Sheikh Anwar al Awlaki is more than just a cleric, as he has made al Qaeda ideology easily accessible to English-speakers on the internet and has inspired others to pursue violent jihad.

The militant Islamist threat to the West is not limited to the activities of al Qaeda. Only through an understanding of the threats present can we begin to ask the key questions that should be guiding policy decisions going forward.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the most powerful Taliban commander in North Waziristan agency and an ally of the Haqqani Network, menaced recently that he would tear up a long-standing peace deal with the Pakistani military.The threat comes after the Pakistani military caused significant collateral damage when it retaliated against a militant attack on one of its positions.

Al Qaeda has benefited from the collapse of the Yemeni state. Islamist militants have demonstrated the capacity to take and hold territory from state control. These territorial gains increase al Qaeda’s operating space in Yemen.

It remains to be seen the extent to which the recent spate of attacks and increased militancy in Kazakhstan have operational links to the broader network of terrorist groups operating in Central Asia and South Asia. 

Despite grand announcements, gestures, and claims of reconciliation among warring Taliban factions, little is likely to change on the ground with respect to Taliban operations in Pakistan.

The death of Yemeni-American militant, Anwar al-Awlaki, will likely degrade AQAP’s ability to recruit foreign fighters and to conduct attacks against America in the near term. However, over the long term killing Awlaki will probably not reduce AQAP’s capabilities significantly.

Al Shabaab's rhetoric has evolved over time and developed an increasingly global militant Islamist undertone as the group has gained strength in Somalia.