Saleh has become "untenable" for US imperialism. A new "friend" must be found in Yemen.

Video: March 18th. US stooge, Saleh, sends troops to crush protesters demanding democratic reforms, some 30 unarmed protesters are reported killed.


US capitalism is finally shifting its position with regards to Yemen's ruthless dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh who it has financed and kept in power for the last 32 years. The Obama administration "now seeks removal of Yemeni president"  Reuters tells us. And why is this, we may ask?  Because US capitalism has, "Concluded Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh will not likely enact reforms demanded by opposition protesters and must be eased out of office." New York Times 4-3 11.

"American officials have told allies and some reporters that they now view Saleh's hold on office as untenable and they believe he should leave." the New York Times says. 

As workers we should be absolutely clear about one thing.  The position of US capitalism on Saleh has not changed.  The great minds of the US bourgeois recognize that Saleh is still a thug and a murderer.  He has always been, a thug and a murderer.  He is one of the little dependable men who serve the interests of the mighty and powerful US capitalist class.

Saleh's "hold on office" has become "untenable" not because US imperialism thinks it is abhorrent to shoot unarmed protesters demanding freedom from religious discrimination and for democratic rights.  Or because it is against the principles of the folks in the White House to rob your citizens blind and ban any public opposition to you doing so. In fact opposition to such things for cash payment is exactly what bonds Saleh and his US financiers.  Saleh has become a liability for one reason and one reason only; the people of Yemen have shown that they are prepared to die for these rights and are continuing to do so. 82 of them have died in the struggle for democratic rights in Yemen and they will not back down; they have lost their fear and when people lose their fear there is not much that can stop them.

Saleh has become an embarrassment to US imperialism and it must find another reliable ally in Yemen.  It will, for the time being anyway, have to concede some ground. It will have to ensure that the nest stooge it props up in Yemen will be willing to share a little more of the loot. The workers of the former colonial world have no illusions when it comes to the motives of US capitalism.

"Talks have been off and on over the past two weeks, sometimes in the presence of the U.S. ambassador." says Reuters.  Well, we can see the process taking place before our very eyes. One of the conditions of a transfer of power------in other words, if forced out, Saleh will not force the issue and unleash the elite, US trained, armed and financed Republican guard that protected him against popular anger all these years------one of the conditions, is that him and his thieving relatives won't be held accountable and can keep their loot.

Workers must not let this opportunity to see the mechanics of society so openly exposed pass us by.  We must learn from it.

This is the diplomacy that Wikileaks and, assuming he is guilty of what he is accused of, Bradley Manning have freed us from.  Good on 'em.