[gusopol3]

they have tied down the greatest military power in the world to the extent it is virtually a war of attrition and one which changed the government in the most powerful country in the world. They don't seem effete to me.

do you not believe the numerous intercepted communications among AQ operatives like Zawahiri and Zarqawi lamenting their state of depletion, or even today's posts detailing the Anbar Sunni war on their operatives in that region?

[Prokopton]

"do you not believe the numerous intercepted communications among AQ operatives like Zawahiri and Zarqawi lamenting their state of depletion, or even today's posts detailing the Anbar Sunni war on their operatives in that region?"

Do you believe all of the messages from Democrats that our military is broken, our soldiers are murderers, and we can't win?

It does not seem unusual that AQ says what it feels necessary to exhort it's troops to victory. It would be naive to base our calculation of their capabilities on such messages. I know of no credible source who does not believe that the jihadis capabilities are substantial and that they are a serious threat.