January 5th Morning Readbook

Yemen; a failed state?

Battling two separatist movements, an invigorated Al Qaeda presence and an unemployment rate of more than 40% is the country on the verge of becoming a failed state?




U.S. embassy reopens in Yemen after attacks
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen reopened its doors Tuesday after a two-day closure, citing successful attacks by the government in suppressing the militant threat. The Yemeni Interior Ministry, however, issued its own statement saying the security situation in the capital had always been under control.


Obama to get update on terror plot inquiry
President Barack Obama will meet with his top security officials Tuesday to get an update on the inquiry into security lapses that allowed a bombing suspect to board a U.S.-bound flight.


Reaction: Air travelers face stricter screening




Intelligence overhaul ordered for Afghanistan
The new strategy is to move beyond simply hunting extremists and gather information about local concerns, people and leaders in an effort to win over Afghans and marginalize the insurgency.


U.S. spy effort in Afghanistan "ignorant": U.S. report
The U.S. military's intelligence chief in Afghanistan sharply criticized the work of U.S. spy agencies there on Monday, calling them ignorant and out of touch with the Afghan people.


General Dynamics to build tanks for Iraq
General Dynamics, the maker of tanks and Gulfstream business jets, won a U.S. Army contract valued at $198 million to build 140 tanks for Iraq under the foreign military sales program.


Iraq to take Blackwater to court 
Iraq will file lawsuits in US and Iraqi courts against Blackwater, a private security firm, after an American court threw out charges against five of its guards accused of killing 14 civilians in Baghdad.


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