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As Al Qaeda Loses a Leader, Its Power Shifts From Pakistan
The death this week of Al Qaedas deputy leader, Abu Yahya al-Libi, is likely to accelerate a shift in power from the groups dwindling leadership in Pakistan to its increasingly autonomous franchises, particularly the branch in Yemen, whose focus on attacking American interests is sure to continue, according to United States counterterrorism officials.Mr. Libi had played a pivotal role as the organizations theological traffic cop, enforcing a unified message and ensuring that younger fighters in the affiliates did not go off the rails. For now, Ayman al-Zawahri, Al Qaedas nominal leader, still holds the broad influence that he has consolidated since Osama bin Ladens death last year. But the hierarchical structure of global jihad may be loosening a bit. Mr. Libis death in a drone strike has torn at the connective tissue between the groups embattled leadership in Pakistan and its far-flung affiliates across the Middle East and Africa. Posted by: tipper 2012-06-08 |
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