Which of the following is considered a preferred target by Al-Qa'ida?

Energy and power stations are considered preferred targets by Al-Qa'ida due to their critical importance to national infrastructure and overall economic stability. Targeting these facilities can have widespread repercussions, including significant disruption to everyday life, economic impact, and potential loss of life. Such attacks can also instill fear within the population, demonstrating the group's capability to strike at the very heart of a nation's operational capabilities.

The importance of energy and power facilities is underscored by their role in supporting other sectors, including industry, healthcare, and emergency services. Disrupting energy supplies can create chaos and showcase vulnerability within a society, which aligns with Al-Qa'ida's objectives of promoting fear and instability.

While other options like commercial office buildings, private residences, and military bases might also be targets, they do not carry the same potential for widespread societal disruption and economic impact as energy/power stations do. Military bases, for instance, are often heavily fortified and protected, while private residences do not typically represent strategic targets for large-scale impact. Commercial office buildings can have some economic impact, but again, they do not paralyze the critical infrastructure in the same way as energy facilities.