For many reasons, terrorist organization often have short lives; sometimes their future is determined by devastating tactical mistakes. A decision to become visible is rare in the history of terror, and the quick success of the coalition’s Afghan military campaign demonstrates why. If al- Qaeda successfully reconstructs itself, it may discover that it must become an “ordinary” terrorist group living underground among a friendly local population. That also suggests but, alas, does not demonstrate that its strikes will become more “ordinary” too.