The examples Seth Jones proffers aren’t particularly illuminating:
After 2001, al Qai’da significantly increased its number of attacks which spanned a wider geographic area across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. As Figure 6.2 indicates, al-Qai’da continued to conduct attacks in several key locations, such as Saudi Arabia and Kenya. But it also expanded into North Africa (Tunisia and Algeria), Asia (Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan), the Middle East (Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt), and Europe (the United Kingdom). …
Saudi Arabia (hello, did he forget Khobar Towers and the other location back in ’95)Kenya and Tanzania; did he forget 1998.North Africa (the GIA/FIS campaign against the Algerian state, where does he think Ressam came from) Jordan (where Zarquawi was from, and Abu Zubeydah operated; that Christmas attempt in 2000) Egypt (do we have to relive Luxor)Europe was less likely but the Paris bombings of the
early 90s, inpart tied to France’s support of the FLN are indicative)One could argue that the Iraq operation, did provide a surge ofcandidates
from other parts of the ummah, but their reception among the Coalition forces, has weakened their enthusiasm. Does he really think, you can have constables in Waziristan?
