The MSM loves to talk about how easy it is to replace people in AQ. They always talk about the new generation and how Iraq is a better training ground than Afghanistan was.
Bull.
These guys are getting rudimentary training at best. Those with know how are being captured/killed far faster than they are able to pass this knowledge on.
A secondary item to consider is that we have recently killed a couple of "envoys" and financiers. These are the guys how go to the money men in Saudi etc and ask for money for the "holy warriors". This is a very personal business. People don't give large sums to people they don't know. By killing the contacts the pipeline between money men and the terrorists can be kinked if not cut.
RE: AQ Leadership
From the Col. Brown conference:
"The leadership is severely disrupted. We captured Abu Talha, the number-two al Qaeda leader in the north of Iraq. And right after that we got Abu Bara, Madhi Musa (sp), Abu Zab (sp), the next six leaders that would step up and take over. Nobody's taken over now. It's not a very popular position because if they step up, they get captured or killed."
I think one or two of the guys mentioned may have been what has recently been called a "facilitator" or "terror consultant."
I think also about all the jokes and cynical comments we've waded through in the last year or so about "another Zarqawi lieutenant" being eliminated, but this man's on the scene comments show that real progress has been made. Not a joking matter, but something to be happy about.
I agree...just like the Palestinians had to have eventually recruit young stupid bombers, women as bombers, mentally retarded children as bombers....so goes A.Q.
Notice they NEVER do the suicide bombing themselves.