Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted by a popular uprising. He was burned and cast out of his palace. No one extended him a helping hand except the late King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. Saudi Arabia treated him, fed him and returned him safely to his country.
But Corporel Saleh, as we in Egypt call him, who had joined the ranks of the Imam's army at the age of 12 and did not complete his education, was ungrateful. He still dreams of sitting on the seat of power after President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi was ousted as well.
He conspires against his people with the Houthis, who move according to an Iranian agenda that is not in the interest of Yemen that has become miserable because of the corporal and his ilk.
The corporal, who ruled from 1978 to 2012, does not want Yemen to settle down or unite. He only wants to come to power again, even if he climbs on the back of the Persians.
The 75-year-old corporal is willing to side with the devil, and not only with Abdullah al-Houthi, to rule again.
Iranian leader adviser Ali Akbar Velayati praised what the Houthis do in Yemen. He said they are part of the Islamic awakening in the region, something he had said as well about Mohamed Morsy in Egypt. He also said that grabbing Yemen by the Houthis was with the help of Ali Abdullah Saleh.
There is no doubt that the situation in Yemen is very difficult and that the map of the violence and the armed groups there is more complicated than some people think. There is also no doubt that this situation will last for long.
Tehran does not want just Yemen. It wants the whole Arabian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia. Tehran is trying to impose a blockade on Saudi Arabia so as to undermine its influence in the region. What is happening in Yemen threatens all the neighboring Arab countries and the strategic strait of Bab el-Mandeb. Tehran already has influence in Baghdad and threatens Lebanon and Syria.
Does this not antagonize anyone?
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
