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Libya May Be Focus Of Major Rift Between US And Regional Allies
Submitted by Defense & Foreign Affairs via OilPrice.com,
It had become clear by late August 2014 that Libya could no longer be seen as a unified state; at best it was in two parts, even with the communal leaderships of both sides professing a desire to resume national unity. By late August 2014, the country had two parliaments: one elected by the Libyan people, and the other given legitimacy solely by foreign support.
The situation seemed so intractable by that point that it was possible that a full military intervention by regional states, perhaps spearheaded by Egypt, could be attempted, with the goal of stabilizing the country and eliminating the foreign-funded and foreign-armed jihadis who were using Libya as a springboard for a proposed pro-Islamist war against the current Egyptian Government.
The proxy forces of the 2011 unilateral intervention by Qatar, supporting jihadis and the Muslim Brothers (Ikhwan), and by Turkey and the US, into the Cyrenaican revolt against Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi, were still dominating the Libyan political scene, much to the frustration of Libyan tribal forces.
Qatar was creating a “Free Egyptian Army” in the Cyrenaica desert, and patterned on the “Free Syrian Army” which Qatar, Turkey, and the US had built to challenge Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Significantly, while the US and European Union (EU) continued in August 2014 to promote the concept of a unified Libya, they were basing their approach around what was essentially a modification of the mode of governance practiced by Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi, who seized power by a coup in 1969, and held it until 2011. Widespread Libyan calls for a return to the 1951 Constitution — drafted by the United Nations and the 140 or so Libyan tribes — have been consistently ignored by Washington and Brussels.
By August 2014, the foreign jihadist fighters — mainly linked to salafist groups and either directly or indirectly working with the Muslim Brothers (Ikhwan) — were still entrenched in Cyrenaica, in Eastern Libya (where the local moderate. anti-salafist Senussiyah sect of Islam predominates), supported by Qatar, Turkey, and the US Government. As well, they were entrenched around Tripoli.
By August 18, 2014, the situation had deteriorated to the point where United Arab Emirates (UAE) combat aircraft, operating from Egyptian bases, conducted air strikes against jihadist militia forces around Tripoli, without prior warning to the US. The operation was also coordinated with the Government of Saudi Arabia, and the UAE Air Force aircraft staged over the Kingdom, en route to Egypt, using UAE AF Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refueling aircraft to reach, it is understood, Mersa Ma- truh Air Base or another forward Egyptian Air Force base, from which the strikes were then made on the Libyan targets.
The first wave of strikes, on August 18, 2014, hit militia groups; the second wave on August 23, 2014, targeted Qatari-supplied rocket launchers and military vehicles owned by the militias. The strikes were insufficient to blunt the mainly Misrata-based militia forces of the Islamist-dominated Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) coalition which, a day later (August 24, 2014), overran Tripoli Airport, taking it from the control of the Zintan militia. [Fajr Libya also controls some 80 percent of Benghazi, although the residents of that city and surrounds have traditionally been hostile to the salafist tenets promoted by the group.] The UAE strikes also hit at Ansar al-Sharia, another extremist Islamist group, ostensibly condemned by Washington, but benefiting from Washington’s position.
The new Government was aware — and supportive — of the combined military actions of the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to strike at the Islamist militias.
On August 25, 2014, the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK governments issued a joint statement denouncing “outside interference” in Libya which it said “exacerbates current divisions and undermines Libya’s democratic transition”, failing to highlight the reality that the US has, since 2011, provided the main umbrella for outside interference in Libya affairs, and continued to support the Qatari-led efforts currently underway.
At the same time, with US encouragement, the former Islamist-dominated Parliament — which no longer had a mandate — was reconvened on August 25, 2014, and voted to disband the interim Government, even though the new Government had been voted into place by opponents of the Islamists. But the newly-elected Parliament — not the one controlled by the Islamists — continued to meet in Tobruk, in Cyrenaica, away from the militias. That Parliament on August 24, 2014, dismissed the Army Chief of Staff and, with a vote of 88 out of 124 parliamentarians, installed a new one, Col. Abdel Razzak Nadhuri, who was promoted to general when he took up his new role. He replaced Gen. Abdessalam Jadallah al-Obeidi, who was dismissed by Parliament. Gen. Nadhuri, from the town of Marj, 1,100km (600 miles) east of Tripoli, took up his post as Libya’s Foreign Minister and his regional counterparts met in Cairo to discuss the Islamist threat.
Gen. Nadhuri has been known for his support for the anti-Islamist Operation Karama (Dignity), led by retired Gen. Khalifa Haftar. In the first reactions to Nadhuri’s appointment, several military generals affiliated with the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced their rejection of the Parliament’s appointment of Nadhuri declaring that “they refuse to work under the command of an officer who supports Operation Karama, and that they will only recognize Gen. al-Obeidi as chief of staff”.
The interim Government itself was unable to return to Tripoli as a result of the fighting, and had been holding its meetings in the eastern city of Bayda.
But on August 25, 2014, the interim General National Congress (GNC), which had been officially replaced earlier in August 2014 by the new Parliament, named an Islamist figure, Omar al-Hassi, to form a rival “salvation government”, which was being given credence by, for example, the US Government over the Government elected by Libyan voters in August 2014.
The situation, then, was that Libya now had two parliaments and two governments, but only the Tripoli-based Parliament had electoral legitimacy with its Government led by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri was quoted on August 25, 2014, as saying that the situation in Libya threatened the entire region and other parts of the world, noting: “The developments in Libya have left an impact we have felt on the security of neighboring countries, with the presence and movement of extremist and terrorist groups whose activists are not only limited to the Libyan territories but also spill over to neighboring countries.” He also said that a spillover of lawlessness from Libya could prompt foreign intervention in Libya, but hoped that this could be avoided.
The combined stance by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE has further demonstrated the division of these onetime US allies away from Washington. To emphasize the point, Egyptian Pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on August 24, 2014, to local news media that Qatar, Turkey, the United States, and the Muslim Brotherhood were funding new online media projects which “aim to undermine Egypt’s stability”. These powers, he said, “do not hesitate to spend tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions [of dollars], on these websites in order to promote ideas that aim to undermine Egypt’s stability”. Ironically, the news came out at the same time that the Obama Administration announced the development of a new government program to track “hate speech” on social media in the US.
The US is moving closer to alienating key regional allies (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) in order to support Turkey’s and Qatar’s objectives in Libya, without defining the strategic goals for the US and the West. Already the Egyptian bloc is at war with Turkey and Qatar.
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Let's ask Ambassador Stevens what we must do to fix Lib...oh, that's right. The poor bastard, and those other CIA assets could of, at one time, given us the real answers...
Not to fear, what difference does it matter anyhow? We have Sec Kerry to ably deliver the cogent message of America's foreign policies to our friends and enemies. There shall be no confusion.
In the words of one of Kerry's most illustrious predecessors, Warren Christopher, Sec State under another erstwhile foreign policy magnate, Jimmy Carter; "I would urge caution."
"Policy" is a cover for the political class to use with the masses in order to allow their rich masters to continue pillaging. See: the Nuland video. No one in the political class nor the bankster class truly gives a fuck about policy. Policy is only a story, it is theater. And that is why it is talked about all the time by the MSM.
What difference does it make? Benghazi is no longer required as a source of US weapons for ISIS in Syria. At least, as of yesterday.......
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Gee, ya think? As Homer would say... Duh!
""Policy" is a cover for the political class to use with the masses in order to allow their rich masters to continue pillaging."
So correct and true.
Ditto "issues," "objectives," "goals," "plans," "visions," "promises"...
An American, not US subject.
+1 for the Ringworld reference...
I was hoping for a Ringwald reference myself. "As in Molly." The USA actually has friends in the world? News to me...
Phase 1: Chaos ab Ordo.
Phase 2: Ordo ab Chaos
Phase 3: Ordo Novum Seculorum
Bastards!
Should I feel concerned or blessed we are alienating Saudi Arabia?
All part of the plan. Can't have a new caliphate and leave saudi arabia intact. Their leaders will have to be dealt. Their role as leaders of islam must be destroyed. Think they will go quietly?
Elsewhere:
(Apparently false) London terror rumor spreads across social media
http://tinyurl.com/pwddp4q
Man... I have no idea what's going on (bubble bubble bubble).
Hey?... Wasn't "tank ass" Hitlery still SOSSecretary of State during this quagmire?
What difference does it make?
Be nice Knuks/ I'm racing my snails. ;-)
humongous belly laugh
Lois Lerner is edging Eric Holder out, by a piece of (green) lettuce...
Sure getting a lot of worst's in this govt.
Looks like the hildabeast still has kerry beat by a furlong or two in that race.
The strategic goal is to get Libyan petroleum for sale only for the stinking, rancid, putrid federal reserve note.
True, but I think the folks over there are still pretty sore about us destroyibg thier modern society, including but not limited to their desalination plant, their electrical grid, their intrest free and debt free banking system, their excellent health care system, their citizen reward programs for marriage, small business and first time loans, but most of all they are prolly pretty pissed that we stole thousands of tonnes of gold, silver, platinum, and rhodium from their privately held banks. Just a guess.
their irrigation/water-pipeline structure was attacked too, wasn't it? didn't they have some deal where pipelines were carrying loads of water out of the desert interior, and into the coastal areas?... then nato said 'bombs away on that'. ? it's actually quite sad.
From what i undeerstand, yes. Its criminal. Totally unjust.
NATO is nothing but a low life goon squad.
NATO forces to a standing army is what a corporation is to an individual - all the rights with none of the responsibilities.
You forgot to add "extra legal." And "extra territorial" as well.
Shall we be surprised when our agrandizers agrandize? Time for the "I'm shocked!" face?
More MENA peeples will be flooding into southern EU ... by the thousands.
Good for them; well-deserved. Geneva already looks like Mom-Bassa after sundown.
"On August 25, 2014, the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK governments issued a joint statement denouncing “outside interference” in Libya..."
Does anybody else find this statement the least bit, uh, cynical?
If by cynical you mean insulting, yes.
The proper term is "disgustingly hypocritical."
So... they're going to follow the Prime Directive, by example? /s
Qatar is getting cold feet.
Their communications with Hamas were singled out as leading the Israelis to the whereabouts of the heads of the Hamas military wing. Once those individual road blocks were removed, Qatar was able to broker the ceasefire deal that Netanyahu signed.
I suspect Qatar will work both ends in Syria as well.
National unity is overrated.
They are deathly afraid of people seeing other people prosper after secession.
The NATO air war on Libya will rank as one of the most heinous of actions.
So how did it work out???
There is no statute of limitations for war crimes....
Sounds like the sooner the boots are on the ground the better then...
It's not about this faction or sect or tribe or coalition vs that one, it's all about the cult of islam, which is a doctrine of conquest and subjugation, the cultural equivalent of cancer, which is how the cult of islam spread all around the world, conquest and subjugation.
The prudent action would be for the most militarily powerful nations, all non-islamic, to make an agreement to conquer the lands occupied by the islamic cultists, eradicating ALL the islamic cult worshipers in the process, then divide up the land & resources among themselves and repopulate the land with civilized modern humans, putting an end to the cult of islam forever.
Militarily this would be relatively inexpensive in money and soldiers by using chemical weapons - just surround the urban areas preventing anyone from leaving, then bombard these areas with nerve gas until all the cultists are dead. This has the added benefit of leaving most of the infrastructure intact for the new occupants, and avoiding the slaughter of good soldiers in urban combat.
SIC, you are one sick entity.
Which part of your solution would you be able to engage in?
None I bet...
What a gutless comment and I suspect a gutless non answer.
no.he is a hasbra troll.
So you would rather that islamic peoples gain parity with western nations (i.e. nuclear weapons, bio-weapons, chemical weapons etc) and turn those weapons on us and do that very thing to us? Their very goal is to either conquer and enslave or destroy ALL non-muslims. Which would you prefer? Them or us? Remember to muslims atheist are worse then jews or Christians. Pick a side and stick with it, don't pick the loosing side though, you would certainly regret it.
poppycock. you don't go around attempting to eradicate 'the other'. it's just a big theatre, where sockpuppets abound. best not to get attached to 'one side' or 'the other'. live and let live.
Islam, like any religion, has a spectrum of beliefs and practices. As the article points out, the US supports the extreme, violent and intolerant end of that spectrum within Libya and other of these entities they refer to as "states".
The US has become a malevolent force in the world. Sad.
Send in Rommel and the FreiKorp .
What many don't understand is that Libya is the Mena, Arkansas, of the Middle-East. It is the point of CIA arms and money in and drugs out. The difference is that the Pentagon wing of power is actively fighting the CIA in Libya so as to hamper the CIA's ability to further interfere in Egypt and Syria.
Of course the CIA is fundamentally controlled by Israel, and the CIA has their guy, Obama, running things from the Oval office, or golf cart.
Now what is happening in these other countries is that they are beginning to see the writing on the wall and are now throwing their hats into the ring with the Pentagon wing of power.
Going to get a lot more interesting, and deadly, before it's over.
Pass the popcorn, Milk Duds and big-ass coke.
An American, not US subject.
Don't kid yourself. Both of them are dancing to whatever tune is being played.
whoah... that's a trippy theory.
I'm afraid that it's possible that THEY may let the Alamo City fall. What should I do?
And this is the NWO's version of democracy.
I think it's past time to point out that there is clearly a dramatic difference in foreign policy under Obama. In fact, I think his administration is at odds with not only people in the Middle East but the majority of people here in the US if they only knew his radical intentions. In my view, Obama supports the Islamic caliphate forming in the Middle East and no one yet in the US is willing to point out that this president is aligned with enemies of the US. How ironic it would be if he were the black swan we've all been looking for.
Half-black swan, an odd creature.
"On August 25, 2014, the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK governments issued a joint statement denouncing “outside interference” in Libya which it said “exacerbates current divisions and undermines Libya’s democratic transition.”
That's rich. I wonder if they were able to say it with a straght face.
Without defining the strategic goal for the US and the West? whatever it is, the only thing that Qatar has to offer is a pathway to the Middle East (now that the relationships with KSA, UAE and Egypt have soured) and the fact that they are sat on the largest reserves of natural gas that they need to liberate into Europe and beyond. We know for sure that Turkey has the pipe ready to plough the gas into Europe. How this is connected to Libya, i am not sure.
The press over here in the UAE have been quite vocal about the soured relationship between the GCC states and Qatar. KSA are trying to get the GCC union stronger than ever to protect itself from economical and physical warfare from surrounding instability but Qatar dont seem to want to play into the cards of KSA.
This GCC union will be quite key to how things play out for the petrodollar, it seems that they are keen to release a GCC union currency and are getting closer to this goal.
lot of people opine here .I want to know the basis for their theorizing.Obama is odious,yes.But a muslim?Exactly why would he be interested in resurrecting Caliphate?Most moslems do not consider KSA and the gulf pimple state to be particularly muslim.All have extensive history of collaborating with Israel.Their people hate them.Most of Sunni radicalism whas been at least fanned and controlled by MI6 and petro dollars.Also some people here are stuck with the bogus two party sytem in the US of A. RINOs and Demofucks are not one iota different when it comes to serving the baksters.
I see today that al qaeda has called for pre-emptive strikes inside the U.S. If it were to concentrate its efforts on U.S. government buildings and assets, I don't think the American people would care all that much. If it continues striking civilian targets, then we are off to another massive war.
However, striking government assets would support a LUCRATIVE drive to reinforce government assets, for security. Many local contracts could be awarded to a few connected Lobbyists, and Special Interests, who would benefit from massive contracts? Maybe there could be an Amazon.com Fullfillment processes, whereby you have to take off your belt, and all the metal out of your pocket, at least four times per shift, and have in-house K-9...and maybe a tank. But I guess you're right, most people wouldn't care?