“A senior intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity while the high-level analysis was being finalized, said the document has been in the works for roughly two years.”
Does anyone here see the key words? This is in other words an opinion of a report that doesn’t exist yet. If this is really the CIA’s assessment though, it would mean that they’re too busy yapping to the media instead of doing their jobs of breaking up Al-Qaeda.
AQ is not as strong today as it was in 2001. That is utterly foolish. They have lost over 3/4 of their Sr. Leadership (mainly replaced with less effective....whom we've killed a sizable portion of those as well....only to be replaced with even less effective types).
They have lost their safe haven of Stan. They have been reduced to begging for protection in the Pak tribal regions. They are constantly on the run and constantly aware that U.S. boot may kick down their doors at any time.
Yes, AQ is still a threat. But they are not in the same position of strength (while NOT being hunted) that they were in 2001.
This pinheads opinion of a report that he isn't allowed to talk about is utter BS.