Statement by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight & Intelligence Subcommittee, on the death of Anwar al Awlaki

"Thanks to the efforts of our military and Intelligence Community, this is a significant victory in the War on Terror and a major blow to Al Qaeda. It greatly diminishes their capacity to carry out terror attacks in the United States. Anwar al Awlaki became the inspiration of radical Islam and a mastermind of recruitment of American Muslims to carry out attacks on U.S. soil. We know he was in direct contact with Major Nidal Hasan before the Fort Hood shootings and that he was in contact with or had influence over the suspects who attempted to carry out 36 plots against the United States over the past three years. This victory represents strong cooperation between the U.S. and Yemen. We need to maintain pressure and continue to eliminate the leaders of al Qaeda."

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