US and Yemeni dictator

The Yemeni dictator has not been receiving guests and does not even look like himself, yet, he was obliged (as the client dictator that he is) to receive a low-level US official to give him orders for the next phase.  And look at this cute passage in passing:  "The United States had long been a supporter of Mr. Saleh’s authoritarian rule, viewing it as the best way to combat Qaeda affiliates in Yemen. But the Obama administration withdrew its support four months ago, after concluding that Mr. Saleh’s government could not survive the uprisings sweeping the country, and that American interests were better served in getting a new government in place that might allow continued American attacks on Al Qaeda."