[AdmSmith]

This is a misunderstanding. The quote from the Dawn is

August 16, 2006 Wednesday Rajab 20, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: 'Al-Qaeda's No. 3' was the mastermind behind the plot to blow up transatlantic flights, an intelligence source said, here on Tuesday. "It is not Osama bin Laden and it's not Aiman Al Zawahiri, but someone close to the rank of Abu Faraj Al-Libbi," the source said.

http://dawn.com/2006/08/16/top1.htm

So, it is just the new No. 3! (and not Libbi)

[Coop]

I saw that article previously, but then I thought others had assigned blame to al-Libbi.

Maybe it is as simple as what you just said.