WikiLeak’s publication of Yemen Files is a collection of over 500 documents from the U.S. Embassy, Sana’a in Yemen which consists of over 200 emails and 300 PDFs ranging in dates from 2009 until just before the Yemeni Civil War, which started in March 2015. This period of time covers both Hillary Clinton‘s term as Secretary of State (2009-2013) and the first two years of Secretary John Kerry term.
Julian Assange said: “The war in Yemen has produced 3.15 million internally displaced persons. Although the United States government has provided most of the bombs and is deeply involved in the conduct of the war itself reportage on the war in English is conspicuously rare.”
Yemen is of significant strategic interest as Yemen controls a narrow choke-point to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal through which 11% of the world’s petroleum passes each day. In addition, Yemen borders Saudi Arabia (to the north) and Oman (to the east) and has access to the Arabian Sea, through which another 20% of the world’s petroleum passes from the Strait of Hormuz (including the oil of Saudi Arabia and Iran). Saudi Arabia seeks to control a port in Yemen to avoid the potential constriction of its oil shipments by by Iran along the Strait of Hormuz or by countries which can control its other oil shipment path along the Red Sea.
The Yemen Files offer documentary evidence of the US arming, training and funding of Yemeni forces in the years building up to the war. The documents reveal, among other things, procurement of many different weapon types: aircraft, vessels, vehicles, proposals for maritime border security control and Yemeni procurement of US biometric systems.
A US presence remained in the country until February 2015, when the US closed its embassy due to the continuing unrest between different factions in the country. The war broke out a month later.
Documents / Emails
Relevant Links
- Wikipedia: United States Yemen Relations
Western Media Silence
There has been little reporting on the Yemeni Civil War in Western media. Why is this? An analysis of the Saudi Cables proves that Yeman’s bordering country Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Foreign Ministry to control Arab media and beyond.
It is worth digging into the Yemen Files and looking for items that further this thread.
Procurement of Weapons
As documents OMC-037-14 and OMC-123-14 published by WikiLeaks indicate, Yemen sought to purchase various armed vehicles, marine vessels, and biometric equipment.
Timeline
Feb 11, 2014 – Randolph E. Rosin writes on behalf of Karen Sasahara to Ahmed Ali Al-Ashwal who is a Staff Major General at Ministry of Defense at Sana’a, Yemen about a previous request to purchase various military vehicles and vessels. Randolph asks about funding source and mentions National Funds, Foreign Military Financing which is provided through U.S. Security Assistance – Lebanon Files: OMC-037-14
Jun 9, 2014 – Randolph E. Rosin contacts Ahmed Ali Al-Ashwal again asking for additional information regarding a biometric system from Crossmatch and references Office of Military Cooperation – Yemen Files: OMC-123-14
Involved Organizations
- Office of Military Cooperation – investigate?
- Ministery of Defense, Yemen – investigate?
Involved Companies
- Crossmatch – investigate?
Involved Persons
- Ambassador Tueller – to Yemen? investigate?
- Karen Sasahara – temporarily in charge of affairs at Ministry of Defense, Sana’a, Yemen
- Ahmed Ali Al-Ashwal – Staff Major General, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Defense (MoD) Sana’a, Republic of Yemen
- Randolph E. Rosin – Colonel, U.S. Army, U.S. Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché Sana’a, Republic of Yemen
- Bryan Sparkman – FMS Officer, Major
Notable Articles
- Airstrikes Take Toll on Civilians in Yemen War
- US and UK close Yemen embassies after rebels seize control of Sana’a
Leads
- U.S. Security Assistance – investigate?
