Excellent Video on Yemen

Not much to add to this one, except to say that it gives us an amazing window into the paradoxes of a country facing the pressures of globalization and traditional culture (what used to be called The Lexus and The Olive Tree). Or in this case, The Cell Phone and the Camel.

Politically, the video shows that the country cannot be viewed solely through the lens of its small (but potentially quite dangerous) al-Qaeda presence.

The rebellion in the north involves the Shi’a Houthi people, so there is no real likelihood that al-Qaeda would merge with that movement. The secessionist movement in the South, however, does have the potential to be co-opted byal-Qaeda. But  if the US keeps funneling money, arms, and/or training to the Yemenese goverment without paying much attention, the President and his cronies will use that opportunity to eliminate domestic opposition, broadly labeling anyone who criticizes them “al-Qaeda.”

Anyone recall Pakistan under Musharraf?