Al Qaeda is in trouble, as a dwindling number of Muslim scholars are willing to approve its views and actions, but the terrorist organization might also be facing a more practical challenge besides an ideological one: a shortage of cash.
According to Reuters‘ William Maclean, not for the first time, Al Qaeda is in financial trouble, experiencing tighter curbs on financing sources, associated concerns about the legal consequences for potential donors, the current recession and a probable drop in support. All this presents a serious problem and may lead the group to depend more on local affiliates.
Donations are now being encouraged as another way of fighting, and a recent study reports that volunteers for the jihad from the West are being asked to pay for their training.
(http://blogs.reuters.com/williammaclean/)