Charles Dunbar

Today's news of the killing of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki sheds new light on the relations between the U.S. government and the embattled Yemeni government. As details come to light it is likely the operation was a joint effort involving forces from both countries, most likely with the assistance of U.S. drones. Joining us with more is Wendy Chamberlin, president of the Middle East Institute and former ambassador to Pakistan. Also joining us is Charles Dunbar, former U.S. ambassador to Yemen.

Breaking this morning in the news of the death of U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. According to Yemen's Defense Ministry, a leading figure of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was killed early this morning in northern Yemen. Al-Awlaki is believed to have helped recruit the Nigerian man who tried to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in 2009. And to have been in contact with the Fort Hood shooter. The U.S. has long regarded al-Awlaki as the biggest threat to America's homeland security and added his name last year to the kill or capture list.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Yemen, following a wave of movement throughout the Middle East. However, in Yemen the opposition parties seem to exert some control over the protests, where as the other countries are seeing a real popular uprising. Charles Dunbar, professor of international relations at Boston University says that Yemen is in danger of becoming another Somalia.

Over the last few weeks, the world has witnessed an unexpected display of public dissatisfaction across the Middle East. Pro-democracy protesters toppled the government in Tunisia this month, and similar demonstrations are underway in Yemen and Egypt's capital city of Cairo. Most of the demonstrations seemed aimed at restrictive or totalitarian governments, but can all of them be described as "pro-democracy"? And are they sparking a wider revolution in the Middle East or is that an over-simplification? For more, The Takeaway speaks to Charles Dunbar, Professor of International Relations at Boston University.