Month: July 2007

Another reason that I doubt that Al-Queda is involved in this is that the Yemeni government claims that it is the work of Al-Queda. The government cannot admit that it has no control over vast swaths of it’s own country, it cannot admit that there are many places where the local sheiks will not allow the army into their territory. The government cannot admit that Salah (the king, er… sorry, “President”) is known as the “Mayor of Sana’a” by the bedouins in Marib. The bedouins do not fear or respect the president or his government. Salah cannot have his allies, or the world at large understand these things, so Al-Queda is responsible. You know, that crafty, mysterious organization that even the mighty US can’t really defeat. That sounds much better than some rebellious group that is only 4 hours drive from the capital. I will need to be convinced that Al-Queda really is involved and it’s not just the government covering it’s ass…

Well, it happened. Someone blew themselves up along with a couple of cars full of tourists in Marib, Yemen. I heard about it as I flipped through the channels, of course the newsman said that “Al-Queda” is suspected. Al-Queda my ass. Anyone that does ANY research will know that the bedouins have been raising hell there for a while, they killed 4 government soldiers sent to reopen a road a little while back. They have some grievances having to do with what they think a company and the government “owe” them (don’t get me started). Even I know that this has nothing to do with Al-Queda or Islam and everything with jobs and tribalism. They have upped the ante, they used to be happy kidnapping tourists from there, now they want to kill them. I do wonder what the general feeling about this is in Marib, they have never shown this kind of hatred towards westerners before. They used to kidnap them in order to embarrass the government, I can assure you that the government response will be brutal…