Inside Story

The future of al-Qaeda

As al-Qaeda battles its sworn enemies, must it also fight for its very survival?

Al-Qaeda earned its reputation for large-scale attacks from September 11 to the Bali and US embassy bombings.

But in the years since the killing of Osama bin Laden, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant’s barbarity and relentless march across Iraq and Syria have stolen the spotlight.

So does al-Qaeda face a fight to stay relevant? And is the lure of ISIL to blame?

Presenter: David Foster

Guests:

Shiv Malik – investigative journalist with The Guardian newspaper

Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi – military specialist and fellow with the Middle East Forum

Robin Simcox – al-Qaeda specialist