A New York Times columnist suggested on Thursday that the mass shooting in Orlando may be the result of U.S. foreign policy.
Charles Blow, a liberal columnist for the Times, said in his latest op-ed that the shooter, identified as Omar Mateen, was an “American-made monster” and that he may have been motivated by wars and “rhetoric” targeting terrorists overseas.
“Lastly, we must remember that our foreign policy — whether bombing Muslims or banning them — has consequences,” wrote Blow. “Seeking to diminish one threat can inflame another. Wars and reckless rhetoric are governed by the laws of unintended consequences, so we must tread carefully.”
He also said that America’s gun laws and “cultural toxicities” were responsible for the massacre, which resulted in the shooting deaths of 49 victims and scores more injured.
Evidence cited by local and federal authorities, however, has suggested that Mateen was motivated by radical Islamic terrorism.
“Mateen called dispatchers about 20 minutes into the attack, pledging allegiance to ISIS and mentioning the Boston Marathon bombers, a U.S. official said,” according to CNN.
“Law enforcement sources told NBC News he swore allegiance to the leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in a 911 call moments before the rampage at Pulse,” said a report by NBC.
FBI Director James Comey has also said the investigation into the shooting revealed terrorist-leanings at least partly influenced by outside elements.
“The reason for that is there are strong indications of radicalization by this killer, and of potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organizations,” he said.
It was also reported that Mateen had been listed on terror-watch lists and visited Saudi Arabia twice before being placed on the lists.
Blow did not return a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
