Terrorism

Al Qaeda Leaders Move to N. Africa

After setbacks in Pakistan.

Something to both celebrate and fear: A Guardian report on Sunday says al Qaeda’s senior leadership in Pakistan is so weakened that it can be destroyed with a “last push” in 2012, but also that these same terrorists are making their way toward Libya. British officials say “only a handful of key players” remain alive after the United States’ targeted drone offensive. However, sources close to North African Islamist groups also tell The Guardian that at least two relatively senior al Qaeda figures have entered Libya recently with others arrested as they headed in that direction. The “vast majority” of Al Qaeda members, says The Guardian, are originally from North Africa.