David Ray Griffin, Osama bin Laden: Dead or Alive?

[The Doc]

Even if Osama is dead, it's not like Al Quida will vanish. He is and always was more the charismic leader, the actual planning and carrying out of operations were done by others. It would still be a danger.

Correct.

The United States military (particularly Special Forces) essentially destroyed, disorganized, and neutralized what academics refer to as "al Qaeda Central" back in 2001. The formal structure of the group, including financing systems, formal networks, training camps, leadership approved recruitment etc. no longer exists.

The threat from al Qaeda in 2009 comes from sympathizers, and smaller terrorist groups who take the al Qaeda name on board for ideological reasons. They don't actually have any direct connections to the old al Qaeda central. Al Qaeda central leaders such as Zawahiri and Bin Laden now only serve as idealistic support through their messages, and have no operational control over the al Qaeda of today.

With that in mind, however, capturing or killing al Qaeda central operatives is still a high priority. As you said though, it won't solve the problem.

 

[Galileo]

Right, getting Osama does nothing to destroy the threat the other 10,000 angry Islamists with rockets and explosives pose.

what about the danger from one million angry Americans with nuclear weapons?

 

[HyJinX]

what about the danger from one million angry Americans with nuclear weapons?

Angry Americans are allowed to have nuclear weapons now???? Holy crap...when did that happen? It must suck having to give up the second garage stall to an ICBM.

 

[The Doc]

what about the danger from one million angry Americans with nuclear weapons?

Your premise is grossly incorrect.

 

[Dave Rogers]

what about the danger from one million angry Americans with nuclear weapons?

I'm wondering why the other 300 million haven't got any.

Dave