America’s Counterterrorism and Al-Qaeda: An Overview

Approaching the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, there is a growing sense among Counterterrorism analysts from the policy community and academia that Al-Qaeda has substantially weakened in the last decade and is destined to lose the battle against its enemies, and in particular the United States. Indeed, signs that Al-Qaeda is flagging are ample and include its loss of Osama bin Laden and important operational leader; defeat or near defeat of various Al Qaeda franchises outside of Pakistan; a large number of ideological challenges leveled against the group by some of its former allies and the series of protests that shook several Middle Eastern and North African States beginning in early 2011. September II, 2001 is a day that will redefine history. Before the tragic events of that date occurred, articles appeared in journals and newspapers accusing the U.S. Government of overstating the terrorist threat. This book is a modest attempt to discuss all these issues.