Evidence points to the rise of a newer, more potent terrorist threat, says robert fox |
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The news from the north-west frontier of Pakistan is particularly ominous this month. American and British intelligence agencies say they now have incontrovertible evidence that Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri (right), have successfully rebuilt the al-Qaeda organisation on stronger and more deadly lines, and are now training and running bombers and killers out of secure camps and command bases in North Waziristan.
The al-Qaeda set-up was badly shaken after the defeat of the Taliban and the flight from Afghanistan at the end of 2001. Now al-Zawahiri and co have put together a more robust and articulated organisation. Bin Laden has been absent from the daily running of affairs - fuelling again suggestions that he is ill, dying or even dead. But his name lives on through the propaganda put out by al-Zawahiri - last year there were 21
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| We are facing an offensive by al-Qaeda, and the principal targets are likely to be Europe, Britain and North Africa |
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such missives, double the number for 2005.
We are now facing an offensive by phase three of al-Qaeda, and the principal targets are likely to be Europe, Britain and North Africa - from Libya to Mauretania.
Phase one of the organisation was from the Gulf War in 1991, when bin Laden first raised the banner of jihad against America, the Saudi kingdom and their allies. This phase came to an end with the September 11 attacks in 2001, and the expulsion from Afghanistan.
Phase two was primarily a time for regrouping for the bin Laden command group of the founding leadership. It was effective enough, too, inspiring the bomb attacks in Bali in October 2002, Istanbul in November 2003, and the Atocha train bombings in Madrid the following March.
Phase three began with Pakistan agreeing to withdraw its forces from North Waziristan last year. According to latest intelligence reports, this has allowed al-Qaeda to improve its bases in the region, and operate from them with impunity. The camps train terrorist commandos and suicide bombers in small 
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