New al-Qaeda phase begins

Pakistan Asia Times ^ | Jan 21, 2006 | Syed Saleem Shahzad

[gandalftb]

An audio tape featuring Osama bin Laden marks al Qaeda's announcement that a new strategy is now in place.

Al-Qaeda has lost hundreds of operatives through killings and arrest. By the end of 2003, the organization was in the doldrums and infested with spies.

Its vertical, centralized structure was abolished and its various groups and cells - apart from a few - were abandoned and allowed to scatter.

These issues were later linked with two conditions: The acquisition of bases to launch a war in the open. The reorganization of sympathizers and new recruits to launch a worldwide battle.

Throughout 2005 al-Qaeda underwent extensive changes to prepare itself for major operations.

Information suggests al-Qaeda is now a horizontal structure, some top-level decision-making bodies have been revived to discuss key issues and to communicate decisions to other levels. These include a religious committee and an al-Qaeda council.

First the council addresses issues and then passes its decisions to the religious committee, which reviews the religious implications of the decisions. It then gives the final approval, or not.

A special committee coordinates matters worldwide with other organizations.

Al-Qaeda has now achieved acquisition of various bases in small pockets of safe havens in areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including Khost-North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Kunar-Chitral and Kunar-Bajur. The Pakistan government has virtually lost its writ there and have become hubs for all jihadi activities.

Hundreds of youths belonging to such organizations as the Laskhar-i-Toiba, Jaish-i-Mohammed, Harkat-i-Jihadi-i-Islami, Harkatul Mujahideen etc, left for bases in Waziristan.

Here they receive fresh jihadi orientation, including both military and ideological training, and after a few months they are launched into Afghanistan. Their numbers run into the thousands.

The acquisition of these bases and fresh recruits are the prime successes of al-Qaeda as it prepares to wage its new battle.

[gandalftb]

Agreed. The only movement that will derail it will be the demise of the Saudi kingdom and the overthrow of the Grand Mufti of Mecca. And those goals are not likely for many years to come, until they run out of oil or a civil war starts.

[gandalftb]

Charlie just waited until Congress/LBJ sold out our military and then marched into Saigon. Charlie capitalized on our true weakness that was revealed by Tet: a weak, worn out, ignorant President and a chaotic, poorly led Congress.

[gandalftb]

Pakistan has abdicated operational control of the tribal areas:
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=442260&TextPage=1

[GOPJ]

bump