In order to assess the influence of bin Laden's legacy in all this, it is worth considering how things have changed - not only in the Middle East, but also within al-Qaeda itself.
There have been huge shifts in the Middle East's political landscape in the past three years. Two of bin Laden's former foes - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh - have both been deposed (with Gaddafi subsequently being murdered). In Egypt, bin Laden lived to see the resignation of another former adversary, Hosni Mubarak, but not the chaos that has ensued since.
Significant changes
However, the most significant development has been the outbreak of civil war in Syria. This conflict has led to the largest congregation of mujahideen fighters in any one theatre since the Afghan 'jihad' against the Soviet Union in the 1980s (the war that was so instrumental in boosting bin Laden's reputation in 'jihadi' circles). Syria has had a hugely reinvigorating influence on al-Qaeda, which acted opportunistically to gain significant amounts of territory and supporters there. Syria has also led a fresh generation of Westernersinspired to travel to a 'land of jihad' in defence of Muslims. While not all those who have gone to fight in Syria will pose a threat when they return to their country of origin, some will, extending the domestic terrorism threat by years.
Osama bin Laden: Three years after Abbottabad - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
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