On Wednesday morning, Americans woke up to news reports that rebels in Yemen had made gains and were holding the U.S.-backed president captive, raising concerns about the stability of the country.
But last September, when President Obama outlined his strategy for defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Obama touted Yemen as a successful model.
“This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist, using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground,” he said. “This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.”
The full video of Obama’s 2014 speech can be watched below.
