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"Allahu akbar, Death to America, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews, Victory to Islam"
Yemen's far north has long been wracked by fighting between Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is "God is Great, Death to America™â„¢, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews" ...
rebels and various foes. From 2004 to 2010, the Houthis were the target of a series of offensives launched by the Yemeni government and their tribal fighter allies, who saw the Houthis as an Iranian-backed group intent on destabilizing the country.

When the government's control over much of Yemen weakened during last year's uprising against President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh
... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it...
, the Houthis were able to effectively gain control over the northern province of Saada and areas of neighboring provinces. Even in the capital, Sanaa, the Houthis have emerged defiantly. Graffiti bearing the group's vitriolic slogan, "God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, Damn the Jews, Victory to Islam," is a frequent sight on the capital's streets.

Representatives and supporters of the Houthis characterize the group's growth as a natural result of their widespread support, saying the group has gained the trust of Yemenis due to its commitment to clean governance and its uncompromising opposition to the current government's alliance with the United States' government.

But many Yemenis insist that the Houthis' gains can be attributed to outside players, characterizing them as a pawn of Iran, citing longstanding accusations that they are receiving funding and possibly arms from the Islamic Theocratic Republic.

"You can see Iran's hands in the growth of the Houthis," says one Yemeni politician, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. "It's a threat to Yemen, it's a threat to Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...
and it's a threat to American interests." ...

Posted by: Au Auric 2012-11-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=355347