American Morning
Al Qaeda expands presence in Yemen amid unstable government
Yemen has become increasingly unstable and violent in recent weeks as the future of President Ali Abdullah Saleh remains uncertain and 40,000 protesters march in the capital city. Tuesday Yemeni protesters and military and pro-government gangs clashed in several areas, with at least six killed and hundreds more injured.
The United States has said it has no intention of stopping its military aid to Yemen, despite the unrest. The aid supports Yemeni counter-terrorism efforts against al Qaeda’s influence in the country, where the group has active operatives.
Today on American Morning, Paul Cruickshank, CNN terrorism analyst and alumni fellow at New York University’s School of Law, explains how al Qaeda is expanding its reach in Yemen while the President is distracted.
Are U.S. authorities worried by what al Qaeda could achieve with a greater stronghold there?
'Miral', new film by Julian Schnabel, documents Palestinian story
'Miral', a new film from director Julian Schnabel, documents the story of Palestinian women during the years of the Middle East conflict. The film, based on screenwriter Rula Jebreal's life, opens Friday.
Schnabel and Jebreal talk to American Morning's Kiran Chetry.
High rate of harassment, sexual assault in Egypt and other Arab nations
CBS News correspondent Lara Logan is recovering in a U.S. hospital after being sexually assaulted Friday in Tahrir Square.
Unfortunately, Logan's experience isn't unique; according to a 2008 survey by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, 83% of Cairo women and 98% of foreign women in Cairo said they had been harassed. Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian columnist and, since Logan's attack, has turned her Twitter account into a forum for discussion about women's rights in the Arab world and about the attack on Logan. Eltahawy speaks to American Morning's Kiran Chetry.
Is Yemen the next front in war on terror?
A branch of al Qaeda in Yemen is claiming responsibility for the attempted Christmas Day attack on a Northwest flight. The group said it was revenge for alleged U.S. strikes on Yemeni soil.
Right now among those being sheltered in Yemen is the Muslim cleric who corresponded with the suspect in the Fort Hood rampage and former Guantanamo Bay inmates who've joined Yemen's al Qaeda.
All this is raising concern that Yemen could be the next front in the war on terror.
On Tuesday's American Morning we discussed the development with Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, and Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics.
Related: Al Qaeda link investigated as clues emerge in foiled terror attack
Al Qaeda taking credit for 'advanced' device
Authorities say Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab used a pair of underwear to smuggle explosives onto Northwest Flight 253 last week. The big worry is that it was never detected by airport security.
A federal report obtained by CNN says the 23-year-old Nigerian claims he got the bomb in Yemen, along with instructions on how to use it. A branch of al Qaeda in Yemen is now claiming it was behind the plot. Our Jeanne Meserve has the report.
Al Qaeda 'safe haven' in Yemen
U.S. officials are looking at the Middle Eastern nation of Yemen, worried that it's becoming the new hub for terrorists and extremists.
Located in the center of the region, more and more terror suspects and insurgent attacks can be linked to this one nation, including the Christmas incident. Our Barbara Starr reports in this American Morning original.
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