Qaeda Has 18,000 Militants for Raids - Think Tank

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

(6:02 AM ET)

By Paul Majendie

Reuters Writer

"A rump leadership is still intact and over 18,000 potential terrorists are at large with recruitment accelerating on account of Iraq. Bin Laden's charisma, presumed survival and elusiveness enhance al Qaeda's iconic drawing power."

LONDON -- Reuters
Al Qaeda has more than 18,000 militants ready to strike and the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq has accelerated recruitment to the ranks of Osama bin Laden's network, a leading London think-tank said on Tuesday.

Al Qaeda's finances were in good order, its "middle managers" provided expertise to Islamic militants around the globe and bin Laden's drawing power was as strong as ever, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said.

It warned in its annual Strategic Survey that al Qaeda would keep trying to develop plans for attacks in North America and Europe and that the network ideally wanted to use weapons of mass destruction.

"Meanwhile, soft targets encompassing Americans, Europeans and Israelis, and aiding the insurgency in Iraq, will do," the institute said.

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Dan