Shock and awe makes it happen.

But except in news reports, the war in Iraq has been going poorly for al-Qaida. . . .

* * * *

[al-Qaida] targets have shifted in emphasis from American forces to Iraqi forces to Shiite civilians to, most recently, Sunni Arabs who are cooperating with the government. This does not suggest growing capability or rising support. Nor do the increasing number of gun battles between al-Qaida and its ex-Baathist allies in the insurgency suggest harmony in the resistance.

* * * *

Strategic Forecasting, a private American intelligence service, thinks al-Qaida is engaged in the terrorist equivalent of the Tet Offensive: ". . . to turn the tide in a war it has been losing."

* * * *

If al-Qaida is indeed shifting personnel out of Iraq, expect to hear more about Iraq as an "incubator" for terrorism. But what, pray tell, do the promoters of this theory imagine Zarqawi and his minions would have been doing these past two years if there had been no war in Iraq? Origami?

Iraq has indeed proven to be a quagmire. But not for us.

[Emphasis added.]

From: Dr. Sanity <-- Quagmire for al-Qaida. Terrorists are feeling the heat in Iraq. By Jack Kelly, "Pittsburgh Post Gazette," 7/31/05.