The above article?s discussion of recent intelligence on the content of communications between al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Jordanian terrorist mastermind and the al-Qaeda network field commander in Iraq , Abu Mussab al Zarqawi, has painted a more lucid picture of the two leaders? often enigmatic relationship. The leaders are sometimes regarded as rivals for leadership of the global network of Islamist extremist militancy and sometimes as allies in this network?reinforced by Zarqawi?s recent pledge of allegiance to bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The intelligence officials quoted now describe this relationship as rather collegial but with each, and assumedly the terrorist network each leads, operating relatively independently. The evolution and dynamics of this relationship will undoubtedly have a significant effect on the nature and scope of each network?s operations.

At present, the alliance between bin Laden?s al-Qaeda and Zarqawi?s terrorist network would seem to benefit both organizations in tactical and strategic terms. Al-Qaeda?s core leadership is positioned to orchestrate, co-opt, and exploit for its strategic, operational, and propagandistic benefit the terrorist ?successes? of Zarqawi?s network in Iraq. By expanding al-Qaeda?s network presence in Iraq through Zarqawi and focusing strategically on communiqu?s on Iraq as a central battlefield in al-Qaeda?s global jihadist movement, al-Qaeda?s core leadership may be attempting to establish a terrorist operative recruitment, training, and integration crucible for future operations. In this process, al-Qaeda?s core leadership would seek to exploit the Iraq insurgency and Zarqawi?s network to cultivate the ranks of the mujahideen flowing into Iraq and recruit the battle-hardened operatives trained in terrorist tradecraft for future, global, al-Qaeda operations.