primitives discuss (D) senator calling for direct U.S. military action in Yemen

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7462918

Oh my.

bigtree  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:15 AM
Original message
 
Democratic senator calls for direct U.S. military action in Yemen

WASHINGTON - A Senate committee chairman says the United States should consider whether air strikes, armed drones and clandestine operations are necessary in Yemen to defeat al Qaeda militants there.

Yesterday's remark by Democratic Senator Carl Levin, who chairs the armed services committee, was a rare admission by a senior official that direct US military action in Yemen is possible, if it has not happened already. Such operations are highly classified.

The White House and Pentagon have said they have no plans to send ground troops to Yemen, and Yemen has made it clear it would not want them. Remaining options would include covert strikes against al Qaeda targets and increased aid to help train and equip Yemeni security forces.

Levin said drone attacks similar to those conducted in Pakistan should be considered because they had succeeded in crippling al Qaeda forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He said he would expect the quiet permission of Yemen's Government.

read: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2...

StarfarerBill  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 10:18 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. "He said he would expect the quiet permission of Yemen's Government."

And he should expect the not-so-quiet resistance of the Yemeni populace.

bigtree  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:25 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
3. the mere suggestions of US strikes have already been exploited by the clerics there

. . . and threaten to turn the already-brewing regional and local uprisings into U.S. vs. Yemeni - David and Goliath face-offs.

I mostly like the president's response so far which has ranged from the expected initial warning and posturing, to the outright disavowal of any imminent ground operations. I wonder if that includes the 'clandestine' activity that Sen. Levin is talking about? I agree with him that those may have already begun.

StarfarerBill  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #3
 
5. No doubt our involvement is much deeper than is being let on.

Sadly, I think it's only a matter of time before it turns into continuous aerial attacks and then numerous boots on the ground.

bigtree  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:37 AM
Response to Reply #5
 
6. let's hope not

It's not as if Yemen is some new territory for the military and the CIA. But, I get your point. I wouldn't expect this president to exploit the situation to escalate it, but I just heard the administration this morning warning about another planned 'al-Qaeda strike' they'd discovered and it was like an echo from the past.

Mari333  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:20 AM
THE GOOD SAMARITAN PRIMITIVE
Response to Original message

2. Thats my senator, and he has been bought and sold. 

time to send his sorry ass to the front lines.

Tierra_y_Libertad  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:30 AM
THE LIBERTINE TERRORIST PRIMITIVE
Response to Original message

4. Erect bogeyman, wave flag, give money to the Pentagon, send in the bombers, works every time. 

Or, drones, or cannon-fodder, or the thugs from the CIA.

bigtree  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:42 AM
Response to Reply #4
 
7. both our nation's defenders and our antagonists abroad 

. . . are easily drawn into this cycle of attacks and reprisals which almost always has the effect of escalating the violence from both sides.
 
after which some poem is quoted; it's better than the C-Pig primitive's orgasmic poetry, but still not worth copying-and-pasting

anonymous171  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 12:23 PM
Response to Original message
 
9. **** **** **** **** **** ****

arcadian  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 12:24 PM
Response to Original message
 
10. Yeah, let's put boots on the ground on the Arabian peninsula

Splendid idea, because the blowback from that worked out so well before.

Gregorian  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #10
 
14. Yes, let's increase the suffering in the world. There isn't quite enough yet. 

Some people just don't get it yet. We're not all living in mansions in Martha's Vineyard. Bombs won't help.

Take the cash, help the poor. **** the ammunition manufacturers in Arizona. Or wherever they are.

bvar22  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 12:38 PM
Response to Original message
 
11. "if it has not happened already"

"direct US military action in Yemen is possible, if it has not happened already"

Breaking the news gently.

SE Asia Redux. (secret wars)

I'm sure glad I voted for "CHANGE".

(sigh)

fascisthunter  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
 
12. send Carl Levin there with a gun

is DC an insane asylum?

Taitertots (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
 
13. It seems like Obama is just trying as hard as he can to be a single term president

Obama was elected to stop these wars not expand them. If we go to Yemen he will not get another term.

bahrbearian  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 12:53 PM
Response to Original message

15. Yemen to Levin "go **** yourself"

[Odin's Hand]

fascisthunter  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jan-14-10 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
 
12. send Carl Levin there with a gun

I actually approve of this idea.

[The Village Idiot]

"They're our military forces now and you know how highly we regard life!!"

[GOBUCKS]

bigtree  (1000+ posts)        Thu Jan-14-10 10:25 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
3. the mere suggestions of US strikes have already been exploited by the clerics there

Damn. Until Senator Levin opened his big zionist mouth, the Yemeni clerics were all on our side.