Homeland Security Today - news and analysis - 2008 Homeland Security Report Card

The year in review: A year that saw significant successes against terrorism in Europe but also increased Al Qaeda activity in Algeria, North Africa and Afghanistan. Cancellation of the Dakar-to-Lisbon auto race was an Al Qaeda success in this regard. Increased media activity by Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al Zawahiri seemed designed to shore up crumbling support for Al Qaeda around the world and compensate for its increasing incapacity to mount major physical operations. In the Western Hemisphere, the Colombian FARC received significant blows and appears near elimination.