al-Qaida Has Rebuilt, U.S. Intel Warns

U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded al-Qaida has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, The Associated Press has learned.

The conclusion suggests that the group that launched the most devastating terror attack on the United States has been able to rebuild despite nearly six years of bombings, war and other tactics aimed at crippling it.

Still, numerous government officials say they know of no specific, credible threat of a new attack.

So, we can look at this a couple of ways:

1. al-Qaida is a name used to describe many, many opponents of the U.S. for the sole purpose of generating fear in the American public in order to keep the profitable war machine going.

2. al-Qaida is indeed a legitimate threat to the U.S. (not something the U.S. just uses to keep the war machine going) but the strategy for the past six years has not worked and quite possibly has made the situation much worse.

Both scenarios are depressing.

Stay scared here.