[Deckard]

True. The Obama presidency could represent something of a strategic threat to al-Qaeda, particularly given the way they've gotten used to benefitting from the last 8 years of the Bush Administration playing into their propaganda trap. The image of America is now on the rise, and that's bound to pose a problem for them.

I hope Obama doesn't ramp up the hawkishness just to create some clear blue water between him and al-Qaeda. He shouldn't have to of course, but the merest hint of a charge of appeasing terrorists is deathly toxic to a politician.