More on links

IN THE NEWS
All Things Considered has a brief interview with Marc Sageman, author of Understanding Terror Networks, about the links between Al Qaeda and the groups behind the recent bombings in Egypt and Great Britain. I think the headline on NPR's web site, "Are Freelancers Co-Opting Al Qaeda's Name?" is a bit off the mark. Still, the important point is understanding the loose but effective relationships between Al Qaeda and its "clients."

Another thought about the second London attack: It definitely seems like that group was far less competent than the group responsible for the first, highly lethal bombings. Sometimes Al Qaeda's investment in a group pays off; sometimes, it doesn't.