RAD). This plan called for an aggressive and unilateral military approach to expand U.S. control and for the prevention of any other nation(s) from being able to challenge the U.S. RAD also discussed the need for regime change. "American military preeminence will continue to rest in significant part on the ability to maintain sufficient land forces to achieve political goals such as removing a dangerous and hostile regime when necessary."
After the appalling criminal attacks on 9/11, it appears as if the Bush administration adopted some of the ideas in RAD. According to General Wesley Clark, the Pentagon had Iraq in its sights immediately after 9/11. Clark added that a few weeks later he was told of a plan to take out seven nations (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran) over five years.
After the military attack against Afghanistan, the U.S. led an unwarranted and illegal attack on Iraq in 2003. The attack and fighting devastated Iraq, killed an estimated 700,000 Iraqis, and Iraq became a failed state. The U.S. failure to speedily crush the opposition in Iraq demonstrated that U.S. leaders had grossly overestimated U.S. power. Thus further military attacks were delayed although covert non-military efforts continued.
The Arab Spring raised hopes for democracy. It also created opportunities for the West to use the cover of protecting human rights to oust leaders not sufficiently subservient. For example, Libya was the next nation attacked under this human rights cover. After the killing of Moammar Qaddafi, Libya, despite holding elections in 2012 and 2014, has become a failed state with local militias and different extremist Islamic groups vying for power.
Syria presents a more complicated human rights story. For several years Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel along with the U.S. and other Western nations have wanted the ouster of Bashar Assad, the Syrian leader. In response to Assad's use of lethal force, these countries quickly supported and then changed the opposition. The moderate opposition soon was mostly replaced by extremist Islamic groups. Russia, Iran and Hezbollah supported the Assad government. Both sides, especially Assad forces, have committed terrible war crimes. An estimated 400,000 Syrians have been killed and millions displaced. Syria is likely another failed state.
Do these events just happen or are we witnessing the implementation of the neocons' plans, opportunistic interventions, or of a combination of interests? It's hard to say with certainty. Regardless, several of the countries targeted by the neo-cons have been devastated. Israel's fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 weakened another of these targeted nations.
In conclusion, the Nov. 13 Paris attacks have generated widespread outrage, but where is the outrage by the "civilized" nations about Western war crimes? Is blowback to Western violence really a surprise? Can't we finally learn that violence only begets more violence and incredible suffering? It's way past time to try diplomacy.
Otherwise ... – by Ron Forthofer
http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_29203619/ron-forthofer-destabilized-middle-east
Commentary: Independent news outlets in the West often to a better job with reporting Yemen than the mainstream media. This is an example from Boulder Colorado in the US, putting Yemen into the context of the whole Middle East in chaos just now.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068769663275524
5.12.2015 – Legal Center for Rights and development
Statistics of the aggression that committed by #Saudi_led_coalition on #Yemen (Civilians - infrastructure - Sectors - buildings and facilities ....... )
From 26/3/2015 to 30/11/2015
Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian Situation
5.12.2015 – Aljazeera
Half of Yemen 'one step away' from famine: UN
Food insecurity at "emergency" levels in 10 of Yemen's 22 governorates, World Food Programme says.
The United Nations food agency has warned that food supplies in Yemen are deteriorating quickly and the country is at risk of slipping into famine.
Ten out of Yemen's 22 governorates were now classified as facing food insecurity at "emergency" levels, which is one step below famine, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
"Clearly, Yemen is one of the hardest place in the world today to work - massive security concerns, escalation in the fighting, and the violence across the country," Matthew Hollingworth, WFP's deputy regional director, said in the capital, Sanaa.
According to the UN's 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview in November, 14.4 million people of the country's 23 million are food insecure, struggling to get enough food to live a healthy life.
That includes 7.6 million people in desperate need of food assistance.
"It's a country that cannot take any further shock," Abeer Etefa, the WFP's spokesperson for the Middle East region, told Al Jazeera.
"It's a very serious situation. We are doing our best so that we don't see a deterioration of the situation that's already extremely compromised."
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/12/yemen-step-famine-151204210940979.html
Doctors Without Borders / Ärzte ohne Grenzen
5.12.2015 – New York Times
Saudi-Led Coalition to Investigate Bombing of Clinic in Yemen
A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia said Friday that it would form a “fact-finding committee” to investigate allegations that coalition warplanes had bombed a clinic in Yemen operated by Doctors Without Borders earlier in the week, injuring nine people, according to a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Doctors Without Borders said Thursday that it had repeatedly provided the coalition with the clinic’s coordinates before the airstrikes, which occurred on Wednesday morning.
In a separate statement, Saudi Arabia urged aid agencies to coordinate movements with the coalition and to “remain away from the places where the Houthi militias are present.”
Kommentar: Die Aufforderung im letzten Satz ist impertinent. „places where the Houthi militias are present” sind nach saudischer Vorstellung alle von den Houthis beherrschten Gebiete, auch wenn Kämpfer und Militär in weiter Ferne sind. Sie verlangen also quasi von Bevölkerung wie den Ärzten ohne Grenzen, diese Gebiete vollständig zu verlassen (etwa das halbe Land). Sonst wäre sie ja selbst schuld, wenn sie bei Luftangriffen zu Schaden kommen. Das ist einfach nur pervers.
Commentary: Well here we have it - what a surprise - Saudi and its friends to investigate their own misdeeds. It's becoming a nasty habit.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068317683320722
Südjemen / Southern Yemen
Siehe auch unter “Terrorismus” / See also at “Terrorism”
6.12.2015 – Yemen Post
Authorities on high alert after killing of Aden governor
The local authorities in Yemen's temporary capital, the southern port city of Aden, has tightened security measures after a car bomb killed governor on Sunday.
ISIL claimed responsibility for the bombing which killed governor Jafar Saad and his 6 bodyguards.
Officials said president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi is overseeing the security measures and has asked the Saudi-led coalition to provide further support to restore stability in the city.
The coalition has deployed thousands of Arab troops to help the government of Yemen secure Aden.
Hours after ramming an explosives-laden car into the convoy of the governor, gunmen shot dead a security officer in the city, the officials said.
The incidents occurred a day after gunmen shot dead a judge and a security chief.
Since it was retaken from the Houthi militants with help from the Arab coalition, Aden has been experience huge challenges including a series of targeted killings of officials.
Other challenges include spread of weapons in civilian hands and growing presence of militant groups such as Qaeda and ISIL.
http://yemenpost.net/Detail123456789.aspx?ID=3&SubID=8309&MainCat=3
6.12.2015 – Yemen News Today
Via Rachy Colly who says; "Jamila Jamil Abu Ghanem, Aden TV presenter killed by Hadi militias after a call with Hadi office manager." I gather that she had a disagreement with Hadi's office and was then killed. Not reported on any Western or Arab media outlet.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068770496608774
Again, not reported on any media, but here we have another individual posting. Now, it seems the broadcaster Jamila is the daughter of the former governor of Aden - Hadi changed the governor in the past few months to appoint one of is cronies. The plot thickens - could the assassination of the current governor be related to this murder?
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068773253275165
5.12.2015 – Fars News
Report: Gaps Widening between Yemen's Fugitive President, PM
Differences between fugitive President Mansour Hadi and his Prime Minister Khaled Bahah have increased over a cabinet reshuffling, Saudi media disclosed.
Both Hadi and Bahah are former officials as they had a 2-year mandate that ended nearly a year ago, but backed by Saudi Arabia they insist to remain in power. After Yemen's parliament voted to put an end to Hadi's self-extended term, Hadi defied the legislature's order. Ansarullah and other popular forces came to the capital, Sanaa, to make Hadi step down. Hadi and his cabinet escaped to the Southern port city of Aden and then to Saudi Arabia to have a government in exile.
Following months of airstrikes and war by a Saudi-led coalition, Hadi and Bahah returned to Aden, although the situation is shaky and the city is highly insecure.
Bahah might resign in protest at Hadi's recent changes to the cabinet ministers, the Arabic-language Al-Hayat newspaper wrote.
It said that the cabinet reshuffling should take place following a proposal by the Yemeni prime minister.
Bahah cut short his visit to Paris on Thursday and returned to Riyadh to attend a meeting with Yemeni political parties in the Saudi capital.
The differences between Hadi and Bahah erupted after the former president ousted Yemeni interior and foreign ministers.
Political observers believe that the quarrel between Hadi and his prime minister derives from the underlying row between Saudi Arabia as supporter of Hadi and UAE as supporter of Bahah.
Hadi and Bahah have been running a feud for the past several months, and their differences grew noisy when a number of Saudi officials worked out a plan to replace the former president with his premier -who had both fled to Saudi Arabia then - in order to encourage the revolutionary forces back in Yemen to work with him and allow him to start a new government.
Earlier this week, Arab media also disclosed increasing differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the recruitment of a number of Colombian mercenaries by Abu Dhabi to replace the UAE troops in the coalition in Yemen.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940914000543
UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
5.12.2015 – Reuters
Yemen peace talks to convene December 15, Yemeni minister tells Saudi TV
United Nations-backed peace talks aimed at ending eight months of civil war in Yemen between an Iranian-allied militia group and the embattled Saudi-backed government will convene on Dec. 15, Saudi-owned TV quoted Yemen's foreign minister as saying.
"Consultations on the implementation of Resolution 2216 will be held on Dec. 15," the network quoted Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi as saying in a news flash, referring to a U.N. Security Council decision calling for Yemen's dominant Houthi militia to quit major cities.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN0TO0QJ20151205#bCAvm3xIR27QoTws.97
Kommentar: Da wird wieder mit ihr hantiert, der UN-Resolution 2216. Es sollen also keine Friedengespräche werden, sondern die Huthis sollen kapitulieren (was dank der USA der einzige Inhalt dieser Resolution war. Klar, dass mit dieser Vorgabe jegliche Friedensgespräche wieder scheitern werden. Endlosschleife, den politischen Machenschaften der USA im Sicherheitsrat der UN damals im April 2015, die zur Annahme dieser Resolution geführt haben, sei Dank. So geht dann übrigens auch der Krieg weiter und man kann weiter Waffen liefern, netter Nebeneffekt.
5.12.2015 – Asia Times
Yemen peace elusive as war expands
In this context, the important question that needs to be asked in this: can the UN-led peace initiative lead to any meaningful breakthrough? The answer, as the explosive situation shows, is in the negative.
As a matter of fact, the UN-backed diplomats have already been expressing their frustration at the hands of both Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni (so-called) President, Hadi. A diplomat directly engaged in peace talks was reported to have told on the condition of anonymity that Hadi has been trying to block any kind of talks because he knows that any settlement will be the end of his political career. Neither has he been popular enough to be able to win enough public support, the diplomat added, nor has he been a serious candidate in political games.
That any political settlement means political loss for Hadi as well as Saudia-led Arab coalition explains why Saudi Arabia and its allies continue to pursue total victory in both political and military terms. This is evident from the fact that although Saudi officials have, no more than one occasion, expressed their willingness to rally behind the UNO for peace, the Saudi State has not ceased its relentless military campaign any time during the on-and-off periods of dialogue.
On the contrary, it is this very prospect of Hadi’s political ‘death’ that seems to have created some willingness among the Houthis to engage in peace talks. Another diplomat engaged in peace talks said that while Hadi`s government accuses the Houthis of obstructing talks, the Houthis have, by and large, appeared more willing than Hadi.
While Saudi Arabia seems, at the moment, far from accepting any settlement that does not accommodate its interests to the extent it seems to aim to achieve through military campaign, its rapidly falling economic condition may force it to accept the Houthis as an ‘inevitable political nuisance.’
While extra-regional actors’ engagement in Yemen has not yet reached the scale it already has in Syria and Iraq, there is no denying that their own strategic interests are certain to significantly shape, if not completely determine, the outcome of “peace talks.” Their role is expected to increase in proportion to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s military and economic fatigue as well as the Houthi’s success – by Salman Rafi Sheikh
http://atimes.com/2015/12/yemen-peace-elusive-as-war-expands/
5.12.2015 – Reuters
U.N. envoy arrives in Yemen's Aden to advance peace talks
The United Nations envoy to Yemen met President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Saturday to discuss prospects for peace talks between his embattled Aden-based government and Houthi forces, a source close to Yemen's president said.
The source said U.N. envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed's talks with Hadi aimed to lay the groundwork for a second round of talks in the Swiss city of Geneva.
It is the first time the envoy has paid an official visit to Aden, which Hadi declared the temporary capital after Arab coalition forces seized it from the Houthis in July.
Diplomats say the talks may take place this month in Switzerland, but some Yemeni officials have expressed scepticism that they will go ahead.
“The government is ready for talks but the other side isn't, and its actions on the ground contradict their statements that they support a peaceful solution," Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, who was named as foreign minister by Hadi last week, told Reuters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN0TO0A620151205#0uIfuKYjBPGCdCgG.97
Kommentar: Die letzte Aussage ist nicht ganz falsch, aber doch dümmliche Propaganda. Denn die Hadi-Seite verhält sich kein bisschen anders; ja vielmehr sind frühere Versuche, zu einer Einigung zu kommen, vor allem an ihr gescheitert, und hadi scheint sich auch jetzt wieder in dieser Richtung alle Mühe zu geben.
5.12.2015 – AFP
UN mediator visits Yemen to press for peace talks
The UN mediator travelled Saturday to Aden in south Yemen to press for the government and Shiite rebels to open long-delayed peace talks on December 12, a Yemeni official said.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed met President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi
The mission was "difficult", said the source, accusing the rebels of dragging their feet on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which calls for them to withdraw from occupied territory.
And Foreign Minister Abdel Malak al-Mekhlafi told AFP: "The putschists are refusing to lay down their arms or to allow the government to carry out its duties" from Sanaa.
"They have not announced their list of negotiators" for the talks "and are trying to escalate the situation on the ground by bombing residential districts of Taez", a strategic city in southwest Yemen under siege by the rebels and their allies, he said.
In a protest sent to the United Nations, Yemen's minister in charge of human rights, Ezzedine al-Isbahi, condemned the "massacres and atrocities" allegedly committed in Taez by the rebels that he said had killed 33 civilians last week, including four children.
Mekhlafi denounced the Huthis and their allies for having filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in Sanaa against Hadi and his aides over their request for a Saudi-led military intervention that had "damaged the independence" of Yemen.
http://news.yahoo.com/un-mediator-yemen-press-peace-talks-135120395.html = http://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/mena/un-mediator-in-yemen-to-press-for-peace-talks
Kommentar: Hier noch weitere Vorwürfe an die Huthis zu lesen. Wie man sieht, wird kräftig die Propagandatrommel gerührt. Man fordert nach wie vor von den Huthis quasi die völlige Kapitulation als Voraussetzung für die Friedensgespräche. Also nichts Neues seit einem halben Jahr. – Der Text von AFP hat den passenden propagandistischen Dreh, so dass ihn die emiratische Khaleej Times unverändert übernehmen kann.
Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
5.12.2015 – Asia Times
A glimpse of the “Oil Kingdom’s” increasingly ‘drying’ economy can be had from the fact that in September, Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf acknowledged that many domestic projects will have to be abandoned. A case in point was the halt placed on construction of a world-class shipyard. This is a glaring reflection of Saudia’s growing budgetary deficit. According to official statistics, the deficit this year will be about $39 billion. However, these data contradict IMF estimates, which say the number could reach $130 billion – by Salman Rafi Sheikh
http://atimes.com/2015/12/yemen-peace-elusive-as-war-expands/
5.12.2015 – Press TV Iran
2,000 Saudis killed in Riyadh’s war on Yemen: Activist
A well-known Saudi online activist says some 2,000 Saudi nationals have lost their lives and 4,850 others sustained injuries during nine months of Riyadh’s military campaign against neighboring Yemen.
The whistleblower, known on Twitter as @mujtahidd, once again took to the social networking service and released the figures as part of a report detailing damage suffered by Saudi Arabia in its military operation in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has spent more than 200 billion rials (USD 53 billion) in its ferocious campaign over the past nine months, according to @mujtahidd, adding the kingdom spends 750 million rials (almost USD 200 million) a day on its war.
The activist further said 450 tanks and armored vehicles have been destroyed or disabled during the Saudi war on Yemen, adding that Riyadh’s military had lost four Apache jets and an F-15 aircraft.
Three warships have also been annihilated, while two other vessels have been damaged severely, said the activist who reportedly has more than 1.8 million online followers.
The whistleblower, whose account was created in July 2011, uses his platform to leak documents about corruption inside the Saudi royal family amid the kingdom’s harsh crackdown on political activists.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/12/05/440380/Saudi-Arabia-Yemen-Mujtahidd-Ansarullah-Twitter
2.12.2015 – Die Welt
Saudischer Albtraum: Der Westen paktiert mit einem Regime, das Mörderbanden in alle Welt entsendet.
Jeder kann wissen, mit wem sich Deutschland wie auch die USA, Frankreich oder Großbritannien da ins Bett legen. Die absolutistische Monarchie Saudi-Arabien ist heute eine anachronistische Religionsdiktatur, die ihre engstirnige und kompromisslose Glaubensausrichtung mit großer wirtschaftlicher Macht und viel Geld in alle Welt exportiert. Der Islam wahhabitischer Auslegung ist in dem ölreichen Königreich Staatsreligion, eine puristisch-traditionalistische Richtung des sunnitischen Islam.
Die Grenzen zum politischen Islam und zum kriegerischen Salafismus, wie ihn die Terrormiliz Islamischer Staat (IS) praktiziert, verschwimmen. Der Wahhabismus ist geprägt von Intoleranz gegenüber anderen, moderateren Strömungen innerhalb des Islam und von der Überzeugung, die einzig wahre Interpretation des Islam zu leben. Und er ist geprägt von der Überzeugung eigener Überlegenheit gegenüber anderen Religionen und Gesellschaftsentwürfen.
Saudi-Arabien muss heute mit dafür verantwortlich gemacht werden, das Monster IS erschaffen zu haben. [...]
Saudi-Arabien und Katar sind über die klandestinen Kanäle von Stiftungen, Moscheevereinen und privaten Zuwendungen die größten Sponsoren der nihilistischen Mörderbande IS, mit der sich die fundamentalistischen Kreise in den Golfmonarchien allen Ernstes noch immer im selben Boot wähnen.
Der IS ist die konsequente Fortsetzung des saudischen Wahhabismus und richtet sich nun gegen seine geistigen Schöpfer: Die Terroristen sind inzwischen zum Feind der saudischen Monarchie geworden.
Der König, "Hüter der heiligen Stätten Mekka und Medina", wähnt sich auf einer Mission: die Herrschaft des Islam saudischer Auslegung nicht nur im Nahen und Mittleren Osten, sondern auch in Europa, in den USA. Seine Vehikel: Moscheen, islamische Schulen und Universitäten, Kultur- und Jugendzentren, Krankenhäuser, Gebetsgruppen, Satellitensender, Webseiten und Hassprediger. [...]– von Dietrich Alexander
http://www.welt.de/incoming/article149546853/Saudischer-Albtraum.html
Kommentar: Im konservativen Mainstream angekommen: Endlich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Warum nicht früher? Das ist alles nichts Neues.
Kuwait
6.12.2015 – Kuwait News Agency
Army denies Air Force pilot refuses orders in Yemen
The Army Sunday brushed aside social media reports that one of Air Force pilots taking part in Saudi-led operation Restoration of Hope in Yemen had refused orders. The reports about the pilot s refusal of orders “are completely unfounded, undermine national unity of the Kuwaiti people, and negatively affect moral of Kuwait air force personal taking part in Operation Restauration of Hope in Yemen’, the Moral Guidance and Public Relations Department said in a statement.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2476268&Language=en
Kommentar: Auch Kuwait beteiligt sich an den Bombenabwürfen im Jemen. Auf der Dubai Airshow im November hat Kuwait bei Beoing Kampfflugzeuge für 3 Milliarden $ geordert.
Deutschland / Germany
6.12.2015 – Deutsche Welle
Gabriel warnt Saudi-Arabien
Der SPD-Chef und Vizekanzler sieht die Gefahr, dass die Saudis durch die Finanzierung wahabitischer Moscheen den Extremismus auch in Deutschland fördern. Die "Zeit des Wegschauens" sei vorbei, proklamiert Gabriel.
Der SPD-Vorsitzende richtete den Blick auf Gefahren, die angeblich aus salafistisch geführten Gotteshäusern drohen. Gegen diese Moscheen in Deutschland forderte Sigmar Gabriel jetzt ein hartes Vorgehen: "Dieser radikale Fundamentalismus, der sich in salafistischen Moscheen abspielt, ist nicht minder gefährlich als der Rechtsradikalismus", beklagte er in der Zeitung "Bild am Sonntag". Der Staat müsse eingreifen, sobald zu Gewalt und Menschenhass aufgerufen werde. "Wir müssen bei den Salafisten den gleichen Maßstab anlegen wie bei rechtsradikalen Gewalttätern."
Der Vizekanzler und Bundeswirtschaftsminister lenkte dabei besondere Aufmerksamkeit auf die Golfmonarchie Saudi-Arabien. Von dort würden "überall in der Welt wahabitische Moscheen finanziert" und aus diesen Gemeinden kämen "in Deutschland viele islamistische Gefährder", meinte Gabriel in dem Interview. Einerseits sei man zur Lösung regionaler Konflikte auf die Saudis angewiesen, so Gabriel auch mit Blick auf die Wiener Syrien-Gespräche. Andererseits müsse man der Führung in Riad "zugleich klarmachen, dass die Zeit des Wegschauens vorbei ist."
http://www.dw.com/de/gabriel-warnt-saudi-arabien/a-18898004 siehe auch http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/sigmar-gabriel-warnt-saudi-arabien-vor-finanzierung-von-extremismus-a-1066327.html
Kommentar: Gabriel hat zwar mit seiner Einschätzung völlig recht – und die Fachleute bestätigen das ja auch. Aber warum kommt das (erst) jetzt? Es ist noch nicht lange her, dass Gabriel die Saudis selbst noch hofiert hat. Und sein SPD-Kollege Steinmeier und sein Außenministerium tun das noch weiter. – Freilich macht sich Gabriel völlig lächerlich. In den Augen der Saudis ist das vergleichbar, wie wenn ein Frosch den Elefanten anquakt. Verbreitung des wahabitischen Radikalislam ist Staatsräson der Saudis seit 200 Jahren. Appelle an die Saudis sind völliger Unsinn und dienen in der jetzigen, den Saudis gegenüber kritischer werdenden Stimmung in Deutschland allein dazu, seine Fahne in den in Deutschland gerade wehenden Wind zu hängen. Darin ist Gabriel Meister. Das Einzige, was hilft, wäre den Saudis wirklich auf die Füße zu treten. Und genau das macht der Westen seit Jahrzehnten nicht, sondern das genaue Gegenteil.
6.12.2015 – AFP
Saudi must stop financing fundamentalist mosques abroad: Merkel's deputy
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel on Sunday said Saudi Arabia must stop financing fundamentalist mosques abroad which are accused of breeding extremism.
“From Saudi Arabia, Wahhabi mosques are financed throughout the world,” said Gabriel.
“In Germany many extremists considered dangerous persons emerge from these communities,” he told the newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
Gabriel, who is Chancellor Angela Merkel’s deputy in a left-right coalition, warned against alienating Saudi Arabia, a crucial player in the bid to end the Syrian war, with too much criticism.
“At the same time we must make it clear to the Saudis that the time of looking the other way is over,” said Gabriel, who is also economy minister.
4.12.2015 – Bundespressekonferenz vom 4.12.2015
Martin Schäfer, Sprecher des Auswärtigen Amtes
Frage: Herr Schäfer, Sie haben gerade so schön von einer aktiven Außenpolitik Saudi-Arabiens in der Region gesprochen. Dazu zählt ja auch der Jemen-Krieg, der von Ihnen natürlich nicht erwähnt wird - es wird hier immer nur über den Syrien-Krieg geredet. Saudi-Arabien hat es geschafft, das Land in Schutt und Asche zu legen, und Tausende Menschen sind gestorben. Gehört auch das, was im Jemen passiert, zur konstruktiven Haltung Saudi-Arabiens?
Schäfer: Man kann Ihnen, wie auch anderen Journalisten hier im Raum, anmerken, dass Sie, was die Fragen angeht, die Sie stellen, im Wesentlichen Meinungen zum Ausdruck bringen wollen. Ich überlasse es dem Vorsitz, ob es Sinn der Sache ist, dass Sie das so tun. Aber jedenfalls kann ich sagen: Es ist schlicht unzutreffend, dass ich bei meinen Ausführungen über Saudi-Arabien das Wort „Jemen“ oder auch die militärische Auseinandersetzung im Jemen nicht erwähnt hätte. Das ist schlicht unwahr, und man wird sich ganz sicher auch im Protokoll der Regierungspressekonferenz nachlesen können, dass das nicht stimmt, was Sie sagen.
Ich kann Ihnen versichern - auch dazu haben Sie einen umfassenden Auskunftsanspruch an die Bundesregierung -, dass es unser politisches Ziel ist - dazu dienen auch die Kontakte, die wir mit der saudischen Regierung pflegen -, einen Beitrag dazu zu leisten, dass diese militärische Auseinandersetzung - man kann auch sagen: der Bürgerkrieg im Jemen; denn der Auslöser für all das, was dort geschieht, sind innerjemenitische Auseinandersetzungen zwischen unterschiedlichen gesellschaftlichen und vielleicht auch ethnischen Gruppen - zu einem Ende kommt, dass unter der Ägide der Vereinten Nationen der Verhandlungsprozess der relevanten gesellschaftlichen Gruppen im Jemen beginnen kann. Die Gespräche, die der Außenminister in diesem Sinne mit dem damals noch im Exil befindlichen Staatspräsidenten Hadi geführt hat - der ja inzwischen glücklicherweise wieder in den Jemen zurückkehren konnte -, sowie mit Vertretern der Vereinten Nationen und auch mit dem saudischen und anderen Außenministern aus der Region geführt hatte, dienen genau diesem Ziel.
Wir sind immerhin einiger Hoffnung, dass der Prozess, der vom Sonderbeauftragten der Vereinten Nationen in Gang gesetzt ist und der jedenfalls im Grunde nach die Zustimmung aller relevanten gesellschaftlichen Gruppen im Jemen - auch der saudischen Regierung - hat, einen Verhandlungsprozess beginnen lassen kann, an dessen Ende dann ein Ende der Kämpfe, des Leids der Menschen und die Möglichkeit für uns und andere steht, humanitär zu helfen und neue politische Perspektiven für ein so geschundenes Land wie Jemen zu entwickeln.
http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Mitschrift/Pressekonferenzen/2015/12/2015-12-04-regpk.html
Kommentar: Heiße Luft.
Propaganda
6.12.2015 – The Peninsula
Yemeni Vice President calls for getting rid of coup aggression
Yemeni Vice President and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah has called for Yemeni unity and focusing on the goal of getting rid of the coup aggression.
Bahah said that time has come to establish a state of law and order, to correct all the excesses and errors committed by the former regime and focus on ridding the country of al-Huthi and Saleh militia, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Bahah's remarks came during a meeting under his chairmanship with a number of advisers of the presidency of the Republic of Yemen in Riyadh on Saturday.
Kommentar: “Coup aggression” ist im Saudi-Hadi-Propagandasprech die Huthis. Von IS und Al Kaida ist nicht die Rede. Von Friedensgesprächen auch nicht.
6.12.2015 – Arab Times Online
Yemen … Victory had a price
EVERYONE should know the truth that the GCC countries and their allies fighting in Yemen are not only fighting against the Houthis and groups affiliated to former Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh, because they are also combating the expansion scheme of Iran.
Regardless of the cost of the fight in Yemen, the loss is considered too little for the GCC countries compared to the price they have to pay in case the Persian expansion scheme succeeds as the latter could lead to ‘loss of existence’. Every GCC national is expected to realistically look into the major threat posed by the political and military behaviors of Iran’s regime towards the entire region, especially this time.
Indeed, every war leads to losses – both human and financial; depending on the circumstances in the local, regional and international spheres. Nonetheless, wars also have their economics which, most of the time, is better than the economics of peace. This is because wars reveal the areas of weakness in terms of performance and the establishments through which countries work to cover flaws. It helps strengthen relations between people, eliminate negative social mentality which could have emerged in peaceful times and open the path to create new industrial opportunities.
With the situation we are in, we managed to achieve all that in the past few months – in the political and military spectrums. This came through thrashing Iran’s scheme in Yemen and cornering the forces allied to Tehran in certain areas. The coalition forces are now assisting the official Yemeni Army and national resistance to liberate the rest of the country.
On the economic spectrum, the war has proven how solid and strong the entire GCC economy is, particularly that of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite the remarkable drop in global oil prices and increase in terrorist operations by various terrorist groups in the region, the GCC economic movement was not affected. In fact, it increased development projects and enhanced global confidence on our economy which is not flaccid and weak. This economy is not affected negatively by any global event.
Moreover, global conviction continues to strengthen daily based on the fact that the main source of terrorism, which is currently hitting the western countries, is in Iran and Israel. In Iran, it is caused by greed, provocation of creedal sentiments and inciting sectarian sedition. In Israel, this is due to its practices against Palestine. Tel Aviv has always strived to divide the Arab nations that surround its borders or pose threats to it; hence, it is impossible to solve the problem without dealing with these two sources of terrorism.
The international decision-makers, who endorsed the GCC coalition from the beginning, are not oblivious to these facts. In the coming period, it will not be strange to see the western countries participating in our coalition against Iran’s expansion scheme in Yemen and that will be part of the war against terrorism in the entire region – by Ahmed Al-Jarallah
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/yemen-victory-has-a-price/
Kommentar: Die übliche Iran-Masche, und dann werden auch noch Iran und Israel als die Hauptquellen des Terrorismus ausgemacht. Vom IS kein Wort. Dafür hier als noch nicht gesehene Idee ein Lobpreis des Krieges als solchem – nach dem Motto: der Krieg stärkt uns und unsere Wirtschaft! – wie er in dieser Form bei allen Ländern die die beiden Weltkriege mitgemacht haben, als pervers gelten würde.
6.12.2015 – Hackread
Arab Coalition Forces Let You Watch Yemen War on Snapchat
Do you want to watch the Saudi Arabian-led war in Yemen on your mobile device? Well, there is a guy who is officially posting everything about Yemen war on his Snapchat account.
Saudi Arab’s military action is open for all and the pictures are being posted on Snapchat. The account is regularly updated which lets followers know everything about the airstrikes carried out against Houthi rebels.
Majid Al-Sabah, a popular Snapchat user from Kuwait having more than a million followers was officially allowed by Saudi Army to enter the Saudi-led coalition operations & planning department as well as military’s command & control centre in Riyad.
The Arab news reported that Majid Al-Sabah has shared latest photos and information about the bombing from a Scud missile as well as sites of officers from the countries which are part of the coalition in the air strikes against Yemeni rebels.
https://www.hackread.com/watch-yemen-war-on-snapchat/
5.12.2015 – International Business Times
Saudi Arabia shows Yemen war on Snapchat
Saudi Arabia's military opened its war operations room to millions of people through Snapchat, offering a look at its current operations in Yemen, where it is carrying out airstrikes against Houthi rebels.
The army allowed popular Snapchat user Majid Al-Sabah, who reportedly has over a million followers on the forum, into its command and control centre in Riyadh, including the Saudi-led coalition's operations planning department.
The Snapchat user then shared photos and information to his followers, including the bombing from a Scud missile platform as well as the sites of officers from various countries part of the coalition, Arab News reported.
He also shared videos of interviews with coalition officers.
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/saudi-arabia-shows-yemen-war-snapchat-658159
5.12.2015 – The National UAE
For me, the fighting in Yemen is about reviving two sisters’ hopes
When the UAE joined the Saudi-led coalition to restore Yemen’s internationally-recognised government, the focus was on bringing back stability and hope to millions of people who had seen far too little of either in recent years.
(a story about two Yemeni sisters)
When the UAE joined the coalition to restore the government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, I had no difficulty imaging the ordinary Yemenis for whom they were fighting. It is for the modest aspirations of ordinary Yemenis who care little for politics but want to get ahead, forge a life for themselves and help their communities that come to mind when I think about what the UAE and allied forces are fighting to uphold – by John Hanzell
Commentary: The same procedure as every year…
Terrorismus / Terrorism
6.12.2015 – Spiegel Online
Jemen: Gouverneur von Aden bei Anschlag getötet
Der Gouverneur der südjemenitischen Provinz Aden ist bei einem Anschlag getötet worden. Ein Selbstmordattentäter habe am Sonntag sein Fahrzeug in den Konvoi von Dschaafar Mohammed Saad gerammt, als dieser auf den Weg zur Arbeit gewesen sei, berichten ein örtlicher Regierungsvertreter und Augenzeugen. Mindestens sechs Begleiter des Politikers seien bei der Explosion ebenfalls ums Leben gekommen.
In sozialen Medien kursiert eine Erklärung, in der sich der "Islamische Staat" (IS) zu der Tat bekennt. Die Terrormiliz habe ein mit Sprengstoff beladenes Auto in einem westlichen Bezirk von Aden detonieren lassen, als der Gouverneur vorbeifuhr. Das Statement konnte zunächst nicht verifiziert werden.
Saad war erst im Oktober ernannt worden.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/jemen-islamischer-staat-bekennt-sich-zu-anschlag-auf-gouverneur-saad-a-1066334.html# siehe auch http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/naher-osten/gouverneur-im-jemen-durch-autobombe-getoetet-13951507.html
6.12.2015 – Reuters
Yemen's Aden governor killed in car bombing claimed by Islamic State
The governor of Aden was killed by a car bomb on Sunday in Yemen's southern port city, in an attack that Islamic State claimed responsibility for.
A local official and residents said at least six members of General Jaafar Mohammed Saad's entourage also died in the attack, which targeted the governor on his way to work. Several other people were wounded.
The attack came in the Tawahi district of Aden, where President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has returned to oversee a war against Iran-allied Houthis.
Islamic State, in a statement posted on a messaging service, said it detonated a car laden with explosives as Saad's convoy passed by. The group promised more operations against "the heads of apostasy in Yemen".
The group also posted what it said were photos of the booby-trapped vehicle as a white van carrying Saad drove past, then two other photos of a huge ball of fire which it said were taken as the bomb exploded.
A local official and residents said earlier on Sunday a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into the governor's car – by Mohammed Mukhassaf
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-governor-idUSKBN0TP05K20151206#WPjpbqLUixh7Vq6u.97
6.12.2015 – The Independent
Yemen governor killed in Isis-claimed 'car bombing'
Jaafar Mohammed Saad and at least six of his entourage died when his convoy was attacked
The governor of the Yemeni city of Aden has been killed in a large explosion claimed by a local Isis affiliate group.
Jaafar Mohammed Saad and at least six of his entourage died when his convoy was attacked in a car bombing, security sources have said.
Several other people were wounded in the bombing.
An Isis-affiliated group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters, saying the bomb was concealed in a parked car along the convoy's route.
The group referred to Mr Saad as a "tyrant" and warned the "heads of the infidels" in Yemen it would carry out "operations to chop off their rotten heads".
Commentary 1: You can see these pictures and a map showing where in Aden this assassination occurred. This has been on literally dozens of media outlets all over the world including UK - I just counted 94 different international media articles - so they can get news out of Yemen if they want to do so. Ordinary people dying is obviously not newsworthy to them.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068928609926296
Commentary 2: Hadi shuffled his governors recently so that those in place are his supporters. Al Qaeda and Daesh supporters helped to overthrow the Houthis in Yemen in July, and since then they have had pretty free range in Aden, for example, I saw a picture of a pick up with black flags driving freely through an Aden checkpoint, also their supporters have been active in trying to force the universities to segregate male and female students. Hadi has returned to Aden recently and it may be that the security forces are trying to get rid of AQ and Daesh supporters. This may be a result - another turf war on the ground in Aden between different strands of the 'victors'. This was reported on BBC radio as a RPG attack - I get so annoyed when there are these very occasional reports in the British media on atrocities in Yemen - anyone listening would think that is all that is happening. A few reports of a single issue is as misleading as no reports at all.
https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1068762293276261
Kommentar: Mittlerweile müssen es weit über 300 internationale Treffer mit dieser Geschichte sein. „Yemen Lifes matter“? Man sieht, das Leben normaler Leute im Jemen ist im Westen egal, es muss schon eine prominenter Vertreter des Regimes sein.
6.12.2015 – The Mirror
Video shows devastating aftermath of 'ISIS car bomb' that killed Yemen governor and six others
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/video-shows-devastating-aftermath-isis-6964199
6.12.2015 – Nasser Arrabyee
Yemen intelligence officer colonel Antar, 2nd assassination today in Aden
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/673498583774179329
5.12.2015 – AP
Gunmen kill Yemen judge known for al-Qaida prison sentences
Yemeni security officials say masked gunmen have killed a prominent judge who was known for sentencing al-Qaida militants to prison in the southern port city of Aden.
They say gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire Saturday on Judge Mohsen Alwan’s vehicle in Aden’s Mansoura neighborhood, killing him and three others.
No one immediately claimed the attack, but officials suspect al-Qaida’s Yemen branch was behind it. Al-Qaida militants have previously used motorcycles in their assassinations – by Ahmed Al-Haj
5.12.2015 – New York Times
F.B.I. Treating San Bernardino Attack as Terrorism Case
On the day she and her husband killed 14 people and wounded 21 others in San Bernardino, Calif., a woman pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in a Facebook post, officials said Friday.
“They were living in Saudi Arabia, but they were Pakistanis,” Mr. Kuko said. “They had been in Saudi Arabia for a long time. She grew up in the city of Jidda.”
an inquiry being headed by the F.B.I. and stretching from California to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/us/tashfeen-malik-islamic-state.html
Commentary: Terrorism, IS – and the Saudi connection again and again.
4.12.2015 – TVism
Noam Chomsky on ISIS-ISIL-DAESH!
Noteable quote: "Take a look at US policy towards ISIS: there are several forces in the region that are really combating ISIS. The main state is Iran. Iran is combating ISIS. Is the US supporting Iran against ISIS? No. Iran is an enemy, we have to undermine it. On the ground the main force opposing ISIS say around Kobani and Syria is the PKK, the Turkish based guerrilla group that’s on the US terrorist list. The US is not supporting them. Of course it is not supporting the Assad regime, which also is opposed to ISIS. Now what’s the policy of opposing ISIS? One of the main commentators on the region, one who’s been most informed and accurate, Patrick Cockburn, calls it an Alice in Wonderland policy. It’s a policy that’s meaningless. It’s pieced together. Somehow the Obama administration is trying to oppose ISIS, while also opposing the forces that are opposed to ISIS. So who are the worthy and unworthy victims? You’ve got to pick them out. It’s whoever the US is opposing at the moment."
https://www.facebook.com/Classy.Yemeni/posts/747748465355337
17.9.2015 – Aljazeera
‘Stronger than Al-Qaeda’: ISIL poised to rise in southern Yemeni city
Analysis: In midst of security vacuum, Aden could see surge of activity by Islamic State fighters and supporters – by Iona Craig
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/17/embattled-yemen-aden-rise-islamic-state.html
Commentary: She was exactly rights predicting what would happen. Well, Saudi & Co. have paved the way for IS in Yemen.
Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
7.12.2015 – Saudi Gazette
Missile carrier destroyed near Saudi border
Saudi-led coalition has destroyed a Scud missile carrier near the Yemeni-Saudi border, Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Sunday.
The carrier, belonging to Iran-backed Houthi militia and its ally deposed Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh forces, was destroyed by the coalition after studying their movements, the channel reported.
It said the carrier was heading toward Saudi border but did not specify where.
http://saudigazette.com.sa/world/missile-carrier-destroyed-near-saudi-border/
5.12.2015 – Fars News
Yemeni Forces Send Another Saudi Warship Down
Yemen's army and Ansarullah fighters targeted another Saudi warship in Ta'iz province early on Saturday, the seventh Saudi vessel sinking in waters offshore Yemen in the last three months.
The targeted ship had repeatedly fired rockets on residential areas in the Yemeni province of Ta'iz, inflicting casualties and destruction there.
Reports said the Saudi warship was targeted and destroyed off Mukha coast in Ta'iz early this morning. Reports said there were casualties, but did not provide exact figures, adding that some of the naval forces were also rescued by the Saudi-led coalition fleet present in the region.
The coalition warships usually deploy offshore Ta'iz to strike coastal targets, but they retreat from Yemen's waters as soon as one of their vessels is destroyed by the Yemeni army and Ansarullah forces.
On November 25, the Yemeni forces targeted and destroyed a Saudi warship in the waters near Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Saudi warship was targeted with Yemeni missiles in the coastal waters in the province of Ta'iz.
Other Saudi battleships that were approaching Yemen's coasts retreated fast following the attack.
The coast of Al-Mukha is located in Bab al-Mandab strait and the Saudi-led forces have been trying hard for several months now to win control over the coastal regions near the waterway.
On November 15, Yemeni forces destroyed a Saudi-led coalition warship near al-Mukha coast.
On November 7, Yemeni forces fired rockets at a Saudi-led coalition warship and destroyed it near al-Mukha coast.
On October 25, the Yemeni forces hit and destroyed another Saudi warship in Bab al-Mandab Strait
On October 11, another ship which belonged to the Egyptian army and named al-Mahrousa was destroyed by Yemeni missiles in the coastal waters near al-Mukha coast.
On October 9, Yemeni army and popular forces also fired missiles at a Saudi warship, and destroyed it in Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The warship was wrecked off the Southwestern coast of Yemen, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940914000353
Neue Artikel zum Nachlesen 1-60: / Yemen Press reader 1-60:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose oder / or
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