" This is the take a way I'm Celeste -- well as even talking about for weeks now President Obama is consulting with strategists about how to change the strategy possibly in Afghanistan. And we're hearing that one of the questions he's asking the main question is asking is who is the enemy. In Afghanistan. Most of his advisers supposedly are saying it's al-Qaeda and not the Taliban but now we've heard from a senior US government official that al-Qaeda is in severe financial trouble in nearly broke. David Cohen who monitors terrorist funding at the US Treasury Department said in a speech last night. That Al qaeda's influence is waning because they don't have enough money he said the US and its allies had successfully. Caught off their sources of funding by targeting donors were gonna get to. An expert analysis of this were joined from London by Bob Ayers he's an expert. On international security good morning Bob. So do you think -- I assume you heard what David Cohen had to say about al-Qaeda is funding it do you think that he was correct and accurate and when he sent."

" Well there's no way of knowing what he's correct tropical juncture that al-Qaeda -- bank statements to US. Treasuries rebuke. The real question that needs to be asking is even -- Al-Qaeda has less money than they had previously. They have enough to continue to execute terrorist operations. And the answer to that is. Of course they do because it's very very cheap and inexpensive. To launch a terrorist operation can buy ammunition or explosives special unique."

" And you drive a truck into a military convoy. So it in do you do you think that that that al-Qaeda should still be the focus in Afghanistan as opposed to the Taliban who have David Cohen said is is pretty well heeled."

" Well it's it's very difficult to entry to too happy. We seen to believe that we control line between the Taliban. Should revert to court different goals and objectives. But at this point in our entry groans of goals -- organizations. Want United States and NATO force them out of the reach. And so at this point -- just that there's a difference between digital -- political."

" You know we we heard a lot after 9/11 about how much money that the vast resource is that al-Qaeda had what happened to to their money."

" Well that that is based on the assumption that the leaker right after 9/11 were true but again. How much money do you need to launch a terrorist operation. By plane to. It instruct or five guys you by 800 council send text on the black market. You walk into creditor pretty pretty your car you credit debt and blow it up but there's a lot of money that something that you and I can do with rural and comes."

" That's sounds like what you're saying is targeting the finances of these terrorist groups is not the way to go."

" What would been targeting drug money for. Got most twenty years and we still haven't managed to -- at all so what do we assume we're successful on errors the."

" If you can't cut off their funding and stop the terrorist actions and we're all you can do is find them -- and and killed is that all you can do. Okay so -- but that does that mean into the Taliban has lots of money does that does that put them in a better position at all in Afghanistan."

" Well the Taliban and its fleet. Upon the Taliban has risen and afghanis who want us out of the area. Patel is as well positioned because -- compacts the opium trade -- can generate more than about. But once again you know business is not a good resistance. That the Taliban. It is. Putting up is not an expansion of resistance. Fighter aircraft and tanks don't have heavy artillery."

" small parties as you said it doesn't cost much to put explosives onto a truck Bob Ayers joined us from a trainees and national security analyst. And different of the takeaways thanks."