TEHRAN – Political analyst Yuram Abdullah Weiler tells the Tehran Times that the Western powers have used terrorism and terrorist groups as “tools in pursuit of their geopolitical goals”.

They have also “injected the distorted ideology now known as Wahhabism into the body of Islam,” the political analyst notes.
The interview with the analyst came after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his second letter to the Western youth, released on Nov. 29, said “today terrorism is our common worry”.
This is the text of the interview:
Q: In his second letter to the Western youth Ayatollah Khamenei talked about terrorism and its roots. What is the importance of this issue?
A: The root of terrorism is not within Islam, as the western powers insist. Rather, it is the Western powers that not only have used terrorism and terrorist groups as tools in pursuit of their geopolitical goals but also have injected the distorted ideology now known as Wahhabism into the body of Islam. Additionally, the Western colonial powers have used terrorism repeatedly in their imperial strategies.
It is well known, as the Leader mentioned in his letter, that the U.S. is responsible for the creation of al-Qaeda and DAESH as a result of persistent policies supporting terrorist groups as well as using military force to intervene in sovereign nations. The lack of ability on the part of the present Western leaders, in particular U.S. leaders, to recognize the direct link between their imperial policies and fomenting terrorism leaves little hope for a change of direction. Therefore, the youth are the only ones in the West that may still be able to grasp the gravity of the problem of terrorism and see clearly the role of U.S. policies.
Q: While the Leader has emphasized in his message that Islam is the religion of friendship, why do some try to introduce Islam as the religion of violence?
A: Introducing Islam as a violent religion suits the arrogant global powers and their imperial agenda. There are a number of aspects to this: First, by introducing Islam as a violent religion, the West can easily transform Muslim-majority countries into candidates for military intervention and occupation. Second, portrayal of all Muslims as potential terrorist threats provides a convenient scapegoat for frustrations caused by the intractable problems for which political leaders have no solutions. Third, casting Muslims and Islam as a grave threat to “national security” provides a convenient replacement for the cold war, thereby justifying continued profligate “defense” spending. Finally, harping on the ever-present possibility of “Islamic” terrorism creates a crisis atmosphere that politicians take advantage of to further the restrictions on personal freedoms and civil rights of the citizenry.
Q: Why do some try to create a connection between Islam and terrorism after any terrorist attack in any part of the world?
A: As previously mentioned, making this connection fits the agenda of the Western colonial powers. Furthermore, by attempting to connect every incident to “Islamic” terrorists, political leaders can divert criticism of the failure of Western intelligence and security forces to detect and prevent such incidents. It is rather suspect when the U.S. spends $989 billion on national security and yet mass shootings and gun violence persist.
Additionally, the U.S. imprisons a greater percentage of its population than any other country in the world. But rather than search for solutions to the intractable problems of gun violence and drug abuse, American political leaders are quick to blame violence on Islam and Muslims. Finally, by making these connections between Islam and terrorism, the case presented by the Western political leaders that Islam is the problem and not Washington’s warmongering policies is strengthened, something which justifies the obscene U.S. national security budget.
Q: What is the importance of this letter at this juncture of time?
A: Certainly, the Leader’s letter, based on its contents would be important at any time. However, I believe it is significant time-wise since we have just commemorated the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein (AS), Arbaeen, and the story of his bravery in fighting against the overwhelming forces of tyranny bears a resemblance to what those Western youth, who absorb the message of the Leader’s letter, must do to rid the world of the malignant tumor of terrorism.

[highlight]
“The youth are the only ones in the West that may still be able to grasp the gravity of the problem of terrorism and see clearly the role of U.S. policies,”