(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The Saudis are more frightened than U.S. officials and are making the utmost efforts to prevent the contagion of nationwide protests from reaching their country.
Since returning from Saudi Arabia, where he was undergoing medical treatment, Saleh has increased the level of repression, which has left scores dead and thousands injured.
During his stay in Saudi Arabia, Saleh received orders from Saudi officials on how to bring things under control and prevent an escalation of the situation. The meeting he held with Saudi King Abdullah indicates the level of support Riyadh is providing to Yemen’s dictator for life.
However, Saudi Arabia is not the only benefactor of the repression in Yemen. The U.S. has been silent about the crackdown for strategic reasons, mainly because the south of the country has become a haven for Al-Qaeda insurgents. The U.S. is supporting the Saleh regime to reduce the threat Al-Qaeda poses to U.S. interests in the region. In addition, the U.S. is determined to strengthen its strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia, and thus Washington has never made an unequivocal condemnation of the massive crackdown on the peaceful protesters conducted over the past seven months.
In fact, Saleh has resumed his previous role as the regional puppet of the United States and Saudi Arabia, and the Yemeni people continue to reject him as the legitimate ruler of the country.
Before departing for Saudi Arabia, Saleh made numerous promises to respond to the people’s demands, but Yemenis have seen no concrete action on the ground.
After his decision to step up the repression, he will never be trusted again, and this makes the situation more problematic.
There is now a serious impasse in Yemen with no political solution in sight, which has created a situation that could lead to more bloodshed and maybe even a civil war.
Although both Saudi Arabia and the United States have a quite visible military presence in Yemen, a military intervention is highly unlikely at this critical juncture. However, the two countries will continue their political interference with the intention of preventing an escalation of the protests and facilitating the establishment of a transitional government subservient to the United States and Saudi Arabia.
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