Defense

Special Forces Cmdr.: Prepare for al-Qaida 2.0

U.S. Special Operations Commander Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, said the death of Osama bin Laden does not spell the end of the terrorist organziation al-Qaida. Rath...

Federal News Network Staff

July 28, 2011 12:08 pm

< a min read

The commander of U.S. Special Forces told Congress this week al-Qaida is bloodied and nearing its end, however the battle is not yet over.

Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, the first Navy SEAL to be named commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, said the killing of Osama Bin Laden in May was a near death blow to what he called al-Qaida 1.0. But, al-Quaida 2.0 might be tougher to eradicate. That’s because it includes radicalized Americans, such as Anwar al-Awlaki, who now operates out of Yemen. Olsen said Awlaki understands America better than America understands him, and the admiral predicts the new generation of al-Qaida will keep American forces engaged for at least another decade.

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