re: 18,000. Sure it isn't 17,500?
Here is what Foxnews said about those 18,000;
"The estimate of 18,000 fighters was based on intelligence estimates that Al Qaeda trained at least 20,000 fighters in its training camps in Afghanistan before the United States and its allies ousted the Taliban regime. In the ensuing war on terror, some 2,000 Al Qaeda fighters have been killed or captured, the survey said."
NOTE!!!! There were 20,000 Al Qaeda before the United States and its allies ousted the Taliban out of Afghanistan. Before! And now they are down by 2000.