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TizMe

Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs

Al-Qaeda's unexpected opportunity
Beyond this geographic expansion of jihad, al-Qaeda's own achievements have been substantial. Bin Laden has long described a three-fold strategy for driving the United States out of the Muslim world: (1) contribute to the forces creating domestic political disunity in America; (2) act and encourage other Islamists to act in a way that spreads US military and intelligence forces to the point where they lack reserves and flexibility; and (3) bleed America to bankruptcy. Obviously, al-Qaeda has been successful on the first two points and today Bin Laden is staring into the face of an entirely serendipitous opportunity to contribute to economic disaster in the United States.

Having been responsible for much of the economic bleeding America has done in Iraq and Afghanistan, al-Qaeda now has a chance to significantly advance its bleed-to-bankruptcy strategy. While al-Qaeda had no hand in creating the ongoing, self-inflicted unraveling of the US financial system, al-Qaeda could accelerate that unraveling with a 9/11-like or larger attack in the continental United States.

Today, Bin Laden and al-Qaeda have a chance to deal the United States an enormous economic blow if they can stage a near-term attack in America. Such an attack would serve as a devastating force-multiplier and perhaps push the current economic disaster into the category of a financial catastrophe. Whether al-Qaeda is positioned to stage such an attack is an open question.

Norton

Agree. It would be an opportune time if AQ can pull it off.

I was watching a program on TV the other night about Cyberwar. I would not be surprised to see a major cyber attack to further disrupt western economics.

keda

The downside of a major AQ coup against the US before November is that it would mortally wound BhO's chances at power.

Best for them is to wait it out, and let HomSec chase shadows for a few months.

sabang

I'm sure he would love to, and for that matter I reckon OBL would prefer a McCain victory anyway- continuation of the same US foreign policy as the Bush administration is exactly what extremist groups like AQ want, to keep their recruiting up, conflict and passions running high.

I don't think they have the capacity however. Apart from causing some carnage in Ghan, Paki & Iraq (where they have been largely defeated) they are really only a violent fringe group.

__________________
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britmaveric

AQ has been marginalized. I don't think they have the operations capacity at this point - too busy worrying about getting caught/killed.

ItsRobsLife

They'll need help from the CIA, again.

HermantheGerman

Psssssst....don't let Macha hear about this.