Will Las Cruces Native Become Bin Laden's Successor?

Anwar al-Awalaki

Who will take over the leadership role in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden? Many terrorism experts believe it could be a Las Cruces native. According to Wikipedia, Anwar al-Awlaki was born April 22, 1971 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Yemen. Of Yemeni descent al-Awalaki is an Islamic lecturer, spiritual leader, and former imam. It is widely believed by the U.S. intelligence community that he has inspired if not commanded many Islamic terrorists against the West. According to U.S. officials, he is a senior talent recruiter and motivator, who has also become “operational” as a planner and trainer, "for al-Qaeda and all of its franchises." The U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence warned that al-Awlaki "is extraordinarily dangerous, committed to carrying out deadly attacks on Americans and others worldwide". With a blog, a Facebook page, and many YouTube videos, he has been described as the "bin Laden of the Internet." Just yesterday there were unconfirmed reports that U.S. drone's fire missed al-Awalki in Yemen.

Al-Awlaki's sermons were attended by three of the 9/11 hijackers. He reportedly met privately with two of them in San Diego. Investigators suspect al-Awlaki may have known about the 9/11 attacks in advance. In 2009, he was promoted to the rank of "regional commander" within al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials. His sermons were also attended by accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. U.S. intelligence intercepted at least 18 emails between Hasan and al-Awlaki in the months prior to the Fort Hood shooting, including one in which Hasan wrote: "I can't wait to join you in the afterlife."

Nidal Malik Hasan

After the shooting, al-Awlaki praised Hasan's actions. In addition, "Christmas Day bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab said al-Awlaki was one of his al-Qaeda trainers, who met with him and was involved in planning or preparing his attack, and provided religious justification for it, according to U.S. officials. In March 2010, al-Awlaki said in a videotape that jihad against America was binding upon every able Muslim.

Will Las Cruces Native Become Bin Laden's Successor?