Secret US Intelligence on Yemen Compromised

by Stephen Lendman

On March 25, the Los Angeles Times said Houthi rebels obtained secret intelligence documents on so-called US Yemeni counterterrorism operations.

They included names and locations of confidential informants, as well as plans for further targeted drone strikes.

The Times said "US intelligence officials believe additional files were handed directly to Iranian advisors by Yemeni officials who have sided with the Houthi militias…"

Damage to US Yemeni intelligence is "severe," said the Times.

"The US still plans to fly armed drones over Yemen from bases in Saudi Arabia and Djibouti, but officials acknowledged that their ability to identify and find terrorism suspects has been severely hampered by the loss of the intelligence files and the power struggles within Yemen's security services," according to an unnamed source the Times quoted.

Houthi forces took control of Yemen's National Security Bureau. It worked closely with CIA and other US spy agencies against the interests of its own people.

Obtaining information on its secrets exposes some of America's dirty imperial agenda - its long war on humanity for unchallenged global dominance.

Compromised US intelligence got Obama to halt Yemeni drone strikes for two months, said the Times.

In February, US embassy personnel were evacuated. Last weekend, "US special operations and intelligence teams" were taken out of the country.

Before Saudi-led March 26 aggression, the White House revealed it's maintaining close communication with ousted US-installed stooge president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

His whereabouts remains unknown. Members of his regime are being arrested.

Houthis announced a million reward for Hadi's capture. Airstrikes targeted his Aden compound.

Reports on Wednesday indicated he fled by sea. His destination wasn't revealed.

Last August, Houthi uprising began. In September, they seized key Sanaa government facilities.

On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said US officials were in touch with Hadi earlier in the day.

"(H)e is no longer at his residence, which you’ve seen in reporting, but we can certainly confirm," she said.

"I’m not in a position to confirm any additional details from here about his location."

"We have been in touch with him over the last several days. And as all of you know, Ambassador Tueller has seen him in person and has traveled from Jeddah to go see him."

"In terms of our counterterrorism cooperation, as my colleagues at, I believe, DOD said yesterday, there’s no question our preference would be to have a presence on the ground."

"And that’s certainly - that’s why we have diplomatic - diplomats in embassies around the world, is to have that on-the-ground coordination."

"But we maintain means of working with, monitoring, going after some of the threats that face us, and that’s ongoing."

"And even if you look on the diplomatic side, though Ambassador Tueller and his close team are not based in Yemen, they have been able to continue to communicate with President Hadi and communicate with others and, obviously, with the UN about the political process moving forward."

Psaki added she has no "on-the-ground update" about Houthi advances.

She confirmed they seized Al Anad airbase. She provided no further information.

She ludicrously claimed Washington is working with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies for resolving Yemen's conflict "peaceful(ly)."

She said nothing about US responsibility for regional turmoil.

Asked if Washington plans direct military involvement, she begged off saying "I'm not going to get into (any possible US actions) and certainly any action anywhere would be something the Department of Defense would speak to."

Last year, Obama lied calling Yemen as success story.

Asked if it's still a model for US counterintelligence operations, Psaki turned truth on its head saying "we still have a number of successes to point to in terms of our efforts to push back on al-Qaida and our successes in doing that in coordination with authorities."

Al Qaeda is one among other US-created groups - used strategically as both enemies and allies.

Don't expect Psaki to explain. She's paid to lie, not tell hard truths. She admitted conditions in Yemen are "difficult…volatile…on the ground for a range of reasons."

Violently out-of-control best describes things. Reuters said John Kerry spoke with Saudi and other Gulf states' foreign ministers.

An unnamed senior State Department official said:

"He commended the work of the coalition taking military action against the Houthis and noted the United States' support for those coalition efforts - including intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, and advisory and logistical support for strikes against Houthi targets."

"The ministers all expressed their support for political negotiations as the best way to resolve the crisis, but also noted that it is the Houthis who have instead waged a military campaign."

"They agreed to stay in close contact going forward" - code language for Washington and Gulf state despots declaring war on Yemen to restore US-installed puppet rule.

If Washington has many more "success stories" like Yemen, planet earth may be set ablaze.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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