Presented by: Amb.(Ret.) Ahmed S. Al-Wahishi, Ph.D Yemeni International Affairs Center
- "Failed" is too broad as a term; the aggressive, arbitrary, tyrannical or totalitarian State would equally be regarded as having "failed“ according to international law. - "State without government“ as the case of the collapse of the central government and all the other functions of the State. -“Failed State" could be understood to mean "disintegrated" or "collapsed" State. - States in which institutions partially collapsed under erupting violence referred to as "failed States". - “Failed" State is a broad label for a phenomenon, which can be interpreted in various ways. - “Failed States" existing mostly in Third World which have been affected by the geopolitical factors. - The civilized value of the State is when state is a source of its own internal law and order, and when state is a member of the international community based on the rule of law, while also taking into consideration the observation that international law is consistently striving to ensure recognition for the statehood of "failed States" and to restore their institutions. - Failed states are the weak link in the world's collective security. - The link between failed states and transnational terrorism exist, an example of it is Al-Qaeda franchises which are concentrated in West Asia, South Asia, North Africa, The Middle East and Southeast Asia among other regions. -Al-Qaeda discovered this link in the 1990s when seeking a foothold in anarchic Somalia. - Al-Qaeda has generally found it easier to maneuver in corrupt states. - Somalia has been seen as a base of maritime piracy.
Terrorism and WMD
- Modern terrorism has presented an even more serious threat than ever in terms of fashion and intensity. Currently, many countries are unstable due to terrorism. - While we commemorate 9/11 10th Anniversary it is worth mentioning that it is case which has been condemned worldwide. This tragic event has shocked the world in many ways.
- It is shocking that non-state actor could have launched an attack with extremely unconventional means against innocent civilians. -Terrorist attack might use WMDs delivered by ballistic missiles in future. - WMDs have posed a serious threat to international security and stability. - The existence of non-state actors is most likely to employ WMDs for terrorism purposes. - Acquiring know-how of WMDs is no longer impossible beyond the P-5 club. -Non-state groups have had the necessary means to initiate and run a WMD program. - Dual-use technology with application to WMDs is quite accessible in the market. - At present, what deters a non-state actor to secure an atomic bomb is no longer the lacking ability to design and assemble the weapon but the difficulty to secure fissile material. - Chemical and biological weapons, which are called "nukes of the poor“can be used by non-state groups and individuals. - Proliferation threats from non-state actors must be the issue that unites various countries. - A non-state actor could get hold of WMD through: i) securing a whole piece by transfer; ii) exercising illegal control of state-owned WMD arsenals; iii) making a piece through its own effort. - Al Qaeda was interested in obtaining a nuclear weapon access to enriched uranium or weapons-grade plutonium. - Worry that poorly governed countries will pursue nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological weapons exist. - International community must deny technology access to WMD by terrorists, Inter-state cooperation in this regard, bilaterally or multilaterally will play a major role. - Nation should develop regulation on the transaction of WMD-related dual-use items and monitor their use within the countries. - Sharing and collaboration among states to check the flow of financial resources for WMD terrorism are much needed for the anti-terror effort.- it is a must to exert more efforts to prevent access of non-state actors to WMD technology and items for terrorist purposes. - 1925 Geneva Protocol and Paris 1989 conference stressed the determination to prevent any recourse to chemical weapons by completely eliminating them. - Biological weapons have been prohibited internationally by the Geneva Protocol. – In 2004, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 1540, requiring states to refrain from supporting non-state actors in acquiring or using biological weapons.
2012 Conference
- 2010 Review Conference recommended action plans on nuclear disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as significant agreement on the implementation of the 1995 Middle East Resolution. - Accordingly the decision came to convene a Middle East regional conference in 2012 for Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction. - For the 2012 Conference to be successful, it will be essential that inter-state relations within the Middle East to improve.
Arab Peninsula Case
- If governments in Arab Peninsula lack the enough resources to launch sustained counter-terrorism operations against terrorists, this will empower them to gain support from some local Political Islamist broker.
- Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has found sympathetic tribal hosts.
- One of the greatest assets for transnational terrorist group, when they can acquire a secure base of operations. - Bin Laden decided to establish an alternative base of operations in case his followers needed to abandon South Asia and his choice was Arab Peninsula. -Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is trying to be established in tribal remote areas. - Economical and humanitarians difficulties in Yemen is attempted to be utilize by extremists such as Al Qaida to expand their operations and gain influence.- Yemen Arm forces defeated on 11/09/2011 Al Qaida- terrorist in Abean Governorate. - Yemen was among the countries that are part of the NPT Convention and which was ratified by Yemen on 14th May 1979. -Yemen supported the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 687 in 1991 that adopted the concept of both NWFZ and WMDFZ in the Middle East. - The spread of political unrest in the Middle East to Yemen and dangerous al Qaeda franchise brought the country to a big challenge. - US partnership with Yemen’s to operate against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) for the last few years is essential and should continue. - The potential consequences of instability in Yemen will make it difficult and even more complex and dangerous to combat terrorism.
- Yemen is a member of League of Arab States, and the League has expressed its commitment through its several resolutions to have the region free of WMD; Yemen will to fulfill these resolutions collectively with other member countries of League of Arab States. - For Yemen to overcome the present crisis situation, means and ways should be formed to implement the GCC initiative of Yemen.
