"al-Qaeda in Iraq" or "al-Qaeda in Afghanistan" equals "al-Qaeda", right?

[zbdent]

Isn't that similar to saying the "Tea Party of Medina Ohio" or "Murfreesboro TN Tea Party" is totally representative of the "Tea Party" movement in total?

[tekisui]

1. No, they are not the same at all.

It is convenient for the US military to confuse the distinctions in order to keep citizens sufficiently scared and supportive of the wars. AQ in Iraq and AQ in Afghanistan are not the AQ that carried out attacks in NY and DC.

There are many AQ splinter groups or AQ wannabes, but most are local organizations that work to disrupt and undermine local governments, especially those that are sympathetic or puppets of the US. The only reason the local AQ groups are able to kill Americans is because we put Americans in their neighborhood.

[zbdent]

2. I agree ... that's the point ...

the "liberally-biased media" allows the association of "al Qaeda in X" with "al Qaeda" ... but any time the some "faction" of the "Tea Party" movement does something stupid or illegal, the "liberally-biased media" allows them to say "Oh, but there is no national 'Tea Party' ..."