The rise of al-Qaeda 2.0

[bemildred]

Early on, al-Qaeda was a close-knit band of extremists with common cause, with a centralized leadership, and a base from which to launch global operations.

With the death of Osama bin Laden, the loss of a host of top commanders, and its retreat from Afghanistan, al-Qaeda has become a diffuse group with no coherent center. But the emerging network of al-Qaeda offshoots, with operations around the world, is no less dangerous.

Call it al-Qaeda 2.0 - the evolution of a group whose directives once came from the top into a network of affiliates who are essentially on their own to export a fundamentalist brand of Islam and upstage secular governments in the Muslim world.

Al-Qaeda's growing list of affiliates, by feeding off local grievances and exploiting political turmoil, are showing their strength in a number of countries, including Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Mali.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-01-250713.html

[John2]

1. So this Egyptian,

that was second in command to Bin Laden and his mentor, what was his role? Did he accompany Bin Laden for cold nights?

[bemildred]

2. I was sort of wondering what a "viable threat" was?

Last edited Sat Jul 27, 2013, 07:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Quoting Mr. Sherman, as opposed to an "unviable threat".

[Dan]

3. if true,

this is a cancer you cannot beat.

[bluedeathray]

4. Certainly not less dangerous.

US arms are making sure of that.

[davidpdx]

5. What's funny is there is a large group of people on DU that think the increase of the threat level

is just a scare tactic. The other day the US State Department sent out a worldwide alert. This is done on a regular basis and when new information becomes available. I get them all the time because I live overseas and I keep a watch on specific places if I plan to travel there.

The people who do this are just plain idiots.

Anyone that thinks al-Qaeda is going to go away are fooling themselves. They are going to regroup and try to attack again as many times as it takes.