"While al Qaeda's various affiliates are enmeshed in their own local conflicts, hatred of the United States remains a common thread, " it added, citing the emergence of groups such as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Al Shabaab and Boko Haram.

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He outlined how al Qaeda in Iraq, officially called the Islamic State of Iraq, had cells in Syria that were reinforced with fighters from Iraq who helped draw "plans and policies" for the Syrian branch.

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