Well, actually I’m typing this in the air on the way to Doha, but still, I’m out of Yemen. And thank God for that. I haven’t said anything because I didn’t want people to worry, but things have gotten a little tense in Sana’a, at least I was tense there.
The fighting is still going on near the city. I’m not sure how far away it is, but it’s close enough for me to hear the bombardment at night. The Houthis are still trying to cause trouble with the government. I remember when they were fighting so close to the city, I thought to myself, “Well, at least it isn’t Al-Quedea, it could be worse…” Of course I then found out that the rallying cry of the Houthis is, “Death to America, death to Israel.” So much for keeping my mind at ease…
It’s amazing how the locals are taking the fighting. As usual, whenever I start talking to someone on the street, in a taxi, on a dabob, etc. they always ask what I think of Yemen. My stock answer recently is that I like Yemen, but it seems like it is getting dangerous. They always respond with shock and dismay and ask what I could possibly mean. Oh I dunno, maybe an armed insurrection 12 miles outside of the capital? They always smile and say that that is outside of Sana’a and I shouldn’t worry about it. Amazing, 12 miles away and it’s no problem.
In addition, the Italian embassy has told its people to get out of Yemen. The Americans usually freak out at the slightest thing, but things must be pretty bad for the Italians to recommend getting out as well. One of the things they talked about was that some of the preachers in Sana’a were preaching hatred and violence against foreigners, westerners in particular. My friend’s girlfriend confirmed that for us, a mosque near where we lived was saying some rather ugly things, and it was in the middle of the week. In the past, the government had pretty good control over the imams in the city and would remove ones that were being too belligerent. The fact that they feel that they can speak their mind shows some weakness in the government. There is also the strong possibility of a religious police department coming into being. Most observers think that that also shows the government’s weakness, it now has to pander to some of the more conservative religious elements in the country.
Of course the government wants to look strong. The most recent rumor (and totally absent from the news services) is that the government sent in tanks and razed a village Israeli style. Why? The government thinks that some people there were involved in the assassination of a government muckty-muck a little while ago. While it is believed that the village was evacuated before being destroyed, I doubt that this action will make those people feel all warm and happy about the government. In true Arab fashion, I expect retribution to be forthcoming. Of course since it is Yemen we’re talking about, that retribution could very well be totally incompetent, but it might not be. Best to steer clear of government and army places just to be sure.
The most worrying thing that I heard was that the director of the Arabic school I attended was recommending that people leave. Jameel is famous for his love of money, if he is actively saying that people should stay away, things must really be getting bad.
Keep in mind that I never really felt that I was in danger, but I did worry that things would come apart before I left. I have already had one person reading my blog ask me, and now I will tell everyone, don’t go to Yemen right now. Things are bound to heat up soon. Even if they don’t, I would wait until things became a little cooler before venturing there. I feel as though I left about a month too late. It’s too bad my last memories of Yemen involve the threat of violence. I had a good run, but the thing that everyone was afraid of happening to me looks like will happen to Yemen. AlYemen Meskeen.
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