Yemeni women in the local antiterrorism force participate in a mock kidnapping during training in the mountains outside of the capital, San'a, on Saturday. Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesBureaucracy Hampers Yemeni Military Effort -- Wall Street Journal
Antiterror Leader Says Organizational Shortcomings Are Undermining Foreign Assistance in the Fight Against Al Qaeda
ADEN, Yemen -- As the U.S. and Britain pledge fresh military assistance for Yemen, the man in charge of one of the country's antiterror units says cumbersome bureaucracy is sapping the effectiveness of his men.
The complaint by Brig. Gen. Yahya Saleh, the nephew of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, underscores the challenges facing Washington and allied capitals as they scramble to help Yemen fight the country's homegrown terror network. The alleged Christmas Day bomber, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has told investigators he received his explosive device and training in Yemen.
Read more ....
My Comment: The key sentence in this report is the following ....
Soldiers in the (Yemen anti-terrorism) unit said four British and four U.S. soldiers currently were training their company. The U.S. and British trainers focus on fundamentals, such as physical fitness and shooting techniques, as well as basic infantry tactics such as how to raid and clear a house, the Yemeni soldiers said.
Hmmmm .... four U.S. soldiers .... and this on the day when President Obama played down any military role in Yemen.