Al-Qaida as an actual global terrorism player began to see its power and influence decline after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, political science professors said.

“I think what has happened is that al-Qaida has become much more diffused and it currently does not have the same amount of control as the original organization,” said political science department chairman James McCormick.

Within a month after the attacks on Sept. 11, the United States launched an all-out invasion of Afghanistan after the ruling Taliban refused to hand Osama bin Laden over without substantial proof.

The United States and its NATO allies were able to overthrow the Taliban quite swiftly and the hunt for bin Laden was on. Around this time, al-Qaida as an actual global terrorism player began to see its power and influence decline, especially as of late, McCormick said.

Political science professor Richard Mansbach said a large reason for the decline was due to the U.S. military’s use of drones.

“The original al-Qaida is really in disarray with the use of American drones,” Mansbach said.

Even with the use of drones, there is still a rising concern that the fall of al-Qaida has given rise to many other Islamic terrorist groups who look to launch jihad in their own countries, McCormick said.

“Al-Qaida is currently in about 60 different countries, but some of these have been start up operations by individual groups.” McCormick said. “Certainly they are inspired by al-Qaida, but it is less easy to get a handle on them.”

Having lost its figurehead with the death of bin Laden in May, many ponder what direction al-Qaida is going.

“The most recent surge is less clear. [Al-Qaida] have already been chased into Pakistan and Pakistan itself is disorderly,” Mansbach said. “And, the argument now is if we have to stay in Afghanistan in order to keep al-Qaida out.”