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“Umar Farouk is one of my students; I had communications with him. And I support what he did, as America supports Israel’s killing of Palestinians, and its killing of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Although there are doubt about the authenticity of the recording from which this quote is taken, it's referring to the Nigerian suspect in the American Christmas day airplane bomb attempt. One would interpret this justification of the failed act of terrorism as "an eye for an eye" however, such matters are far more complicated. It should be understood that acts of terrorism undermine the national security of every nation. The catch 22 however, is that acts of killing are being done to stop acts of killing. Also its seems that no one has been able to diplomatically get to the root of what extremist groups and terrorism supporters are trying to convey to the world. Some claim that they are acting in the name of their god, yet opportunistic statements, videos, and unexpected followers are popping up to claim responsibility for such extremism.
Its makes one wonder if this vain dance between the perceived good and bad will ever end. The NY Time article which spotlights this dilemma, mentions that not only did the American-born Anwar al Awlaki have contact with the aformentioned Nigerian terrorist, two of the 9/11 extremists, and the Army Major who committed terrorists acts at the Fort Hood base. He also had a platform from which to influence young Muslim minds. Through Mosques in San Diego, and Virgina the article says "[Awlaki's] eloquent defenses of violent jihad in sermons and on the Internet are widely believed to have radicalized many young Muslims." This is an area that anti-terrorism networks should pay particular attentions to. Not only are extremists coming from different parts of the world, but some of them are being born and bread in the very nation(s) that they are targeting. Much time can be spent on ousting remote cells, like Awlaki's in the remote Shabwa Province in Yemen. Or more attention can be paid to how extremism is being spread to new impressionable minds. Concerned citizens of the world should want to know how and why these individuals are so affective in spreading their ideals, and how that information can be used to really make progress in the "war against terror". Clearly this issue is far more layered than the filtered bits that make it to the mainstream, but at the same time it continues to be a growing problem for the global community.
Its makes one wonder if this vain dance between the perceived good and bad will ever end. The NY Time article which spotlights this dilemma, mentions that not only did the American-born Anwar al Awlaki have contact with the aformentioned Nigerian terrorist, two of the 9/11 extremists, and the Army Major who committed terrorists acts at the Fort Hood base. He also had a platform from which to influence young Muslim minds. Through Mosques in San Diego, and Virgina the article says "[Awlaki's] eloquent defenses of violent jihad in sermons and on the Internet are widely believed to have radicalized many young Muslims." This is an area that anti-terrorism networks should pay particular attentions to. Not only are extremists coming from different parts of the world, but some of them are being born and bread in the very nation(s) that they are targeting. Much time can be spent on ousting remote cells, like Awlaki's in the remote Shabwa Province in Yemen. Or more attention can be paid to how extremism is being spread to new impressionable minds. Concerned citizens of the world should want to know how and why these individuals are so affective in spreading their ideals, and how that information can be used to really make progress in the "war against terror". Clearly this issue is far more layered than the filtered bits that make it to the mainstream, but at the same time it continues to be a growing problem for the global community.
- O. Lucius
