U.S. panel backs holistic plan for Yemen

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Tackling insecurity in Yemen requires a holistic approach that looks beyond military assistance for the fragile country, a bipartisan U.S. panel suggests.

Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemeni branch of the terrorist cabal, moved to the top of the security threat list following its claim of responsibility for a failed attempt to down a U.S. passenger jet Christmas Day.

Washington responded with an increase in military aid to Yemen, and various reports suggest U.S. Special Forces are operating on the ground.

Michael Makovsky, the foreign policy director at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, said military aid is a myopic approach to tackling Yemen's many challenges.

"Until Yemen develops proper governance capacity and fosters improved state legitimacy by addressing underlying social, economic and political weaknesses, it will remain a threat to international security," he said.

BPC was founded by a group of former U.S. senators, including Bob Dole and George Mitchell, to advocate a pragmatic solution to a variety of U.S. issues.

BPC in a panel discussion on Yemeni challenges advocated a holistic approach to help rebuild the country, which struggles with a variety of security issues, 35-percent unemployment, drought and a dilapidated oil sector.

Panel member Paula Dobriansky, who served as a global affairs director in the U.S. State Department under President George W. Bush, said that a widespread approach that tackles challenges beyond security issues is the best solution for Yemen.

"The biggest threat to security is the current regime's fragility," she said.