Al-Qaeda is winning

In late October, there was a Globe article talking about Ramadan. It was discussing how Ramadan influences media. Many TV networks only broadcast during Ramadan to give the believers some entertainment while they wait for the nightly feast, and after the feasts. Al-Qaeda is using their internet connections to proclaim themselves Caliphs, by giving Wahabist viewpoints on Islamic news and making them seem right. And they are gaining followers. Considering that the sites used change every two days, and the sites are only slightly Wahabist enclined, people are a bit more likely to agree then if it were Al-Qaeda websites or Wahabist extremist websites. But Al-Qaeda is gaingin much more political influence. Saudi Arabia changed its flag, because one of the two scimitars on the flag stood for Wahabism, which, until recently, Saudi Arabia was proud of being. If Al-Qaeda can get the most influential Islamic country to change their flag because of a chance association, it means they are gaining fear. When terrorists gain fear, it means they are gaining power from the fearful. It also means that Al-Qaeda is getting power from those who still support Wahabism in Saudi Arabia. If people see the government changing a national symbol as to remove association with a terrorist group that they still want, they might feel inclined to support the terrorists.

Now take all this new support and add it to the Al-Qaeda and Iraq sympathizers, and you have an army of jihadists and politicals to support you. Face it. We're screwed. Al-Qaeda is winning, unless we can do something about its followers. We tried cutting off the head. Now let's try the rest of the body.