With the $1.2 billion the U.S. government is planning to give to Yemen as military aid over five years, it seems that fighting Al-Qaeda is by far the best business investment in Yemen.

With the U.S. government claiming that Al-Qaeda in Yemen is a bigger threat then its mother in Pakistan, local analysts are lost and astonished at what they hear.

Over the last year, numerous tribal leaders, businessmen, religious leaders, and army officials have tried to start movements under different names, all claiming to work for the better of the country.

With the growing number of Al-Qaeda attacks on governmental security officials, some tend to believe that this proves that Al-Qaeda is as strong as ever in Yemen. I believe the opposite. Killing security officials is not a complicated matter to plan nor does it cost a lot.

Last week, the ruling party and opposition signed an agreement to start dialogue. One day after the agreement, a leading member of the opposition announced that they will not participate in the dialogue unless international and Arab observation committees participate to observe any violations from any side.

The more attacks in the south means that the international community will support Yemen’s unity, fearing that if separation takes place, the south could be an Al-Qaeda safe haven.

In most Arab countries today, crises come when the chair of rule is in debate. In Iraq, even with democratic elections, sides still do not have the power to let go. In the gulf, which is ruled by kings, people can talk about anything expect the chair.

Yemen, a country where over a third of its population is threatened by hunger, has seen many charitable work from its people, as the poor are willing to help others by giving the little they have.

At a time when Yemen seems to be passing through negative images and numerous crises, Socotra comes in the picture. The island called by many as “Heaven on Earth”

Since the start of the open war against Al-Qaeda six months ago, for some reason I started comparing the situation that happened in Pakistan to that is happening in Yemen.

The attack against the political security compound in Aden was a massive blow for the government as it showed its lack of readiness. According to eyewitnesses, the militants that raided the political security were not more than four, while they were able to kill 13 and free not less than five prisoners.

This week, massive governmental raids were witnessed in Thale killing at least 11. Mareb also saw governmental attacks as 7 people were killed

At a time when both the ruling party and opposition are showing signs of opening doors for negotiations, Yemenis are losing hope. People know that the negotiations between both sides will only buy the ruling party more time, therefore making the Yemeni ship sink even more in corruption, bad administration and loss of hope for change.

The U.S. government made a grave mistake last week when it killed Sheikh Shabwani, who was a strong governmental leader in Mareb. According to sources, President Saleh admitted that the raids were not Yemeni, but rather American, therefore causing more frustration for the handicapped Yemeni government.

Over the last week, four incidents took place of violations from leading security figures in the country, all of them being relatives of Muthaar Al-Masri, the Yemeni Interior Minister.

Is the unity so important even if it meant giving others the right to oppress citizens and steal the country’s wealth?

The last two weeks saw a major turnaround in Yemeni politics. First, the armed group in the south that vowed to killed two governmental soldiers they are holding hostages if the government does not release members of their armed group.

Hashemis and Sheikhs: Above Others for no Reason. We talk about the need for spreading the culture of democracy, but in the same time we give others the right to control us outside the law.

Visiting parts of the country this week, the unexpected was seen. Spending the night at Al-Mahabisha of Hajjah Governorate, I was astonished to see that the entire area, even the highest peaks of mountains was used for Qat plantation.

In a protest in Baitha Governorate this week, the Republican Guards killed a teenager for the reason that he was protesting. Governmental sources said that the teenager was using bad language and pushed one of the guards, which resulted in him being killed.

For the first time in over six years, when the first Houthi war started, Houthis have agreed to enter the political arena through indirect partnership with the opposition Joint Meeting Parties (JMP).

In a country where men and women often get married before 18, a small number of activists have vowed to end this.

Can Palestine unite Muslims around the world and be the reason of forming the first Muslim Union in more than 100 years?

President Saleh announced that the reason why he will not run for a third term of presidency is because the Yemeni constitution does not allow him to do so.

This week, I was touring tens of courts throughout the country trying to complete a research on the judicial system in Yemen that I was preparing.

During my sitting with a leading official in the ruling party this week, we discussed on ways on how Yemen can pass the current crisis and give the people a break from the catastrophic problems the country has been facing for more than a decade.

The Riyadh Conference this week was very negative for all Yemenis, especially when world leaders were using the word “charity” when giving funds to Yemen.

Bigger than the Houthi rebellious in the north, the Southern Movement in the south and the Al-Qaeda threat that could ravage the country from within is the war on corruption.

Riyadh desperately wants to end the war on Houthis from all fronts, to ensure that the Riyadh Summit next week comes out with successful results. Why does Saudi Arabia want that? Look at it from their point of view, how can one country have a summit on Yemen while it is on the other hand fighting and killing Yemenis (whether Houthis or civilians) in North Yemen?

According to strong sources within the Houthi movement and leading officials in the Islah (Islamic) Party, both sides are in serious dialogue on the mechanism of joining hands to face what they call the oppression of the government.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi announced that he is willing to accept the government’s conditions on stopping the war.

For the fourth time in less than two years, Houthi leader Abdul Malek Al-Houthi comes out alive after government announces that he was killed.
What surprised me more this time is that Saudi Arabia even announced victory after they claimed that the Houthi leader was killed.

The last two weeks, Yemen has been given more media attention than Afghanistan in its war on Al-Qaeda. If not for the Haiti Earthquake, Yemen would have still been in the eyes of international media.

Two weeks ago, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi said clearly that 200-300 Al-Qaeda members are ready to attack from Yemen the same way the Nigerian was about to attack an airliner heading to the United States.

It seems that the government of Yemen is addictive to war. This week, the government has been trying to stop the ongoing war in Sa’ada and start peace negotiations with Houthis.

As 2009 comes to an end, sad memories will stay as they will be hard to forget. I called 2009 a bloody year for the reasons that I will mention below. No one would have ever thought that Yemen would reach the state it is today.

One of the fiercest attacks on Al-Qaeda in more than a 5 years in Yemen occurred late last week when a government airstrike killed at least 65 people from Abyan. The problem is that 90% of those killed were innocent locals, children and women. Only a few of the killed were Al-Qaeda followers as according to sources, most of them were able to flee the region and escape.

One of the fiercest attacks on Al-Qaeda in more than a 5 years in Yemen occurred late last week when a government airstrike killed at least 65 people from Abyan. The problem is that 90% of those killed were innocent locals, children and women. Only a few of the killed were Al-Qaeda followers as according to sources, most of them were able to flee the region and escape.

The onetime conservative country of Yemen is suddenly falling apart morally as poverty, greed, and power is forcing thousands of Yemeni youngsters to turn to drugs for a better future.

The war on Houthis entered a new level, as Houthis are making Saudi Arabia pay for entering the war against them.

Over 100 days have passed since the start of the sixth Sa’ada war with no sign of it ending anytime soon.

Times where President Saleh hoped Sa’ada war with Houthis could come to an end is part of history. Saleh saw new life when Saudi Arabia openly started raiding Houthis.

Today, Yemen Post proudly celebrates its third anniversary. With all the great strides that Yemen Post surpassed over the last couple of years, this made me look back at the reasons why we wanted to establish Yemen Post to begin with.

Being a university instructor, I always have the chance to see what my students biggest wishes are. Ninety nine percent of them want to be president.

With every interview Yemen Post conducted over the years with high ranking officials, the most famous words used by officials is that they fight corruption.

Students around the country have mixed feelings about the possibility of school cancelling this year in parts of the country and in the capital Sana’a.

It sounds really awkward, but let me explain. With all the different crises in the country today and corruption spread (without exaggeration) among over 80% of governmental employees, whether directly or indirectly, I don’t think there is any way to fight corruption so rooted like it is in Yemen only with a miracle, and they are rare.

Since the start of the 6th Sa’ada war, the government and the ruling party talk to the media as if everything is under control and Houthis will be defeated the next day.

During the blessed month of Ramadan, electricity cuts have risen to more than 10 hours daily on average in the capital Sana’a, not to mention rural areas.

As the sixth war is on a short hold due to humanitarian reasons, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi took the next step in increasing his international presence by a simple change.