HOTBED OF TERROISM, GROWING UNSTABLE – AT 8:33 A.M. ET:  Things are also boiling in Yemen, a central recruiting and training ground for some terrorist groups.   From Reuters:

More than 20,000 Yemenis filled the streets of Sanaa on Thursday for a "Day of Rage" rally, demanding a change in government and saying President Ali Abdullah Saleh's offer to step down in 2013 was not enough.

Further anti-government protests were expected across Yemen, which Saleh has ruled for over three decades, and supporters of the president were driving around the capital urging Yemenis over loudspeakers to join pro-government counter demonstrations.

But by early morning, anti-government protesters had already gathered the largest crowd since a wave of protests hit the Arabian Peninsula state two weeks ago, inspired by protests that toppled Tunisia's ruler and threaten Egypt's president.

"The people want regime change," protesters shouted as they gathered outside Sanaa University. "No to corruption, no to dictatorship."

COMMENT:  Again, we have to be careful.  It's easy to say "no" to corruption and dictatorship.  A lot of corrupt dictatorships grew out of exactly that slogan.  Look at the results, not the words.  Yemen is an ancient country stuck in the 10th century.  Not necessarily fertile ground for a modern democracy.

February 3, 2011