Al Qaeda prefers US to stick around

"A withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan would undoubtedly hand al-Qa'ida and the Taliban a propaganda victory. However, a victory would deny al-Qa'ida its most potent source of power, influence, funding and recruits -- the armed jihad."

The rest of the story: Al-Qa'ida prefers U.S. to stick around by Leah Farrell (The Australian 2009-11-12)