ADAM ENTOUS
online.wsj.com
August 4, 2013
Widespread U.S. embassy closures and travel alerts prompted by al
Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen show how the group has proved stubbornly
resilient despite more than two years of American strikes against its
leaders.
The State Department Sunday extended some embassy closures for the
rest of the workweek, citing a need to “exercise caution” and take
“appropriate steps” to protect American diplomats, local employees and
visitors. Officials said the move wasn’t an indication that the U.S. had
any new intelligence about the suspected plot or plots.
The high level of concern from U.S. officials underscores what many
in the intelligence world have long warned. While al Qaeda’s central
leadership may be weakened, the rest of the group has morphed into
smaller entities and dispersed, which has made the threat harder to
predict and track. This process was accelerated by the turmoil of the
Arab Spring.
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