Code Name Troy – The Killing of A. Al-Awlaki

The American news networks focused their attention nearly all day (9/30/2011) on the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen by a drone strike.

It was reported that both the Saudi and Yemeni intelligence helped in locating al-Awlaki and the information was passed to the Americans.

Al-Awlaki is an American born citizen and graduated from the College of Engineering at Colorado University.

Al-Awlaki abandoned his engineering profession and became an Islamic cleric preaching his new political-religious doctrine with emphasis on America’s aggressive foreign policy against Muslims in general and the Arab population in particular. He emphasized the one sided American support of Israel, which continues to kill Palestinians and confiscate Palestinian land to build Jewish settlements in the West Bank, demolishing thousands of homes to implement their ethnic cleansing policy. When the Palestinians resist, then they are labeled as terrorists. Furthermore, when the issue of aggression is taken to the Security Council, the outcome can be predicted in advance. The U.S. representative is there to cast their “veto” to protect Israel and give the Israelis the green light to continue their aggressive policy against the Palestinians.

The American support of Israel has been consistent since its creation in 1948. President Obama’s recent speech at the U.N. General Assembly (September 2011) turned many people off, especially those who are knowledgeable on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even Prime Minister B. Netanyahu couldn’t have written a better speech in support of Israel.

Such types of one sided American foreign policy is nothing but an invitation to some young people to join organized terrorist groups with an intention of attacking the U.S.

In my judgment, Mr. A. al-Awlaki, who was born in the U.S., is a typical example of someone who joined al-Qaeda to retaliate against and fight the one sided American foreign policy in the Middle East.

The American born al-Qaeda cleric was also critical of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which led to the killings of more than one million Iraqi civilians.

The American military strategy to fight terrorism has produced a counter reaction by contributing to an increase in terrorist activities worldwide since the 9/11 attack.

The remarks made by President Obama about the killing of the al-Qaeda cleric al-Awlaki, who threatened to use WMD against the U.S., include that the killing was justified and that it was a major “blow” to al-Qaeda.

Some writers and judicial organizations, such as the ACLU, have questioned the killing of an American born citizen without an investigation and the due judicial process.

For those who are well versed in the issue of terrorism, it is a fact that violence produces more violence. There are two terrorist ideologies, the al-Qaeda one and the American governmental one, which are being used by both to justify the war on “terrorism”.

The killing of some top leaders of terrorist organizations, such as bin Laden, A. al-Awlaki and others, will not stop their aggression. Leaders are always replaced by others from their ranks. The terrorism that has been taking place reflects a struggle between two ideologies: an American one and al-Qaeda’s.

The American political policy, which has been in use and is based on the domination of the Arab world through their support of corrupt political regimes, has been consistent since the end of World War II. The two main objectives behind the American political ideology are the control of oil production and the protection of Israel. Bin Laden made it clear and stated publicly during the 1980s that the U.S. should stop supporting Israeli aggression against the Palestinians. The U.S. should play an evenhanded role in this conflict. According to bin Laden, if the U.S. complied with his request, then there would be no conflict between al-Qaeda and the U.S.

It was unfortunate that there was no communication at that time between al-Qaeda and the U.S., which could have stopped the tragic attack of 9/11. It is unfortunate to say that the war on terrorism between the U.S. and al-Qaeda will continue until wise political leaders on both sides begin verbal communication, which might lead to an end to terrorism.