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David Newton - Yemen's Clouded Future
Rumi ForumMuch attention has been given to Yemen's current political crisis and to the danger of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's terrorist efforts aimed at the United States. Beyond these immediate dangers, however, Yemen threatens to become a failing state, as political, separatist, economic, and social problems are steadily worsening. Not only the United States, but also its allies, Saudi Arabia and the Persian/Arabian Gulf states face the risk of Yemen's uncertain future. Ambassador David Newton is currently an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute. He returned to the United States at the Read moreShow less
Much attention has been given to Yemen's current political crisis and to the danger of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's terrorist efforts aimed at the United States. Beyond these immediate dangers, however, Yemen threatens to become a failing state, as political, separatist, economic, and social problems are steadily worsening. Not only the United States, but also its allies, Saudi Arabia and the Persian/Arabian Gulf states face the risk of Yemen's uncertain future.
Ambassador David Newton is currently an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute. He returned to the United States at the end of 2004 after having served for six years in Prague as the first director of Radio Free Iraq. Shortly before that appointment he had retired from a thirty-six year Foreign Service career (living twenty-two years in the Arab world), having served as ambassador to Yemen (1994-97) and as the first ambassador to Iraq (1984-88) following the resumption of diplomatic relations. Other Foreign Service tours included deputy chief of mission in Yemen and Syria, political counselor in Saudi Arabia, and Department of State assignments as director for Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, as Near East division chief in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and as economic officer for the Arabian Peninsula. In 1993 he headed an inter-agency delegation to Jordan to deal with the effects of the Iraq sanctions.
Ambassador David Newton is currently an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute. He returned to the United States at the end of 2004 after having served for six years in Prague as the first director of Radio Free Iraq. Shortly before that appointment he had retired from a thirty-six year Foreign Service career (living twenty-two years in the Arab world), having served as ambassador to Yemen (1994-97) and as the first ambassador to Iraq (1984-88) following the resumption of diplomatic relations. Other Foreign Service tours included deputy chief of mission in Yemen and Syria, political counselor in Saudi Arabia, and Department of State assignments as director for Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, as Near East division chief in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and as economic officer for the Arabian Peninsula. In 1993 he headed an inter-agency delegation to Jordan to deal with the effects of the Iraq sanctions.
