Finally al Qaeda is On the Run...or Maybe Not

So is al Qaeda on the run, or are they back in the saddle? This attempt at an explanation in the Wall Street Journal basically claims it's both, but really the effort falls short of the really important point:

"Because of the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform, the war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is ending. Al Qaeda is on the run. Osama bin Laden is dead," Mr. Obama repeated in several speeches before the Nov. 6 election.

In a speech Wednesday in California, the president echoed his remarks on the Leno show, telling Marines at Camp Pendleton that because of their efforts, al Qaeda's top ranks have been hammered. And yet: "Al Qaeda affiliates and like-minded extremists still threaten our homeland," he added.

What you have to understand is that this is typical government "jerking around." They claim threat exists, then justify reducing your civil liberties as well as increasing their need for your money to meet the looming threat. When convenient - as for example during the last election - they might imply that their efforts are succeeding. But they don't want too much success, since we might then question the need for us giving up our civil liberties and the need for us to fork over tax dollars to fund their anti-terrorist efforts. So the threat somehow miraculously increases - witness the recent closing of embassies in the Muslim world due to, yup, the same al Qaeda that was "on the run" only a few months ago.

I'm not saying there's not terrorist threat. I'm not saying prudent measures shouldn't be taken to oppose that threat. What I am saying is that if you follow government words and actions, they really have less to do with the actual threat and most to do with government increasing its power.

You need to understand this.