I think that Hoffman is discussing the company-owned branches and Sageman is discussing the franchise branches. AQ is part franchise and part multi-national enterprise. They license their name to criminal gangs in places where they lack the organizational ability and strength to assert themselves. In safe havens, they establish greenfield networks. Hoffman is right. Sageman is right (except for historical inaccuracies). Everybody wins! Well, except for victims of terrorism. But other than them...