Editing Al-Qaeda (section)

==Post-9/11: Decline and Evolution==
Ghost Wars describes the U.S. campaign, noting, “By 2002, al Qaeda’s leadership was scattered, but its ideology persisted” (Coll, 2004, p. 567). Black Flags details al Qaeda’s evolution, with affiliates like al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) emerging under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Warrick writes, “AQI’s brutality in Iraq redefined al Qaeda’s image, alienating even some jihadists” (Warrick, 2015, p. 256).

Deal with the Devil by Peter Lance (2013) examines the FBI’s continued struggles to counter al Qaeda, particularly through its 'mishandling' of informants. Lance notes, “Post-9/11, the FBI’s failures allowed al Qaeda operatives to evade capture” (Lance, 2013, p. 312). This 'failure' is how the drug trafficking, facilitated by the CIA's involvement in it, continues unabated. Twilight of the Shadow Government by Kevin Shipp (2024) critiques the broader intelligence community, arguing that “the deep state’s focus on power obscured the al Qaeda threat” (Shipp, 2024, p. 178).