Al Quaeda 2012: an unstable base?

Last updated: 13 Nov 12 @ 03:23  | Comments 

The greatest impact of bin Laden’s death has been symbolic rather than on the operational capacity of al-Qaeda

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Intersec November 2012 issue

A year after Osama bin Laden’s death, Anthony Tucker-Jones assesses the threat posed by al-Qaeda to Western interests and asks whether it is a spent force

The killer strode across the parade ground on al-Sabin Square in Sana’a, Yemen. As he was dressed in a military uniform, none of the other recruits took much notice of him. The blast from his suicide vest instantly disintegrated his body and killed 96 soldiers. The shock wave from the blast and the flying debris wounded another 200 people. The square was reduced to a blood-splattered charnel house. Another victory chalked up to rampant anarchy.

Most of the casualties were from Yemen’s Central Security Organisation, which is commanded by Yahya Saleh, former President Al Abdullah Saleh’s nephew. The men had been rehearsing on 21 May for

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