So the upshot of that Amos is that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda can only really now cause trouble in Afghanistan and in certain areas of Pakistan. Should Al-Qaeda mount a "terrorist spectacular" it would at worst case be no worse than 9/11. Sorry chumps that is not the greatest direct security threat that the United States of America is exposed to, and two independent bodies within the USA came to that conclusion way back in 4th Quarter of 2001.