Commentary
Frederic Wehrey, Charles H. Johnson
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Source: Getty
In The Media
An Inside Look at Al Qaeda in Yemen
The struggle to root out al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula will require extensive Yemeni and U.S. cooperation, but it is ultimately a problem that the Yemenis must solve.
Published on May 31, 2012
Source: Fox News
In the continued fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Obama administration has relied on a two-track strategy of conducting drone strikes and working to build the capacity of the Yemeni government. Speaking with Fox News, Carnegie's Frederic Wehrey explained that this dual track approach “is the best option given the circumstances and the lessons we’ve learned from Iraq and Afghanistan." Wehrey discussed how AQAP, like other branches of al Qaeda, feeds off the local grievances in a country.
In response to a question regarding whether or not the administration should utilize a larger military campaign, Wehrey noted, “This is ultimately a Yemeni problem that will have to be addressed and solved by the Yemenis.” Indeed, there is mounting evidence that the drone strikes are exacerbating radicalization, he added. Ultimately, the struggle to root out AQAP is destined to be a long battle that will require extensive Yemeni and U.S. cooperation, Wehrey concluded.
About the Author
Frederic Wehrey
Senior Fellow, Middle East Program
Frederic Wehrey is a senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where his research focuses on governance, conflict, and security in Libya, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf.
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