Where Does Al-Qaeda Go From Here?

As we learned Sunday night of the death of the most hated man in the world on, the question still remains “Are we safer now?” Has Bin Laden’s death made the world safer or only fueled his followers to seek avenge on the United States and its supporters? At day’s end, an Osama Bin Laden dead is a better deal than an Osama Bin Laden alive. I am sure most of the world would love to think that, but sadly it is not so.


His death means a great deal to his enemies at this point than to his followers. Terrorist experts say that the terror alert and will eventually go up, as the branches of al-Qaeda around the Mideast will avenge their symbolic leader’s death—but not anytime soon. Who would be there next target? Will they first send a message to the U.S or come straight at us yet again? Since Osama’s death, it is questioned whether or not, terrorism died with him. When Adolf Hitler died, so did Nazism and by all means,the world is hoping for the same in this situation and in some way outlandish way, it could happen. Bin Lade, the figure head was also the CFO, all the money came from him and him alone. But the odds of seeing al-Qaeda dead, is very slim. The organization has evolved in the last ten years and without their symbolic leader.

 For the better part of a decade Bin Laden has been on the run, splitting up his organization in many different groups, groups with their own #1s and #2s. These groups worked fine without Bin Laden, although he was the leader of all leaders, they were all well trained to work without him and they have been doing that since 9/11. So the fact that he is gone, to say their fire has died with him, is a bit false. They have adapted to life without him in the last decade and will use his death now as means to retaliate and to show the world that without him, they are stronger than 9/11. For the last ten years, a “core al-Qaeda” has been rising in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan. Their network has spread, new operational leaders have been recruited and trained and of course new bases have established. Core al-Qaeda has learned how to work with local and nationalist jihadist groups, helping to amplify their violence.

Nasser al Wahayshi

The Taliban will continue to fight with or without their leader and they have shown that to us. Yemen (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP) is spearheaded by Nasser al Wahayshi, a former personal aide of Mr. bin Laden’s, and Anwar al Awlaki, an American-Yemeni cleric.

Fort Hood Shooter, Major Nidal Malik Hasan

Underwear Bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

This franchise has been the instigator of several recent terror plots aimed at America, from the Fort Hood shootings to the Christmas Day “underwear bomber” and the attempt last October to blow up two Chicago-bound cargo planes with bombs concealed in printer cartridges. Obviously, to carry out a plan like 9/11, it took years to plan, so who is to say that in the last ten years there isn’t already a plan and now with Bin Laden’s death. The world is likely to think the crazed lead is being avenged, but in reality it may only be a cover up to throw us off.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Al-Qaeda is more dangerous today with relentless military and financial attrition than it was in 2001. Of course in the mean time, it’s business as usual. There will be one man attacks to the west and mayhem over in Afghanistan and Pakistan, until they see fit to attack. Osama bin Laden, like any great CEO has trained his company to work without him, in case God intervenes. So, in the last ten years, Bin Laden built up al-Qaeda to work without him and they have been doing quite profoundly. Although his death is calamitous, him being dead or alive would make no difference on what is next to come for the World.