Asia

Posted by: John Phoenix The Republic of Yemen, the poorest state on the Arabian peninsula, is sinking deeper into political turmoil, carrying with it the risk of an all-out conflict, drawing in both regional and big powers and adding further to the chaos and war now gripping a huge region centred on the Middle East but stretching from West Africa to Central Asia. On 20 February, an attempt was made, with United Nations mediation and pressure, to form a new legislative body, dubbed the People’s Transitional Council, with the stated intention of preparing for a more inclusive and representative political settlement. But hopes for its success, in paving the way to a comprehensive peace and reconciliation process and preventing a slide into civil war, were generally low. The ...

Posted by: John Phoenix Following nearly one month of savage bombardment, overwhelmingly and indiscriminately targeted on defenceless civilians and against infrastructure, the reactionary regime of Saudi Arabia announced on 21 April that it was halting its bombing campaign against Yemen, already the poorest country in the Middle East [STOP PRESS: though 24 hours later it was back on]. The Saudi defence ministry risibly claimed that the aims of its supposed Operation Decisive Storm had been achieved, despite the fact that it had not succeeded in reclaiming a single piece of territory held by the anti-imperialist Houthi-led forces, who, in the recent period, have entered into an alliance with the long-term former president, and their erstwhile foe, Ali Abdullah Saleh, an allia...

Posted by: John Phoenix For the past 18 months Yemen has been subjected to a horrific bombing campaign. Officially in charge of the campaign is the government of Saudi Arabia whose excuse is its desire to defend the interests of what it says is Yemen’s proper government, i.e., the US-approved government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi which was ousted from most of the country, including the capital Sana’a, by the long-standing Houthi led insurrection which in turn is now supported by, and supports, Saleh, the president that the insurrection had earlier overthrown. The combined forces of the Houthis and President Saleh, enjoying overwhelming popular support, were easily able to overwhelm the Hadi puppet government which Saudi Arabia is so keen to restore, but whose supporters are now ...

Posted by: John Phoenix Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is dead. Having betrayed his makeshift Houthi allies on 2 December, he died at their hands on December 4. Saleh had announced he was abandoning his Houthi allies to join forces with their Saudi enemies. This was the type of double-crossing manoeuvre which had previously secured Saleh a 34 year reign as President. It was the ability to stay one step ahead of his rivals that had helped him secure power for such a long time. In recent years this luck deserted him, leading to his eventual demise. Saleh initially fell as President as an Arab Spring victim. He was replaced in 2012 by Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. In response Saleh joined forces with his former Houthi enemies. When this marriage of convenience fell, divor...