These attack plots may provide solid evidence of cooperation between al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Zarqawi?s network in Iraq . While the press has characterized the Saudi group involved in the Jordanian plot as an obscure group, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula?s own statements have indicated that ?The Haramain Brigades,? (the Brigades of the Two Holy Mosques) are part of their organization. Zarqawi?s al-Qaeda in the Land of the Two Rivers and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are generally considered to be acting fairly independently of one another, although members of Saudi-based al-Qaeda are known to have gone to Iraq to fight. This is the first evidence of a shared attack plot.

The targeting is not surprising. Attacks on US soldiers stationed in Kuwait have been disrupted this year (Terrorist Incident and Terrorist Incident). Anywhere in the region where there is a US military presence is prone to attack. The only surprising aspect is that the terrorists did not choose to focus on the considerable contractor presence in Jordan, as one would think that civilian contractors would be softer, more accessible targets versus the US military.