STRIVING AND FAILING:

AL QAEDA IN 2007: STRIVING TO REGAIN THE INITIATIVE (Ahmed Rashid, 1/02/07, EurasiaNet)

Al Qaeda has not gone to sleep, nor has it morphed into some kind of "ideological" or "inspirational" organization that merely encourages copycat groups. The group's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, issued 15 major speeches in 2006 on audio or videotape. These discourses dealt with such subjects as how al Qaeda should approach Iraq following the departure of US troops; how the conflict in Somalia should be waged; and the need for a new terrorism offensive in Europe. This is not someone who has lost touch with his base, but someone who weighs his words carefully -- like a general preparing his troops for battle.

Except that they've done nothing significant in Europe, are getting whipped in Ethiopia and are being slaughtered by the Shi'a of Iraq. His troops are losing the battle on every front.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 8, 2007 6:26 PM