ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style3 { height: 68px; } .MsoNormal {} h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style4 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style6 { height: 69px; } h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style7 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> &nbsp;<table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"> <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140" class="style6"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" class="style6"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2"></td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style4">Yemeni Terrorist Al-Awlaki&#39;s New Threat</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright May 23, 2010<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="style7">U</span>.S.-born 39-year-old Yemeni Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a member of al-Qaida in Yemen, called on Muslims to attack Americans civilians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Qaida s media wing released al-Awlaki s first video calling for killing of American civilians, blaming U.S. citizens for participating in the slaughter of 1 million Iraqis at the hands of the U.S. military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The American people, in general, are taking part in this an they elected this administration and they are financing the war, said al-Awlaki, believed to have inspired U.S. 39-year-old Army psychiatrist Abdel Malik Hasan to massacre 13 U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 5, 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Reviews of Hasan s e-mails indicate an ongoing relationship with al-Awlaki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Those who might be killed in a plane are merely a drop of water in a sea, said al-Awlaki, showing his support to the Sept. 11 hijackers that killed 2,976 U.S. and foreign civilians.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Escalating U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan by 30,000 or 40% Dec. 2, 2009, Presdient Barack Obama committed U.S. assets to Afghanistan, ignoring terrorist threats in Yemen, Somalia and other parts of East Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Former President Bill Clinton had no coherent response following the downing, with al-Qaida s help, of two Blackhawk helicopters in Mogadishu Oct. 3, 1993, killing 19 U.S. soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Five years later, al-Qaida bombed U.S. embassiesin East Africa Aug. 7, 1998, prompting Clinton s throwaway missile attack against Bin Laden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Qaida s East African attacks prompted former CIA Director George J. Tenet to declare war on Bin Laden, yet neither the CIA nor U.S. military were committed to the cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Two years later, al-Qaida struck the U.S.S. Cole Aug. 12, 2000 in Yemen s Gulf of Aden, killing 17 U.S. sailors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Despite al-Qaida s terrorist activity in East Africa, the U.S. war continues in Afghanistan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> New Mexico-born Al-Awlaki received his bachelors degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University in 1994 and a masters degree in Educational leadership at San Diego State University in 1996.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He dropped out of a doctoral program in Human Resource Development at George Washington University in 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Shortly after Sept. 11, he returned to Yemen and received formal Islamic training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While the dates are fuzzy, al-Awlaki was imprisoned in Yemen where he became a devotee of Wahhabist Sayyid Qutb, the originator of Islamic jihad against the West.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Qaida s Osama bin Laden subscribes to the same violent philosophy, where civilians are fair game in his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>radical agenda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. authorities have known for some time that the English-speaking al-Awlaki was fomenting violent revolution from his Web site, encouraging young Muslims to attack Western targets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>While U.S. troops prepare for an all-out offensive in Taliban-stronghold Kandahar, Obama must urgently reassess the mission and redirect U.S. assets to East Africa, especially Yemen and Somalia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Awlaki reportedly had direct contacts with Nigerian-born underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and Fort Hood shooter Army psychiatrist Abdel Malik Hasan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The president will continue to take action directly at terrorists like Awlaki and keep our country safe from their murderous thugs, said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While House officials can t explain a terrorism policy that focuses primarily of Afghanistan, when recent terrorism has originated from East Afrcia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Like the U.S. is finding in Kandahar, terrorists quickly shift locations, staying several steps ahead of their pursuers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. terrorism policy must be more capable of switching gears.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Despite promises from Yemen s security services to track down and arrest al-Awlaki, the U.S. must pursue the U.S.-born traitor and terrorist with more vigor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Insisting that the U.S. is  actively trying to find al-Awlaki, the CIA must have more boots on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Over-reliance on predator drone attacks in Pakistan has let renegades like Osama bin Laden and Mullah Mohammed Omar slip trough the cracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They must be pursued relentlessly if the U.S. has any chance of making progress in the war on terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Awlaki, a son of U.S.- educated Yemen s Agriculture minister, turned against the U.S. sometime around Sept. 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. officials must do a better job of profiling young Muslims vulnerable to the temptations made by full-fledged terrorists like al-Awlaki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Explaining why children of affluent families are drawn toward Islamic terrorism is anyone s guess.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>White House officials must do a better job adapting U.S. assets to ever-shifting points of terrorism activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Since going to war against the Taliban in 2001, the U.S. has made some wrong turns, especially detouring into Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sometime next year, Barack will fill a campaign promise to end the Iraq War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>He must do the same in Afghanistan before wasting more U.S. assets and lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> As for the Americans, I will never surrender to them, said al-Awlaki..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>:If the Americans want me, let them come look for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>God is my protector, daring Obama to go after Yemen and Somalia-based terrorists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. officials can t afford to spread iassets too thin in Iraq and Afghanistan, when they ve got more pressing priorities in East Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Too much time has already elapsed with White House terrorism policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Al-Awlaki s new threats warrant an urgent redirection in the U.S. fight against terror.</p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b>John M. Curtis </b>writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He&#x2019;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Homecobolos> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>