Since the onset of the Arab uprisings in 2010 and Osama bin Laden's death the following year, a debate has developed over the relative importance of the original al-Qaeda group, commonly called "al-Qaeda Central."
The Washington Institute hosted a policy forum to discuss the group's global standing, online presence, financial status, and other issues.
Panel members include: Bruce Hoffman, director of the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Washington's Georgetown University; Mary Habeck, associate professor in strategic studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; Matthew Levitt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Washington Institute Executive Director Robert Satloff moderated the forum.