US's double blow to al Qaeda

- Anil Narendra

War between US and al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Toiba continues. While Lashkar and al Qaeda jointly conspired to blast the Pentagon, the US Defence Headquarters, a hardcore terrorist of Yemen faction of al Qaeda, Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in an air strike in Yemen hills. First, let us talk about the conspiracy to blow the Pentagon. The US Department of Justice has said that a US national Rizwan Firdous has been accused of providing explosives and other means to foreign terrorist organizations, especially al Qaeda for attacking US troops in foreign countries. Rizwan Firdous was arrested from Framingham, Massachusetts. According to an affidavit, Firdous had said during a recorded conversation with the witnesses in early January 2011 that he had conspired to attack Pentagon with small drones. These drones were to be fitted with explosives and these were to be guided by JPS system. In April, Firdous included one more target in his plan. During May and June 2011, he stealthily handed over two pen drives, which contained detailed step-by-step instructions about the conspiracy to attack Pentagon and Capitol Hill. As per the details available of the conspiracy, three remote-controlled aircrafts and six persons were to be engaged for the attack and these persons included a person, identified as Aamir. In Arabic, the word aamir means the leader. The arrest of Firdous, is a commendable success for US security agencies. By timely exposure of a dangerous conspiracy, they were able to avert a major terror attack. 

Meanwhile, after the killing of Osama bin Laden, US has delivered another severe blow to al Qaeda with Anwar al-Awalki, a terrorist of Yemen faction being killed in an air-strike. Awalki was a terrorist of American origin. He had earned an important place in al Qaeda hierarchy with his fluent English-speaking skill and recruitment of terrorists through internet for attacking US. Once again, the US intelligence agencies have earned laurels. The car, in which Awalki was traveling, was attacked by drone and jet aircrafts. It is believed that he had been killed in this attack. The Yemeni government claimed that Awalki was targeted outside Kashef town of hilly al Jawf province in the morning at 9-55 hrs and he was killed. Jawf is situated 140 kms east of capital Sana. According to native tribals and security agencies, Awlaki was traveling in two cars. He was accompanied by two other terrorists of Yemen faction of al Qaeda. At the time of the air strike, he was going to Ma'rib province adjacent to al-Jaaf. Awlaki was born in Mexico. His parents were of Yemeni origin. He graduated from an American university. Awlaki came in contact with two persons, who had played a role of suicide hijackers in 9/11. FBI had interrogated him, but could not find enough reasons to detain and he was freed. Awalki came to Yemen in 2004. He became a preacher and had been opposing US in his sermons and repeatedly appealing for jihad. The double success of US is attributed to its anti-terror alertness. Its intelligence network not only succeeded in averting a major terror attack on the country, but was also able to eliminate an important anti-US terrorist. The Indian intelligence and investigation agencies should emulate the US system. We have failed to succeed even in a single investigation. Nor we have been able to get prior intelligence about any terror attack. It is for nothing that there have been no terrorist attacks in US after the 9/11.