Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute.

Description

1. xi, 104 pages; 23 cm.

Summary

1. Yemen is not currently a failed state, but it is experiencing huge political and economic problems that can have a direct impact on U.S. interests in the region. It has a rapidly expanding population with a resource base that is limited and already leaves much of the current population in poverty. The government obtains around a third of its budget revenue from sales of its limited and declining oil stocks, which most economists state will be exhausted by 2017. Yemen also has critical water shortages and a variety of interrelated security problems. In Saʹada province in Yemen's northern mountainous region, there has been an intermittent rebellion by Houthi tribesmen (now experiencing a cease-fire) who accuse the government of discrimination and other actions against their Zaydi Shi'ite religious sect. In southern Yemen, a powerful independence movement has developed which is mostly nonviolent but is increasingly angry and confrontational. More recently, Yemen has emerged as one of the most important theaters for the struggle against al-Qaeda. Yemen is among the worst places on earth to cede to al-Qaeda in this struggle, but it is also an especially distrustful and wary nation in its relationship with Western nations and particularly the United States. All of these problems are difficult to address because the central government has only limited capacity to extend its influence into tribal areas beyond the capital and major cities. The United States must therefore do what it can to support peaceful resolutions of Yemen's problems with the Houthis and Southern Movement while continuing to assist the government's struggle against al-Qaeda forces in Yemen. It must further pursue these policies in ways that avoid provoking a backlash among the Yemeni population which will not tolerate significant numbers of U.S. combat troops in Yemen.

Series statement

1. SSI monograph

Uniform title

1. SSI monograph

Alternative title

1. Conflicts in Yemen and US national security
2. Conflicts in Yemen and United States national security

Subject

1. Qaida (Organization)
2. 2000-2099
3. Insurgency > Yemen (Republic)
4. Zaydīs > Yemen (Republic)
5. Shīʿah > Yemen (Republic)
6. Terrorism > Yemen (Republic)
7. Political stability > Yemen (Republic)
8. National security > Yemen (Republic)
9. National security > United States
10. Insurgency
11. Diplomatic relations
12. National security
13. Politics and government
14. Political stability
15. Shīʻah
16. Terrorism
17. Zaydīs
18. Außenpolitik
19. Politische Stabilität
20. Sicherheitspolitik
21. Säkerhetspolitik > Yemen
22. Terrorism > Yemen
23. national security > terrorism > insurgency > Yemen
24. United States > Foreign relations > Yemen (Republic)
25. Yemen (Republic) > Foreign relations > United States
26. Yemen (Republic) > Politics and government > 21st century
27. United States
28. Yemen (Republic)
29. Jemen
30. USA
31. Förenta Staterna > relationer > Yemen
32. USA > foreign policy > Yemen

Contents

1. Summary -- The conflicts in Yemen and U.S. national security -- Introduction -- The Yemeni political system in crisis -- Yemen's security concerns with the Houthi rebellion and the Southern secessionists -- The Houthi rebellion -- The Southern movement -- Yemeni regional politics and the relationship with Saudi Arabia -- The origins and development of the Al-Qaeda presence in Yemen -- The intensification and expansion of the Al-Qaeda threat in Yemen -- U.S. interests and policies involving Yemen -- Conclusion and recommendations

Owning institution

1. Princeton University Library

Note

1. "January 2011."

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-104).

Additional formats (note)

1. Also available online in PDF format from Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) web site. Adobe Acrobat reader required.