Al Qaeda needs

... to take its own advice.

In the letter referred to in that post (and here with the updated link), Al Qaeda's al-Zawahiri (allegedly) in Afghanistan/Pakistan writes to al-Zarqawi in Iraq to give advice and ask for a situation update.

Zawahiri concentrates on the importance of public support, saying, "In the absence of this popular support, the Islamic mujahed movement would be crushed in the shadows...."

He points out that popular support, beyond being a necessity for survival, is necessary for success:

If we look at the two short-term goals, which are removing the Americans and establishing an Islamic amirate in Iraq, or a caliphate if possible, then, we will see that the strongest weapon which the mujahedeen enjoy - after the help and granting of success by God - is popular support from the Muslim masses in Iraq, and the surrounding Muslim countries. So, we must maintain this support as best we can, and we should strive to increase it, on the condition that striving for that support does not lead to any concession in the laws of the Sharia.

As a result, Zarqawi mustn't do anything that the "Muslim masses" won't understand, which would jeopardize the all-important support:

Therefore, the mujahed movement must avoid any action that the masses do not understand or approve, if there is no contravention of Sharia in such avoidance, and as long as there are other options to resort to, meaning we must not throw the masses-scant in knowledge-into the sea before we teach them to swim, relying for guidance in that on the saying of the Prophet @ to Umar bin al-Khattab<: lest the people should say that Muhammad used to kill his Companions.

After all,

[W]e are in a battle, and ... more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media. And ... we are in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds of our Umma.

Isn't it nice to know that the other side does stupid things too!

It also points out an advantage we (however you want to define that--tricky!) have: We've already won the hearts and minds of "our Umma." (Ok, also a tricky definition.) We're working on the swing vote--and we just got a little push from an unexpected direction. Here's hoping it lasts.