By late [October] 2004…[Abu Musab al-] Zarqawi’s group in Iraq, Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, had eclipsed al Qaeda in terms of both resources and brand power. Even so, Zarqawi willingly merged his group with the weaker al Qaeda and swore an oath to bin Laden, creating AQI [al Qaeda in Iraq].” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Foreign Affairs, The U.S. vs. al Qaeda, Page 229