‘Day of Rage’ Now Spreads to Yemen: Over 20,000 Take to the Streets
- Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:13am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Tens of thousands of opponents and supporters of Yemen’s president staged dueling demonstrations on Thursday, underscoring deep divisions in a nation seen by the Obama administration as a key ally in its fight against Islamic militants. Ironically, the name adopted for the day’s protests — the “Day of Rage” — is the same name used by protesters in Egypt as well as the Weather Underground in the 60s.
The BBC reports over 20,000 protesters have taken to the streets calling for the immediate resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Much like Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Saleh has said he will step down after his current term expires.
Scuffles and stone-throwing erupted briefly between the two sides, but police intervened to keep the sides apart and there were no reported casualties. The relative calm contrasted with Egypt on Wednesday, where supporters of President Mubarak and anti-government protesters battled in Cairo’s central square.
Egypt‘s turmoil and the revolt in Tunisia inspired Yemen’s opposition, who turned out in unprecedented numbers in the capital, Sanaa, and other cities Thursday to demand the ouster of longtime autocrat Ali Abdullah Saleh.
“Thirty years of promises and thirty years of lies,” one protest banner read. Protesters chanted: “Down, down with the regime.”
Estimates of the number of anti-government protesters ranged in the several tens of thousands. However, pro-government demonstrations, though smaller, reflected a calculated effort to undercut the opposition, possibly a lesson learned from the huge street rallies that have rocked the Egyptian government since Jan. 25.
Some in the pro-government group were state employees.
Saleh had sought to defuse demands for his ouster by pledging Wednesday not to seek another term in office – his term expires in 2013 – and saying he would not let his son inherit power. However, proposed amendments to the constitution could let Saleh stay in office for two additional terms of 10 years.
Anti-government protesters, several thousand of whom marched from Sanaa University, said they don’t trust Saleh and demanded that he quit immediately.
The United States has taken a sharp tone on Egypt, urging Mubarak to move swiftly to meet the demand for democratic reform. But it cautiously praised reform pledges in Yemen. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley welcomed Saleh’s “positive statements.”
Saleh is seen as a weak but increasingly important partner of the United States, allowing American drone strikes on al-Qaida targets and stepping up counterterrorism cooperation.
His weak government – which controls little of the impoverished country beyond the capital – is also facing a serious challenge from a secessionist movement in the south and a rebellion in the north.
The U.S.-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, thought to be hiding in Yemen, is believed to have inspired and even plotted or helped coordinate recent attacks on the U.S. Those include the failed Christmas Day 2009 bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner and the unsuccessful plot to send mail bombs on planes from Yemen to the U.S. in October.
Al-Awlaki also is believed to have inspired the deadly 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, and had ties to some of the 9/11 hijackers.
In Sanaa, pro-government demonstrators marched to Tahrir Square, which shares the same name as the plaza in Cairo where the street fighting occurred Wednesday and into Thursday. The demonstrators carried banners supporting Saleh and warning that the opposition was trying to destabilize Yemen.
There was a heavy security presence around the Interior Ministry and the Central Bank. Military helicopters hovering in some areas.
In the city of Aden, thousands of anti-government protesters defied security forces and armored personnel carriers that tried to close the main streets to prevent them from gathering.
Protesters there shouted: “People want the downfall of the regime, the downfall of the president.”
All big shops in Sanaa and Aden closed their doors and major companies hired guards to protect against possible looting.
Protesters also scuffled with security forces in the town of Jaar in the southern province of Abyan, where al-Qaida militants have been active.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Posted on February 4, 2011 at 12:09am@Polwatcher
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:38am
I would question the rapid spread of protests. Only an organization could do that. Al Jezera would only be the messenger but their must be a motivator, or a personal contact that does this. Some to say “go”. I believe it is the radical Imams from the Muslim Brotherhood.
Who has ‘fun’ manipulating governments and causing them to fall?
Report Post »My money is on George Soros.
hempstead1944
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 7:42pmPirate thing not working out for ya?
Report Post »chicksorace
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 4:59pmJordan’s king just met with the Muslim Brothehood…Morocco is about to have their day of rage and Syria is starting to make noise..OMG and the lefties were out in force accusing Glenn of lunacy!
Report Post »I just went over to HUFFPOO and could not find one story on this!
MatthewChapter24
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 2:50pmWhat Van Jones said is coming to fruition: Bottom up, top down, inside out.
Report Post »The people are rising up in rage, the top is coming down on them, and the extremists are using this opporunity to turn the countries inside out for their common cause–the destruction of Israel and capitalism.
This is why we cannot use violence. They want us to be violent so we will turn on each other and implode the USA.
chicksorace
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 5:01pmI watched a debate between Newt and Howard Dean the other day on C-Span and that’s actually the description Dean used to say what has to happen in our country…
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 2:28pmTic, tic, tic, tic, tic, BOOM! I don’t why, but that’s all I think of when I read this story. Things are heating up now aren’t they. …..clapping hands together…..”This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!”
Report Post »EP46
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 2:19pmThese demonstrations are being planned and put into action by the same group that is working here to destroy America. The DAY OF RAGE in Cairo and Yemen and the DAY OF CHANGE planned for tomorrow in Cairo are the results of the REVOLUTIONARIES that did the same thing in the 60′s ….they had their DAY OF RAGE and now they are spreading it world wide to bring down the world economy and put their actions in place to form a One World Order. If Egypt falls to the Muslim Brotherhood there will be longer any doubt about where obama stands.
Report Post »roxee
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:30amSince the 1940′s the CIA,MI6,Mossad have infiltrated all Middle East politics, our governments are all liars. It has nothing to do with conspiracy,just read the books from ex CIA agents and soforth,of what. We support dictators and the people’s want some wealth and growth, they are put down at all levels until they boil over as no one is listening to them… I think the same can be said of what is happening here. We just got rid of one dictator..Pelosi!
Report Post »Ruffus
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:10amPray tell….why do we not see ANYTHING in Saudi Arabia??? I’ll tell you why – they are the TOP of the Terrorist Pyramid!! They are running the show. They are driving the chaos, They are pushing oil prices as high as they can fly!!
Think about it the real enemies…….
Report Post »loweralabama
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:07amIf we are lucky, our fleet of nuclear weapon equipped Polaris subs are in the area and on the alert. I was in the Navy in the seventies and the frigate I was on had enough nukes on it to completely wipe out Viet Nam by itself. After 2012, we need to spend our money on our military, not sand countries that want to destroy us.
Report Post »petestreet
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:39amI have a dream, a C130 Puff banks out of the clouds, makes a pass and you have instant crowd control.
Report Post »sizzlinsexybeckster
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:33amThis is just plain creepy and gross. I have lots and lots to say, I mean, I could go on forever, but I‘m trying to chill out while listening to Howlin’ Wolf and drinking hot chocolate with butterscotch schnapps….then time to shovel snow… anyways, this is a spreading world tragedy and is so completely horrific. I can’t believe there are only 14 comments. People are just tired of it all and keeping an open eye on their own home-front. I think Obama is overly excited about this and is watching step by step the happenings in Egypt and enjoying the spread – like a bad case of herpes – as a science experiment to see how the people are reacting and how he can pull off the same stunt here. The people of Egypt and other countries that are currently on fire and rage are being used as guinea pigs so by the time they get to the United States, they will have their creepy plans perfected as much as they possibly can. Glenn Beck is sexy and hot. (ha ha hey I have to stick that in there…) Anyways if the President of Egypt had any pride and respect for it’s people, he’d immediately step down. He says he’ll not run again in Sept., but he will still be in the shadows lurking around and pulling some of the shots just like here in USA like Van Jones….. nothing different, just from a different location and have a different title…. Whoopsie Do. What we as Americans must do is watch, learn, talk face to face with your neighbors, and have patience when Obama decides to turn off our internet service, our cell phones, gas prices go up, food prices go up – by the way, yesterday I was at the grocery store (Super Walmart) and generic apple juice went up $1 in the past 4 weeks, a small can of tuna went up $.50, etc., I see what they are doing. My basement has a cellar, I admit our wine rack is empty but our food stock is pretty full. Also stock up on the 3 basic necessities – soap, toothpaste, and shampoo – you can use them, that is unless Obama tries to also control the water just like he did in California. Remember Obama turned off the water for several days (weeks?, months?) to some counties in California because they didn’t agree with one of his agendas…..he was using water to get to them….. I don’t know what the turn out of that ended up being because no one ever discussed it again. Obama is a dink, a dork, and I wouldn’t be surprised since he thinks his job is to be some Hollywood celebrity instead of an honest president that he would have constructed a boulder statue of himself bigger than Mount Rushmore.
Report Post »All I can say is I’m glad Glenn is telling us about this, but it is creepy we can’t do anything to help control and maintain some peace in these countries…we can only watch our own backs and be prepared for any of this to spill our way…… I’m sure I have more to say…but you get the idea. I would say keep local communication, learn to live without your cell phones, internet, electricity (have blankets…etc) although “President” Obama says he WILL have our troops back in the US by November 2011………he didn’t say they would be relieved of service…maybe that’s the time he expects us to riot in the streets? Listen, pay attention, prepare, and learn to communicate through the regular mail with our state representatives and talk with your local community…… read a book, listen to music and dance, stock can openers, ……but don’t riot.
MikeinIdaho
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:20am“Days of rage” again, huh? Where are Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, anyway? I smell their stinking carcasses in these protests. After all, it almost worked during the original “days of rage” in the ’60s and they were a big part of that. And where is their co-conspiriter Andy Stern? I’m thinking this is part of the plan to “nudge” us all into slavery under Soros’ planned “New World Order”. Pray to God for help in stopping this before it gets out of hand.
Report Post »Houndfan
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:15amIt’s okay. Yemen already hates us anyway. Caliphate here we come…This is spreading
Report Post »like germs in daycare.
Freedom1984
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:05amI wonder how long the msm will take to actually pick up on this. I commented on a FB post today, and explained that TODAY was YEMIN’S DAY OF RAGE. I told them to wait for a few days, possibly a few weeks before they will start to hear of the riots in Yemin.
I really wish people would learn and do some research. And yes… I wonder yet again..how they are going to spin Glenn’s theory……….which is coming true. This morning I had no clue about the riots, but I remembered Glenn saying the DAY OF RAGE, and that each nation has it’s date, and that Yemin’s was today. Guess I called that one right. (Well because of Glenn) but I fb’d it early today… so maybe some people will actually start to wake up and listen.
Report Post »MIAMILIBERTARIAN
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:02amJust wait until this crap starts happening in Saudi Arabia. The Mid East will really spin into the dark ages then. (not that it all that bright there anyways)
Report Post »JohnQTaxpayer
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:57amThe left wants this type of revolution in the streets in the USA, won’t they be surprised when the silent majority answers. We grow weary of their tactics and America hating.
If you hate this country, leave.
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:33amI wonder when we’ll have to take to the streets? Or do we just sit on our comfy tush and wait for our children to win that battle? Something to ask ourselves.
Report Post »rightwingheroes
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:26amNothing to see here people, move along. Glenn Beck is just a conspiracy theorist.
=-)
Report Post »jfreak13713
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:20amCould this be the next step towards world wide conflict? At some point we reach the tipping point and we may be seeing that now? America is weaker than she has ever been from a leadership stand point and we are stretched thin militarily which may lead some to think NOW is the time to change the world in their favor?
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:20am.
If ya’ll show another video that makes me shoot coffee out my nose I;m gonna get pissed. No more guys on camels Whoooooooping folks in the head, or Ali the human fireball.
Your gonna make me ruin my keyboard
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:45amYou big goof, you’re going to make me ruin mine. Camel whooooping?
Report Post »GeauxAlready
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:24am.
Report Post »LOL Sry Kate Sweetie need a towel?
DashRipRock
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:18amTwenty thousand people
thats all it takes to change a goverment?
Hell there are twenty thousand Illegals living in the house down the street
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:24amI spit out my coffee on that one Dash. Lol. As it turns out, this stuff is proving the Bush doctrine was accurate after all. Remember the liberal media attacking Bush for saying that if you install a democracy in the Middle East that the neighboring countries will then want Democracy as well? Just look at what’s going on in the Middle East today. All the social media has to be helping as well.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – Obama mixed message on Egypt video
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:24amOoops…. now Chris Matthews will have go on Hard Balls to pretend that what Beck predicted is not happening… again.
Sucks to be wrong Chris but I am sure your use to both being wrong and sucking. Look at it as just another shiver up your leg as you swallow.
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:31amIt’s all about leverage.
A small number of determined zealots can sway the future of a large number of sheeple.
Just like it only takes a single SEIU goon to get 20000 straight line Democrat party votes from the house down the street.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:45am@CNSRV
if you install a democracy in the Middle East that the neighboring countries will then want Democracy as well?
I would point out that Tunesia, Egypt and Yemen are not neighboring countries.
Report Post »Which would you prefer, a government with a friendly leader or a country that elects an Islamist?
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:01am@Dashriprock
It only took a trio of people to start the mess known as WW1 with the assassination of the prince and his wife.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:15amSounds like they are tired of living in a 3rd world country. Some advice…Move.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 9:39amDid anyone notice the statement mid-story that the pro-government group was mainly composed of state employees? That is why we have such a large group of federal employees here along with so many social dependents. It makes uprisings much more difficult with a built in opposition composed of those that suck at the nipple of the federal government !!! Watch “the story of your enslavement” on youtube.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 10:00am@Watch the other hand
Yes I did notice that, and there is a possibility that if this type of trouble comes to America, and I am praying it does not, it could start with striking government workers…the scenario of ‘radical’ right wing groups threatening (according to the administration own spin masters) ‘peaceful government labor’ would then need to be confronted by the administration with force…and so a revolution could begin indeed, playing into the progressive hands.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on February 3, 2011 at 11:38amI would question the rapid spread of protests. Only an organization could do that. Al Jezera would only be the messenger but their must be a motivator, or a personal contact that does this. Some to say “go”. I believe it is the radical Imams from the Muslim Brotherhood.
Report Post »