Al Qaeda Makes a Comeback

[Purveyor]

by Ken Dilanian

Intelligence analysts paid close attention last month when al Qaeda's master bombmaker, Ibrahim al Asiri — whose name tops U.S. kill lists — issued an audiotape from his hiding place.

The content was the usual anti-Saudi Arabian screed, sprinkled with threats against America — but the news was Asiri's sudden willingness to join the terror group's PR campaign. For years, the man who tried to take down planes with underwear and parcel bombs had laid low, as al Qaeda's Yemen affiliate tried to protect him from U.S. drone strikes.

In 2016, however, a resurgent al Qaeda is emerging from the shadows. While ISIS has been soaking up headlines, its older sibling has been launching attacks and grabbing territory too, and U.S. intelligence officials tell NBC News they are increasingly concerned the older terror group is poised to build on its achievements.

"Al Qaeda affiliates are positioned to make gains in 2016," James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, warned the House Intelligence Committee Thursday.

Because of those far-flung affiliates, al Qaeda "remains a serious threat to U.S. interests worldwide," Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Congress recently.

MORE...

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/al-qaeda-makes-comeback-n526006

[2naSalit]

1. Wack-a-Mole by design.........nt

[leveymg]

2. Not surprised. ISIS has to morph into something. Why not devolve back into al-Qaeda? D-e-v-o

[Octafish]

3. Without enemies, it gets really hard to explain what happened to the Peace Dividend.

Plus, all the war's good for the economy. My source is Tyler Cowen in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/14/upshot/the-lack-of-major-wars-may-be-hurting-economic-growth.html?_r=0

[CJCRANE]

4. Just like the Neocons, Al Qaeda didn't go anywhere.

They just lay low for a few years.

Now they're stronger than ever.