In an audiotape released Wednesday, Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born radical cleric linked to shootings at a U.S. army base and the failed bombing of a U.S. plane, is calling for a violent uprising against the United States and his words may be proving effective.
In my previous posts, I have discussed Anwar al-Awlaki’s possible connection to Nidal Hassan and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. However, this week Anwar al-Awlaki released a tape to CNN in which he encouraged young American Muslims to commence violence against the United States.
In the tape he asked, “to the Muslims in America, I have this to say: How can your conscience allow you to live in peaceful coexistence with the nation that is responsible for the tyranny and crimes committed against your own brothers and sisters?”
According to both U.S. and Yemeni governments, al-Awlaki is an al-Qaida member, recruiter, and spiritual adviser and he is hiding in Yemeni tribal lands. However, his words seem to be striking a heartstring or two with a growing number of Westerners having ties to Al-Qaida. Perhaps, the most recent concern is over the arrest of the Pennsylvania woman named “Jihad Jane.”
According to Fox News, last week, Colleen R. La Rose, or “Jihad Jane,” was charged with the following:
-Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists,
-Conspiracy to kill in a foreign country,
-Making false statements to a government official, and
-Attempted identity theft.
She was charged for allegedly looking to kill Lars Vilks, who drew one of the controversial Prophet Muhammad cartoons.
The Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division summed up the latest events by saying, “[the indictment] underscores the evolving nature of the threat we face.” In my next post, I will focus on the latest developments in Yemen and the opinions of one Furman student.
