Why hasn't the #2, al-Zawahiri, made a statement yet?

[kentuck]

Does he think they are after him also? Being the #2 in the al Qaeda, would not we expect him to make a statement about Bin Laden?? Do you expect him to make a statement soon? Or is he fearful that the Navy Seals will come after him too?

[MineralMan]

1. I don't know. I'll ask him next time we chat.

If he's still alive, that is...

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. He's running for his life currently

Thirty really smart intel analysts are sitting around a table somewhere piecing together bin Laden's data files.

Zawahiri has likely decided that it's time to move to another location.

[tekisui]

3. He is most likely the new number 1. He has been and is still

a target.

[jdlh8894]

4. Thought * took out all the #2's

[leftstreet]

10. several times n/t

[thewiseguy]

20. No we never took out the number 2.

The overall number 2 has been Zawahiri ever since Al Qaeda was formed.

[CJCRANE]

22. The #2's were from the "Al Qaeda in Iraq" offshoot.

Bin Laden and Zawahiri were/are leaders of the original Al Qaeda (referred to as "Al Qaeda Central" now)

[LynneSin]

27. dupe

wrong reply

[LynneSin]

5. Still moving into his new house in Abbottabad

:D

[driver8]

24. Ha Ha -- good one!! n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

6. I would expect that #2 is scrambling for cover

right now, busily discarding any possible connection between himself and the former #1 on the theory that all such connections are compromised.

He is 'flushed and in the open on the run', looking for new people to take him in, as that would be safer than any other option.

[mmonk]

7. He's knows he's the target for the next 10 years.

[brooklynite]

8. I don't think he's taken charge yet...

My understanding is that there have to be several debates, followed by primaries with each AQ faction, culminating in a nominating convention at which a new AQ platform has to be developed...

[aquart]

9. Who cares?

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. I don't know. His FB status hasn't been upgraded in a while though. n/t

[Cid_B]

30. Saw what happened last time...

[dkf]

12. Did you see Rachel's piece on how the Egyptians are the odd man out in Al Qaida?

Even when they play soccer its the Egyptians against everyone else.

[EFerrari]

13. He reportedly is not socially nimble.

Probably is in some kind of high alert mode at the moment, too.

[closeupready]

14. There is no way OBL and Al-Z weren't in contact. Thus,

these data files are going to reveal where he's been, who he knows and how to get him. It's a matter of months, IMO, before he's caught. Probably before the end of summer.

[guitar man]

15. He's probably somewhere shitting himself

SEAL Team 6 is still out there somewhere, waiting for orders :evilgrin:

[FLPanhandle]

16. OBL's #2 doesn't necessarily mean everyone in the organization agrees

Probably a power struggle going on.

[Ikonoklast]

17. What do you think?

Every time a video, a recording, a written statement is released another tiny bit of intelligence is gleaned from it.

The more you blab, the footsteps in the night get one step closer.

[OHdem10]

18. He has gone underground if he is smart. He should assume

he is next.

[Skink]

19. his response will come in the form of a mushroom cloud.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

21. I'm expecting an announcement that a Hellfire has nailed him. Just a hunch, but I think OBL

was betrayed and the rest of the deal may include #2. Watch and wait. Would also be fine if #2 issues a statement providing <edit> OBL death </edit> confirmation. More reason not to release the death photos.

[lunatica]

23. Because he's running for the hills right now?

[kentuck]

25. If you're not safe surrounded by Pakistani generals...?

Where can you be safe?

[coalition_unwilling]

26. What makes you think he is 'fearful'? IIRC, al-Zawahiri

suffered torture at the hands of the Egyptian police state before he took over leadership of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Not an expert in his bio, so could be mis-remembering. I hope any statement he makes, if he makes one, is logo-centric. I've had enough of atavistic blood lust and the cycle of violence for one lifetime.

[DCBob]

28. He probably thinks they have a bead on him with all the data they got from OBL's crib.

so I expect he is busy moving, getting a new email address and cell phone, etc.

[Posteritatis]

29. He's probably recuperating from the two or three hundred times he's been killed so far. (nt)