Yemeni army vehicles take position on the frontline of fighting with al-Qaida in the southeastern province of Shabwa, Yemen, Thursday, May 8, 2014. Photo: Yemen’s Defense Ministry/AP
(ANTIMEDIA) It was recently reported that $400 million worth of US military weapons went missing in Yemen over the past several years. The equipment includes helicopters, night-vision gear, surveillance equipment, military radios and airplanes.
The area has been filled with conflict in recent years, and the US military has been sending weapons and money to the Yemeni government and military. According to the Pentagon, the intensified fighting has made it difficult for them to keep track of their weapons in the region, resulting in the massive blunder.
In exchange for the weapons, money and military support, the Yemeni government has opened their borders for US drone strikes, allowing their citizens to become targets.
“We continue to monitor the situation in Yemen closely and, as the security environment permits, we will continue working with the Government of Yemen to ensure equipment granted or sold to the Government of Yemen by the United States remains accounted for,” a Pentagon official told The Guardian.
Meanwhile, American drones still continue to kill people in Yemen. Just last week a drone strike killed four people in Yemen, and although it was reported that these victims were suspected terrorists, there was no evidence to support this claim, and this excuse is often given even when the victims are obviously innocent.
John Vibes is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war. In addition to his writing and activist work he is also the owner of a successful music promotion company. In 2013, he became one of the organizers of the Free Your Mind Conference, which features top caliber speakers and whistle-blowers from all over the world. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can find his 65 chapter Book entitled “Alchemy of the Timeless Renaissance” at bookpatch.com.