[virtude]

"The Basque terrorist organization ETA and bin Laden's al-Qaeda cells have joined forces."

That's what it looks to me too. However, I think the ETA forces that joined Al Qaeda are a splinter group, or renegade ETA extremists.

[SCR1]

Seems to me AQ has done what CIA said, have de-centralized and aligned with extremeist groups all over the world. If this is the case, then the leadership in Afghanistan is not in charge any more other than for inspirational purposes. Also by releasing tapes and threats can be useful in taking the heat off the splinter groups actually doing the work now. This is evident by the latest AQ/ETA good cop bad cop scenario.

AQ will be claiming responsibility for every act from now on.