Nasser Arrabyee returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in Sana’a where ex-Houthi leader Ali Abdullah Saleh was assassinated by his former Houthi allies. Arrabyee explains that the Saleh-Houthi alliance was always one of convenience and was bound to end—but that no one was expecting it to happen during the war. Arrabyee believes that the beginning of the conflict goes back to August when Houthis clashed with Saleh supporters. Arrabyee now sees two possible options in the wake of Saleh’s death: 1) Yemenis will continue to fight Saudi Arabian aggression behind a united Houthi front or 2) they will attempt to disband the Houthi movement altogether. Arrabyee believes that Saleh made a massive miscalculation in his dramatic about-face—and that none of his many supporters came to his defense—but that Saudi Arabia made an even bigger one. Arrabyee then does his best to predict what will happen next. Finally Scott asks about the reported cases of close to a million cases of cholera and the new outbreak of diphtheria.

Nasser Arrabyee is a Yemeni journalist based in Sana’a, Yemen. He is the owner and director of yemen-now.com. You can follow him on Twiiter @narrabyee.

Discussed on the show:

• Ali Abdullah Saleh
• Houthis
• August 26, 2017: “Houthis and Saleh forces clash in Sanaa, at least two dead” (Reuters)
• “Yemen’s Saleh says ready for ‘new page’ with Saudi-led coalition” (Reuters)
• Aden
• Southern Movement (Yemen)
• Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
• “Ravaged by Cholera, Yemen Faces 2nd Preventable Scourge: Diphtheria” (New York Times)

Today’s show is sponsored by: NoDev, NoOps, NotIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Inc.; LibertyStickers.com; TheBumperSticker.com; 3tediting.com; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; and Darrin’s Coffee.

Check out Scott’s Patreon page.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download