LONDON Ñ Yemen has signaled its agreement for the entry of U.S.
troops to help eradicate Islamic insurgency pockets along the Saudi border.
Arab diplomatic sources said Yemeni President Abdullah Saleh has relayed
his agreement in principle to the deployment of U.S. troops in his country.
They said Saleh stipulated that the U.S. soldiers stay for a limited period
and not participate in any missions against Islamic insurgents.
The administration has linked the U.S. military presence to aid to
Sanaa. Yemen, which has requested $400 million in aid, has been disappointed
with Washington's response. The administration is said to have offered $4
million including the supply of advanced coastal patrol boats.
"I've had a very good discussion with the president of Yemen," President
George Bush said on Friday. "I made it clear to him as well as other
presidents of nations that you're either with us or you're not with us, and
that if you're with us, we expect results. We expect you to work diligently
and work hard to arrest Al Qaida killers and Al Qaida members or people who
aid and abet Al Qaida. And the Yemen government is responding."
The sources said Yemen expects Washington to send several hundred troops
to advise and train Yemeni military and security forces. They said the
mission is to search and destroy Al Qaida strongholds in Yemen.
But diplomatic sources in Sanaa said the U.S. troops would not arrive at
once. They said a group of up to 70 U.S. soldiers would begin training in
Yemen and later the two countries would discuss whether additional troops
are required.
On Saturday, the New York Times reported that President George Bush
approved sending 100 troops to Yemen. Earlier, The Wall Street Journal
reported that the administration is also considering deploying the Predator
unmanned air vehicle to help in search-and-destroy operations. The Predator
was used extensively in the war in Afghanistan.
