Quotes About Saleh

With two civil wars, an al-Qaida presence and 40% unemployment, what else is President Saleh waiting for? He should leave office now.

I knew Saleh well, having interviewed and met with him several times. He was a professional Machiavelli, fluent in all forms for political maneuvering.

Saleh had his own battles to fight, most notably with a rebellious group called Ansar Allah ("Supporters of God"). Its base were the Zaydi tribes in the rugged mountains of northwest Yemen (with some spillover into the very south of Saudi Arabia). The Zaydis represent about 40 percent of the Muslim population of Yemen. They are considered close to Shia, though with doctrines different from those of Iran, and with some affinities to Sunni.

Houthi was killed by Saleh's forces in 2004. Thereafter, his fervent followers took his name—the Houthis. They also received support from Iran and Hezbollah.