There's no evidence that Al Qaida is specifically attacking Muslims - destabilising Turkey, and disrupting the occupation of Iraq, is surely the immediate goal in the explosions. The fact that large numbers of Muslims are killed is irrelevant. Al Qaida is not running for election - popularity as such is not important. The crackdowns and reprisals to be anticipated as the result of these atrocities can be expected to counteract the effect of the explosions on Al Qaida's standing in any case.

The net effect of all this, and I am sure a central aim, is to ensure that increasingly a wedge is driven between Muslims and non-Muslims, both within countries and between them. The expectation would be that this generates increased suspicion and hostility, together with a feedback process that inexorably builds towards a situation of segregation and escalating conflict.

And Al Qaida will surely be expecting that in the long run - possibly a few years, possibly a few decades - the will of America to continue to be involved in the conflict would dissipate, while that of those involved in the other side grew stronger.