Rapid Fire August 9, 2013: Al Qaeda Didn’t Get Obama Memo on Its Defeat

• Al Qaeda’s resurgence in Iraq has contributed to a serious increase in casualties, with more than 1,000 deaths – most of them civilian – last month alone.

• The Economist, on AQ:

“In May Mr Obama spoke of the ‘war on terror’ coming to an end. It is true that al-Qaeda’s focus is now mostly on local struggles rather than the ‘far’ enemy in the West. But, compared with 12 years ago, it has many more fighters and holds much more territory [emphasis DID]. Its priorities could easily and at any moment shift once more. If a conversation between Mr Zawahiri and Mr Wuhayshi can be the cause of so much bother and trouble, Mr Obama may have to think again.”