Shadow of Bin Laden hangs over Africa and Middle East

"There seems to be a universal consensus on the fact that al Qaeda is here amongst us and cannot simply be blown away. Considering that, al Qaeda had carried out 6 major attacks, 4 of which were against America, each attack taking years to prepare, the red alerts on travels and American embassies abroad placed immediately after Osama's death is bound to be one of so many that would follow as reprisal attacks are likely not to be immediate. Sadly, America is not the only country that has to worry for al Qaeda and what it stands for. Europe, Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria and et cetera, have become partakers of the Jihad terror. Hence we move by looking over our shoulders, with both the terrorists and the terrorised sleeping with one eye open.

"The status of al Qaeda, its strength after Osama and its future impact on global affairs had been a subject of dissent- ing views. While the one school of thought holds that it is a structural organisation the other believes it to be fragmen- tation of sectional groups working to achieve similar purpose. If the latter were to be the case, then his death would amount to an insignifi- cant hindrance to the continua- tion of the Jihad cause. If the former is the correct position, Osama's long term deputy, Egyptian doctor, Ayman Al- Zawahiri or Salif al-Adel readily steps into his big shoes...."

Implications from CDD:

"Going by precedents, the future holds terror but the will and act by West African governments and perhaps support from Western intelligence systems to clamp down on terrorist groups now will be our only hope for a safe tomorrow. Such respite can also be found in governments of African countries doubling their zeal to curb corruption, porous inter-country border security networks, poverty and illiteracy."