Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted after more than 30 years of strong-armed rule, has asked the Obama administration for permission to come to America for medical treatment. Saleh was seriously injured in a rocket attack on his palace last June. Although he signed an agreement brokered by the Gulf States to turn control over to his vice president in return for immunity from prosecution, his continued presence in Yemen has prolonged the ongoing violence and what many see as the threat of civil war. Even though Washington said the request was for medical treatment, Saleh told the nation in a televised speech that his purpose was to allow tensions to subside and specifically not for medical care. Saleh’s opponents continue to demonstrate against the immunity provision while Al-Qa’ida seeks to capitalize on the instability. America’s CIA has been launching drone attacks against Al-Qa’ida in southern Yemen. For his part, Saleh is accused of continuing to yield influence and says he plans to return and re-establish himself as a political force.