Good news from Yemen
Jane Novak
The Yemeni opposition movements have united with a consensus to rescue the country from corruption and tyranny. Externally, the elder statesmen in exile and opposition movements abroad have formed a unified coalition. Internally, the Yemeni opposition parties have reached a consensus on political reform. This is a positive development. Now we just have to see which side of the street Bush is on when Yemeni President Saleh visits the US next month.
It's not a sarcastic questions, I'm serious.
We all know they say different things to each other in private than in public. So what do you think he should say in private, and what do you think he should say in public?
I'm honestly not sure myself.
Prior to this point, the main opposition was the Muslim Brotherhood affiliated Islah party, so I could see the quantdry. But there's a new option now with the emergence of the oppositon coalition of elder statemen and their movements, unifying various factions (north/south, religious, ideoligcal) who have subordinated their interests and platforms to work toward a truly democratic Yemen, ending its isolation and conforming with international norms on *both* human rights and terrorism.
So what should Bush do? Cancel the trip would make a lot of Yemenis happy, because he is a blood thirty killer, Dean. Short of that, I would like to see Bush stand on his head and make Saleh do what he said and NOT run for president in 2006. All indications (continued oppression of opposition parties, resistance to political reform) are that Saleh intends to be convinced again by a *spontanious* out pouring of support to change his mind. But if Bush hold him to it, there will be electoral regime change and seriously a new hope for the Yemeni people (a population that will be greater than Russia by 2050, a population currently half illiterate where half the children are physically stunted by age 5 from malnutrition.)
Its really very easy. There are so many Yemeni experts who have the technical and practical solutions for the issues, whether it is lack of clean water, medical facilities, economic growth, ect. There are so many Yemeni who struggle against the oppression to work in the public interest. Bush has to stand with them.
I dont care what he says in public although it will make me cringe to see the handshake, but if Bush tells him not to run in private, I'll be happy. So if Bush must see Saleh, words about democracy will only be appropriate if Saleh is not running. Otherwise it will be very hypocritical and my faith will be shattered. There is a better alternative to Saleh that is in the best interests of the US and the Yemeni people.
Just one last thing, Cordesman did a study which shows that about 1/5 of the foriegn fighters in Iraq are Yemeni, not to count those that trained in Yemen. The new oppositon wants to place the military under civilian control, reorganize its leadership, and monitor its activities. Thats good for our guys Dean.
Something. Anything. Just support freedom and democracy, one way or another. Give a public lecture to Saleh on the importance of freedom, ask Yemen to hold elections in exchange for aid, threaten a military operation... something. Don't just give us the usual happy-smiling-meeting-a-foreign-dignitary routine.
"It is time, and past time for you to make good on your promises of democracy. So repent of your lies, your theft, and your wickedness toward the Yemeni people, and toward God."
Privately, with a finger poking repeatedly into Saleh's chest...
"Listen you pustulent toad, unless you want the cell right next to Saddam Insane, then play nice, and do the democracy thing,and above board too. No cheating. You do this, and we'll let you retire to the French Riviera. Don't,and you'll beg for mercy but God won't hear you for all the evil you've done. The most mercy you'll get from us in that case will be we might let you spend the rest of your life in prison. More likely, you get ripped apart, piece by piece, by a mob of all the Yemeni that you have cheated and killed their relatives."
Of course that would shock, terrify, and annoy all dictators and "right-thinking" people,a nd it would cause a firestorm of criticism, but really being overly polite to dictators is not all that wise.
Besides, if we're going to democratize the world, more efficient methods would help. And frankly, they are weak, and we can do it.