Slate brings this to my attention:
A new video apparently released by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has U.S. intelligence and counter-terrorism analysts scrambling. The video, which had been circulating on jihadist websites and was brought to light by terrorist watchdog group Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC), shows what appears to be the largest gathering of al-Qaida militants in years, and is one of the more brazen al-Qaeda propaganda pieces to be released in some time.
Appearing front and center in the video is AQAP leader Nasir al-Wuhayshi. Known as al-Qaida’s crown prince, al-Wuhayshi is second within the group’s global power structure….
His appearance in the video is especially notable given that the meeting seems to be out in the open, running counter to speculation that AQAP leaders had gone underground and were communicating solely by courier. …
Huh. That’s not good. Al Qaeda feeling free to have company picnics.
Of course, I was being facetious about the drones. Something people miss is that, amazing as modern surveillance is, it doesn’t see everything.
But this does represent an intelligence failure, apparently.
I blame Edward Snowden. Not that I have any reason to do so; I just choose to blame him. The way Democrats blamed Bush for everything, and Republicans blame Obama for everything. I blame Snowden. Call it Snowden Derangement Syndrome… Some of y’all have already accused me of something like that, so I might as well roll with it…
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I’m liking this “blame Snowden” thing. I’m beginning to see the allure for political partisans. Having a scapegoat is soothing; it simplifies everything. Watch: “I blame Snowden for the cancellation of ‘Firefly’.”
Sure, he was only 19 at the time, but do you think there were ADULTS in charge at Fox when they made that reprehensible decision?
If only Nasir al-Wuhayshi had called and ordered pizza for the gathering…