Some [[liberals]] seem to have a problem calling this group what it is, a terrorist organization, and prefer to use the more "politically correct" terms: ''militant organization'' and its members ''rebels''.
By 2012 al-Qaeda was fighting in the [[Syrian Civil War]] against the Syrian leader [[Bashar al-Assad]]<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/12/leader-al-qaeda-calls-on-muslims-to-help-syrian-rebels/ </ref> A group called [[Ansar Dine]], which is connected with the al-Qaeda, fight against the government in [[Mali]].<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18870130 </ref>
==Downplaying al Qaeda's significance in the early Obama era==