WE USED TO JOKE ABOUT...

how many times U.S. forces killed the "# 2" Al-Qaida leader in Iraq and how there seemed to be a bottomless supply of men to replace them. After reading about the Magic Number 30, I decided to search for reports on how many Al-Qaida "top operatives" we've killed using armed drones. I used LexisNexis and just searched for AP reports this year. I found 6 articles that explicitly mentioned that at least one Al-Qaida operative was killed but most of the reports just mention "militants." Nonetheless, this gives me the impression that Al-Qaida's leadership should be decimated, as indeed the U.S. does claim.

1. AP source: Al-Qaida operative killed by US missile
Associated Press Online, December 12, 2009 Saturday 5:11 AM GMT, WASHINGTON DATELINE, 219 words, By LOLITA C. BALDOR and PAMELA HESS, Associated Press Writer

2. Targeted deaths curb al-Qaida's expansion
Associated Press Online, September 18, 2009 Friday 9:19 PM GMT, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 845 words, By PAISLEY DODDS, Associated Press Writer
Intelligence officials said Friday that the military strikes have reduced al-Qaida's core leadership to only a handful of men and diminished its ability to train fighters.

3. Pakistan: Al-Qaida commander killed in US strike
Associated Press Online, September 17, 2009 Thursday 4:01 PM GMT, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 669 words, By MUNIR AHMAD and CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press Writers

4. Al-Qaida and Taliban militants killed recently
Associated Press Online, September 17, 2009 Thursday 8:53 PM GMT, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 241 words, By The Associated Press

5. Suspected US missile strike kills 20 in Pakistan
Associated Press Online, February 14, 2009 Saturday 9:49 AM GMT, INTERNATIONAL NEWS, 690 words, By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer
Pilotless U.S. aircraft are believed to have launched more than 30 attacks since July, and American officials say al-Qaida's leadership has been significantly weakened.

6. US strike kills 2 key al-Qaida operatives
Associated Press Online, January 9, 2009 Friday 10:47 AM GMT, WASHINGTON DATELINE, 602 words, By PAMELA HESS, Associated Press Writer