Another #3? What are the chances?

The supposedly third-most-important member of Al-Qaida may have been killed by a missle in Pakistan.

This makes, by my count, five #3s killed or captured. So… say that they all really were the #3 man, and also that Al-Qaida’s a pretty strictly vertical organization. Since 2001:
1-2: no problems
3-7: killed or captured

If you were in Al-Qaida and the #8 man back then, at this point you need to either quit or kill the #2 guy, because the US is coming for you. No kidding. This country is serious about pursuing anyone in Al-Qaida who isn’t one of the two guys right at the top.