Yemen arrest al Qaeda financier

AFP/Australian:

YEMENI authorities have arrested the financier of al-Qaeda operations in the country and in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, an official says.

"The arrested man is named Hassan Hussein bin Alwan, a Saudi national, and he is the financier for attacks launched by al-Qaeda organisation in Yemen and Saudi Arabia," the unnamed security official told the defence ministry's news website, September Net, today.

"He is considered one of the most dangerous members of al-Qaeda."

The arrest took place last week and led to an al-Qaeda cell being dismantled that was operating in Sanaa and the Marib province of eastern Yemen, an interior ministry official said.

He gave no details on the number of arrests or their nationality.

"This cell was planning terrorist attacks in Yemen. It had already mounted several al-Qaeda attacks carried out in the country," the official said, declining to be named.

In January the local al-Qaeda branch in Yemen announced in a video message posted on the internet the merging of the Saudi and Yemeni branches into "al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula," led by a Yemeni, Nasser al-Wahaishi.

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If true this would have to be a set back for al Qaeda. It could be an even bigger set back if he were sent to Gitmo for interrogation. Perhaps the Yemenis or the Saudis will persuade him to give up his Rolodex of contributors and how he conveys the money to al Qaeda operatives. His list of operatives he has funded should also be of great interest.

On the other hand, Obama can have someone tell him he has the right to remain silent and we will provide a lawyer to ensure that he remains silent while the terrorist continue their attacks. This may be the first real challenge for the Obama-Holder lawfare policies.