The Resurgence Of al-Qaeda

Image from Site Intel Group

The Bombs that Stopped The Happy Talk -- The Economist

It was too soon to say that Osama bin Laden’s followers were on the wane—but pessimism should not be overdone.

ONLY a few months ago, intelligence experts were saying that al-Qaeda and its allies were in decline, both militarily and ideologically. But two bombs less than a week apart, one failed and the other successful, have put an end to such optimism.

The talk of al-Qaeda’s downfall did not come from thin air. In the view of many analysts, the network’s central leadership had been decimated through drone attacks in Pakistan’s tribal belt; al-Qaeda’s Saudi branch was all but defeated; its brethren in Iraq were marginalised; and those in other regions could mount only local attacks. Al-Qaeda had failed to land a blow in the West since the London bombs of 2005. Funds were dwindling, and more Muslims were eschewing global terror.

Read more ....

My Comment: I concur with this report from the Economist. Al Qaeda is far from finished .... it still enjoys the support of millions of Muslims, and while there are many military pressures on the organization .... every time a commander or leader is killed there is always another one who quickly moves in and takes his place.

In the end, this war against militant Islam must be fought by Muslims themselves. But the only country that has been "somewhat" successful in this battle is Iraq, a battle that still continues to this day.