The Nov. 3 missile attack that killed six suspected al-Qaeda in a car near Marib has raised the ire of tribes in Yemen, says a local tribal leader.
Meanwhile, Yemeni authorities have taken the dead bodies for DNA tests to know the identity of the killed men and verify whether the other al-Qaeda suspect Mohammed Al-Ahdal is not among them.
But another prominent sheik in Marib says the US had the right to carry out the bold attack because the Yemeni authorities were unable to arrest one of the dead who is Abu Ali, also known as al-Harethi, suspected of being linked with the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
"The tribe's reaction is that the attacks are unsuitable," said one sheik, named Mabkhoot.
Shiekh Mohammed Abdullah Saleh al-Qarda'ee, a prominent sheiks in Marib governorate, has a different view.
"The US has its ultimate goals to track their enemies. There is only one enemy Qaed Salem Senyan al-Harethi, a prime suspect of destroying the USS Cole destroyer in Aden. During two years the Yemeni authorities have been incapable of arresting him.
The US has the right to kill their enemies whenever they are and that the US has the right to defend itself," he said.
Concerning the silence of the government, Sheikh Mohammed al Qarda'ee said: "There is a confusion on the part of the Yemen's policy. They don't have a fixed policy whether external or internal, and this will lead to conducting further operations."
He also said, "If our government along with other governments have declared the war against terror hand in hand with the US, it is undoubtedly that these governments have been remiss of their sovereignty and independence," he said.
"The authority has given the green light to the US to conduct such an operation against Yemeni citizens and on the Yemeni lands," he further added.
Concerning the tribes' reactions in Marib, al-Qarda'ee said that he couldn't judge because the issue according to him is still unknown.
"Generally speaking, Yemenis are so furious of the penetrations whether against the Yemeni citizen or against the country. Taking revenge against innocent citizens accompanied al-Harethi by some tribesmen is perhaps true," he concluded.

Sheikh Mabkhoot Hathal's view
Mabkhoot Hathal however takes a stronger stance against the missile attack. He said that the tribes had no objections to hand Abu Ali over to the state if he was involved in any sabotage acts.
"The judiciary system has been created for every one, for Abu Ali and others," he said.
Concerning the tribes' protection to Abu Ali and the state's incapability to arrest him, Mabkhoot said that it is customary for tribes to protect any person who seek refuge with them.
"As a result of this, tribes will protect anybody in case he is content to hand himself over along with providing guarantees to a fair trial," he noted.
Tribal conventions play a vital role in this respect. A tribal community has the right to protect any body even if he is a Jew, said Mabkhoot, who is also a member of the local council.
"We have watched TV channels and reports of Abu Ali rooming around throughout the desert. He protected himself and not the tribes," he further highlighted.
Concerning the tribes' expectations of the US conducting further killings of al-Qaeda suspects, Mabkhoot said: "The way the six people were killed will turn against the state itself. The door that has been closed in front of Abu Ali will cause another to be opened," he said.
Tribes & weapons
Tribes and weapons are considered to be one of the greatest blessings that are endowed to tribesmen, Mabkhoot said. "We sometimes fall prey to some officials in the state, so we have to defend ourselves and dignity.
The weapon the tribesman carries resembles the brother of the soul," he commented.
The long-term tribal disputes have made tribes fight against each other and that is why the majority of the tribes have been maintaining their weapons.
It is true that the government has made every effort to put an end to the tribal clashes, to disunite the tribes' unity and to weaken its power, but this according to Mabkhoot, "that's a wrong policy".
As for the tribes and their links to the Saudi Arabia Mabkhoot said:
"People sometimes have attributed the tribe-Saudi relationships to the borderlines. But now relations have deepened and enhanced for the better," he said.
Despite of being a very prominent member at the local council, he and his tribal members choose not to engage in partisan politics. Tribal relations are stronger than the party, and the state's central support is weak.
American debate over
Meanwhile, the debate raged within the American CIA for years: Should the United States hunt down and kill its terrorist foes, or would Israeli-style "targeted killings'' only invite retribution and feed an endless cycle of violence?
But it now appears the debate is over, and operations have begun.
Even those who applauded the strike said that it is sure to inflame militants, including those belonging to the Al Qaeda network, and expose U.S. diplomats and other overseas officials to possible retaliation.
The attack triggered outrage in some quarters of the Arab world and forced U.S. officials into the difficult position of defending a tactic it has criticized Israel for using.
But Bush administration officials made it clear that they see those risks and diplomatic discomforts as worth enduring when confronted with an opportunity to kill a high-ranking Al Qaeda figure linked to previous attacks and considered likely to be planning more.
In fact, U.S. officials and top Pentagon advisers said Tuesday that Al Qaeda should expect more of the same.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz called the strike a very successful tactical operation.''
"We've got to keep the pressure on everywhere we're able to,'' he said on CNN.
"We've got to deny the sanctuaries everywhere we're able to, and we've got to put pressure on every government that is giving these people support to get out of that business.''
The Nov. 3 attack was in keeping with the so-called Bush doctrine that, among other things, commits the nation to preemptive military strikes in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism. It was carried out by an unmanned CIA surveillance plane armed with laser-guided missiles. The Predator drones had been patrolling Yemen in recent months, tracking the movements of dozens of Al Qaeda figures who have been operating in the country's barren northern territory.


First hit outside Afghanistan
Until Nov. 3, U.S. strikes on suspected Al Qaeda members had been confined to the war theatre in Afghanistan.
Elsewhere, the CIA's activities had appeared to consist mainly of assisting in raids and other operations conducted jointly with foreign intelligence services.
At the State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher refused to discuss the attack in Yemen and trod carefully around questions on whether U.S. involvement in the strike contradicts long-standing U.S. disapproval of so-called targeted killings. The State Department has repeatedly criticized Israel for using such tactics against Palestinians.
Asked whether the United States has altered its opinion, Boucher replied, "Our policy on targeted killings in the Israeli-Palestinian context has not changed.''
He went on to say that the U.S. position reflects concern that such killings harm prospects for peace negotiations.
Those reasons, he said, "do not necessarily apply in other circumstances.''
Israeli scholars rejected such distinctions and said the attack in Yemen is tantamount to a U.S. endorsement of the Israeli policy of pre-emptive attacks on militant foes.
The U.S. shift, the scholars said, shows that the Bush administration has rejected the long-held American view that refraining from violence offers at least some protection from retaliation.
"Israel knows that it's going to be attacked no matter what it does,'' said Barry Rubin, head of the Global Research and International Affairs Centre.
"The U.S. situation has become more like the Israeli situation. It is the impact of September 11.''
Current and former intelligence officials said reprisals are possible, if not inevitable.
"Not everybody has been gung-ho about going out and doing this,'' said a former CIA official previously involved in high-level comissions.
"It may be the right policy, but it's not going to be without consequences."
Others, however, said September 11 showed that U.S. restraint earned it no protection from Al Qaeda and that the show of force in Yemen was long overdue.
"Maybe they'll try to do something else to us,'' another former senior CIA official said.
"The fact is, we've been getting shot at for the last 30 to 40 years. The weaker they think you are, the more they'll go after us.''
Israeli style?
The attack in Yemen prompted criticism from some in the Arab world. The London-based Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi carried an editorial Tuesday condemning the attack.
"We believe the Americans are adopting the Israeli style of bombing - it is appaling,'' editor Abdebari Atwan wrote.
"This is not the work of a civilised democratic power but in the style of Osama bin Laden.'' Atwan predicted that the attack will antagonise Arabs and "will encourage membership (in) Al Qaeda .''
But Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, issued a statement Tuesday timed for the start of Ramadan urging Al Qaeda members to "repent'' and "renounce all means of violence.''
The official Yemeni news agency cited reports from local tribesman near the scene of the attack, about 150km east of Sanaa, confirming that Al Harthi was among those killed. Al Harthi had been under U.S. surveillance for months.
A onetime bodyguard to Bin Laden, he was believed to be Al Qaida's operational leader in Yemen, where many Al Qaeda members have fled from war-torn Afghanistan.
Some former intelligence officials said the strike is certain to deliver a psychological blow to Al Qaeda, perhaps explaining why word of U.S. involvement in the attack leaked so quickly from the Bush White House on Monday.
"You want to take credit for this operation,'' said one former CIA official.
It sends a message that Al Qaeda "is not even safe in North Yemen. That's the back of the beyond. Al Qaeda owns that lawless border area, and I'm sure they've been wandering around there with impunity.''
Others were sceptical that militants would be cowed even by an impressive display of U.S. weaponry. "I'm not sure you can frighten them,'' another former CIA operative said.

Based on a survey of The Yemen Times, the public seems to be outraged at the US attack Nov 3 that killed six Yemenis in Mareb on Nov. 3.
The Times interviewed 95 people in Sana'a and found the following results:
- 93% objected to the strike
- 85% said that Yemen's national sovereignty has been undermined.
- 97% said that they could not imagine that the Yemeni government blessed this action.
- 40% thought that action should be taken by the Yemeni government in the form of terminating Yemen's assistance to the US in its war against terror while others thought that a public response should be formulated in the form of demonstrations and condemnations.
Overall, the public believes that the situation is quite sensitive and the Yemeni government's position is critical.
They have expressed disappointment over the attack and wished that the Yemeni government could protest this US act or at least show some concern or reservations. But this is yet to happen as the government failed to provide any response to those US allegations.

Here are some of the opinions.
"Mohammed Hassan Saeed said "The US has no right to assassinate any Yemeni regardless of whether they are al-Qaeda suspects or not. Our country's legal system should not be overlooked. It is truly illogical for the Yemeni government to agree or provide support to such action by the USA.
"If the explosion of the car was proven to be an act of the US without Yemen's knowledge, then that is considered a violation of our national sovereignty and Yemen should mobilize a strong response. If it was done with the blessing of the Yemeni government, then it is up to the public to protest."
Abdoh Ibrahim Mahyoob said that the "US has no right to assassinate any human beings without trial. The Yemeni government cannot bless any act of killing of its own people. This is indeed a violation of our national sovereignty and we should terminate our relations with the USA. But if the Yemeni government insists on its stance in supporting this act of the US, then the street should protest this action openly."However, not all those who were asked in the survey knew about the US confession concerning the attack. As a matter of fact, some Yemeni citizens simply do not have dishes or read newspapers. So, all the information they get is that which comes on the local TV channels, which didn't mention a thing about the strike.
Abdullah Ali said, "I have not heard about this incident at all. I only watch our national TV channels and they have not mentioned this. I believe that if our channels didn't mention it, this indicates that all that has been said is false. I believe that the government tells us all that is going on in our country on TV."
Hamoud Qaid says, "The USA failed to capture Osama bin Laden and will never succeed in that. Hence, it is trying to search for victims elsewhere. Yemen does not bless any attack against its citizens and will be able to capture those law violators without the help of others. I believe that this action resembles a violation of our sovereignty and Yemen should discontinue its assistance to the USA. The street will probably be outraged if it finds out that the Yemeni government helped the US in this assassination."However, Rasheed Ghaleb has another opinion on the reaction of the public if it is found that the Yemeni government knew or blessed this US-attack, "Even though I cannot imagine that Yemen would agree on such action by the US, but I also think that the public will not react at all even if they find out that the Yemeni government assisted in this action. The public as always will obey the government and do what it says thinking that what it does is always appropriate."Tawfiq Ali Hameed says that "The US has no right to assassinate any citizen of another country simply because there are international laws that regulate the dealing with such terrorists or suspects. The incident was outrageous and shocking, yet I believe that any hasty official statement at this time will not be in the government's favor. No doubt our sovereignty was violated and as government, Yemen should express its objection and protest to the international community and as people, we should start demonstrations."Isam Mohammed Jawba has demonstrated the opinion of the majority of the population by saying that Yemen Times should "leave all those questions aside because the people are busy after their own affairs. We are in the holy month of Ramadan and our homes are full of many open mouths to feed. I never listen to the news and I believe in nothing and all I want is to survive those harsh conditions."Interestingly, many of the interviewed Yemenis expressed their disbelief in that the Yemeni government could assist the US in such an act. However, many of them also expressed their doubts concerning the news about the US involvement. "We were told that the car exploded because of the explosives it carried. Even if the whole world says otherwise, we will only believe our government." said Hussein Ali.
Ahmed Mohammed Hussein said that "The US has no right to act in such a way, which resembles a war on sovereign nations. Yemen cannot bless or agree on such action. Whether this assassination was done with or without the Yemeni government's approval, it still undermines our national sovereignty. The Yemeni government should express its anger and present an official protest to the UN. On the other hand, if you are asking about the public, then I can safely assume that Yemenis are too busy looking after how to make ends meet and to survive the harsh economic conditions the country is going through."

Foreigners warned to use caution

American and British nationals are among those being advised to avoid non-essential travel to Yemen, in the latest tightening of measures to deal with the threat of terrorism.
At the same time expatriate workers across the Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also been warned to be vigilant, particularly in places frequented by foreigners, such as hotels, restaurants and shopping malls.
Foreign offices warned this week there may be a retaliation against Western interests in Yemen following the killing last week of six suspected al Qaeda members, including Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant in the country, Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi.
Meanwhile, the US State Department said Nov. 7 it was not yet able to confirm reports that a U.S. national had been killed in Yemen in an operation attributed to the Central Intelligence Agency.
"We've seen the reports," spokesman Richard Boucher said. "I suppose we may hear more from the Yemeni authorities. We don't have enough information to determine whether this name is a particular American or not, AFP reported.
Yemeni sources told AFP that the six killed were "dangerous elements" of Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda terror network wanted for "involvement in terrorist acts that harmed the national interests of Yemen."
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has written to US President George Bush to express its deep concern over the Nov. 3 American attack killing six Yemeni.
Amnesty International has also written to the President of Yemen asking whether there had been attempts by the Yemeni authorities to arrest these persons, and urging them to provide clarification about the cooperation and possible knowledge of the Yemeni government in this incident.
"If this was the deliberate killing of suspects in lieu of arrest in circumstances in which they did not pose an immediate threat the killings would be extra-judicial executions, in violation of international human rights law," Amnesty International said in a Nov. 8 press release.
"The United States should issue a clear and unequivocal statement that it will not sanction extra-judicial executions in any circumstances and that any US officials found to be involved in such actions will be brought to justice," the organization added.
Amnesty International urges the US government to provide full clarification of the role played by US personnel in the death of the six men.
Those killed include an alleged leading member of al-Qaeda Salim Sinyan al-Harethi.
Amnesty International say it recognizes the obligation of the US to protect its nationals. Nevertheless, any measure taken must be in accordance with US commitments under international human rights law, even in times of national emergency, it said.