According to the documents recovered in the Abbottabad compound, the spectacular set of self-inflicted mistakes by al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq played heavily on the minds of bin Laden and his top advisers.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Diminishing polling figures and the vicissitudes of popular thinking will likely not matter to al Qaeda, given its self-appointed transcendental mission.

CNN: Commentary: Al Qaeda isn't dead yet

On April 23rd Abdul Salam, a self-proclaimed prophet who leads another unorthodox group, al-Qiyadah al-Islamiah, was jailed for four years for blasphemy.

ECONOMIST: Religious freedom is put at risk by political expediency

Though al-'Owhali signed documents waiving his Miranda rights against self-incrimination, his current attorneys say his rights were violated and his statements should not be admitted into the trial.

CNN: Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali

Who else but Byron, the self-appointed proprietor of Curmudgeonly Arms, could paint this charming picture of "Chainsaw Al" Dunlop's first marriage on a slow night?

FORBES: Boardroom Bad Boys