Speaking today on Meet the Press, CENTCOM commander General David Petraeus lauded the efforts against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, saying that significant gains had been made “with the obvious exception of Yemen.”
Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni presence has taken on growing significance in the past two months, since they were linked to the failed Christmas underbomber attack in Detroit.
The organization in Yemen is actually an off-shoot of the parent organization, calling itself “al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula” (AQAP). Other groups, such as the Northern African “al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” (AQIM) operated as distinct organizations before gaining the al-Qaeda “brand name,” and other groups in sympathy of them, including the Jund Ansar Allah group in Gaza, appear to be angling for similar “franchises.”
But according to Gen. Petraeus, the key to fighting al-Qaeda is to accept that they are a “network” and that it will take a “network” of conflicts to but any serious pressure on them.
Please do not treat at credible the notion of "Al Queda brand names" as described here and elsewhere. There is not a shred of evidence, except in the minds of our military propagandists, that there is any functioning "Al Queda" network, much less franchised versions. Based on the so-called "Christmas Bomber" we are to believe that the franchise has moved on over to NIgeria AND Yemen, yet that underwear bomber story is so fraught with inconsistencies and inaccurate details as to be unbelievable as any kind of real threat. Similarly, for years we were told there was "Al Queda in Mesopotamia" led by Zarquawi, yet that villain was a similar propaganda ploy devised by the Pentagon. Please, no more fake franchising of this fake terror network, unless maybe we include "Al Queda of Austin" after the pilot who slammed into the IRS buiding in Texas.
This is just king davids way of saying we should have troops in Yemen.
Good one.
We're making real progress against Alquida, everywhere,
EXCEPT where they actually are.
Meanwhile the lip service over civllian casualties grows ever
more shrill.
M