US changes anti-terrorist strategy

The death of Osama bin Laden and the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa are two factors that determine the trend in global terrorism in 2011 and call for renewed counter-terrorism efforts in the post-bin Laden era. The United States has changed its anti-terrorism strategy by shifting its focus from fighting terrorism abroad to rooting out homegrown terrorist threats.

Bin Laden's killing has dealt a hard blow to Al-Qaida, which, however, remains a real threat. Circumstances in Pakistan and Afghanistan seem suitable for Al-Qaida's survival, which, together with other terrorist groups, has made the tribal areas in these two countries its "home". Al-Qaida's core leadership, including the now top leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, has sustained the loss of bin Laden and adapted its strategy to the new circumstances to target the US and the West.

On one hand, Al-Qaida will take advantage of the turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa to look for new sources of funding and launch attacks against the West. On the other, it will strengthen its ties with other terrorist groups in Central and South Asia and help militant groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan to revive terrorism in the regions.