Al Qaeda 's number No.2 leader was killed in a CIA drone strike . bin Laden says it shows that the terrorist organization is effectively out of business . He says the only senior leader left is Bergen , the successor to bin Laden . Under President Barack Obama , CIA drone strikes have killed 15 of the most important players in al Qaeda , according to a count maintained by the New America Foundation ( a nonpartisan think tank where I am a director ) . Ayman al-Zawahiri : Fearing present day Al Qaeda 's is more irrational than fearing a lightning strike .
Al Qaeda 's number No.2 leader was killed in a CIA drone strike . bin Laden says it shows that the terrorist organization is effectively out of business . He says the only senior leader left is Bergen , the successor to bin Laden . Ayman al-Zawahiri : Fearing present day Al Qaeda 's is more irrational than fearing a lightning strike .