The Freeman

The killing of Al-Zawahiri

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The USA, as the policeman of the world and guardian of democracy for all peace-loving people, has done it again. The administra­tion of President Joe Biden gained a major victory not just with Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan but also with the killing in Afghanista­n of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri last Sunday. This major accomplish­ment drew praise from all peace-loving countries. It will help the Democrats in the coming elections.

The US government announced that Al-Zawahiri, an ally of Osama Bin Laden, was the mastermind of the September 11 attacks and was hunted by American operatives for 21 years since September 11, 2001. Zawahiri reportedly took over command of Al Qaeda after the death of Bin Laden. This is good news for the Democratic Party which is facing a serious challenge in the upcoming midterm elections. The Biden administra­tion has been blamed by Republican­s for untimely withdrawin­gAmerican troops from Afghanista­n, paving the way for the Taliban to seize power. But this killing has turned around the many setbacks suffered by the Democrats.

Al-Zawahiri was killed by the CIA in an early morning drone attack in Kabul. President Biden, in addressing theAmerica­n nation, announced that he authorized the strike and that Al-Zawahiri has been neutralize­d. The CIA has been operating in Kabul based on many intelligen­ce reports that AlZawahiri was just there, constantly changing his location. But with the help of local informers and other assets, the operation was executed with great precision. President Biden said: "Now, justice has been delivered and this terrorist is no more. No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and will take you out.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that the death of Al-Zawahiri is a step toward a safer world. Former president Barack Obama also said: "Tonight's news is also proof that it is possible to root out terrorism without being at war inAfghanis­tan.And I hope it provides a small measure of peace to the 9/11 families and everyone else who have suffered at the hands of Al-Qaeda." The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia also declared that the slain terrorist was the one who planned the terrorist attacks in the USAand in SaudiArabi­a. Similar messages from other world leaders were conveyed to Washington.

Under the Obama administra­tion, Bin Laden was killed in

Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011, ten years after the 9/11 attacks. The killing was done by US Navy seals. It was also on October 20, 2011 when Muammar Kahadafi, the deposed leader of Libya was captured and killed after the Battle of Sirte. It was reported that the US had a hand in the killing of Kahadafi but it was never confirmed. But the common belief was that he was eliminated by the forces of the National Transition­al Council which overthrew Khadafi's government.

All these indicate that the USA always stands on the side of democracy and freedom. America stands with Ukraine, with Taiwan, with South Korea, and hopefully with the Philippine­s against the bullying tactics of China. America stands with NATO against the aggressive adventuris­m of Vladimir Putin. America has imposed many sanctions against North Korea due to Kim Jong-Un's excesses. The gravest mistake of the Duterte administra­tion was to warm up to China's Xi Jinping and antagonize Washington, both Trump and Biden.

This administra­tion of President BBM knows better than to play with fire with Beijing. America has its own defects and imperfecti­ons, but it is still our best ally. Neither China nor Russia can ever guarantee us justice and peace in the Asia Pacific region. The worst of America is still better than the best of China.

“The gravest mistake of the Duterte administra­tion was to warm up to China's Xi Jinping and antagonize Washington.”

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