Al Qaeda Sees Resurgence in Pakistani Tribal Areas

[ECH1969]

Al Qaeda and its former protectors — the Taliban — are in the midst of a powerful resurgence, according to accounts by local officials and information contained in new al Qaeda videotapes obtained by ABC News.

The new videotapes show open recruitment for the jihad, or holy war, to kill Americans and their allies. "The Taliban resurgence this year has been enormous and quite extraordinary," said Ahmed Rashid, author of the book "Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and the Fundamentalism in Central Asia."

The tape claims Taliban officials have taken over government functions. There is no date on the tape, but in the last month ABC News reporters have confirmed that Western aid organizations have been forced out, their headquarters burned, schools shut down, teachers and journalists killed, and music banned.

"It has regrouped, reformed and re-emerged with new vigor," said Akbar Ahmed, professor of Islamic studies at American University, "and this is a very dangerous emergence."

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/International/story?id=1537040

[IndianaGreen]

1. Every bomb we drop on civilian areas

is a recruitment poster for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

[rodeodance]

2. the insanity of it all.