Just want to make sure everyone knows that David Stanton got a great mention in the NYT a few days back:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/opinion/friedman-a-visit-to-yemens-zoo.html

Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen

David sent out his latest update a couple weeks ago and I have been remiss in printing it. So without further ado, here it is:

Dear Friends of the Arabian Leopard, As everyone knows every organization needs money if it is going to stay active. We do our best to stay active, but anyone who is close to the center of this organization knows what a juggling act it can be to stay solvent and focused. It is therefore with delight that we announce the continuation of sponsorship by our longest serving and most committed patron, Sheikh Tawfik Saleh, Executive Chairman of the National Tobacco and Matches Company (NTMC). We are proud to bring you our 27th consecutive issue of the Foundation Update. Were it not for the contributions that we receive from the NTMC, it is likely that we wouldn't have survived our first year. Now we are confident that we shall make it through our third. February's bonus edition can be downloaded from:

http://www.yemenileopard.org/files/cms/news_articles/No._27_February_29_2012_English.pdf

Thanks to our friends at Total E&P Yemen, we now have all of the first 26 issues of the update in Arabic. The last one to be translated can now be downloaded from our newsletters section at:

http://www.yemenileopard.org/files/cms/news_articles/No._23_October_31_2011_Arabic.pdf

It has always been the Foundation's editorial policy to stick with news, but this edition is slightly different. A news item about two people rescuing smuggled Cheetah cubs in Somaliland evolved into the embryo of an expose on Yemen's involvement in wildlife crime. You are forewarned, this is not a pleasant article to read, but I urge you to study it carefully and think about its ramifications. It may be cliché to say, "If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem," but as with many clichés, this one contains much truth. We humans are doing an abysmal job of managing the Earth and this is having a devastating effect on biodiversity and the environment. If I was still teaching and humanity was my pupil, I would give us an "F" with a clear conscience. Being a Friend of the Arabian Leopard, is a statement that you believe there is a problem and that finding a solution is desirable. I hope that the disturbing images and text in this edition will inspire us all to work even harder towards that solution.

So, in spite of that sombre note on this special day that comes but once every four years, we at the Foundation wish you all a very pleasant spring.

With best wishes,

David

David B. Stanton Executive Director of the Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen Adviser to the Yemen Minister of Water & Environment P.O. Box 7069 Sana'a, Republic of Yemen Mobile: +967733916928 Fax: +9671370193 david@yemenileopard.org www.yemenileopard.org

No Saudi Spring

The Bahraini episode, in which the West stood idle as the Saudis overran protesters, demonstrated clearly that the United States, Britain, France, and other Western countries still prefer security to democracy in oil-rich regions. After Bahrain, there can be no doubt of the hypocrisy of these liberal democracies. Authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia’s thrive on it.

With Arms for Yemen Rebels, Iran Seeks Wider Mideast Role

Washington's War in Yemen Backfires

That, in a nutshell, is how many Yemenis see the US role in their country. The United States “should have never made counterterrorism a source of profit for the regime, because that increased terrorism,” asserts Iryani. “Their agenda was to keep terrorism alive, because it was their cash cow.” The US bombings, he said, were “a bad mistake. Military action often backfires by killing civilians, by the violation of sovereignty. That offends a lot of Yemenis.” For the United States, the most serious question that lingers over Yemen after Ali Abdullah Saleh is: Did US counterterrorism policy strengthen the very threat it sought to eliminate? “It was a major fiasco,” Iryani says of the past decade of US counterterrorism policy in Yemen. “I think if we had been left alone, we would have less terrorists in Yemen than we do now.”

YEMEN: Players who could throw the upcoming elections off-track

The Arabian Leopard Continues to be Under Threat

I'd like to reproduce an email I received from FPALY Executive Director David Stanton this morning, and ask that you take a few minutes from your day as he requests and do a couple of simple things that will be helpful:

Dear Friends of the Arabian Leopard,

It has just been brought to my attention that a video of an Arabian Leopard captured in Yemen was posted on YouTube on May 28, 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6vFzGy1h3M&feature=related

The animal being tormented in the video is one of the most critically endangered mammals on Earth (up to 16 times rarer than the Giant Panda and 30 times rarer than the Bengal Tiger). As Yemen's National Animal (as of Yemen Cabinet decree on April 29, 2008) this animal should be fully protected by law. From the video it is obvious that the law is not working. Can you please take ten minutes from your day at the first opportunity to perform the following actions: 1) Watch the video and click "dislike" so that the person who posted the video, and everyone who subsequently watches it, begins to get the message that what the video depicts is unacceptable. 2) Write a message to Mr. Omer Ahmed Baeshen ( rubatbaeshen@yahoo.com), Director of the Endangered Species Unit of the Yemen Environmental Protection Authority and the CITES officer for Yemen demanding that the Endangered Species Unit at the EPA fully investigate this "incident." 3) Encourage your friends, family, colleagues, students etc. to do the same. 4) If you are Yemeni and can tell from the accents, clothing or any other clues the governorate where this took place, contact me immediately with this information. It is impossible to tell at this point when and where the video was taken, but knowing where and when it was captured will contribute to the effectiveness of future actions on the part of the Foundation.

Thank you. I'm sorry to have had to bring this to your attention, but devoting just a few minutes to these tasks right away will contribute in a meaningful way to the battle that the Foundation continues to fight. Sincerely, David

David B. Stanton Executive Director of the Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen P.O. Box 7069 Sana'a, Republic of Yemen Mobile: +967733916928 Fax: +9671370193 david@yemenileopard.org www.yemenileopard.org

Yemeni Activist Awarded Nobel Prize

Tawakul Karman, Democracy activist and member of Islah, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Yesterday. Great news that I hope will bring more attention to the plight of the average Yemeni.

You've GOT to be kidding me! Field Marshall Saleh Returns!

I'll make the call now - this will end extremely badly,

Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen - Success!

As Stephanie first noted on our blog here, the Foundation for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard in Yemen (FPALY) has been running a funding drive via Kickstarter this month. If you gave, I'll bet you received the email reproduced below from David Stanton, FPALY's Executive Director.

But just because FPLAY met their minimum goal doesn't mean that advocacy for this funding drive needs to stop. As David mentions, there are other projects moving forward that he would like to pursue, and there are administrative costs to running the FPALY office. Please continue to give right up to 11:59PM on September 30th!

FPALY's Kickstater webpage is located here. Thanks to everyone who found FPALY here and gave!

Dear Night Watch Backers

Yemen needs more from allies than status quo

A great National editorial today:

The money quote: "Short-sighted security goals may play well with American voters, but they get Yemenis nowhere." The fact is that American voters are largely unaware of what is happening in Yemen. If they knew, it wouldn't sit well with them either.

Laura Kasinof's last Four Articles on Yemen in the NYT

She's a brilliant writer, writing about a beautiful country:

September 17th: Clashes Erupt in Yemen, and a Sit-In Is Attacked

September 18th: Protesters Shot, Starting Battle in Yemen Capital

September 19th: Clashes Erupt for 2nd Day in Yemeni Capital, as Troops Fight Defectors

September 20th: Mortars Fall on Yemeni Capital as Battles Continue

Is Anybody Listening?!?!

Marc Lynch has just published an article in Foreign Policy called "The Costs of Ignoring Yemen." Sadly, I think the USG will continue to ignore Yemen, as the costs incurred by the current administration are negligible.

Today, Sana'a International Airport was closed for the first time since demonstrations began early in the year. Yesterday, Yemeni security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters with anti-aircraft weaponry.

Support FPALY's Nightwatch Project

David Stanton and the Foundation for the Protection of the Yemeni Leopard are fundraising to establish a nightwatch project in Amran. David says, "Following our success in eastern Yemen we plan on using camera traps to establish the existence of leopard populations in other parts of Yemen. This project will focus on Wada'a, Amran, a tribal area to the north of Yemen's capital Sana'a where we have good reason to believe that the Arabian leopard still roams... $15,000 will enable us to purchase 10 high output trail cameras with security cases, batteries and charger, a GPS, netbook, external backup drive, and solar charging panels and provide Ibrahim and his assistant with all the support that they will need to keep this project going for a full year." Show your support and pledge today! FPALY needs to raise $15,000 by September 30, to secure funding for the project. Pledges start at $1 - any and all amounts are appreciated!

Yemen’s Leader Vows to Return Soon and Defies Calls for His Ouster

Wow! This is such exciting news!

Yemeni Opposition Groups Establish National Governing Council

You know, just because the opposition says it's going to establish a council doesn't mean they will. This must be the hundredth or so announcement of this type out of Yemen in the last 100 days.

Anyone else getting tired of this?

Yemeni Air Force Bombs Yemeni Republican Guard

As reported by the Yemen Post:

“The government did not stand quiet when the guards refused orders to clash with tribes and officials in the republican guards felt it was necessary that those who disobey orders are killed,” the official said.

The big question, however, is whether the pilots were Yemeni or, as reported, Iraqi mercenaries doing the regime's dirty work.

Sad Cartoon in Yemen Times

The most recent cartoon at www.yementimes.com/ says it all:

U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Releases Fiscal 2012 Appropriations Bill

The bill is located here. As regards Yemen, there were some funding caveats thrown in. Specifically,

(g) YEMEN.—None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be obligated for assistance for the Government of Yemen until the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that— (1) no ministry, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of Yemen is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization; (2) no member of a foreign terrorist organization serves in any policy position in a ministry, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of Yemen that is proposed to receive such assistance; (3) a comprehensive anti-terrorism vetting and tracking system exists for all Yemeni security forces personnel benefitting from United States security assistance; and (4) all ministries, agencies, or instrumentalities of the Government of Yemen that directly or indirectly benefit from United States security assistance are financially transparent and accountable.

A Really Really Secret Campaign in Yemen

As I have mentioned in earlier posts, it sure is hard for the US to keep a secret if it's always in the habit of telling everybody what's going on with the expectation that they'll keep it to themselves.

Now, it seems, stringers for WAPO have been told where the secret base is. Is anyone surprised? The relevant passage in the story follows:

At the same time, the agency is building a desert airstrip so that it can begin flying armed drones over Yemen. The facility, which is scheduled to be completed in September, is designed to shield the CIA’s aircraft, and their sophisticated surveillance equipment, from observers at busier regional military hubs such as Djibouti, where the JSOC drones are based.

The Washington Post is withholding the specific location of the CIA facility at the administration’s request.

So who's surprised? I am. I had predicted we'd all know where it was by the end of July, and I think the Administration will probably be able to keep the secret past this Sunday.