Is al Qaeda weaker or stronger without Bin Laden?

[kentuck]

In my opinion, he was more of a symbolic leader than an actual field commander. He took credit for bringing down the WTC on 9/11.

Is there anyone in al Qaeda that can unite them in the same way as Bin Laden? I doubt it.

The threats are still there but I doubt they have the money to finance any big operations anymore. The dangers have not disappeared entirely but they have been largely diminished with the killing of Bin Laden, in my opinion.

It is time for the "war on terror" to end. It has gone on for far too long. We have to accept a certain degree of risk but I think we need to look at the world differently after the death of Bin Laden. The people should demand that it end.

[The Magistrate]

1. Considerably Weaker, Sir

The thrill is gone, as the song says, gone away for good. Part of the inspiration the man provided was the sense of invincibility, that he could not be touched, and so, to identify with him was to partake of this invincibility yourself. That was a major recruiting tool, and it is gone....

"They seek him here, they seek him there,
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!
Is he in Heaven?
Is he in Hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel!"

[EFerrari]

10. And for a lot of that puffing up, we should thank former resident Bush

who should have treated this miserable sot as the pathetic criminal he was instead of building him up as some kind of warrior.

[Cerridwen]

2. The US is stronger than al-quaeda now that the

Democrats have succeeded where bush failed in showing that al-quaeda is not invincible; even its 'leader' can be found.

edit to add link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1052015

[FiveGoodMen]

3. There are plenty more Emmanuel Goldsteins where he came from

[Erose999]

4. Probably the same. They are a non hierarchial organization composed of independent cells capable of

acting in the absence of central leadership. In other words they don't operate by Roberts Rules of Order

Every couple of months they say "we took out the #2 Al Qaeda". All that really means is that #3 and all the rest just got a promotion.

[kentuck]

5. So we are at war forever?

Nothing has changed?

We can spend ourselves broke continuing to battle this "war on terror"?

Bin Laden was totally irrelevant?

[Erose999]

9. He's as relevant or irrelevant as the powers that be want him to be. I suppose his death could be

used as an opportunity to declare victory and retreat. But it won't necessarily keep us safe from terrorism. Not that the war waged in the attempt to find him really kept us safe either.

I guess its all a wash.

[Capitalocracy]

6. bin Laden brought money to the table.

And don't forget his history with the CIA... that means he probably has direct CIA training in the tactics they're using, and may have been one of the few members of al Qaeda still around that have worked directly with the CIA during the Soviet occupation. His operational involvement might be more important than Bush, you know, the guy who couldn't catch him and preferred instead to create the narrative that he was unimportant and marginalized, would have us believe.

I hope it is a blow to the organization's operational ability. However, I still think a trial would've done more to slow the spread of his ideology.

[OHdem10]

7. Spiritual Leader and Motivational Leader--- he also gave ideas

to field to develop and carry out.

Spiritual and Motivational leaders are more important
than CEOs. Motivational Leaders are the glue that often
holds the group together.

[Modern_Matthew]

8. Virtually non-existent before his death. Eradicated after. nt