Fareed Zakaria argues that the death of Osama bin Laden is a fatal blow to al Qaeda.
Fareed reminds us that bin Laden's death comes on the heels of the Arab Spring, which already sapped al Qaeda of its raison d'etre. Al Qaeda argued that dictatorial regimes - sponsored by the United States - were plaguing the Muslim world and that the only way to achieve radical change was to wage violence against these regimes and their sponsor, the United States.
But then a mass of largely non-religious, non-violent protestors transformed the Middle East and North Africa. They proved that change could come without terrorist bloodshed.
This was a crippling blow to al Qaeda's ideology. Then al Qaeda lost bin Laden, its charismatic leader - the man new recruits pledged fealty to. No other leader has nearly the same mystique as bin Laden. No one is likely to die for Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's number two, in the same way.
Taken together, Fareed argues that the Arab Spring and the death of bin Laden deliver a one-two knockout blow to al Qaeda.
Other pundits like Nick Kristof maintain that killing bin Laden does not end al Qaeda.
Kristof argues that al Qaeda is "more of a loose network than a tightly structured organization." He concedes that says that branches of al Qaeda "may admire Osama and be inspired by him," but emphasizes that "they also are believed to be largely independent of him."
The New York Times reports on the views of a number of analysts who claim:
"While his death is significant...it will not end the threat from an increasingly potent and self-reliant string of regional Qaeda affiliates in North Africa and Yemen or from a self-radicalized vanguard here at home."
Fareed acknowledges that "there are groups of terrorists around the world," which will continue to exist after bin Laden's death. They are loosely affiliated groups - many of which may claim to be al Qaeda. "But gangs of bad guys have always been around," Fareed says.
The real question is: Does al Qaeda still pose an existential ideological threat to America and the West. Can al Qaeda central mobilize new recruits and affiliates like it seemed to do around 9-11? Or does the death of bin Laden reduce the group to little more than violent thugs in lawless parts of the world - not much different than, say, Somali pirates.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below, on Facebook or Twitter and through the poll.
 |
Post by: |
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
WHITE HOUSE SHOULD DECLARE PAKISTAN AS A TERRORIST COUNTRY. AND AMERICA SHOULD STOP PLAYING DOUBLE GAMES OF NOT KNOWING WHEN IT KNOWS PAKISTAN BREEDS TERRORISTS.
Pakistan is Playing a Double Role, Supporting US and Al-Qaida at the same time. Killing some low ranked soldiers of Taliban on mountains of Waziristan to Please USA and get Billions of Dollars from Americans and at the same time Giving Shelter to Top Al-Qaida and Taliban leaders. Fighting with Taliban on Mountains by Pakistani army was also something to distract US attention from the places where Al-Qaida and Taliban Leaders were really living peacefully in Pakistani cities. Also Hamid Karzai the Afghan President have always repeatedly said that the Leaders of Al-Qaida and Taliban are in a safe Shelter in a Pakistan, not in Afghanistan or Pakistan's Tribal Areas. While at the same time Pakistani Leaders like Imran Khan Condemned US Army Operations in Pakistan, and Pakistani authorities have always denied presence of any Al-Qaida or Taliban leader in Pakistan. Osama Bin Laden was a Hen which laid Golden eggs for Pakistan and I am sure you can find the Top 10 Terrorists Listed in FBI website from Pakistan.
Another Indian with different name
What about India.
For your Information I am an American Citizen you Idiot and f##k any Government which support Terrorism whether it is Pakistani Government or Indian.
not even the real indian didn't support what american did becuase they feel it could be done to them also will it already been done to tjem take they land from them i belive you great great grandfather is terror he force the indian out of land and kill them to take they food and gold when they fight back you guy just kill them
We have located Al-Zawahiri. He will be monitored and followed for a lengthy time. When we have enough intel we will rub him out and move in on the next target that he has been giving us.
Al Qaeda will continue to live life in hiding and fear inside of their hearts because the Lord's anger burns against them. Osama Bin Laden was not active, this is true, but he did stand as a moral support for Al Qaeda and other non-related terrorist groups around the world. His death is a positive thing for our country and it gives our people a stronger sense of security. We have always been and will always be in the light of the Lord our God because he loves us. No amount of attacks or deaths can ever break our spirit or our bond with God. Look at 9/11. It was horrific, but we still prevailed and came together and supported eachother and kept our faith in God. Al Qaeda can never hurt that. They are only comitting murder because hate and loathing and evil drives their forces. God is not with them. His covenant with us, however, is too strong and NOTHING can stand between us.
The road to heaven is very narrow, my friends.. but the path to hell is very broad. Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and even Hitler are all consumed with sorrow and fire deep within the trenches of the Dark. Their songs of hopelessness will never end. The tears of their sins turned against them will never be dried and they will never find rest. The human mind cannot begin to fathom the torment of their punishment. They have been set apart from the Lord our God and nothing will ever save them. Trust in the Lord and give your heart to him. Let him help you serve him and bring generational blessings to your family. There is no greater friend than the King. Amen~
If I were one of them, I would be in the hiding momentarily. I would listen to GREEN DAY's – WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS and let powerful guitar riffs thundering over the Massif of the Hindu Kush. After the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I would emerge.
I cant believe they're still defending Bush after the way he clearly botched the operation of pursuing bin Laden. I will double down and say Bush does not deserve one single bit of credit because if he wanted to he would have gotten him within his eight years in office. We already know the wars Bush started only broke crucial ties to regional players that we needed. But Bush also gave HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to greedy, inefficient, grossly incompetant private contractors just to make him and his party a little bit richer. He gave up just months after 9/11 looking for the guy. He also didn't send nearly enough troops to make a serious effort at capturing him in Afghanistan early in his term. I am not saying this because I support one party or hate any particular politician, but these are facts as they happened. Based on these facts, I would never give Bush credit for the job Obama and Team 6 accomplished that night.
Well said James2.
Terrorism will not die till country like Pakistan is growing more terrorist by providing them secret land for training, providing them armaments thruogh Daud Ibrahim, providing them safe place to hide. Why Pakistan do that ? Pakstan want to keep superficial relationship with USA by wearing mask of friendship but in there inner mind hate USA tremendousely. USA must understand this fact first and put heavy preassure on Paskistan to bring out hide out places provided by them to other terrroirist. We got to finish Alquida remaining leaders soon because time is our number one enemy if do not act now. Still, there are few rog countries like Pakistan, Iran, Libya, Somali and many rich fanatic muslim who wnat to support terrories indirectly. We got to solve this problem at government level with all those countries first to wipe out terrorism and it will take 5 more years if w take this note seroiusly and act without delay.
Terrorism will not die until country like India is on this earth.
Hey Barber, go get your next customer in line, watch out!! he may blow you away!!!!
The reaction of the American public to this murder has been totally appalling to say the least! It makes one hope tha Al Qaeda will suvive to spite it. Seeing people like this take to the streets celebrating the wanton murder of one man nauseated me to no end. How can these people be so hateful???
Perhaps their recalling seeing news footage of HUNDREDS of people throughout the Middle East dancing in the streets on Sept. 11, 2001?
Personally, I'm not celebrating Bin Laden's death. Not because I care his life in any fashion, but because - significant though it may be in some ways - his death will not likely make a dent in the overall activities of violent Islamic fringe groups. Whatever you may think of the "war on terror," only a fool could think it's over now.
– mm
@ Onesmallvoice...
It's ignorant comments like yours that nauseate me
You need to get off your high horse and have a little understanding. The death of bin Laden is symbolically important to most Americans because he presented himself as the figurehead for an evil criminal gang hell-bent on destroying our way of life and imposing his. This guy presided over a gang of thugs that murdered well over 3500 of your countrymen. Yes, his death should be celebrated. We need this celebration.
You're right Bob, Obama knew, that the nation needs to be cheered up after having gone through the ordeal with his embattled budget and the unrest abroad. In Britain the royal wedding was a pleasant distraction. The killing of Osama bin Laden was carefully orchestrated and one expected, that the success of the mission would boost the morale at home. I think, this man was out of sight for such a long time, that many didn't care any more, whether he was still alive or not. The way he lived, confined to his dwelling for a life time. In death he finally escaped the prison he built for himself.
G.W.Bush may have murderd several hundred-thousand people, plus bankrupted the country,for that he should at least be sent to Guantanamo Bay and the Base transferred to the Cuban people.
it isn't hateful or appauling.. it's celevration and unity.. when good triumphs over evil, we must celebrate it. God is on our side and always has been and always will be.. his covenant with us is un-breakable.. show some partriotism and keep your head up high and feel good about justice being served to those who harbour evil and mae attacks.. sure, you might be one small voice, but you're not saying the right things that deserve to be said.. have some support for those who fight for YOUR freedom.. stand up and believe in what is good and right with the Lord our God. Fight the good fight! Al Zawahiri has already been located. When we erase him, you better give thanks and praise and support us becasue we do, in fact love you and fight for you always,
Your comment disgusts me.
tmy comment was directed @ Onesmallvoice
or really, Onesmallvoice? how possibly can hundreds of people laugh cheerfully, celebrating and encouraging monsters that lynch two Jews missing the right road? lynch, tear apart their bodies, wash hands in their blood and proudly show those red sticky hands to the crowd and crowd goes wild from happiness. i am talking Ramallah 2000 here, you know it, right?
American support for military regimes is main cause of terrorism. The current crop of terrorism was cultivated by CIA with the partnership of Zia ul-haq (a one eyed bas??rd). Now the world has to reap this. Pakistan is country run by greedy military establishment supported by US. This maffia like partnership is a serious threat to peace and stability of the region
Harris,
very true, add gaddaffis son who was in US weeks before going to defend the dad. US tax payers cash
just like your dad
The very ill-defined, fractionated thing some people call "Al Qaeda" may well have been dealt a significant blow by the death of Bin Laden. And the ill-defined, fractionated thing some people call the "Arab Spring" may well have diminished the opportunities for political power by Islamist groups who indoctrinate hatred of the West. Both assumptions are reasonable, though have yet to be proven.
However, the idea that Islamist groups who indoctrinate hatred of the West are significantly on the decline in the Middle East is hogwash. Setbacks do not equal eradication, especially for fringe movements who perceive systematic persecution and individual martyrdom as endemic to their cause.
Sorry for the bad news but there's still lots of folks out there willing to strap on a bomb, walk into a crowded marketplace, and yell "Allahu Akbar!" as they pull the pin. We're going to be dealing with that for quite a while.
– mm
I think things will go quiet for sometime while they revaluate and re-organize, who ever leads alquaida will have to prove to the islamists that they are capable of as much damage as bin laden, the destruction bin laden caused is unbelievable, some three thousand dead in the towers and planes, other terrorist attacks, the cole, cost to the american people several trillion dollars to fight wars he has inspired, not only the number of american service personell deaths, also combatant deaths, deaths of innocent men, women, and children, and the list goes on, what america must realize is that the islamists are not going to return to the stone age, they will have a brand new method of operation, communication that is not traceable, america should learn from the japanese disaster, the islamists will completely fight a different war, a tusami , cause by a earthquake, a wave comeing up out of the ocean, what america should start figureing out is how will the islamist cause a earthquake,
Today just because you kill a chief in no way means you have killed off the chain of command.
I think that just because Bin Laden is dead doesn't mean we should get comfortable and back down on the defense against terrorism. This war we fight its not a war against Islam, its a war against the innocent slaughter of people. I don't understand how anyone with that knows the difference between right and wrong could walk into an airport, steal a plane, and be apart of killing over 2000 people on 9/11, and think that is the way to heaven, that killing innocent people is "good" I think we should still keep our guard up as far as this goes, anything could happen, Al Qaeda could try another attack on us as revenge for their leaders death, or they could just fizzle out, either way, we should be prepared for the outcome.
I agree 100 percent we all know that Al Qaeda is going to counter attack, we killed their leader. We need to keep on our guard just like you said because even now they are planning to strike back, and who knows what they'll do, the United States need to be ready for anything.
Pakistan has been a strong US ally since 1948, when Pakistan chose to join American side and not the Russian block. Pakistan has been an all weather friend of America since 1948 to this day.
It was abandoned only after Soviet downfall, end of col war.
ISI and CIA had worked together to orchestrate the war against Soviets.
It is not a newly found friendship based on downfall of Soviet Union or several million American jobs.
Pakistan opened up its base in 60's to America near Peshawar in Badabare,
America flew their U2's from Pakistan to spy against Soviets for many years.
America finished the U2 program after Soviet Union warned Pakistan that it will wipe off, part of Pakistan, Peshawar from the map
American government recognizes Pakistan's contribution from old time
Pakistan helped with their commandos in the release of Americans from Mogadushi
Pakistan has had American military hardware, Aircrafts since 1948 on its bases
It is an old friendship, did not happen yesterday after Soviet's down fall.
Pakistan recently provided thousands of GB prisoners including Khalid Shaikh & other who delivered intelligence to CIA, including the courier.
There is a reason Obama and Mrs. Clinton are clearly acknowledging Pakistan's contribution.
Pakistan also has serious sensitivities due to the drone attacks that have killed thousands, and the families are sensitive about Pakistan's cooperation with America.
The CIA deserves the most credit for getting that A- hole, then both the former Presdent Bush, and also Obama.
There used to be no terrorists in Pakistan until September 11 incident.
Pakistan again chose to side with America against the wishes of the then Afghan government, which was giving shelter to OBL.
.
Millions of Afghan refugees had walked into Pakistan after America had left Pakistan high and dry at the end of the Soviet War.
Terrorists walked in after 911 from Afghanistan, and got mixed in with the millions of Afghan refugees who were already living in Pakistan
Pakistan faced a huge prices as a result of Pakistan's support of America
And, Pakistan became hotbed of terrorists who had walked into Pakistan to teach a lesson to Pakistan.
WE would be contradicting ourselves if we say Pakistan has terrorism and at the same time say terrorist did not kill Pakistanis, Pakistan is making up.
We should think before we write or say anything.
And also others, like the the wonderful Special Fource team that got him. (amoung others on Obama's staff)
Maybe for some more years but then, it will collapse no matter if they find a new leader.
Perflead,
you make a good point, but how didnt the Pakistan Milatary not know that Bin Laden was 1,000 yards away. He must of paid them to keep there mouths shut or something. I am not so sure we can trust the Pakistan Milatary at this point.
Living in Abbotabad is different than living in any other part of pakistan. Abbotabad is the place where army officers lives. Most houses owned by army or airforce officers. Police dont have power to search any house. Intelligence agencies dont pay attention to these houses. Most houses are big and expensive. you never know who is living in those houses. No body want to get in trouble. It was smart choice.
We should not simply repeat buzz words what we hear from media or Bush or some other politician, and believe it without giving it a second thought
It is true OBL was bad, what he did was terrible. He killed Americans, Muslims, and thousands of Pakistanis through his team of terrorists.
But he cared least about our way of life.
That was not his motivation.
He was against the oppression in the world. He was against the Sauid kingdom, Egyptian Husne Mubarak, and other oppressive and corrupt regimes in Muslim countries.
And last but not the least, he was against Zionist occupation & oppression of Palestinians
He became a terrorists to achieve his goals, which changed him into even worst oppressor
Even in our lives, we should never over react, even if our cause is genuine. and, be patient in case we know we cannot prove it.
Because over reaction makes a person worse than the oppressor, encroacher
You are correct when you say that bin Laden opposed the military dictators like Mubarack and Gadhafi, but your dead wrong about Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden wanted to see all Arab states essentially under the rule of the royal family and the Sunni clergy. He supported the Saudi monarchy and wanted dictatorships replaced with Sunni Muslim theocracies. He was first and foremost a loyal subject of the Saudi regime and enjoyed the support, moral and financial, of the Saudi royal family.
perfect lead, are you from Al-Qaeda, Hamas or Hizbollah? or maybe from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Brothers Muslims or Hizb-ut Tahrir? you comment made me sorry for poor Bin-Laden, i want to cry... we all are going to miss him a lot. rest in peace, dear Osama, you left so many fellows, don't worry, holy warrior.
Our hate should not blind our rational thinking.
Agreed. Killing the leader of an enemy is rational thinking. Cold, perhaps... but rational.
How did military not know?
Could be intelligence failure, who know!
911 attack on world trade center was intelligence failure
Not targeting OBL in Tora Bora at the right time, and then losing him, was was either an intelligence failure or incompetence.
Northwest Pakistan is full of large houses & mansions with high walls due to cultural reasons.
And, people in the regions walk along those high walled houses & mansions and don't get concerned why is it surrounded by high walls
And, if you visit the tribal areas, you hear gun shots from different sides, and nobody gives a second thought.
It is like wild west
Large walls and hinge mansions is not an uncommon site in north west regions of Pakistan
But the fact remains, Pakistan delivered several terrorist to the US including the master mind Khalid shaikh, who and others provide several leads, including the courier's
And, also there must be some logical and factual reason, Obama, Mrs Clinton, John Kerry, Dick Cheney, and others have no reservation in acknowledging Pakistan's contribution.
They cannot make such bold statements in favor of Pakistan, unless they have received the knowledge from CIA head.
Think about it!
Al Quida is a dying breed. But there are still Osama supporteR, loyalist, militant and cells out there. Our police, military our intelligence community and international intel should be allert at all times.
I understand Obama administration is trying to bring together parties, including Taliban (interested in peace) , in Afghanistan to avoid terrorism.
One of the root causes of chaos in Muslim countries is corruption. Rulers are corrupt or oppressive in almost all Muslim countries. I think Malaysia, Brunei, Turkey may be among the exceptions.
I am afraid, Pakistan is likely to face brunt of retaliation from OBL's supporters (specially terrorists) in the coming days.
ROFLMAO:D Taliban is interested in peace? Turkey is an exception among corrupted countries? ...that's what happens to people that smoke sh**.
The answer lies in a question, did Christianity survive the crucifixion? Did India survive the assassinations of the Gandhis? What the US continues to overlook, as apparently does, a slavish media, the unbalanced and biased position it assumes in the Mid East imbroglio. The arab and north African nations have a serious problem with the US surrogate, Israel. And the maintenance of that posture provides all the fodder which Al Queda, etc., need to recruit adherents. Living or dead, as some posts have already pointed out, OBL is not all that relevant; due to the looseness of the structure. For example, though he approved, he was not that much of a player in organizing the 9/11 caper. Dedication and motivation is fine, but it will only get you so far. Any reasonably astute person can point out, the planners were quite lucky, just as US intelligence was not. And, it is unfortunate, that we chose to pound on the simplicities of "bad" guys and hate. That will only go so far, (it already has reached its limit) and resolution keeps being kicked down the street. We will continue to suffer as long as that is the immediate goal.
Of course the world must continue its vigilance. Al-Qaeda is not the only terrorist group & it does have others in the organization who can cause alot of dammage. At this point it's not about "charisma", it's about revenge! Those who use religion as a platform for their evil deeds have been around since time began, & will be here when time stops. Our only defense is to pay attention!!
Don't stop now. Kill them all.
This is at best wishful thinking and possibly a dangerous delusion.
New recruits will deliver their oaths to the portrait of OBL and fight and die for him now that he's dead just as readily as they did when he was around. I wish it was this easy... you are not going to scare desperate, suicidal militants with the prospect of death... not by letting their leader set an example...
Today it is Al Qaeda, it could be some other extremist group down the road with a different name, may be few decades from now, or distant future once we are all dead.
Probably some year in the current century, we would all be dead, our bodies rotting in some grave, food for maggots, no matter how young we are today.
I think the for the good future of our generations, we should look at the things with maturity, and deal with underlying causes.
And, give equal rights to each other.
We as mortals, Grave Bound Beings (GBB's), should seriously look at the underlying causes, educate ourselves, establish clearly defined goals, agree on requirements for reaching peace, agree on the root causes, make justice for all a global criteria, not based on vested interests, implement solutions. Put to rest, injustice in the world for the sake of peace for future generations.
Otherwise, there will be new faces of tyrants tomorrow, new faces of terrorists, may be al qaeda will not be there. But it could be something else if we don't change our habits of oppression, double standards, might is right, occupations.
fuck you america
al qaeda will survive and will fuck you
fuck you america
You are right since terrorism is such a centralized operation. For example, funding dictates everything. Either leaders travel around with funding or they try to pick leader and supply that leader with finding to expand operation. So if top leader is gone, it is close to done in many ways.
i think it is not over
alqaeda is more an ideology with a decentralised network than a centralised network and many are embracing their ideas
the war in afghanistan and irak has left many killed and their relatives will not forget their dead easily and are keen to avenge them
unless the usa find a way to come in terms with them the war will last for generations
Bin Laden and much of Pakistan share some serious defect in common, the belief that the Koran is legit. But can it be if it violates the tenets of superior subordinate relationships where a subordinate is to retain responsibility for his or her actions? The Koran draws down acceptable behavior to too narrow a range of action where hundreds of other options might be available. In order for an individual not to be as a puppet to a superior he/she must manage to use their own reason and choice of action. The Koran fails when implied directives concerning behavior subvert an individuals choice over available acceptable alternatives. This is indicative of someone wanting others to believe a God had something to do with the Koran but the complexity of retained responsibility was not something the writers understood at all how to do. Interestingly one defect we see in Bin Laden is one where he is inclined to take control over the thinking of others through terrorist acts. He failed to recognize his acting as puppeteer over people is a primitive concept. The people who follow him need to realize that acting as puppeteer over people is a primitive concept and that people learn from great leaders only by example, not force.
Allah is great! Al Qaeda is Pakistan Army, Pakistan Army is Al Qaeda. The name "Al Qeda" means "The Fat As*" which perfectly describes our Generals including Musharraf. Pakistan Army needs Al Qaeda to keep the American baksheesh coming. Pakistan Poor country onlee, Pakistan needs American Aid to kill Americans. Please donate your tax dollars to poor Pakistan so Pakistanis can kill Americans. We all know how smart Americans are, especially Senator Lugar and CongressMutt Boehner.
only in Gaza there are six bases of Al-Qaeda; Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt are fully at Al-Qaeda's mercy; they have their people in EVERY country, every region, every big city of this world. can Al-Qaeda survive without Bin-Laden?
Of course al Qeada can survive. Look how long cockroaches have been around.