Terrorism in Yemen and IT's

¶ … terrorism in Yemen and it's affect on U.S. Interests The influence of terrorism in Yemen and it's effect on U.S. Interests The Republic of Yemen is believed to be an essential element in the international fight against terrorism, given that the Al Qaeda faction has members on the country's territory. Authorities in Yemen became concerned regarding terrorism particularly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. From then on, the Yemenite system focused on collaborating with the U.S. In removing terrorism from the country.

Even with the fact that numerous terrorists were either captured or killed as a result of this relationship, there still are a large number of terrorists in the country. In spite of the success experienced by the Yemenite war on terror, terrorism has progressed in the country and has presently become one of the main terrorist threats to the world and to the U.S. In particular.

Recent events have shown that Yemen is not a country to be ignored when it comes to global security, with terrorism apparently thriving in the south of the Arab Peninsula. Osama bin Laden is especially passionate about keeping his forces in Yemen strong and there are a large number of terrorist individuals believed to have connections with Al Qaeda in the country. International forces have concentrated on removing the terrorist threat from Yemen. The country is believed to hold terrorists involved in the attack of the U.S.S.

Cole on October 12, 2000 (Thackrah, 2004, p. 11). It is also very probable that the terrorist that were involved in the 9/11 attacks had received instructions in Yemen (Thackrah, 2004, p. 216). Because of the influence it has in Yemen, Al Qaeda stands as a serious threat for any American individuals that are situated in the country. The terrorist group is believed to have planned the bombing of the U.S. Yemenite embassy, influencing U.S. forces in the territory to stay in a state of constant alert (Thackrah, 2004, p. 231).

Conditions in Yemen have demonstrated that the international fight against terrorism should not relate only to Afghanistan and Iraq. Last Christmas' (December 25, 2009) failed bombing attempt in Detroit have raised public awareness regarding terrorism and how it is still represents a threat to the U.S. Matters became critical when Al Qaeda individuals claimed that the group had been responsible for the attempted bombing. U.S. authorities had apparently been aware that a terrorist attack was likely to occur during the period.

Also, authorities were informed that the terrorist involved was a Nigerian individual who was trained in Yemen (Spencer, 2010, p. 12). Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the individual responsible for the bombing attempt, received instructions in Yemen, most probably during the time he attended the Iman University. Consequent to interrogating the terrorist, authorities found that Umar had not been the only individual receiving training meant to assist him in destroying U.S. planes.

The FBI was informed concerning how numerous terrorists in Yemen are instructed with the purpose of committing missions similar to that assigned to Umar. The U.S. public has abandoned one of the terrorist stereotypes it previously supported along with Umar's attempt. Americans have realized that terrorists are not necessarily motivated by the fact that they are underprivileged, given that Umar's father is one of the richest and most influential individuals on the African continent. (Spencer, 2010, p. 12). The December 25, 2009, terrorist attempt virtually represents a shift in U.S.

policies regarding terrorism, as Americans learned that terrorists are still able to engage in terrorist attacks and that they are mainly fueled by anti-American convictions. U.S. authorities need to understand that terrorism has progressed greatly and that it is not safe for them to associate previous terrorist stereotypes with contemporary terrorists. Yemenite terrorism influences U.S.

sentiments as regards terrorism, considering that Americans are greatly affected through knowing that the concept should not necessarily be related to particular countries or motives and that the authorities are virtually helpless in their struggle to eliminate it. According to experts, Yemen is one of the countries that stand as a safe place for terrorists world-wide.

However, experts have failed to observe that a terrorist does not necessarily need to receive training in the Arab Peninsula in order for him or her to represent a real threat to the U.S. One of the best examples regarding this is the fact that most of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks were instructed in Europe and in the U.S. (Katulis, 2010).

Even with the fact that Yemen was not one of the central points in the Arab Peninsula considered to have connections to Al Qaeda, matters gradually changed and it appears that the country is presently similar to Afghanistan and Iraq when concerning each state's potential to generate terrorist threats. Yemen-based terrorists have previously shown interest in attacking Western countries. One of the most important Al Qaeda members who were considered to have been in charge of the attack on the U.S.S. Cole was murdered by U.S.

forces in 2002 in Yemen. This proves that terrorism is strong in Yemen, as the individuals in the territory are no amateurs (Katulis, 2010). With the attention of the U.S. being directed at Iraq for most of the decade, it is only natural for terrorists who were previously located in the country to relocate into territories that seem less important for the U.S. What Americans need to understand is that Yemenite terrorism should not be ignored.

Yemen has increasingly grown in strength in the recent years, to the point where more and more threats are generated by the terrorist groups in the country. Most probably, the U.S. is going to be forced to turn its attention towards Yemen if it does not do so before matters become worse. October 30, 2010, was the day when U.S. authorities confirmed that two packages that were meant to travel from Yemen to the U.S. contained explosives. Anwar al-Awlaki, an Yemenite-based individual known for his connections.