The evolution of Al-Qaeda since 9/11

Is Al-Qaeda making a comeback? President Obama says the group has been “decimated.” But many contend the network is resurging, noting they control more territory in the Middle East today than ever before. They’re also increasingly active on social media. So, how has Al-Qaeda evolved since 9/11? How does their growing presence in places like Syria impact U.S. national security? Join us Thursday at 7:30pm ET.

On this episode of The Stream we'll speak to: 

Brian Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Senior Advisor to the RAND President
rand.org/about/people/j/jenkins_brian_michael.html

Professor Juan Cole @jricole
Professor of History, University of Michigan 
juancole.com

Shahed Amanullah @shahed
Former State Dept. Senior Advisor
shahed.com

Daveed Gartenstein-Ross @DaveedGR
Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defenseof Democracies
daveedgr.com

What do you think? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below. 

With its founder Osama Bin Laden dead, and its core leaders on the run, President Obama argued that Al Qaeda was on the path to defeat. But the network's growth across the Middle East and North Africa has some doubting Obama's assessment.