AL QAEDA REDUX? The Hindustan Times reports that Pakistani intelligence officials think Al Qaeda is likely to strike soon with a bunch of new suicide attacks. Well, that would be typical. Just as U.S. pundits and politicians are starting to return to business as usual, this will remind the country that it’s still at war, and remind the world that these “scum” (to coin a phrase) are still out there. If the attacks are on Americans it will give America more room to maneuver diplomatically. If they’re on non-Americans (as in Pakistan ) they will produce additional pressure on the countries whose people are attacked to support the war. As I said, typically stupid.

Al Qaeda has shown some degree of operational skill, and gets a lot of points for persistence, and for being willing to learn from its mistakes. What it lacks completely is political judgment. But then, what do you expect?