Thanks for the help, Zawahiri

Ayman al-Zawahiri’s recent portrayal of Barack Obama as a ‘house Negro’ and Jewish pawn highlights Al-Qaeda’s current state of anxiety. The election of America’s first multi-ethnic and internationalist president may deal a heavier blow to the group than have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda, despite the politically potent terrorism tag, exists and operates as an insurgency with a global reach and agenda. Insurgent groups rely heavily on propaganda-driven recruitment to sustain their existence and secure their safe havens. If Al-Qaeda loses this battle for hearts and minds, it will become less influential and effective in the coming years. This is all fairly straightforward to any student of international relations.