The Obama administration relies on drones for one simple reason: they work. Drone strikes have devastated al Qaeda at little financial cost, at no risk to U.S. forces, and with fewer civilian casualties than many alternative methods would have caused.

John O. Brennan discusses U.S. policy toward Yemen, the status of Yemen's political transition and economic recovery program, as well as the humanitarian and security situation throughout the country.

Today, al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) is at a crossroads. Does it revert to what it was prior to 2011, a terrorist organization operating in the shadows? Or does it try to reclaim the territory it lost and once again position itself as a governing authority?

Targeted killings have become a central component of U.S. counterterrorism operations around the globe. Despite pointed criticism over transparency and accountability issues, analysts say the controversial practice seems likely to expand in the future.

There is only one name on next week's presidential ballot paper, but most Yemenis view the rubber-stamp vote as a necessary first step in ending the Saleh era. Hugh Naylor and Hakim Almasmari, foreign correspondents, report.

Despite President Saleh's signing of a power-transfer agreement, the threat of civil war is growing, write Tom Finn and Atiaf al-Wazir, noting that renewed violence between the north and south would be problematic for Western interests and could make more room for militant groups.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has emerged as the most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliate, strengthening amid political unrest in Yemen. This Backgrounder examines the group and U.S. counterterrorism operations.

The Carnegie Endowment's Christopher Boucek discusses the developing situation in Yemen and what strategies the U.S. might pursue to most successfully reduce violence in the country.

In awarding the prize to three women activists, the Nobel committee is honoring the fact that women's full participation in society is essential to peace, says CFR's Isobel Coleman.

Max Boot says the death of Anwar al-Awlaki is a fleeting victory without stability in Yemen.

John B. Bellinger III examines the legality of drone strikes used by the United States against al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders.

Ed Husain argues that the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki has undermined core American values and principles.

U.S. policymakers tout the death of radical Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki as a victory for counterterrorism operations, but the episode highlights controversial aspects of the expanding targeted killing policy.

Yemen is experiencing serious political turmoil after more than three decades of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's autocratic rule. To help stabilize Yemen, the United States must broaden its policy beyond counterterrorism efforts.

The country's president, Ali Abdallah Saleh, has returned, and already he's brutalizing demonstrators.  Bruce Riedel writes that the power grab is about to lead to full-scale civil war.

This report by the Combating Terrorism Center attempts to disaggregate the threat posed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula from the sources of instability surrounding it, by examining the group's strategy, tactics and objectives from a local perspective.

As Yemen lurches into increased instability with no clear successor to President Saleh. Yemen expert Bernard Haykel says the best intermediate political solution would be a national unity council until elections can be held.

Yemen could be edging toward civil war, particularly if the military gets involved in both sides of the conflict, says Yemen expert Gregory Johnsen, but the United States has limited ability to influence the outcome in a country that has been an ally in fighting terrorism.

CFR Senior Fellow Steven Cook and Foundation for Defense Democracies Research Fellow Tony Badran discuss the increasing violence and political change sweeping the region with Foreign Affairs Editor Gideon Rose. Cook and Badran have authored articles in the recently released eBook New Arab Revolt, published by CFR and Foreign Affairs.

A shaky deal to transfer power from Yemen's President Saleh brokered by the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council signals the emergence of the group as an active player in the region, says CFR's Thomas Lippman, even if the deal ultimately fails.