Tuesday, September 11, 2012

It's Tough Being An Al-Qaeda #2

Yet another Al Qaeda #2 man has gone to his just desserts, apparently via drone-fired missile.

The Detroit News: Al-Qaida's No. 2 in Yemen killed in airstrike

An airstrike killed al-Qaida's No. 2 leader in Yemen along with five others traveling with him in one car on Monday, senior Yemeni Defense Ministry officials reported. If confirmed, Saeed al-Shihri's death would be a major blow to the militant group.

The officials said the missile that killed al-Shihri, a Saudi national, was believed to have been fired by a U.S. operated drone, but that couldn't immediately be confirmed. The U.S. doesn't usually comment on such attacks although it has used drones in the past to go after al-Qaida members in Yemen.

That makes at least 30 Al Qaeda #2s zapped. Not exactly a job with a lot of longevity or viable prospects for promotion, nor chances to collect on the pension plan.

The most recently appointed Al Qaeda #1, Ayman al-Zawahiri, reminiscing on the losses of this slew of #2s allegedly tearfully stated while furtively scanning the sky:

"Yes, they blow up so fast, don't they?"

1 comment:

Murphy's Law said...

Even now, somewhere in Pakistan, a bunch of Al-Qaeda #3 guys are sitting around a table yelling "NOT IT!" at each other.