Middle East

Saleh Forced Out As Yemen Is Latest Country To Fall In Arab Spring Riots

From January 2011 he struggled to quell big popular protests against his rule as a spate of gunbattles pushed Yemen closer to civil war. The violence culminated in deadly clashes between forces of the Hashed tribal group and government troops. Under mounting pressure, Saleh agreed to sign a Gulf accord in November that was meant to see him gradually relinquish power.

Published

13 years ago

February 20, 2012

Geoffrey Grider

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SANAA (Reuters) – Ali Abdullah Saleh, who once compared his 33-year rule of Yemen to “dancing on the heads of snakes,” formally steps down this week after Yemenis anoint a new president in an election many hope will give Yemen a chance for democracy.

A boy looks through a hole in a banner, with an image of Yemen's outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh, as he performs the weekly Friday prayers during a rally to show support for him in Sanaa January 27, 2012. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi

No ceremonies are expected to mark the end for Saleh, who is out of the country being treated in the United States for injuries he sustained in an assassination attempt last June.

But the election, in which Saleh’s deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is the only candidate, is expected to pave the way for Yemen to introduce political and economic reforms and give it a chance to restructure security forces currently run by the outgoing president’s relatives.

Before he flew to the United States last month, Saleh apologized for “any shortcoming” in his rule and said he planned to come back. “I will return to Sanaa as head of the General People’s Congress party,” he told senior party and government officials in a televised speech before his departure on January 22.

But fears remain that the accord, inked in Saudi Arabia, the world’s No. 1 oil exporter which shares a long porous border with Yemen, may not provide the impoverished Arabian Peninsula state with a roadmap out of misery and chaos.

The bombing of Saleh’s compound in June, an apparent assassination attempt, left Saleh with severe burns, forcing him to seek treatment in Saudi Arabia, one of Yemen’s resource-rich neighbors which had tried in vain to ease him from power.

Ever nimble, Saleh reneged on three deals to transfer power before the attempt on his life and shrugged off U.S. and Saudi pressure to stay in exile, making good on a promise to return home in September.

But international pressure redoubled in October, when the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding he sign a handover plan brokered by Gulf neighbors. France and Britain hinted at European Union sanctions against him.

The United States has talked openly of its concern about who might succeed Saleh, an ally in the fight against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a Yemen-based wing of the militant group.

Until last year, Saleh’s grip on power seemed unshakeable. In 2010, supporters pushed for constitutional changes to allow him unlimited five-year terms as president. Speculation was high that he was grooming one of his sons as a possible successor.

But popular uprisings that toppled Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak resonated in Yemen, drawing tens of thousands to daily protests in Sanaa and in Taiz to the south, threatening his apparent dynastic ambitions.

Saleh began to offer concessions.

First, he said he would not stand for re-election in 2013 and dismissed the idea of his son succeeding him. Then he offered a referendum on a new constitution by the end of the year and a shift to a truly democratic “parliamentary system.”

But after the death of 52 protesters in March, mostly by sniper fire, a string of generals, tribal leaders, diplomats and ministers either resigned or switched their allegiance to the protesters.

They included key figures in the al-Ahmar and Sanhan tribes, kinsmen who Saleh had placed in key military and other positions.

When confronted with a power transfer deal brokered by the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, Saleh was forced to accept that he has lost the ability to win back his former allies, and sign up to the deal.

OVERSAW UNIFICATION

Saleh became the ruler of North Yemen in 1978 at a time when the south was a separate communist country, and has led the unified country since the two states merged in 1990.

Opponents often complained that he failed to address the basic needs of Yemen’s people, two-thirds of whom live on less than $2 per day. Oil wealth is dwindling and water is running out, though liquefied natural gas exports began in 2009.

Yet Saleh managed to keep Western and Arab powers on side.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on U.S. cities, Washington became more aware of Yemen as a source of foot soldiers for Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network. Bin Laden himself, though born in Saudi Arabia, could trace his roots back to Yemen’s Hadramaut region.

Saleh cooperated with U.S. authorities, and the CIA started taking action against wanted figures. But by 2007, militants had regrouped in Yemen, and in 2008 they announced that their Saudi and Yemeni wings had united under the banner of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

From 2009, the resurgent group made ever bolder attempts to stage attacks on Saudi and U.S. targets beyond Yemen, as well as targeting foreign tourists at home. At the same time, Shi’ite Muslims in the north rebelled against Saleh’s rule and southerners, feeling marginalized, began a new separatist drive.

Saudi Arabia, the United States and other allies responded by stepping up financial support to bolster Saleh’s rule.

If Saleh has been a determined survivor, he has also been a charismatic and often popular ruler with a canny understanding of the workings of Yemeni society.

Born in 1942 near Sanaa, Saleh had only limited education before joining the military as a non-commissioned officer.

His first break came when President Ahmed al-Ghashmi, who came from the same Hashed tribe as Saleh, appointed him military governor of Taiz, North Yemen’s second city. When Ghashmi was killed by a bomb in 1978, Saleh replaced him.

In 1990, an array of domestic and regional circumstances propelled North Yemen under Saleh and the socialist South Yemen state into a unification that Saudi Arabia at first opposed.

He angered Riyadh by staying close to Saddam Hussein during the 1990-91 Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, leading to the expulsion of up to one million Yemenis from Saudi Arabia. Before the crisis, Kuwait had given Yemen financial aid.

But Saleh then won plaudits from Western powers for carrying out economic reforms drawn up by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and made efforts to attract foreign investors.

His General People’s Congress party swept to victory in a 1993 parliamentary election, the first held after unification. South Yemen tried but failed to secede in a brief civil war in 1994 and Saleh then proceeded to move closer to Saudi Arabia, allowing an influx of its radical Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam. source – Yahoo News

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While The United States Wastes Time Pursuing A Nuclear Deal With Iran That’ll Never Happen, Tehran Gets Busy Strengthening Facilities Against Airstrikes

Published

7 days ago

June 3, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Iran is strengthening its air defense systems amid preparations for the possibility of an American or Israeli attack on the country’s nuclear infrastructure should nuclear negotiations fail

For years, Israel had a “Hamas problem” right on their border, one they should have done something about but never did. On October 7th, 2023, 1,200 Israelis paid the ultimate price for Israel’s refusal to take proactive steps to prevent tragedy. Israel has an “Iran problem” with the current state of that nation’s nuclear facilities, and for whatever reason, they are not taking enough proactive steps to prevent Tehran from creating nuclear weapons. In the United States, President Trump is chasing after the same failed nuclear treaty with Iran that didn’t work when Obama tried it in 2015. While both nations dither, Iran is busy bolstering their nuclear plants against airstrikes. That’s the memo.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15,16 (KJB)

As we told you on the Podcast yesterday, things are rapidly coming to boil not only in the Middle East, but in Europe also. Behind the scenes, the CRINK Alliance grows stronger by the day. Iran will never keep any agreement they make, their track record speaking volumes in that regard. The only thing that will make any difference is a military strike on all their nuclear facilities, above and below ground, wherever they may be. Remember The Alamo, remember Pearl Harbor and remember October 7th.

Iran preparing for Israeli, US strikes, building up air defense systems

FROM THE JERUSALEM POST: According to Western intelligence assessments and security analysts’ investigation of satellite imagery, Iran appears to have relocated several anti-aircraft missile launchers to positions close to key nuclear sites like Natanz and Fordow, the report says. A significant portion of Iran’s most advanced anti-aircraft missiles and radar systems – including its long-range Russian S-300 systems – were destroyed or damaged during Israeli air strikes on the country in October and April 2024, the FT states.

“We are witnessing an impressive improvement in the capabilities and competence of the country’s air defense system,” Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Baqeri reportedly said in May, adding that Iran’s military has seen a “multi-fold increase in investments.”

“The enemies of the Iranian nation should understand that any violation of our airspace will cause them significant harm,” he added.

Military equipment and weapons have been publicly displayed in Iran, with an S-300 launcher and a radar truck presented in Tehran during the country’s Army Day celebrations in May, and an S-300 shown launching an anti-aircraft missile during a military exercise in February.

“There is no doubt that Iran is seeking to refute the claim that its advanced air defense systems have been destroyed,” Nicole Gryzewski of the Carnegie Institution in Washington told the FT.

“Israel currently has almost complete air superiority over Iran,” Robert Tolast, a researcher at the British RUSI Institute, told the FT. “But such an attack would require waves upon waves of aircraft for hours. Crew fatigue comes into play – the longer they are over Iran, the greater the chance that something will go wrong.”

“From the Iranian side, this effort is trying to recreate the success story of Iran’s ballistic missile development program,” Fabian Hintz, a research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Britain, said to the FT.

Dealing with this defense system would not be easy for Israel, John Alterman, chairman of the Global Security and Geopolitical Strategy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the FT. “But is it beyond Israel’s capabilities? No, of course not. The Israelis have been training for exactly this scenario for decades.” READ MORE

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Donald Trump

President Trump Tells Prime Minister Netanyahu To Not Take Out The Nuclear Sites In Iran Saying He Is ‘Close To A Deal’ With The Terror-Supporting State

Published

2 weeks ago

May 29, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a call last week not to take military action against Iran that could disrupt Washington’s ongoing nuclear negotiations

I am no expert in US foreign policy, but I know this much. After watch the dealings of the government of Iran with other nations for the past 16 years, I know that they cannot be trusted and will break any and every deal they make with western powers. Trump has just as much of a chance of successfully making a deal with Iran over their nuclear program as he did with making a deal with Putin to end the war in Ukraine. That’s the memo.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” Revelation 17:12 (KJB)

The only thing that will stop Iran from successfully creating viable ICBM with nuclear capability is a strike on their facilities, and the appropriate nation to deliver that strike is Israel. Of course, the longer you delay that the more entrenched Iran will be and much harder to eradicate. Donald Trump telling Netanyahu to ‘not strike Iran’ is very bad advice, and Netanyahu would do well to not listen to it.

Trump: I told Netanyahu striking Iran would be ‘very inappropriate,’ as deal is close

FROM THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: Trump’s statement came after The New York Times reported details from the call, while stating that US officials were concerned that Israel may seek to carry out strikes on Iran’s nuclear program without much warning, which would leave the Americans little time to attempt to pressure Netanyahu to change his mind.

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he had told Netanyahu not to target Iran, Trump said: “Well, I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did… I told Netanyahu this would be very inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution.”

He added: “That could change at any moment. It could change with a phone call. But right now, I think Iran wants to make a deal, and if we can make a deal, that would save a lot of lives.”

“We’re having very good discussions with Iran, and I said to Netanyahu, ‘I don’t think that’s appropriate right now.’ Because if we can settle it with a very strong document — with inspections and not based on trust,” he continued. “I want the deal to be very strong, where we can go in with inspectors, we can take whatever we want. We can blow up whatever we want, but with nobody getting killed.”

Two Iranian official sources told Reuters Wednesday that the country may agree to pause uranium enrichment if the US releases frozen Iranian funds and recognizes Tehran’s right to refine uranium for civilian use under a “political deal” that could lead to a broader nuclear accord. The sources, close to the negotiating team, said a “political understanding with the United States could be reached soon” if Washington accepted Tehran’s conditions. One of the sources said the matter “has not been discussed yet” during the talks with the United States.

In Washington, a US official told Reuters the proposal aired by the Iranian sources had not been brought to the negotiating table to date. The US State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Iranian sources said Tehran would not agree to the dismantling of its nuclear program or infrastructure or the sealing of its nuclear installations, as demanded by Trump’s administration. READ MORE

Trump Says He Told Israel’s Netanyahu Not To Strike Iran During Talks

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump discussed what he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about striking Iran.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Emmanuel Macron

The Two Biggest Players In The Middle East Are Mohammed bin Salman And Emmanuel Macron Who Together Will Decide The Fate Of Hamas And Gaza

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Emmanuel Macron of France and Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia are working on a proposal to disarm Hamas terrorists, paving the way for its demobilization, and create a state of Palestine

The official title of the upcoming event at the United Nations in June is ‘High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution’. Wow, that’s a mouthful, but it’s gets chewier. The two people co-chairing this end times event are none other than Emmanuel Macron of France and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. Together these men will use all their considerable power and influence to will a state of Palestine into existence. In the meantime, these same two people have a revolutionary plan for Hamas, turn it into a political party and give them real power. And the hits just keep coming, that’s the memo.

“And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.” Daniel 11:22 (KJB)

When Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany in 1933, it seemed to many like it happened quite quickly, like he appeared from nowhere overnight. But in reality, his ascendancy to power was over 12 years in the making, much of it behind the scenes. That’s what we are seeing now, after years of unseen power shifts it would appear the end game is in sight, a state of Palestine. When Donald Trump went to Saudi Arabia last week, he imbued upon Mohammed bin Salman a level of political capital and creditability the crown prince had not know before. Now bin Salman is looking to spend some of that capital with his good buddy Emmanuel Macron, as they together decide the fate of Hamas and Gaza and the state of Palestine. What could possibly go wrong?

France, Saudis seek to disarm Hamas, keep it as political entity

FROM THE JERUSALEM POST: Saudi officials have reportedly been in contact with Hamas leadership as part of the efforts, the sources stated, adding that it is unclear if France has also been in direct contact, especially as the European Union recognizes Hamas as a terror organization.

According to the sources, allowing Hamas to “retain a degree of political power would make it more likely to accept disarming,” and the objective of the talks is to transform Hamas into a “purely political entity that can still play some role in future Palestinian governance.”

Yesterday, we gathered to recognize the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since 1948.

For 77 years, the unresolved conflict has been on the agenda of the General Assembly.

This is far too long.

We must do more.

As the General Assembly, we must seize every… pic.twitter.com/1hvzwftXce

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) May 16, 2025

Reports have also indicated that there have been growing strains between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron over France’s attempts to get more countries to recognize a Palestinian state.

The United Nations conference in New York, where this recognition is likely to occur, is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that Israel’s easing of humanitarian aid access to Gaza is “totally insufficient… Immediate and massive aid is needed.”

Leaders of Britain, France, and Canada stated on Monday that they oppose Israel’s ongoing military presence in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and that they may take action. Hamas welcomed the statement, “rejecting the policy of siege and starvation pursued by the occupation government against our people in the Gaza Strip, and the Zionist plans aimed at genocide and displacement.”

Earlier in May, Macron had said that Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza, where half a million people are allegedly facing starvation, was shameful and that Europeans should consider increasing sanctions. READ MORE