Al Qaeda Members Moving To Middle East

[ECH1969]

Al Qaeda has scaled down its leadership structure in Afghanistan and is poised to shift its main decision making to somewhere in the Middle East, possibly Iraq, senior Arab officials have revealed to CBS News, as speculation continues over the fate of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

A Saudi security advisor told CBS News that the exodus of Arab al Qaeda members, mostly originating from the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, began in mid to late July, and continued throughout August. Saudi intelligence has not yet determined why this exodus has taken place, says the advisor.

"The destination of these people is back to the Middle East. Iraq we know is right now the biggest battleground for such people and I have heard enough on the subject of Iraq working as a magnet for militant groups to go along with the view that some may be heading to Iraq," said the diplomat who also spoke on the condition of anonymity.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/24/terror/main2036353.shtml

[IndianaGreen]

1. More indirect evidence that Osama bin Laden is dead

A new generation is taking over and are moving the decision makers closer to the battlefront. An Iraq that sinks into the same war lord driven civil war we saw in Somalia, is the sort of fertile ground that Al-Qaeda thrives.

The Shia have their own destiny to strive for, and it doesn't include the Suni Al-Qaeda.

[Igel]

2. Or perhaps the tribals in the NWFP are

actually going to live up to their end of the agreement. Impose order, etc., or have the foreigners leave.

Too early to tell. There might even be a third reason.

[Hissyspit]

3. kick