There is no shortage of opinions about whether Al-Qaeda is dead, impotent, or about to mutate into new levels of lethality. What is in short supply, however, is clear reasoning backed by credible citations that take the discussion away from casual editorializing and into the realm of useful analysis.
In the essay below by Clint Watts of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, such analysis brings several interesting and well supported ideas to the fore. Who knew that bin Laden was at work to rebrand his organization before his demise? What role did financing play in the ascendancy of Al-Qaeda and does it continue to play in the role of its emerging successors? What has worked in countering Al-Qaeda, and what indicators are worth monitoring to neutralize the next major terrorist organizations?
Watts takes all these matters on in a short, clearly written paper that has just come out. Here is the link to the thoughtful analysis:
http://www.fpri.org/enotes/2012/201207.watts.al-qaeda.html
-- Nick Catrantzos
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Nick Catrantzos + Tom Goff
- All Secure
- NICK CATRANTZOS is the lead author of the All Secure website and is the emeritus security director for a large public organization. He has also managed security aspects of corporate takeovers, response to international hostage situations, and finding and keeping secrets. He has been board certified in security management, licensed as a private investigator, and certified as an incident commander. He worked as a case officer for a discreet branch of public service. He protected stealth technology at Lockheed and, later, as a consulting security director for both Kroll and Control Risks, he assisted executives with workplace violence cases and with protecting VIPs and critical assets globally in volatile areas. Nick's partner, TOM GOFF, was a captain in the Military Police Corps, U.S. Army Reserve and has a law degree from the University of California at Davis. He is a former reporter for Fortune Magazine, was senior editor at New York Magazine and Esquire, and has provided crisis and communications counsel to senior executives at Fortune 500 companies, including Lockheed, ARCO, Microsoft, Nissan, and Sony Pictures.