Guest Thinkers — December 21, 2010

The return of al-Mu’ayyad

I am not sure what impact this will have on Yemen. I feel that so much has happened since his abduction/arrest that it is difficult to gauge what role he will be playing. If any readers have any thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.

I am slightly hopeful that it might have some small impact in helping to ease perceptions of the United States. This decision would have happened under the Bush administration- the trial was a judicial abortion, and was bound to be overturned- but it is a happy coincidence that, at least in the Arab/Muslim world, and specifically in Yemen, it will redound nicely upon President Obama. I am not exactly a charter member of al-Mu-ayyad’s fan club, but it is nice to know that the system can work.

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