From Time:
The telegenic figure of bin Laden was always the main draw. His myth, that of the giant, soft-spoken warrior who gave up palatial luxuries for jihad, resonated with many rich Gulf sheiks who eased their conscience by sending a pile of cash his way. It was easier than picking up an AK-47 and following bin Laden into the snowy Afghan wastes. From Casablanca to Peshawar in Pakistan, young, impressionable Muslims carry photos of bin Laden on their cell phones. They would download his sermons from as-Sahab and extremist websites, whenever he managed to smuggle them out.
Like any private organization, Al Quaeda has assets and in their case almost all of the value was in the form of Goodwill represented by Osama Bin Laden. That’s one of the big risks for organizations whose public face is in the form of a living person.
Osama had become not much more than a figurehead keeping the whole thing together - His tactical value was all but gone. AQ's benefactors (investors) now have to see whether Zawahiri or someone else can keep it from falling apart.
But that doesn't mean these fascist cowards wont be looking for other Muslim murder-for-hire operations that will act as their proxy. The big funders of Al Quaeda need a double tap as well and I'm sure we know who they are.
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