The U.S. will likely increase aid to Yemen more than twofold, but the added help in the war against terrorists will not include deployment of U.S. forces there, Gen. David H. Petraeus, chief of U.S. Central Command, said during a Jan. 11 interview with CNN reporter Christine Amanpour. The increase of counterterrorism funding to Yemen should peak at about $150 million between now and the end of September, up from the current $70 million, Petraeus said. The necessity of the added help was borne out by the foiled attempt of a Nigerian national to destroy a Detroit-bound commercial airliner on Christmas Day, Petraeus said, pointing out that the would be attacker received aid and training from terrorist elements in Yemen. In a separate CNN interview, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen reiterated Petraeus’ comments. “Right now, as far as any kind of boots on the ground there, with respect to the United States, that’s just not a possibility,” Mullen told CNN, according to a report by Voice of America.
