Eastern Libya’s Tribes, Jihadism: Did U.S. Consider Its Own Libya Intel?
Our first erroneous assumption is to think that the protesters against Gaddafi are democrats who want to establish an American-style representative democracy. There is a monumental difference between a local popular uprising against a tyrannical ruler and a movement organized to create Western democratic institutions, especially when the country is a Muslim tribal society and none of these institutions exist.
In this regard, the geographical headquarters of the revolt — located in Eastern Libya in the major cities of Benghazi and Derna — provides a clue as to who these folks are.
On February 25, 2011, Gaddafi blamed al-Qaeda for the revolt, and because Gaddafi is so self-serving, mercurial, and erratic, the mainstream media seems to have automatically discounted any possibility of Islamist involvement.
On February 15, 2008, however, long before anyone ever considered the possibility of a popular uprising against Gaddafi, the U.S. embassy in Tripoli sent a secret cable to Washington titled “Extremism in Eastern Libya” which revealed that this area is rife with anti-American, pro-jihad sentiment.
The cable describes a conversation between embassy officers and a dual U.S./Libyan citizen who provided the embassy with first-hand information about Islamist extremism gleaned from his family and friends in Eastern Libya.
According to the cable, the most troubling aspect of the report:
… is the pride that many eastern Libyans, particularly those in and around Derna, appear to take in the role their native sons have played in the insurgency in Iraq … [and the] ability of radical imams to propagate messages urging support for and participation in jihad.
Answering why this area is so radicalized, the embassy reported:
[The source] partly attributed the fierce mindset in Benghazi and Derna to the message preached by imams in eastern Libyan mosques, which he said is markedly more radical than that heard in other parts of the country. Sermons in eastern mosques, particularly the Friday “khutba,” are laced with “coded phrases” urging worshippers to support jihad in Iraq and elsewhere through direct participation or financial contributions. The language is often … incendiary and unambiguously supportive of jihad. Direct and indirect references to “martyrdom operations” were not uncommon.
The embassy’s alarming report is corroborated by captured al-Qaeda personnel documents — called the Sinjar Records — that came into American hands in 2007 and were analyzed by the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
The Sinjar Records revealed the country of origin of the foreign fighters who came to Iraq to kill American soldiers. While the majority of foreign fighters came from Saudi Arabia, the report also stated:
Libya was the next most common country of origin, with 18.8% (112) of the fighters listing their nationality stating they hailed from Libya. … Furthermore, Libya contributed far more fighters per capita than any other nationality in the Sinjar Records, including Saudi Arabia … the most common cities that the fighters called home were Darnah, Libya and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 52 and 51 fighters respectively. Darnah, with a population just over 80,000 compared to Riyadh’s 4.3 million, has far and away the largest per capita number of fighters in the Sinjar records. The next most common hometowns — in real terms — listed in the Sinjar records were Mecca (43), Benghazi (21).”
While it is not correct to say that al-Qaeda created and controls the uprising, it is true that al-Qaeda supports the uprising and will do whatever it can to take advantage of the vacuum resulting from the fall of Gaddafi, especially among the Islamist pro-jihad population of Eastern Libya.
At a minimum, our attack of Libya will be grist for al-Qaeda’s information war and will result in increased recruitment and funding.
Demonstrating al-Qaeda’s support, on March 12 Libyan al-Qaeda Commander Abu Yahya al Libi — who is originally from Benghazi — appeared in an al-Qaeda video in which he praised the uprising:
O proud people and loyal tribes: move forth taking the help of your Lord, with determined goal, renewing your promise, seeking your aim without hesitation or fear, and throw al-Gaddafi into the dump of humiliation.
The documentary information cited above is not opinion or speculation; it is fact and evidence. With the apparent absence of any plan for post-Gaddafi governance, an ignorance of Libya’s tribal nature and our poor record of dealing with tribes, American government documents that conclusively establish that the epicenter of the revolt is rife with anti-American and pro-jihad sentiment, and with al-Qaeda’s explicit support for the revolt, it is appropriate to ask our policymakers how American military intervention in support of this revolt in any way serves vital U.S. strategic interests.
Has anyone bothered to check the price of sand on the New York Stock Exchange lately?
Could be the CIA is craftier than previously envisaged.
Obama too. What do they have a lot of in Rio? That’s right, sand. It’s so valuable they even name it and write songs about girls who walk on it.
Thanks for the chuckle.
for those who haven’t noticed, obitheboywonder *likes* the crackpot radicals. he ignores Iran’s protesters, but calls for mubarak to step down. he actaully called for qaddafy to step down – but only if there was someoen more radical in the wings.
Two words. Muslim. Brotherhood.
Obama’s seeming inconsistencies in the Mideast are clearly explained by seeing that he always takes the side the Muslim Brotherhood takes.
Haven’t we been told time and again over that past few years that when the Presidency is being run by women, ill-conceived, testosterone-driven involvement in military actions would stop? So now we have ill-conceived, estrogen-driven involvement. Is this supposed to be an improvement?
Radical Imams? That is funny right there.
What folks in America think as radical within Islam, is just following Muhammad, and the Koran for Muslims. There is no extreme in doing so for Muslims, but Muslims not following Muhammad, and the Koran is extreme within the Ummah. See how the lame stream media misleads you?
Finally! Why, and who are we supporting in Libya when the whole lot of them love Muhammad?
Right! Radical suicide bomber is next.
Yeah, and then ‘no-fly zone’.
Muah-ha-ha-ha!
Mary Poppins:
“When trying to express oneself, it’s frankly quite absurd,
To leaf through lengthy lexicons to find the perfect word.
A little spontaniaty keeps conversation keen,
You need to find a way to say, precisely what you mean…
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Even though the sound of it is something quite atrosicous!
If you say it loud enough, you’ll always sound precocious,”
(and when you say-hey ‘no-fly zone’ you really mean-hean corpses)
and population of Libya is 6.4million, majority under 21 and religion 97% Islam. Obama knows who his friends are.
When France and the UK agree on something you know something is amiss. Also, does anyone remember the last time the US teamed up to attack a country that had not attacked them? A place called Viet Nam! The US helped France recolonize the area, in return for France’s support for NATO. Long story made short France gets whipped, hands the mess to the US and as a parting slap pulls out of NATO. What’s going on? Europe gets most of it’s oil from . . . wait for it . . . LIBYA!!! I suspect this one will go as those before, the Europeans will be there to hold our coat and soon drop that and go sit on their hands again.
I was under the impression The European Union was the Roman Empire reborn. As such, should they do their own fighting. I mean, how can they be the Roman Empire reborn if they can not even handle a turd world country like Libya? They should hang their heads in shame!
Who is that muslim comedian making a movie called “Good morning Libya”?
Muhammad Williams?
Oh I laughed so hard at that comment. Thank you!
Some people think Obama is crafty. I think his policy reflects ignorance and indifference. Look who his advisers are.
Samantha Power – who suggested invading Israel to solve the Middle East’s problems
James Clapper – who thinks the Muslim Brotherhood is secular
Susan Rice – who thinks the completely corrupt UN Human Rights council is improving
have any expertise in the Middle East. No, they don’t. These are the people advising Obama and Hillary Clinton. Occam’s Razor applies here. The simplest explanation is most likely true. They don’t know and don’t really care that they don’t know.
they do know and they do car and they were placed in positions to ensure the Obama ‘transformation’ is successful and attempted obstruction of the transformation will be delayed or ignored by Attorney General Holder,
These US military actions in Libya are ILLEGAL:
War Powers Resolution of 1973
Public Law 93-148
93rd Congress, H. J. Res. 542
November 7, 1973
Joint Resolution
Concerning the war powers of Congress and the President.
Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SHORT TITLE
SECTION 1. This joint resolution may be cited as the “War Powers Resolution”.
PURPOSE AND POLICY
SEC. 2. (a) It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgement of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicate by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations.
(b) Under article I, section 8, of the Constitution, it is specifically provided that the Congress shall have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution, not only its own powers but also all other powers vested by the Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.
(c) The constitutional powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief to introduce United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, are exercised only pursuant to (1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.
. . .
… We have NO Congressional Declaration of War, nor do we have “attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”
NOWHERE in the War Powers Resolution of 1973 does it state that if the ‘UN decides action must be taken, we must respond, and without congressional authorization.’
As well, with the Arab League being an initial big player in requiring some sort of action in Libya against Qa-Ddafy Duck, they need to stop whining about excessive action by US troops, and fork over 110+% cash to fund this little illegal expedition.
Arab nations have tolerated Qa-Ddafy Duck for 42 years, THEY can take care of him THEMSELVES!
There indeed should have been Congressional ‘Declaration of War’ for this US action in Libya, otherwise it’s CRIMINAL ACTION, and Obama is head perpetrator, with UN as secondary agent involved.
We unfortunately have Obama repeatedly making bad decision after had decision. The latest headline I see at Drudge on this is:
WH: Goal to Install ‘Democratic System’…
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/151191-white-house-suggests-regime-change-is-goal-of-libya-mission?page=1
Obama, you have NO authority to make Libya a ‘Democratic System’ at our expense!
See:
http://www.justice.gov/olc/warpowers925.htm
You need an update.
You’ve tossed me lots of reading, that I’ll plug thru next few hours. Regardless, Obama still belongs in hoosegow, and Arab League needs to learn how to handle their own dictators!
I’m far from a Liberal or anti-war type person, I’m much more an anti-Obama person. And first time in my life I ever considered anything Kucinich had to say as somewhat meaningful:
Kucinich: Libya action ‘impeachable’
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51668.html
Is going to war in contravention of The Constitution grounds for impeachment? Is there really any doubt about the grounds when the outcome of a successful military operation will be to empower the avowed enemies of The Republic? Can the Republic survive a CIC who spends more time on basketball brackets than whether going to war will assist our avowed enemy?
Is there a patriot with the intestinal fortitude to respond to the painful implications of Operation Odyssey Dawn? Colonel West, will you accept this mission?
Loved the post by Patrick ;especially the” NO WHERE ” clause.
I figured we were going into a mess with no purpose when no one could decide how to spell the guys name. Please,CAN WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND SETTLE THE QUESTION OF HOW TO SPELL KADDAFFY, QUADDUFFY, CADAFY, QAA FFADAFY, HELP……..ARGH .
Momar, or Col.
Just plain “Daffy” works for me.
K’Daffy. (You saw here first.)
The US and Britain have been supporting ‘Islamists’ in the ME and beyond (Balkans, Pakistan, etc.) for about 60 years. It is not consistent support, but it has been profound. The US and Saudi Arabia are complicit in the raising/cultivating of al Qaeda in Pakistan during the Soviet Afghan occupation. US and Britain used the MB in Egypt. The British specifically enabled their influence among ‘Palestinian’ Arab elements. The British and US encouraged the Saudi gov’t to use MB operatives and ideology to help maintain ‘devotion’ to that regime. It’s my understanding that very patriotic Americans have referred to the CIA’s role in the ME as ‘oil field security company.’
There is actually an argument to be made, despite Obama’s background, that he is LESS interested in using these awful people to further geo-political aims than were Presidents Reagan, Bush 41 and Clinton (Clinton specifically in furthering the breakup of Yugoslavia, supporting Croatia against Serbia, helping Muslim Bosnia come into existence (in part of Bosnia) and enthusiastically supporting Albanian expansion and the amputation of Serbia’s most important province, Kosovo.
None of this matters, though, when you tell an American patriot it’s time to ‘spread freedom.’ He can’t help himself – in some cases, this is a very good thing. In the case of Libya, it is malicious idiocy.
Mr. Fairchild, you make explicit what I consider the major error made by this disastrous administration: the judgement to intervene by direct military action in an emotional reaction: Qaddafi is a brutal despot and we must come to the aid of the brave protesters seeking to displace him, and help bring democracy to Libya; we have seen widely criticized for not aiding protesters in Iran and Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Time to stop talking and do something!
No analysis was brought to the matters you so fully delineate, which our intelligence certainly could have provided. Nobody seems to have asked the questions: “What will happen if Qaddafi is defeated and the nation plunged into leaderless chaos?” and “Do we really want reinforce the impression of American Imperialism” or, more cynically “Might the best course, and the least bloody in the end, be to let the Colonel deal with this as a civil revolt?”
No. A “noble Course” prevails and we wind up assisting the cause of Taliban West and broadening our military involvement in the Middle East wen we desperately need to reduce it.
and the IRG camps are located in the no-fly zone-this is brilliant
i forwarded this article to a listserv i’m on and got the following response:
There appears to be a significant disconnect between the suggestions in the first article Richard Landes suggests and publicly available information (mostly from the BBC) about member of the Interim Transitional Council, who have generally been described as “bankers, lawyers and professionals.” Leaked cables from the US Embassy are also somewhat revealing. We have the names, so let the double-checking begin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Transitional_Council
Here’s some additional information about Jalil, the head of the council, and the head of Military Affairs.
Mustafa Abdul Jalil (born 1952)[3] is a Libyan politician. He was the Minister of Justice (unofficially, the Secretary of the General People’s Committee) under Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi.[2] He has been noted in news media for his stance against various human rights violations in that country. During the 2011 Libyan protests, Abdul Jalil has been identified as the Chairman of the National Transitional Council based in Benghazi, which controls much of the country in opposition to Gaddafi in Tripoli..
After graduating from the department of Shari’a and Law in the Arabic Language and Islamic Studies faculty of the The Libyan University in 1975, Jalil was initially “assistant to the Secretary of the Public Prosecutor” in Al Bayda, before being appointed a judge in 1978.[4]
Jalil was a judge “known for ruling consistently against the regime”[5] before becoming justice minister in 2007. In January 2010 he attempted to resign on national television over the government’s failure to release political prisoners….
Omar Mokhtar El-Hariri is a leading figure of the National Transitional Council or Libya and has been designated as the head of the Military Affairs Department.[1] He is in control of the Libyan People’s Army and the Free Libyan Air Force.
El-Hariri was involved in the initial 1969 coup against the monarchy that brought Gaddafi into his 42 year reign over Libya. He organised a plot to overthrow Gaddafi in 1975. … He was imprisoned for 15 years from 1975 to 1990 under a death sentence, with 4 1/2 years in solitary confinement. Gaddafi commuted the sentence in 1990 and El-Hariri was subsequently placed under house arrest until the 2011 revolt.[2]
Mahmoud Jibril – foreign affairs
Before the uprising, Mr Jibril was involved in a project called “Libyan Vision” with other intellectuals, which sought to establish a democratic state. He is also head of the rebel council’s crisis committee, which aims to streamline decision making.
Born in 1952, Mr Jibril has both a master’s degree in political science and a PhD in strategic planning and decision-making from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. After completing his doctorate in 1984, he taught strategic planning and decision-making at the university for several years. He also wrote several books and ran leadership training programmes in several Arab states.
He later became the head of the Libyan National Planning Council. Then in 2009, he was appointed chairman of the National Economic Development Board (NEDB), reporting directly to the prime minister.
A leaked US diplomatic cable from November 2009 written by the US ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, described Mr Jibril as “a serious interlocutor who ‘gets’ the US perspective”. An earlier US diplomatic cable described Mr Jibril as “reform-minded”.
Note also that yesterday the interim council announced that their finance minister would be a business professor from here in Seattle at the University of Washington.
other sources on the orientation of the council:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12699785
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12698562
comments anyone?