DESPITE LOSSES, AL QAIDA REMAINS LETHAL

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Al Qaida has weathered losses to retain operationalcapabilities throughout the Persian Gulf. U.S. officials said Al Qaida has been bolstered by military plannersfrom Africa and Asia who have been able to draft and implement strategy formulti-pronged attacks against U.S. and other critical facilities in the Gulfregion. They said the plans would probably reflect the success of attacks inSaudi Arabia in 2003.