Yemen, the new Al-Qaeda field

Posted by Mark Smith On Friday, May 6th 2011 in Politics

It is well know that in the recent years before his death Osama bin Laden had decided to step down from the actual leadership of Al-Qaeda and chose to act as a symbolic figurehead for the global terrorist movement. Of course, Al-Qaeda backed up his plan and supported Osama bin Laden's apparent gravitas while also depicting him as a saintly, ascetic figure who had renounced all world's concerns in pursuit of his cause. Why did they choose to do so? The answer is simple.

With Osama as their front, they were free to unite regardless of country or position. Thus Osama remained an abstract symbol who was free of their bitter squabbles over money, strategy and prestige that have always marked al Qaeda's internal operations. However with Bin Laden dead it is very likely that his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri will have to take on both the spiritual and the organizing roles. This may prove to be difficult for Al-Qaeda. Al Qaeda as it exists today is a coalition of groups. Its disparate branches in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and North Africa are all being relatively autonomous. These groups have existed in a friendly rivalry until the death of their leader.

Now they are wondering why they should take orders from Zawahiri, an unappealing and cranky zealot, whose primary concert is his homeland Egypt. In recent years, from its bases in Yemen AQAP has carried out some of the most audacious attempted terrorist attacks against the west, ranging from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner in 2009 to a 2010 effort to smuggle explosives onto cargo planes. AQAP has also recruited an American Muslim, Samir Khan, who has developed 'Inspire', an English-language online newspaper that aims to incite Muslims in the West to carry out acts of terrorism. None of this is to say that AQAP will openly defy al Qaeda or Bin Laden. An open falling out would damage both branches of the movement. However, one can easily imagine a situation in which AQAP operate ever more independently of al Qaeda.