Al Qaeda
is a term created by the US allowing them to prosecute members by racketeering laws. It's a cover-all term for Islamic Extremists.
( Rev. A-MOL is lurking around these parts again, Thu 7 Jul 2005, 16:35, archived)

pretty true
its like the Russian mafiya. Not a single entity with a defined structure, more loose association between similar groups.
( MrA, Thu 7 Jul 2005, 16:38, archived)