re: David, I think you may have been confused by...
I wrote:
...The recent report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) suggested that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq may have boosted the ranks of al-Qaeda.
I probably should have written that the "...wars in Afghanistan and Iraq may have benefited al-Qaeda," not actually increased its ranks. However, it would not surprise me if al-Qaeda's ranks have increased since the invasion of Iraq.
