Al Qaeda's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri does not match his predecessor Osama bin Laden in his charisma nor does he have the slain leader's credentials, a top official of the Obama administration said on Thursday.
Hours after the announcement of Al Qaeda appointing a successor to bin Laden became public, a senior administration official was quick to point out that given the baggage al-Zawahiri was carrying, it was unlikely that he would enjoy the position bin Laden did in the extremist network.
However, there was no immediate reaction from either the White House or the State Department on the announcement by a jihadist website that al-Zawahiri will now head the network that orchestrated the 9/11 attacks.
"The bottom line is that Zawahiri has nowhere near the credentials that Osama bin Laden had," the official said, preferring anonymity.
Al-Zawahiri has not demonstrated strong leadership or organisational skills during his time in Al Qaeda or previously in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the official said, adding that his ascension to the top spot will likely generate criticism if not alienation and dissension with Al Qaeda.
Unlike many of Al Qaeda's top members, Zawahiri has not had actual combat experience, opting to be an armchair general with a "soft" image, the senior administration official said.
"No matter who is in charge, he will have a difficult time leading Al Qaeda while focusing on his own survival as the group continues to hemorrhage key members responsible for planning and training operatives for terrorist attacks," the official said.
