On May 2, 2011, the world received stunning news over the death of the world renowned terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden. His capture and perpetual death were carried out by U.S. military forces, under the rule of the U.S. president Barrack Obama. This was a great stride on the war against terrorism and; also,it was a major blow on the infamous terrorist group known as Al Qaeda. The death of their leader effect on the group. However, to comprehend the depth of that result, we need to conceptualize the nature of the terrorist organization, its origins and the role played by Osama Bin Laden on the al Qaeda organization.

The Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization that has come to be known as symbol of the globalization of terrorism activity in the 21st century (Gus, Martin 2006,pg 2). This organization first took root in the 1980s precisely at about 1988 under the rule of Osama Bin Laden. The group consists majorly of Islamists extremists who that thare convinced that they are waging a holy war, in which they receive the reward of cleansing of their souls .They also view this holy war as a duty for the defense of the Muslim nation. The al Qaeda is seen as a military organization, which has always expressed its objectives or ideologies through the media by releasing press releases on video. Their main objectives are;

•   To resist Muslim governments that offer assistance or cooperate with the West.

•   To fight Western influence in Islamic countries.

The group first began in Afghanistan where they waged a war against the Soviets. Since then the group has expanded its links and is responsible for major attacks in countries such as Kenya, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey and U.S. amongst others.

After the death of their leader, the group released a statement in which they announced Ayuman al Zawahiri to replace their founding leader Osama Bin Laden. It’s important to note that the death of their leader was seen as a symbol of victory over the war on terrorism,especially to the U.S. forces that have been in the forefront in the battle against terrorism. As a world renown leader of the Al Qaeda nd a strong supporter of Islam extremist, his death sent a powerful message t o terrorist groups and supporters. It was also a sign of the U.S government relentless dedication and determination on the war on terrorism.

Two years after the Al Qaeda leader and though the terrorist group has not undertaken major attacks such as the September 11 bombing on the U.S, the group is still making news on various attacks in various countries around the world. The death of their leader may have led to the fragmentation, and decentralization of the group. However, it is responsible for various killings, kidnappings and bomb attacks in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen and Mali. The group still poses a major threat to global security. Their ideologies and objectives have gained strong support and this resulted in the rise of groups such as the Al Shabab that embrace the ideologies and methods of the al Qaeda. It is therefore correct to state hat although he death of their leader was a major blow on the Al Qaeda, the group is still alive, more famous and is still a threat to global security.

In conclusion, the war on terrorism is on a global scale and such groups are not only a threat o security but are also a threat to the well being and development of Nations. We must appreciate the strides we have taken on a global scale such as the death of their leader, Osama Bin Laden and also on a National scale, that is, the commitment and dedication of individual countries in the battle against terrorism. However, we must recognize that he war against such groups is not over. We need to understand their motives and strategies and we need to identify their strong holds so as to effectively be able o curb the outcropping of such groups. It is also important o note that terrorism and the rise of extremist groups is not a recent issue but is a problem that his existed in history and has been a cause of conflict in many levels, e.g., the Ku Klux clan. It’s through combined effort and dedication that Nations will be able to curb the hazards brought about by terrorist groups much as the al Qaeda.