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Al-Qaeda Down, Not Out

Terror group is handicapped but still lethal

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:43 AM CST

(Newser) – The Obama administration has hobbled al-Qaeda, but the group is adapting, shifting its strategy to less ambitious but nevertheless deadly tactics. A relentless assassination campaign executed by Predator drones have killed two leaders and hundreds of foot soldiers in the past 6 months. Meanwhile, efforts to disrupt the group's financing network have given al-Qaeda a permanent cash-flow headache.

The result is that the world's foremost international terror group is now likely incapable of launching 9/11-like attacks, reports the Washington Post. Yet operatives remain determined, and have shifted their focus to low-budget attacks using "small numbers of terrorists, recently recruited and trained," such as the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner, the director of national intelligence told Congress last week.

This video frame grab shows al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri as he praises Abu Laith al-Libi, a slain al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan.
This video frame grab shows al-Qaeda's deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri as he praises Abu Laith al-Libi, a slain al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/IntelCenter)
A US Predator drone flies over the moon above Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, last month during a mission to shoot suspected terrorists.
A US Predator drone flies over the moon above Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, last month during a mission to shoot suspected terrorists.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
danusunt
Feb 9, 2010 5:57 AM CST
Dance around the room! Dance around the room! Beat, going honk shoe now. Good night, and good luck.
Snarfeh
Feb 9, 2010 5:55 AM CST
@dan - You most certainly did win control of the game!!! ANNNNNNDDDDDD.......10,000 defunct newser points!!! (applause) Well...if, as they said, they bring them back, I will award ALL of mine to you. Might not be 10k though...can't remember...I may have to owe you.
danusunt
Feb 9, 2010 5:27 AM CST
Snarfeh, there is no bottom to that barrel. Stupid is a direction, not a destination. Did I win? Did I win?

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