My, How You've Grown

Al-Qaeda's reach.  Click image for larger version

How Al-Qaeda Has Grown Since 9/11 - 'Abderrahman ar-Rashed
    
We are confronting a growing phenomenon, even by the criteria set by al-Qaeda itself when it destroyed the Twin Towers in New York in 2001.
     
At the time, the organization comprised no more than a few hundred members based in a single state, Afghanistan.
     
Today, it includes entire armies with tens of thousands of fighters.
     
Its geographical reach has spread from a single country to some ten countries where its members are fighting on a daily basis.    
(Mideast Mirror, Asharq al-Awsat, 5 Feb 2014)
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UPDATE:

U.S. Intel Officials Differ with Obama in View - John T. Bennett
 
Senior U.S. intelligence officials offered a more alarming assessment of al-Qaeda than President Obama's declaration that the organization is on the run and headed toward defeat. During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Director of National Security James Clapper described al-Qaeda as "morphing," with new groups popping up in North Africa.
    
When asked if al-Qaeda is on a path to defeat and on the run, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn replied, "they are not." 
(Defense News)
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