DWAC Speaker – Christopher Boucek 07/20/2011
Yemen: Challenges to Stability and Security
In a region where unrest is spreading, Yemen demands special attention. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula—arguably the most immediate threat of all the al-Qaeda affiliates—takes sanctuary in this fragile country. A downward spiral following the collapse of Yemen’s government would only make matters worse for the international community.
President Saleh is now facing the greatest challenge to his 32-year rule with tribal, government, and military defections away from the regime and several major violent episodes. Before protests kicked off on January 20, Yemen already was grappling with a daunting array of security, economic, and governance challenges. But the greatest challenge to Yemen’s stability is the rapid collapse of the economy, which in turn exacerbates every other problem. What the post-Saleh transition process or mechanism will be has yet to be determined—and figuring out who comes next looms large.
Christopher Boucek is highly regarded as an authority on security challenges in the Arabian peninsula. He has been featured on national news and has been asked to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about Yemen. He is an associate in the Carnegie Middle East Program where he is a leading specialist on disengagement and rehabilitation programs for Islamist militants and extremists.
His current research projects include clerical politics in Saudi Arabia and the confluence of challenges to Yemeni stability. He has provided expert testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.
Christopher Boucek on Fox News – “Islamic Rule in Yemen?”
Christopher Boucek on C-SPAN - “U.S. Role in Yemen”
Event Info:
Date: Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Time: 5:30-7:15 PM (5:30 reception; 6:00 presentation)
Venue: Brown Palace Hotel - Central City Room (2nd floor), 321 17th Street, Denver 80202
Price: $25 IIE Members/ $35 Non-Members
Please click here to register (can take a while to load) or call 303.837.0788 x 10
