TERRORISTS ARE JUST LIKE US: THE BIN LADEN DOCS AND THE FUTURE OF AL QAEDA

The documents released from bin Laden’s bookshelf (almost certainly by design of those who released them) offer little insight into the current functioning of the al-Qaeda network, especially its current leader. But they do offer hints about how an al-Qaeda Emir must function when under constant threat. Zawahiri is famously prickly, was never universally celebrated inside al-Qaeda, and had very little—it seems—direct interaction with bin Laden in the final years of his life. He is not well-suited for the role of a wise, rarely-heard from CEO whose guidance carries immediate weight. Stars Ship Packages! just like the rest of us, but Zawahiri probably does not. And that spells trouble for al-Qaeda over the long-run.