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Nation on Fire: Saudi Arabia Steps into Yemen Fray

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A nation that President Barack Obama once heralded as a success story in the war on terror is now engulfed in chaos. The African nation of Yemen has fallen to rebel forces and it could mean grave danger for the United States.

Some critics could argue that Yemen may be the biggest foreign policy debacle yet for Obama. Considering the dismal track record of his administration, that's saying a lot.

"This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the frontlines, is one we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years," Obama said just last year.
 
Not anymore. With its streets in flames, its president having escaped by ship, Yemen is now more than just another failed Arabian state. It's the newest terror base for hatching terrorist plots, including plots against the American mainland.

"Many plots have come out of Yemen over the past few years," CBN News terror analyst Erick Stakelbeck said. "Think of the underwear bomber a few years ago; think of the Times Square plot; think of the cargo plane plot, which was foiled. [Think of]  several plots against America; think of the Fort Hood shooter who was in contact with an al Qaeda cleric in Yemen.

"And that was before rival al Qaeda and Iranian-back Houthi rebels brought down the government," Stakelbeck added. He says every American should be concerned.

Meanwhile, American Special Forces have since evacuated and the embassy staff has fled to Saudi Arabia. The Los Angeles Times reports that rebels routed top secret American intelligence' files and then turned them over to Iran.

Despite the losses, the Obama administration wasn't willing to take action.

"There is no military solution for what's happening in Yemen," State Department Spokesman Jeff Rathke said.

The Saudies obviously don't agree. They're leading a coalition of 10 Sunni nations. They've shut down Yemen's airspace, deployed 100 jets and are threatening to send 150,000 troops across the border.

"We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling and from facing any dangers from outside militia,"Saudi U.S. Ambassador Abel al-Jubeir said.

The motto of the Houthi rebels is "God [Allah]  is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews, Power to Islam."

"What is happening in Yemen is a threat not only to its neighbors, but to the whole world," al-Jubeir said.

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About The Author

Dale
Hurd

Dale Hurd utilizes his four decades of experience to provide cutting-edge analysis of the most important events affecting our world. Since joining CBN News, Dale has reported extensively from Europe, China, Russia, and South America. His reports have been used or cited by NBC News, Fox News, and numerous news websites. Dale was credited with “changing the political culture in France” through his groundbreaking coverage of the rise of militant Islam in that nation. His stories garnered millions of views in Europe on controversial topics ignored by the European media. Dale has also covered the