NEW YORK (AP) -- A CIA unit that had hunted for Osama bin Laden and his top deputies for a decade has been disbanded, according to a published report. Citing unnamed intelligence officials, The New York Times reported Tuesday that the unit, known as "Alec Station," was shut down late last year. The decision to close the unit, which was created before the September 11, 2001, attacks, was first reported Monday by National Public Radio. The officials told the Times that the change reflects a view that al Qaeda's hierarchy has changed, and terrorist attacks inspired by the group are now being carried out independently of bin Laden and his second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri. The CIA said hunting bin Laden remains a priority, but resources needed to be directed toward other people and groups likely to initiate new attacks. "The efforts to find Osama bin Laden are as strong as ever," said CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise Dyck. "This is an agile agency, and the decision was made to ensure greater reach and focus." A former CIA official who once led the unit, Michael Scheuer, told the Times that its shutdown was a mistake. "This will clearly denigrate our operations against al Qaeda," he said. "These days at the agency, bin Laden and al Qaeda appear to be treated merely as first among equals." 전체적으로 평이한 수준인데 맨 마지막에 "These days at the agency, bin Laden and al Qaeda appear to be treated merely as first among equals." 이 부분.   어떻게 이해하면 좋을까? 부사 merely 는 그냥 only, just 의 의미로 쓰인것 같고.  (겨우, 해봐야, 등의 disapproval nuance) 빈 라덴과 알 카에다라는 조직은 동급 (동급 테러조직?) 들중에서 그저 첫번째로? 치부될뿐이다? 즉,  필요치 만큼의 관심과 주의를 못 받고있다는 의미에서 merely 를 쓴 건지. 내가 제대로 이해한거야?   다른 형들은 어떻게 생각해