but the thinmg that is most interesting here is the broader struggle between Saudi and Iran. Heres an update on eth story thats relevant –

http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2009/11/200911151552667333.html

whats your take on that aspect?

I think it’s a tragic situation. Houthis have legitimate complaints. Whether the government of Yemen a) has ignored them; b) has actively sought to suppress them; c) has been unable to accommodate them; d) all of the above, the result is unhappiness by a group of people who feel put upon for lack of development and at least perceived religious discrimination.

The resulting troubled waters are splashing around. Some of it splashed over Saudi borders and the Saudis reacted. Fishing in troubled waters is a time-honored (?) tactic used by expansionist governments. Thus, it’s not unlikely that Iran sees opportunities here, much as it did in civil-war torn Lebanon. Does the world need a new version of Hezbollah? Do Yemen and Saudi Arabia?

The problems of the Houthi remain, however. Just what a barely in control Yemeni government can do is exceptionally problematic, but it needs to find a way to resolve legitimate Houthi complaints without lapsing into illegitimate repression on either religious or terrorism grounds.