Well Tony Blair is not entirely wrong. Al Qaeda translated means 'the base' or 'foundation'. And supposedly this 'base' and 'foundation' can be built on and take many shapes and forms. Basically, it's a basis of belief.
Many people around the world and in the middle east(who do not sympathize with them) believe that AQ is not an organization, it's a movement, a philosophy and almost like a religion with no real base, headquarters or centralized location. Many people also believe that AQ has morphed into a snake with many heads now. Cutting one off does not kill it. Each 'chapter' or 'cell' operates independently of the other and it is alleged that AQ has cells and operatives in many many countries right now. Some believe this 'movement' was born during the Afgan-USSR war in which Bin Laden became a hero in the 80's. It allowed the Jihadis to push the Soviets out by working independently of one another without any type of central command or centralized organization.
Of course, this could all be theory but this is what alot of people think outside the US..
