AQAP Expands in Yemen, But Are Drone Strikes on Hold?

With Anwar al-Awlaki dead, one hears relatively little these days regarding the progress of events in Yemen in relation to AQAP and U.S. involvement there.  Which is remarkable, because some very interesting and important things have been happening against the backdrop of the demise of President Saleh and the further weakening of central government authority there.  On one hand, it appears that members of AQAP have taken control of a number of towns in Yemen of late, including most recently the town of Radda.  One wonders precisely what the situation actually entails on the ground, but at least according to this report AQAP's ranks have grown considerably, the group is asserting its desire to seize power in Yemen, has modeled itself along the lines of al Qaeda in Iraq, actually has seized a number of towns, and has reaffirmed its allegiance to Ayman al Zawahiri.  On the other hand, that same report also indicates that the United States may have suspended air strikes in Yemen in the aftermath of the October 2011 strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki's 16 year-old, American-citizen son.  That may or may not be the case (a formal suspension, that is), but in any event the situation certainly bears closer monitoring.