Looking at this IR loop Irene looks terrible at the moment... she's still sucking up a lot of dry air from the west and south, almost looks like an open wave, hard to tell off these night time loops ... check the second link...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/tropicalwx/satpix/watl_ir4_loop.php

GOES East Channel 4 loop on left side of page

http://www.cira.colostate.edu/ramm/rmsdsol/TROPICAL.html

but she's been fighting these same elements for the past several days and is still around, a tough old bird I must admit... I do believe conditions could improve as she moves to the west , the upper low off to the NW hints of weaking and I believe the ridge will build back in, reducing both shear and the dry air.. and continue her on the westard track... then again I could be totally wrong...