*Delete*
- May 5, 2015
- 1 min read
As we approach the midpoint of 2015, Yemen is one of the hotspots that I have my eye on. Much has been made of the Houthis' acquisition of Scud-B and SS-21 Scarab ballistic missiles (which have been largely destroyed), but as one may realize, this battle was slated to remain within the borders of Yemen from the beginning. (The pure suicidality of the notion of the Houthis using these against a nation like Saudi Arabia blows my mind.) So while it might have been a momentary moral victory for the Houthis', the weapons have been rendered essentially unusable. The reason Yemen matters is that it is a hotbed for AQAP. We have been working with the Yemeni government on counterterrorism measures for years, and we have to keep our eyes on the ball here. Saudi Arabia recently called up over 100,000 troops from their reserves in anticipation of action on the Arabian Peninsula, which I refer to as Saudi Arabia's back yard. Reinstalling the Yemeni head of state, clearing out the Houthis' and AQAP, and re-establishing political/economic/social stability is paramount here. On another note, I've had some time to think about the CIA's drone program. Namely, the signature strikes that have become so controversial lately. Is there a better way? Yes, there is. In the instances in which we might suspect that innocent civilians are in harm's way, I could be sent in instead of a drone with hellfire missiles. With a pair of infrared goggles, I can see through walls. I can also drop targets through walls as well, with no collateral damage. It's a game-changer.
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