Reports of Al Qaeda's Death Have been Greatly Exaggerated.

• Author: DeAtkine, Norvell

REPORTS OF AL QAEDA'S DEATH HAVE BEEN GREATLY EXAGGERATED

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross III, Senior Fellow, Foundation for the Defense of Democracy http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/reports-of-al-qaedas-death-have-beengreatly-exaggerated/ http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/10/03/reports_of_al_qaedas_death_have_been_greatly_exaggerated

Reviewed by Norvell DeAtkine

The overarching theme in this excellent article is that al Qaeda's attempts at governing have ended, at least temporarily, and it is now back operating in the environment it prefers. The author describes this as operating in the shadows, as it did very successfully for many years. As evidence of the shift, he recounts al Qaeda's unsuccessful attempts to govern in Afghanistan, Somalia, and most recently Yemen. All to this point have been unsuccessful. To view this outcome as evidence of the demise of Al Qaeda is, however, not only wrong but foolhardy.

The author portrays the attack on the consulate in Benghazi as an example of the current al Qaeda strategy. The American administration's response to the affair also points out the reality of a renewed and re-energized al Qaeda. It is no longer the centralized organization of the pre-9/11 days but has evolved into a franchise operation and an inspirational source for lone wolf attacks.

In support of that claim...