Sunday, February 06, 2005

CSM.  Yemen and Koranic duels.  "It's only logical to tackle these people through their brains and heart," says Faris Sanabani, a former adviser to President Abdullah Saleh and editor-in-chief of the Yemen Observer, a weekly English-language newspaper. "If you beat these people up they become more stubborn. If you hit them, they will enjoy the pain and find something good in it - it is a part of their ideology. Instead, what we must do is erase what they have been taught and explain to them that terrorism will only harm Yemenis' jobs and prospects. Once they understand this they become fighters for freedom and democracy, and fighters for the true Islam," he says. 9:39:38 AM

Kuwait update.  5 al Qaeda operatives captured in Kuwait (2 Saudis and 3 Jordanians).  All were trained in Iraq.  Targets included:  US convoys, US oil industry expats, key oil facilities, and the secret police HQ.  Security at key facilities and on convoys have been beefed up.  More cells are being sought.  This ongoing pressure will eventually push cells in Kuwait towards a more indirect (and thereby effective) strategy -- one that targets pipelines, electricity nodes/lines, and water processing facilities. 9:04:06 AM