The WSJ article also noted, not surprisingly, that “Mr. Zindani’s comments highlight a deep mistrust that Yemenis have toward the U.S. and its recent overseas actions. Many people here believe that U.S. troops, fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, are waging a war against Muslims, not terrorists.”

While the comments do suggest a mistrust of the United States among Yemenis and many in the Middle East, they also highlight a need address the systemic, root causes of violence. Whether the causes are rooted in economic disparity, political strife, or fundamentalists twisting a religion to achieve their own misguided agenda are not exactly clear. What is clear however is that our initial reaction to call for direct or indirect military intervention may not always be the best solution. Such action could undoubtedly lead to further misunderstanding, miscommunication and a worsening of relations. More important to the long-term stability is the building of meaningful relationships built on trust and respect. As the article smartly points out, building those relationships with individuals such as Mr. Zindani, could go a long way in changing minds and stemming violence.

Do not confuse this as a free pass for Mr. Zindani as serious questions remain including whether or not he has supported or encouraged extremism and violence. Instead, we should use Mr. Zindani’s invitation as an example of a potential opportunity to increase dialogue between two groups that may not always see eye to eye.

Update: Media is reporting the imam and the would-be Christmas bomber could be linked.

“Authorities say they do not yet know if the imam was the same one who was in contact with Maj. Nidal Hasan prior to his alleged attack on soldiers at Fort Hood last month. American-born Anwar Awlaki has lived in Yemen since 2002 and is considered a major recruiter for al Qaeda by U.S. authorities. He survived a U.S.-backed air strike earlier this week.

The suspect in the Northwest Airlines attack told FBI agents he lived with the al Qaeda leader in Yemen for about a month and was not allowed to leave as he was trained in what to do and how to do it, authorities said.”

Via the Politico Playbook and Mediaite:

FORT HOOD LINK? AFP: “Peter Hoekstra, the most senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee and a member of Congress for Detroit’s state of Michigan, told AFP the suspect could have links to US-born Yemeni imam Anwar al-Aulaqi. Aulaqi, who is accused of being a senior Al-Qaeda recruiter, was known to have had emails contacts with US army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan who allegedly gunned down 13 people at a Texas military base last month. ‘He (Abdulmutallab) may have been in contact with the American imam al-Aulaqi,’ Hoekstra said after the bomb suspect apparently tried to blow up a US airliner as it began its descent into Detroit. ‘There are reports that he had contact and that he was recently in Yemen. The question we’ll have to raise is was this imam in Yemen influential enough to get some people to attack the US again,’ Hoekstra said.”

Yemen said it launched airstrikes Thursday against extremists including Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born imam whom Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan consulted before last month’s shootings in Texas. Story here.

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