Man with US/FBI $5 mil. reward walks right out of court, free in Yemen
In the United States, Jaber Al Banna would be locked away in a maximum security prison. But in Yemen, Al Banna is a free man.
Welcome to one of America's most problematic allies in the war against Al Qaida. Yemen might receive American money, weapons and other aid, but Sanaa remains unwilling to stop Al Qaida in the Gulf state.
Jaber al-Banna, center, also known as Jaber Elbaneh, who is on the list of most wanted terrorists by the U.S. FBI and with a reward of $5 million for information leading to his arrest, attends the first hearing into his case at a state security court of appeals in Sanaa, Yemen on Feb. 23. Reuters/Khaled Abdullah
Take Al Banna. The United States has placed a $5 million bounty on the head of the 41-year-old Al Qaida agent, who is also an American citizen.
In 2006, the FBI thought it had Al Banna behind bars when he was sentenced to 10 years for masterminding two attacks in Yemen's Maarib and Hadramawt provinces. But within weeks, Al Banna and 22 other Al Qaida operatives broke out of prison in Sanaa by digging a tunnel to a nearby mosque.
Al Banna continued to be active in Al Qaida attacks on Western and energy targets in Yemen. In May, he surrendered to authorities and was allowed to remain free.
One day one these morons is just going to declare the caliphate.
Indeed, on Feb. 23, Al Banna strolled into a Sanaa court with his bodyguards on charges of attacking oil facilities. When the hearing was over, he simply walked out the door.
The FBI has been furious and urged the State Department to issue a strong protest. But the department has been reluctant, fearing this would only exacerbate tensions with Sanaa.
Meanwhile, American money keeps flowing into Yemen.
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