The U.S. Public Message On Yemen Is In Disarray

Zack Beauchamp, VOX: These Obama administration quotes about Yemen are almost too cringe-worthy to read

Yemen is descending into chaos — and the Obama administration's response, at least in its public statements about the crisis, has been a total mess.

The central Yemeni government, which the US had relied on to fight the al-Qaeda branch in Yemen's south, has been deposed by Shia rebels. On March 25, a Saudi-led coalition began bombing those rebels, called the Houthis, in order to stop their advance. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are warning they may invade, and Yemen's president has fled the country.

If this sounds like a disaster, that's because it is. The Obama administration, which just earlier this week was touting its "Yemen model" as a success in counterterrorism strategy, has not been eager to own up to the country's disintegration. And that has come out in a series of muddled, highly cringe-worthy statements given to the press to explain how the US is handling the crisis. It will not leave you feeling confident in the administration's grasp of what to do about Yemen's chaos.

WNU Editor: The quote that is the "Poster Child" to me on how confused the White House is on the Yemen crisis came from the White House Press Secretary two days ago .... White House: Yemen Is Still A Successful Model For Counterterrorism.