How important is operational security to al-Qaida?
U.S. officials say they have seen repeated instances where if operatives encounter something unexpected, they will “go back to square one” out of fear that operational security has been breached. There is little autonomy, little spontaneity in operational matters and changes in plans must be approved at higher levels. The cell leader on the scene can call off an operation without consulting anyone higher, said a senior intelligence official. “They have one idea … alter it for them, then they go back to the drawing board,” one official said. “They are not agile. They have to reload, and that takes months … about four to six months.
