Broke al-Qaeda Pleads for Funds

Efforts to cut off al-Qaeda's funding have been largely successful and the organization is now critically short of cash, according to the US Treasury. The group's "influence is waning" as the money dries up, according to one official who monitors terrorist financing, noting that al-Qaeda has already issued several appeals for funds this year. He warns, however, that the Taliban is in much better shape financially because of its involvement in the drug trade, the BBC reports.