It wasn’t long ago that Barack Obama declared the War on Terror virtually over. “Our alliances are strong, and so is our standing in the world,” he alleged last May. “In sum, we are safer because of our efforts. … [T]his war, like all wars, must end.” Unfortunately, terrorism doesn’t rest when the president says so, and Obama’s only self-perceived achievement has been to weaken America’s standing. Case in point: A new State Department analysis is warning of al-Qaida’s quick resurgence. “[A] surge in aggressive al-Qaida affiliates in the Middle East and North Africa poses a serious threat to U.S. interests and allies,” the Associates Press reports. The State Department “says Iran remains a major state sponsor of terrorism and continues to defy demands it prove its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, even as Washington pursues negotiations on that front.” Extremists see Obama’s leading from behind as a fresh start. Simply wishing terrorism away won’t change that.