Expert: Poverty breeds terrorism in Yemen

A political analyst says Yemen is the perfect breeding ground for al Qaeda. Nabil Haider says Yemen's poor economic situation and corruption are encouraging terror groups to expand in the country.

He warned the United States must tread carefully in Yemen if it is to avoid inadvertently broadening al-Qaeda's appeal.

Nabil Haider, Yemeni Political Analyst, said, "It is normal that the bad economy leads to the creation of a phenomenon like terror. It is an ideal environment for terror to expand. We have a huge country, remote areas that are totally neglected - without health and education services - so it is normal that a group like al-Qaeda will find those areas an ideal venue for its activities where they can carry on in a free environment."

Nabil Haider says widespread poverty, corruption and conflict in the country mean few safety checks or resources are in place to prevent the spread of the terror organization.

The country's population of 23 million is set to double in 20 years. At the same time the country faces falling oil earnings and dwindling water supplies. Yemeni officials acknowledge the government also lacks the resources to tackle problems that are boosting al-Qaeda's recruitment.

Nabil Haider, Yemeni Political Analyst, said, "It is normal that the bad economy leads to the creation of a phenomenon like terror. (CCTV.com)