How many goddamn times are they going to kill al-Qaeda number 2?

[Igel]

42. I think Al-Libi is the first #2 for AQ-central.

While AQ was losing #2s right and left, Zawahiri was the only AQ #2. He wasn't killed; he was promoted. Al-Libi, IIRC, took his place.

But it sounds foolish to say that AQ lost lots of #2s while Zawahri was the only AQ #2, doesn't it? Dead give away that something's lost in comprehension.

Think of AQ as "Republican Party." How many #2s are there? There can only be one #2, right? Nah.

There's one in Harris County, TX. There's one in Brazoria County, TX. There's one for most other Texas counties. There's one for the State of Texas. There's one for Maricopa County, AZ. There's one for Pinal County, AZ. There's one for most othe AZ counties. There's one for the State of Arizona. Etc. There's one for the national party.

If all you see is "#2 of the Republican Party" you have no idea who you're talking about, for they are many. You assume there's only one party, but you'd be wrong. You have to pay attention to the other words that modify "Republican party."

The only #2 that AQ had for over a decade never died, although very many #2s were killed while he was #2.