Jamal al-Badawi was granted his freedom after pledging loyalty to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Michelle linked to Jane’s must read.
Yemen uses and exports Islamic fanatics as a tool of domestic and foreign policy. After the empowerment of Hamas in a democratic election, the idealistic US push for democratization and reform in the Middle East was met by the real-politik fears of radical Islamists gaining political power. In Yemen, radical Islamists already have political power and government jobs, as evidenced by the state’s failure to thwart terrorist financing, media incitement, mosque incitement, material support and moral support for terrorism. With or without official political status, elections or recognition, Yemeni Islamist militants are capable of influencing the regime and deploying state resources. And these political players are more dangerous when they are playing the game underground, while an enormous game of charades takes place in the media.
The days of “with us or against us” are certainly over as the intertwined structure between dictatorships and terrorists becomes clearer. To undermine one is to undermine the other, to support one supports the other. The natural alliance between indigenous reformists and the United States is dysfunctional in the current climate, leaving both more vulnerable. However, there are many in the Yemeni administration and some in the opposition who are quite patriotic and in favor of reform and modernization. Somehow the US must become as good at playing both sides of the fence as the Yemeni regime is.
Pete is outraged to say the least and sums it up with:
Disgusting. I hope the FBI hunts him down. The families of the USS Cole (DDG-67) 17 sailors killed deserve nothing less and many others that were injured deserve nothing less
Trackposted to , guerrilla radio, The Populist, Shadowscope, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, The Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Pirate’s Cove, The Pink Flamingo, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe. 
Sadly, this was a foregone conclusion to Yemen’s incarceration of this thug. But then, if Yemen were not going to execute him, as is proper for all such killers, then continued incarceration served no useful purpose. Released with a target on his back would have been acceptable. Barely. (In fact, we’d be better served, IMO, were that to be the general rule with killers–including drunk drivers who kill–in the U.S.: a speedy execution or released with a target tatooed on their foreheads… Why warehouse killers to begin with?)
Were it not for the slap in the face to the families of those killed as a result of this creature’s actions, I’d almost yawn and say, “You expected anything else?” As it is, I can truly hope for at least a metaphorical target imprinted on this piece of filth’s forehead. Surely justice will find a way…