Yemeni Official: ‘US Troops Not Wanted’

As US officials declares Yemen the new front in the war on "terror", its leaders want this to be clear: It does not mean to become another Iraq or Afghanistan with thousands of US troops on the ground.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi drew some red lines Wednesday in its mushrooming alliance with Washington against Al Qaeda, telling The Associated Press that Yemen welcomes U.S. and foreign troops for training, intelligence and logistical support.

"But not in any other capacity," he said, adding, "there is a lot of sensitivity "among Yemenis about foreign combat troops. He stressed that Yemeni forces would remain under Yemeni command, without any joint authority with the Americans.

His comments came as Washington and San'a are still cautious in their newly increased partnership against Al Qaeda which presents a global threat according to Obama's administration.

Military personnel from the United States and other Western countries are already on the ground allegedly helping train Yemeni counterterror units and exchanging intelligence.
Commenting on the closure of US Embassy, al-Qirbi said "It was the wrong decision actually, Closing embassies in response to a threat plays into the hands of the terrorists."

He was also critical of Obama's decision to halt the release of Yemenis held at Guantanamo Bay military prison, out of fear they could return to terror activities. The government "would like Yemenis to be handed over" and will prosecute any who committed crimes, al-Qirbi said.
The White House administration announced on Tuesday that the United States will stop at the present time transferring Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Yemen.

On his part, Robert Gibbs, spokesman of the White House said that we are still committing on the closure of the prison at the U.S. navel base in Cuba. He added that transferring Yemeni detainees now is not a good idea, reported American sources.

Mistrust of the United States is high among the population of 22 million, who fears that their authority will be a tool of Washington and their country to become the new Iraq amid the US strikes which killed a number of women, children and other civilians.