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| Arabia |
| 'Secret' CIA base |
| 2011-06-16 |
| [Al Jazeera] The US, which has poured millions of dollars into Yemen to train the army against al-Qaeda, announced on Tuesday that it is building a "secret" CIA air base somewhere in the Gulf region to target the group. But don't tell nobody, okay? 'Cuz it's a secret... For more on Yemen, visit our Spotlight page The AP news agency reported that the move is seen as preparing for a "worst case scenario" if groups opposed to US foreign policy in the region win the current power struggle raging between President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh, ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower... Yemen's president-for-life, and his opponents. The White House has already increased the numbers of CIA officers in Yemen, in anticipation of that possibility. The US has also stepped up the schedule to construct the base, from a two-year timetable to eight months. However, some people cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go... Al Jizz's Rosalind Jordan, reporting from Washington, said there are conflicting messages about the CIA's future involvement in Yemen. "We have had one US official tell Al Jizz that there is going to be the construction of a predator drone missile base somewhere inside Yemen. And we have had other officials essentially saying; that's not the case. So there is some confusion about whether the reports on this base are accurate, or that officials are simply trying to divert attention away from this story." AP withheld the exact location of the base at the request of US officials. The United States has been conducting air strikes against al-Qaeda targets in Yemen with permission from Saleh's government since 2009. Government officials have recently allowed expanded strikes by US armed drones and war planes against suspected al-Qaeda targets who analysts say are taking advantage of the current political unrest to grab power and territory in the Gulf country. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 CIA? Doesn't Defense Intel do that stuff? |
| Posted by: Woozle Gonque5481 2011-06-16 19:23 |
| #6 "Is that the CIA base?" "No, it has a golf course. Must be a USAF base." "How about that one?" "Nope, we're in a desert in summer. They're up to their waist in mud. Must be SOCOM." "This one?" "Nah, it has a Pizza Hut, a Burger King, and a Taco Bell. Must be an Army Support Command." "All that's left is the filthy casbah and the discount brothels, next to that fly ridden abattoir." "That's the CIA base." |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-06-16 16:52 |
| #5 The NYT already revealed that the "secret base" is on the island of Socotra. (Thereby proving the Al Jazeera is less treacherous than the NYT ) |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2011-06-16 15:33 |
| #4 Mastrovia (SP?) what a concept! |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2011-06-16 14:38 |
| #3 [warbles in a Judy Garland-ish way] Somewhere ... on the horizon We're here too. And the targets we watch quite likely will include you. |
| Posted by: lotp 2011-06-16 13:38 |
| #2 Or they want to keep 'em guessing and expending resources (plus expose themselves) trying to find it. That's what an 'old school' spook might do. Don't know about this 'new spook learning', though. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2011-06-16 08:25 |
| #1 The US ... announced ... that it is building a "secret" CIA air base. Sounds like someone flunked SPOOK101. |
| Posted by: crosspatch 2011-06-16 04:12 |