A report has been released indicating that the defense department did invite radical American Muslim cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki months after the 9/11 attacks. This was revealed by a defense official and the cleric has links with the terror group Al Qaeda.

The very cleric had his name allover for being linked with the failed bomb attacks on a Detroit bound aircraft on the Christmas day and the Fort Hood shootings. To add to this galore of attacks he is also linked to have inspired and encouraged Faisal Shahzad who failed in his attempt to bomb Times Square.

In the report, it is said the invitation was meant to ease the tense between Muslim-American relations caused by the previous attacks. The defense department at the time of the invitations was not aware of any relations between the cleric and any terrorist group.

The FBI unveiled the Awlaki’s presence in the luncheon as it was examining the Fort Hood shootings, found Maj. Nadal Hassan, Awlaki’s assistant, is blamed for killing about 13 persons. The cleric was thought to be a moderate Muslim at the time but has since been placed on CIA’s target list.

The pentagon had seen him deliver a speech in Arlington, Va. This made the defense department want to have a moderate Muslim on board but was later to regret the move.

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