And you missed my point.
I did not say that Al Qaeda will not evolve beyond being merely a terrorist group and it is clear their goal is to do so.
My point is that as any violent group gains credibility, soft power and responsibility, it will cease to merely being a criminal/terrorist/revolutionary/etc group. The end goals in many instances are to remove a current power and replace it. When an organization begins to be successful, for example U'K and -SF- in Providence, they move from being terrorist/freedom fighters, to having soft power with which to transmit their message.
Continuing the U'K & -SF- example, the establishment and operation of Outposts and NRDS policy as the sovereignty holders is a soft power transmission of -SF-'s message. If their outpost becomes successful and provides an example for others to follow. This is far from terrorism to bring ones message to the forefront.