Al Qaeda Tries Afghan Comeback

Al Qaeda Tries Afghan Comeback; U.S. Commanders Worried -- Washington Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — A diminished but resilient al Qaeda, whose 9/11 attacks drew America into its longest war, is attempting a comeback in Afghanistan’s mountainous east even as U.S. and allied forces wind down their combat mission and concede a small but firm toehold to the terrorist group.

That concerns U.S. commanders, who have intensified strikes against al Qaeda cells in recent months. It also undercuts an Obama administration narrative portraying al Qaeda as battered to the point of being a nonissue in Afghanistan as Western troops start leaving.

When he visited Afghanistan in May to mark the one-year anniversary of the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, President Obama said his administration had turned the tide of war.

“The goal that I set – to defeat al Qaeda, and deny it a chance to rebuild – is within reach,” he said.

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My Comment: The philosophy of Al Qaeda still exists .... and it still enjoys widespread support in certain parts of Afghanistan. As long as this mindset exists, Al Qaeda will always have a presence in Afghanistan. The key question is .... how big will this presence be.