In general, they have lost freedom of action. They aren't really secure, anywhere - we are taking the fight to their caves, homes and cities, and the only thing keeping them alive is that we don't know who they are.
They are absolutely tough, resilient and resourceful, and the situation in Israel is evidence enough that it may take more than we have to completely eliminate the threat, but their cost of doing business today is MUCH higher.
How do we know that?
Between the 1993 WTC bombing and the Africa embassy bombings it was five years. Then it was 3 years until 9/11. Now it's been six months since 9/11. How do we -know- they don't have some other spectacular plot reaching maturation?
I am not picking at you, I just wonder if (and hope) you are right.
Walt