U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today stressed that Al-Qaida maintains the ability to plan and carry out attacks.
In her remarks at the Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series, Ms. Clinton said the world is all safer, but the threat of Al-qaida remains.
“Our vigilance is required. So we will, along with our partners and allies, continue to ratchet up the pressure, continue pursuing a comprehensive strategic approach to counterterrorism, and work to deny al-Qaida and its affiliates safe haven anywhere in the world.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton announced that she learned the death of Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader and chief propagandist of al-Qaida’s most active and dangerous affiliate, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. She said they the terrorist group that tried to blow up an airplane filled with innocent people on Christmas Day in 2009, that attempted to bring down U.S. cargo planes in 2010.
“Awlaki took a leading role in those plots and in spreading an ideology of hate and violence. But today, like Usama bin Ladin and so many other terrorist leaders who have been killed or captured in recent years, he can no longer threaten America, our allies, or peace loving people anywhere in the world.” -Ms. Clinton
