By Mohammed Al-Azaki
FOR THE YEMEN POST

A US Congress delegation chaired by former Republican presidency nominee John McCain concluded their visit to Yemen last week during which they met with President Saleh.
The visit came few days after the Congress discussed the situation in Yemen and came up with recommendations for the American Administration under Barrack Obama to help Yemen.
Governmental sources reported that Saleh and McCain discussed the aspects of bilateral relations in economic, security and terrorism-fighting as well as the regional and international developments.
Senator McCain, according to the same source, expressed his satisfaction as to the level of existing cooperation between the United States and Yemen in all fields, particularly in the security side as well as fighting terrorism.
MaCain also assured that America is keen about enhancing and developing the bilateral relations and partnership with Yemen as well as support for the country’s security and stability as they are the basis for the whole region’s security and stability.
For his part, President Saleh praised the support rendered by the American administration in the development field and terrorism fighting, stressing that Yemen is committed to fighting terrorism which is a global plague with no religion or home and threatens the global security and stability.
The American delegation’s visit came shortly after discussions by the American Congress about the situation in Yemen which was described as “worrying”. The congress, in its recommendations presented to Obama, revealed that a wave of political, economic and security crises are afflicting Yemen and these could turn the country into a “failed state”.
It went on to say that this could provide the suitable lands for Al-Qaeda Organization to establish its bases there to attack foreign interests in Gulf countries and dominate the Horn of Africa.
The Congress advised Obama to quickly activate the cooperation with the Yemeni government and to raise the ceiling of the financial support meant for terrorism-fighting efforts and development support together with closely observing the current situation in Yemen. The members stressed that any inaction by the American side could lead to empowering the terrorist groups in Yemen and Somalia.
In its document number [S8857-S8858-S8859-S8860] as well as the appendix number [S8980-S8981] issue no. (121-122), the congress discussed the situation in Yemen and noted that it is not time yet to issue an official declaration that Yemen is a “failed state” upon which a direct American and international intervention can be projected – including operations by NATO inside Yemeni lands.
The Yemeni regime, according to the document, can be described as “weak” and this requires increasing the financial and development support for the Yemeni government, with keeping eye on the situation in the country.
The same document insinuated it is likely that Al-Qaeda has worked during the last few months to spread into desert areas – where Yemen’s oil and gas exist – as well as the coastline areas on the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean which overlook the trade routes and the movement of international warships and frigates.
American, French, British, Chinese and South Korean oil and gas companies exist in Yemen’s desert areas and this means that Al-Qaeda movements will pose direct threats to foreign interests.
The congress also revealed that several documented political, security and economic reports obtained through official visits by CIA and the American National Security Department came all up with one result about the situation in Yemen; the country is turning into second a Afghanistan.
Moreover, the Congress praised the excellent role played by Obama administration as they concentrate on the rising threats in Yemen through visits paid by several American officials, the last of which was made last July by General David Petraeus and shortly after he assumed the post of the Central Leadership.
CIA Deputy Director Mr. Stephen R. Kappes’s, who met with Saleh early this year, mentioned in his report that the security situation in Yemen is alarming. The same was reported by the Director of the American National Department Dennis Blaire.
The document hinted that Blaire was the source that had leaked information to New York Times about the disintegration of Al-Qaeda structure in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Blaire told the paper on condition of anonymity that the then situation of Pakistan would force Al-Qaeda elements and leaders to leave Pakistani areas for Yemen, taking advantage of Yemeni government’s weakness where they can establish terrorist networks and recruitment camps and finance groups.
In addition, the document pointed out that Saleh managed to make a balance between all political forces, military officials, political elite, and extreme Islamists to frame a coalition to help the stability of his rule.
It continued that the Yemeni regime resorted to paying huge sums of money to influential personalities and tribal sheikhs as well as paying bribes for influential leaders in some political parties to stabilize and continue his rule.
If such influential tribal or political personalities refuse to cooperate, the regime resorts to using force against them through military threats or the authority of intelligence apparatuses.
Again, the document asserted that the Al-Qaeda Organization’s military operations have confused the weak regime which has been in power for the last 30 years whose policy is based on balancing between the tribal and political forces, maintaining the last efforts of the regime were successful in reaching an agreement with Al-Qaeda veterans which states something like, “we will leave you alone provided that you do not make any attacks inside the country”.
The Congress advised the American Administration to quickly give hand to the Yemeni government’s apparatuses which has been overburdened by the rising calls for secession in south Yemen and renewed war in the north as well as ailing economy and depleting oil reservoirs.