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James Carafano, from the Heritage Foundation, on the recent attacks in Yemen and where the smaller factions of the terrorist group are aligning themse...
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When it let's bring in James tariff on an apple is director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison center of the farm policy studies.
At The Heritage Foundation good to -- was always James.
Agree with you -- James what does this the latest attack tell us if anything about the strength of all weakness of al-Qaeda in Yemen.
Well I mean the good news is the US government's -- on to.
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for some years to these are.
That this was basically an al-Qaeda faction that was largely pushed out of Saudi Arabia when they start -- go after the saudis they really retreated into Yemen.
And al-Qaeda central in Pakistan.
Looked to this may be as an alternative operational base or they were concerned they might actually not be able hold on -- Pakistan.
-- need to based operate from so therefore.
They allied themselves with insurgent tribes and you have this similar marriage Taliban al-Qaeda in Pakistan reproducing itself.
In Yemen so the good news is we're on to them.
The good news is you have a government which is not a good governments a terrible government but.
They have common cause to fight these guys so you know in many ways it's like.
Being in Afghanistan in the 1990s except we're in at the front -- except that you know not coming in at the back and -- So -- you think we're doing the right thing right now the way we're working win then the government of Yemen the way we using drones.
We keeping -- we are least able to keep.
This particular.
Branch of al-Qaeda in its place that.
I mean I think it -- it's contained.
-- I mean is there -- clear way forward I mean I think that's that's a very open question.
I mean this is you've got to have a better government and at some point you've got to have a government which is not trying to fight a civil war which is working on.
Economic freedom which is has bring stability to the country.
And then you've got to look at your left in your right because you've got -- -- Bob across the -- there in Somalia.
You've got to al-Qaeda.
In the -- grabbing and a -- are prominent in Africa.
All these groups -- are linked in trying to work together so it you know it's like having a good first day at the -- Gettysburg.
That's great but the worst not over.
-- -- -- The part of the problem here James in dealing with these things that we are stretched so thin right now with so many actual and potential foreign policy.
Issues to deal with the big ones Iran North Korea Syria.
What the Russians are doing now way to keep an eye on China.
Because we can't really do that much more with that with a country like Yemen -- keep.
Our enemies contain -- and we.
Well you know you -- -- really good point not I would do a heck of a lot more in Yemen that they're doing I mean I don't think there's a place for US boots on the ground but.
That it is there it's like a lot of brush fires going on and if you don't.
Take care of all the brush fire somebody gives you -- forest fire.
And and I do think there is a concern if you look at the cuts coming down the road it is going to be very difficult.
For the United States to keep their focus on all these things simultaneously and to have enough special forces and drones to go outside I do worry about that.
And I also -- also so for example if you look at where we're going.
-- Somalia and Yemen from were operating out of Djibouti we have a very important base there combined.
Joint terrorism.
To to my joint task force Horn of Africa.
Djibouti is also not a very nice government I mean they've got all kinds of freedom problems.
Hopefully we'll work on that but what -- what would happen if we had to choose between them being very oppressing their people.
And operate operating out of there where would be operate -- -- every time we.
Slice away another carrier group and in these other things I do worry that that -- it's gonna cause -- little things to fall off the table and much like 9/11.
One of them will become a big thing.
-- James let me -- did just get your thoughts on the NATO summit taking place in Chicago right now.
What do you think the president should be trying to achieve at this summit and what do you think he actually will achieve.
Like I think right now is go ought to be get out of there as quickly as possible.
I mean I think you minutes you can look at the summit from two ways either as an opportunity for the president to look presidential.
You know make a reelection bid.
Look strong on foreign policy.
That hasn't worked out so well there are a lot of missteps there -- first of all -- the the occupiers and writers -- -- sucking up so much of the media it's really detracting from the president's ability look presidential.
-- they had huge issues with Pakistan they invited the pakistanis.
Then the Pakistani city won -- thirty fold increase in the in the right to transit their territory so that got very contentious so it's it's very unlikely they're gonna deliver on that so.
That they're not actually delivering in a lot on the summit.
So I think the presence gonna walk away neither with real serious progress at NATO.
And and really not so much a good PR image either.
And did that I guess one of the major issues he's getting out of Afghanistan and what he wants to do obviously is get out.
On his terms on his timetable.
But some of the European nations signed a rush to the exits a little mall.
That's right and I think if there is good news I don't think there is you actually envious stampeding for the -- right.
But on the other hand the president has set a very clear timeline and it's -- but the problem is it's like he's fighting a war.
We're only -- taking one insight into account and -- that the assumption is.
You know everything on the other side is is gonna work.
He just kind of shrug your shoulders and -- -- -- this.
This is really makes sense on the one hand you said we're gonna -- negotiate with the Taliban when you've already told them when you're leaving what you're doing how much of a commitment you're gonna make.
And what incentive -- the Taliban have to do anything what are you negotiating with them so.
I think it's a great.
Of course in terms of you know creating the narrative that the president's you know won this war and getting us out -- -- the problem is is that narrative may not match up with what's going on at the ground that make causing problems.
Running up to the election not -- -- and having a successful foreign policy in the years ahead all right James Tara -- director of the Douglas and -- -- -- farm policy studies at The Heritage -- great to -- James thanks very much as always thank you so -- all right -- just --
