Professional Documents
Culture Documents
With Osama bin Laden dead and the war on terror winding down, theres a growing sense that al Qaedas ability to threaten America is waning. But this confidence is unfounded. While the Pakistan-based core has been degraded, AQs regional offshoots have adapted to US pressure, evolving into a resilient and potent network. AEI senior analyst Katherine Zimmerman argues that a new framework is imperative to effectively target and defeat al Qaeda. Arent we dealing with al Qaeda remnants at this point?
While the Pakistan-based al Qaeda core that masterminded the USS Cole, 9/11, Madrid, and London attacks has been significantly weakened, the threat from the broader network remains acute, as the recent spate of embassy closings across the Middle East attests. The balance of power between center and periphery has clearly shifted as the network has adapted to increased pressure, and American strategy must shift with it.
To learn more, please read Katherine Zimmermans latest report, The al Qaeda Network: A New Framework for Defining the Enemy.