Saudis bomb rebels, blockade Yemeni coast

[Silverbird]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33826859/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

"....The offensive has immediately raised concerns of another proxy war in the Middle East between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. Shiite Iran is believed to favor the rebels in Yemen while Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, is Iran's fiercest regional rival."

[Buster]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33826859/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

"....The offensive has immediately raised concerns of another proxy war in the Middle East between Iran and Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. Shiite Iran is believed to favor the rebels in Yemen while Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni, is Iran's fiercest regional rival."
This is a good thing..in that, at least the Middle East is starting to fight their own battles for a change..

[phil]

Sigh. The collapse of the former Soviet Union took down 2 communist leaning socialist countries - Afghanistan and Yemen. The collapse of these groups resulted in the real radicalization of both countries. Pakistan's collapsed PPP after the military took over was forced underground, resulting in Islamic radicalization of large portions of the populace.

You get what you get.

[phil]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091227/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_yemen_us_airliner_attack

I guess what I said before may be valid. Yes, the communists were bad. However, no one from the former Soviet Union killed 3000 people in New York.

Afghanistan and Yemen.

The botched attack on the U.S. plane came a day after Yemeni forces, with the help of U.S. intelligence, launched the second of two major air and ground assaults on major al-Qaida hideouts in Yemen. At least 64 militants were killed in the two operations.

[phil]

The plot thickens.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0713/p11s01-wome.html

This article is from 2004, but bears some scrutiny. Hizbollah in Yemen, Al-Qaeda in Yemen, Saudis in Yemen, US in Yemen.

What to do? Quagmire. They've been around for a long time.

From the article:

Al Qaeda despises the Shiite branch of Islam as much as it hates the US. Therefore, analysts say, Iran may back Shiite groups to counter the spread of Al Qaeda's influence in Yemen, which would threaten the country's traditionally moderate Zaidi Shiite population.
"I don't think Iran will allow Al Qaeda to set up a base in Yemen which could threaten the Zaidi Shiites," says Nizar Hamzeh, professor of politics at the American University of Beirut.
On July 1, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigade, an Al Qaeda affiliate, released a statement vowing "to drag the United States into a third quagmire, that is after Iraq and Afghanistan, and let it be Yemen, God willing." The brigade has previously claimed responsibility for the March 11 rail bombings in Madrid as well as numerous attacks in Turkey and Iraq.

[phil]

Nice article on the Shi'a insurgency in Yemen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%27dah_insurgency

and one on someone who may be of some interest. A Colorado State grad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_al-Awlaki


It's really interesting, isn't it? I hope you don't mind the wikipedia sources.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34591915/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

I'm not completely sure that he was a US born cleric.

[phil]

Tracing the hijackers movements from Yemen. It's a 3 1/2 corner war

going on in Yemen now. Shi'ites, Al-Qaeda, separatists and government. This is what happened after the collapse of the system inside the country, and the PDRY was folded back into the larger country.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8433844.stm

[phil]

It appears that the 3 1/2 corner battle may be a 4.5 corner battle. If Iran gets involved, 5.5 corner battle. The Saudis are obviously weighing in, it's in their back yard.

Ouch. Sometimes these things are like watching a 6 person orgy. I'm not sure who's sticking what into whom. All I know is why.:laugh:

I would really like to have someone do about a five hour talk about how each group is working with and against each other. It would probably entail that long just to go over the history of the region, explain each faction's interest, and the ultimate end game.

[Buster]

Couldn't you have posted all your meaningless replies in 1 post? Along with your many other constant irritating traits, you are now Post whoring..??

[phil]

Sure thing. I thought it was topical, considering this was over a month ago. Also, the latest terror attack came from this region.

Do you REALLY think they're fighting their own battles now? Did you think that then?

The fact is, they're NOT fighting their own battles. They associate US with fighting in this war. Why?


This is a good thing..in that, at least the Middle East is starting to fight their own battles for a change..

[burrocrat]

Ouch. Sometimes these things are like watching a 6 person orgy. I'm not sure who's sticking what into whom. All I know is why.

what the hell you doin watchin a 6 person orgy? if you in the room best get in there cuz, don't need no one just hangin out takin pictures with a cell phone now, c'mon man.

http://mojomagic.vox.com/library/audio/6a00c225281656f21900d09e731ce1be2b.html

Is this your mom and dad's plan for you?

[burrocrat]

great dance song by the way, you may not agree with the lyrics, but you'd be surprised where it might get you, c'mon out here on the investing floor with us, what's your allocation? don't be afraid to swing it now.

[James48843]

what the hell you doin watchin a 6 person orgy?

Are there pictures?

[James48843]

My gosh- yes, there are:

7798

[burrocrat]

Are there pictures?

i don't recall.

besides, i had my hands full.

[alevin]

James, that was PERfectly delightful. Loved it.

[burrocrat]

Can anyone recommend a good political message board or website where I could go to post all my investing insights?

I just don't seem to have the time to post any investing stuff here on tspalk.com because of all the great political monologues.

[phil]

We like to entertain. However, something you may admit (even to a so-called commie leftist like myself), they are indeed connected to each other.

[burrocrat]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/connected

connected:

2 : having the parts or elements logically linked together

politics may indeed often inform investment descisions, however, I fail to see the connection in one-sided posts.

what's the allocation?

[phil]

1 : joined or linked together
2 : having the parts or elements logically linked together <presented a thoroughly connected view of the problem>
3 : related by blood or marriage
4 : having social, professional, or commercial relationships <a well-connected lawyer>
5 of a set : having the property that any two of its points can be joined by a line completely contained in the set; also : incapable of being separated into two or more closed disjoint subsets

Current allocation is about 60 G, 40 I.

[burrocrat]

thanks, i feel much better now, i've always had a difficult time accepting the input of folks that don't put their money where their mouth is, so to speak.

i don't always agree with some points of view, but i don't think i've called anyone politically-charged names.

i will have to look for that 'about' button next time i do an IFT.

happy new year, carry on.

[phil]

Glad you feel better. What's your allocation?

[burrocrat]

Current allocation is exactly 60G, 0F, 10C, 10S, 20I.

[phil]

Well, I guess we see eye to eye on one thing.