Re: Strategic Site Is Captured by Militants in Yemen

[Guest guest]

This is actually fairly typical for Arab Armies and why local rulers often used either foreign mercenaries or soldiers raised from birth to have fanatical devotion to the ruler. Most of their own soldiers aren't worth much in a fight and the raiders coming against them will be more motivated. So what you've got is soldiers who probably don't want to be there, are poorly paid, fed and looked after and lead by officers who steal their money and live in luxury, while the enemy might also be dirty, ragged and hungry, but they believe in their cause.

Pity all those supplies are in the stadium though, otherwise a couple of smart bombs could wipe out a large chunk of the enemy force. Got that matter, why did they put a sports complex next to an army base?

In a message dated 6/30/2011 1:05:13 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

The inability of 2,000 soldiers to hold the stadium against an attack by a few hundred militants appeared to reflect the security forces' struggle to subdue the militants, who are taking advantage of the security vacuum in the country.