Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
September 16, 2008
By Pamela Hess, Associated Press
Washington--Top U.S. counterterrorism officials on Monday said al-Qaida is “imploding” and that its violent tactics have turned many Muslims against it.
“Absolutely it’s imploding,” because its message no longer resonates, said Dell Dailey, the State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism.
Al-Qaida still remains the most dangerous threat to the U.S. But of growing concern are organizations like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, which combine social services, local governance and national politics with extremist attacks, Undersecretary of State James Glassman said. “These are models that have a lot more popular appeal than al-Qaida,” he said.
Vastly more Muslims than Westerners are killed by al-Qaida bombings, particularly in Iraq, where local tribes have largely turned against al-Qaida in the past two years. Extremist violence claimed more than 9,500 civilian victims in Muslim nations in 2007.
But U.S. intelligence agencies caution against predicting al-Qaida’s demise too soon, noting its safe haven in Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt along the Afghanistan border and the persistent efforts of its affiliates to conduct attacks in North Africa and elsewhere.
U.S. intelligence officials said in July that al-Qaida leaders had learned from Iraq to temper their local activities to ensure continued access and freedom of movement in Pakistan.
Still, some hardline religious leaders who once wielded significant influence in al-Qaida have begun to criticize its violence against civilians, said Ted Gistaro, the national intelligence officer for transnational threats. And he said al-Qaida’s senior leaders have devoted nearly half their airtime this year to defending the group’s legitimacy.
But Glassman said he is “skeptical” about claims that al-Qaida is capable of changing its ways. “The death-cult mentality is part of al-Qaida’s DNA. An al-Qaida that could adapt would be a far more dangerous al-Qaida,” he said.
September 16, 2008
By Pamela Hess, Associated Press
Washington--Top U.S. counterterrorism officials on Monday said al-Qaida is “imploding” and that its violent tactics have turned many Muslims against it.
“Absolutely it’s imploding,” because its message no longer resonates, said Dell Dailey, the State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism.
Al-Qaida still remains the most dangerous threat to the U.S. But of growing concern are organizations like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, which combine social services, local governance and national politics with extremist attacks, Undersecretary of State James Glassman said. “These are models that have a lot more popular appeal than al-Qaida,” he said.
Vastly more Muslims than Westerners are killed by al-Qaida bombings, particularly in Iraq, where local tribes have largely turned against al-Qaida in the past two years. Extremist violence claimed more than 9,500 civilian victims in Muslim nations in 2007.
But U.S. intelligence agencies caution against predicting al-Qaida’s demise too soon, noting its safe haven in Pakistan’s lawless tribal belt along the Afghanistan border and the persistent efforts of its affiliates to conduct attacks in North Africa and elsewhere.
U.S. intelligence officials said in July that al-Qaida leaders had learned from Iraq to temper their local activities to ensure continued access and freedom of movement in Pakistan.
Still, some hardline religious leaders who once wielded significant influence in al-Qaida have begun to criticize its violence against civilians, said Ted Gistaro, the national intelligence officer for transnational threats. And he said al-Qaida’s senior leaders have devoted nearly half their airtime this year to defending the group’s legitimacy.
But Glassman said he is “skeptical” about claims that al-Qaida is capable of changing its ways. “The death-cult mentality is part of al-Qaida’s DNA. An al-Qaida that could adapt would be a far more dangerous al-Qaida,” he said.