America has an interesting history in terms of how it treats the dictators it has propped up once they have outlived their usefulness.
The Shah of Iran, American bum-boy par excellence, wasn't even allowed into the country for life-saving medical care when the jig was up.
Noriega was allowed into the country to sit in a cell for 18 years.
Now President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is heading our way. Looking for a spot of medical attention.
America's relationship with Yemen has been a troubled one. Unlike other Arab dictators like Mubarak or the house of Saud, Saleh hasn't always been a reliable ally.
At least not from our point of view. He hung in there supporting Saddam Hussein long after his American friends had stabbed him in the back.
He's been fighting a supposed "Arab Spring" uprising for almost a year.
The Yemeni opposition are one of the few forces routinely identified in Western media as al Qaida, which is almost a sure sign that they're nothing of the sort.
In fact, Yemen has a tortuous history of civil war. They were fighting each other and various supposed conquerors when the US of A was just a twinkle in George Washington's eye.
They'll keep fighting. In the meantime, by allowing Saleh into the country, America has again chosen to publicly choose sides in what should be none of America's business.
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