Friday, June 17, 2016

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates take inconsistant positions

Here is some mildly encouraging new out of Yemen.

Headlines in area newspapers today, e.g.:
UAE: 'War is over' for Emirati troops in Yemen'
Saudi Arabia has made no such announcement, and deadly bombing continues.

Deutsche Welle has a more somber and nuanced view of the United Arab Emirates position:

"Our standpoint today is clear - war is over for our troops, we're monitoring political arrangements [and] empowering Yemenis in liberated areas," [the United Arab Emirates minister for foreign affairs, Anwar] Gargash said.
But an Arabic version of his comments was worded slightly differently than the English one, saying the war is "practically" over and that there was a likelihood that some Emirati troops would remain in Yemen, where they operate in the southern province of Hadramaw
Withdrawal of troops by the United Arab Emirates  is especially welcomed news:  "their" troops are Columbian mercenaries especially trained in excessive brutality.

Deutsche Welle's report has two useful videos, one heart-wrenching.  It, however, omits former president Abdullah Saleh's part in the war and implies that he is not a part of the peace talks.  If so, that is an important omission. The article is nevertheless highly recommended.

No comments: