Iraq: Just Another Milestone in the War against al-Qaeda | INSS
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Strategic Assessment

Home Strategic Assessment Iraq: Just Another Milestone in the War against al-Qaeda

Iraq: Just Another Milestone in the War against al-Qaeda

Research Forum | November 2008 Follow us on Google
Gaia Sciaky
Yoram Schweitzer

The impression that US achievements in Iraq against al-Qaeda in recent months have direct implications for the al-Qaeda organization as a whole stems from the tendency to overstate the connection between the two. This essay analyzes al-Qaeda Central’s overall strategic balance sheet in its campaign in Iraq over the last five years. It argues that al-Qaeda will continue to boast major achievements in its Iraqi campaign even if it eventually endures a sweeping defeat there. Moreover, even major setbacks will not suffice to undermine al-Qaeda’s strength in its current headquarters on the Pakistan-Afghan border.


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  • Research

    • Topics
      • Israel and the Global Powers
      • Israel-United States Relations
      • Glazer Israel-China Policy Center
      • Russia
      • Europe
      • Antisemitism and Delegitimization
      • Iran and the Shi'ite Axis
      • The Campaign Against Iran and the Shiite Axis
      • Iran
      • Lebanon and Hezbollah
      • Syria
      • Yemen and the Houthi Movement
      • Iraq and the Iraqi Shiite Militias
      • Conflict to Agreements
      • Israeli-Palestinian Relations
      • Hamas and the Gaza Strip
      • Peace Agreements and Normalization in the Middle East
      • Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States
      • Turkey
      • Egypt
      • Jordan
      • Israel’s National Security Policy
      • Military and Strategic Affairs
      • Societal Resilience and the Israeli Society
      • Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel
      • Climate, Infrastructure and Energy
      • Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict
      • Cross-Arena Research
      • Data Analytics Center
      • Law and National Security
      • Advanced Technologies and National Security
      • Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
      • Economics and National Security
    • Projects
      • Preventing the Slide into a One-State Reality
      • India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
  • Publications

    • All Publications
    • INSS Insight
    • Policy Research and Papers
    • Special Publication
    • Strategic Assessment
    • Technology Platform
    • Memoranda
    • Database
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