Lieutenant General Saif Al Shafa'ar, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior, talks to Sir Ken Knight, Adviser to the UK Government on Fire & Rescue at the World Security Forum. (Abdul Rahman/Gulf News)Al Qaida's Reach Reduced - Analyst -- Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Al Qaida's global reach has been minimised since 9/11, said a US-based expert on terrorism.
Speaking at the World Security Forum yesterday at the capital, Ambassador Michael A. Sheehan, who formerly served as the Deputy Commissioner of Counter Terrorism for the New York City Police Department, said that everyone expected Al Qaida to follow up the dramatic attack on September 11 with similar attacks.
"Why have they not attacked the US again? Why did they not smuggle a bomb in a container and blow it up or shoot people at a shopping mall? Everyone expected it," he remarked.
However, such an attack did not happen primarily due to the increased cooperation between intelligence agencies all over the world following 9/11, he noted. "Intelligence cooperation is the single most important reason why Al Qaida has been rolled up around the world," he said.
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My Comment: Their reach is reduced .... but only for now. There are millions who still adore Osama Bin laden and Al Qaeda .... and the ideology and thinking that gave birth to Al Qaeda is still there.
While it is true that intelligence cooperation between intelligence agencies all over the world has been helpful, the wars and operations against Al Qaeda's safe havens has given Al Qaeda pause in what they can do. I am sure that if this pressure is stopped, Al Qaeda will then take the opportunity to plan and execute their next strike.