Massacre in Yemen. Rote "Concern" From Hillary & Co.

On Friday in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, Yemeni "security" forces opened fire on protesters, murdering some 50 of them. It's a declaration of war from the Yemeni government on its own people, echoing a similar declaration by Bahrain's government on its Shiites. Bahrain's barbarism is backed by Saudi Arabia, which sent in an invading force into the tiny island country this week. Yemen so far is battling its people alone. Surely, the Saudis stand by ready to lend a hand, even if Yemen is not too keen on Saudi boots anywhere near it.

The attack on protesters in Yemen was well orchestrated: gunmen-goons at street-level, snipers on rooftops, a declaration of martial law, and a taking full advantage of the West's diversionary concern with Libya to do in Yemen exactly what Muammar el Qaddafi is doing in Libya, if on a smaller scale.

And the response from Hillary Clinton, the American Secretary of State? Cover your ears if you've just had a meal. You might lose it. Here goes:

"The United States is alarmed by today's violence in Sana'a against anti-government protesters and is seeking to verify reports that this is the result of actions by security forces. We have seen increased numbers of deaths and injuries at demonstrations throughout Yemen in the past two weeks and I join President Obama in strongly condemning this violence. We call on Yemeni security forces to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from violence, and permit citizens to freely and peacefully express their views."

And in other news, Madame Secretary, Yemen defeated Singapore 2-0 in round one of the 2012 Olympics' soccer qualifiers. The match was played at Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. No need to wonder why. It's nice to see that Yemen's and the soccer federation's priorities are such that, no matter what, the games must go on.

That line in Clinton's statement, seeking to verify reports that this is the result of actions by security forces, is classic Clinton, a qualifier of an already hyper-qualified condemnation of the violence. By introducing the mere notion of doubt that the killings are the regime's, she is diminishing the legitimacy of the protesters, and casting a shadow on them.

Ali Abdullah Saleh, remember, is an American ally. American troops operate in his country, if only--officially, anyway--to train Yemeni forces. Last September, when bombs made in Yemen were making their way through the post to European and possibly American destinations, the United States Central; Command, according to a report in The Ties, "proposed supplying Yemen with $1.2 billion in military equipment and training over the next six years, a significant escalation on a front in the campaign against terrorism, which has largely been hidden from public view. The aid would include automatic weapons, coastal patrol boats, transport planes and helicopters, as well as tools and spare parts. Training could expand to allow American logistical advisers to accompany Yemeni troops in some noncombat roles."

The next paragraph in the story was prophetic: "Opponents, though, fear American weapons could be used against political enemies of President Ali Abdullah Saleh and provoke a backlash that could further destabilize the volatile, impoverished country."

Wonder no more.

See Also:

• Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh: Profile
• Yemen's Tahrir: Bring It On
• Why Yemen Is Not the Terrorist Threat It Is Perceived To Be