Meet Abdul Belhaj, the Al Qaeda-Connected Sharia Supporter Who Could Be Libya’s Next Strongman
- Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:33pm by
Mytheos Holt
- Print »
- Email »
Muammar Gaddafi may be gone for good, but Libya might be about to go straight out of the frying pan and into the fire. Reports from Libya suggest that the interim military leader of Tripoli, Abdul Belhaj, may be laying down his arms to form a new political party. Given Libya’s problematic relationship with military leaders-turned-politicians, this alone should give readers pause, especially since the last military leader to do so was Gaddafi himself.
Unfortunately, the bigger concern with Belhadj isn‘t whether he’ll be Gaddafi 2.0. It‘s whether he’ll be worse than Gaddafi ever was. Some details from a report hosted by the website AnsaMed should give every American reason to worry about this man who could be Libya’s next dictator:
Born in the Libyan capital in 1966 and with a degree in Engineering, Belhaj moved on to fighting at the side of the Afghan Mujahidin at the time of the Soviet invasion. On his return to his country, he set up an anti-Gaddafi Islamic group and then returned once again to Afghanistan, this time fighting under the Taleban. In 2002 the Gaddafi regime issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of having ”close ties” with Al Qaeda and with Mullah Omar. Two years later he was captured in Thailand with the collaboration of the CIA and MI6 and sent back to the Gaddafi regime, following a period spent in Guantanamo, as one of the many subjects of ‘rendition’ much used by US intelligence.[...]
Belhaj defines himself as a ”normal citizen who fights for a shared cause,” but he is undoubtedly one of the most popular leaders in a country where a constitution appears to be on its way in which ‘Sharia law’ will provide the principal source of legislation, as many members of the NTC expected. And he could indeed become the ”strong man” that the polls say the Libyans are waiting for to take over in the post-Gaddafi order.
Abdul Belhaj
Now, to give Belhaj his due, he has indicated that the United States’ aid during the conflict with Gaddafi has made him see himself as an ally of the United States and NATO, according to this report from Middle East Monitor. However, these varieties of diplomatic overtures are dubiously meaningful. According to the AnsaMed report, the only country that Belhaj is suspected to have deep-seated ties to is Qatar, a country which was revealed in leaked diplomatic cables from 2010 to be considered the “worst” on counterterrorism. Not exactly an inspiring connection.
More to the point, it’s public knowledge that the CIA once handed Belhaj over to Qaddafi as part of the extraordinary rendition program – an act which would almost certainly check whatever positive feelings Belhaj has toward the United States. Moreover, his connections to Al Qaeda, as well as his ideological friendliness to Islamism, will arguably be far more helpful in governing Libya on a day-to-day basis than any good will toward the United States, suggesting that Belhaj’s associations will necessarily transform him into a functionally anti-American dictator in the event that he takes power.
There is good news, though – Belhaj has missed the deadline to create his new political party, which means the United States will be given a bit of extra time to act to insure that a strongman like Belhaj can be either prevented from taking power, or at bare minimum, more easily controlled.
Comments (31)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 706 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 551 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 368 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 362 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 362 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 362 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 368 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 282 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 362 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
vampiric aristocracy
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 5:52pmFor the love.of god…
Report Post »i hope hes shot dead.
vampiric aristocracy
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 5:43pmObama the kenyan supports terror.
Report Post »vampiric aristocracy
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 5:33pmGaddafi at least loved his people.
Report Post »not defending him..
but he was a vital key on the war on terror…
Pro-Palin
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:53amu should read the ny times link from above this artical from 2011 is a completely different picture of him . This could be another CIA Bin Laden afiliated Terrorist to become a President of a country. I wonted what administration let him go?
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:22amIntervention foreign policy results in that. hopefully we don’t get the Mormon version of that.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:52amso kill him.. jeeze
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:45amHow’s that arab-friggin-spring grabbin’ ya now, Baraaaaaaack? Oh, that’s right- this was your intent all along wasn’t it?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:16amNice work Obama. Gaddafi surrenders his WMD programs to Bush and then you spend a few hundred million to take him out! Now you‘re scratching your head because Iran and North Korea won’t deal with you. Why should they when Gaddafi got a bullet in the head for cooperating.
Report Post »joony
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:41amJudging just by the picture he looks like a demon possessed, soulless monster.
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:31amMeet the next Obama czar
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:20amWhy are we even dealing with these Islamic nutjobs? The USA is a Judea/Christian Nation despite what the Marxist in the WH says. For most of us, our first introduction to Islam was the slaughter of more than 3,000 of us on 09/11/2001. I don’t want to have anything to do with any Muslim. I despise everything about them. Their Sharia Laws are a joke. They claim that they don’t charge interest on loans, but they do. They just call it by another name. Their complete subjugation of females just doesn’t belong here in the USA. Keep that c**p in the cesspool of their twelfth century, mindset country in the Middle East. I suggest that Muslim immigration and visa’s be limited to two a year, in the future.
Report Post »subic
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:16amThis dude is the new Sadaam of the middle east
Report Post »possom
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:05amHi abdul where’s your goat?
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:25amTo know understand obama, wasn’t this, his and hilary’s desire and goals? New Democracy? People we need to understand that our Democracy and theirs do not mix! Obama started this, why? He wanted this POS in charge, along with the muslim brotherhood. Its because he’s going to try to get rid of Israel! He’s putting together a militia/military for his End Times War, and he’s using US money to fund it all. Guess who it effects the most? Israel and the US, and the World will get drug into it because of obama! POS, Evil!…….
Report Post »Rayford
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:20amBillary and Zero must be proud.
So they will have Egypt, Lybia, and soon Syria in eternal turmoil. You can toss Iraq into the mix, and a few I am forgetting at the moment.
And the same morons that brought about the arab spring now want to do the same thing here in the US. …..
The 2 previously mentioned idiots.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:48pmWhen will they ever learn?? Go from bad to worse! Next time you want help forget it! Duh!!!!
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:45pmmurdering MUSLUMS they dont care they will KILL you no matter what they are ina man made CULT of hate n death thier bible is false thoer god allah NON EXISTANT hell awaits all MURDERING MUSLUMS there IS no heave for any muslum…
Report Post »psadie
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:16pmI remember when the Arab Spring started and spokesmen for these countries insisted that democracy would prevail. HaHa. That was a no brainer due to the radicals that were ready and waiting to step in and take over and they did. Welcome to Sharia you fools got what you asked for.
Report Post »EndTheFedNOW
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:59pmYou people do realize that our government working thru the UN and NATO supplied, coordinated, pushed al qaeda to crush the the regime. Our government is doing the same thing across the middle east. We are a empire, look at syria the same thing is going on. The media lies. Glenn thinks its crazy that we have the muslim brotherhood in our government. Just the NWO that has hijacked our country showing itself.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:08pmMEET ABDUL BELHAJ, THE AL QAEDA-CONNECTED SHARIA and obama SUPPORTER WHO COULD BE LIBYA’S NEXT STRONGMAN.
Report Post »ICRedifURBlue
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:07pmPoster child for “If ya get ‘em in custody…..put ‘em DOWN” —-that way they won’t come back to haunt you.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:02pmRumor is that Biden wants Belhaj to be his vice-president running mate in 2016.
As we all know anyone in the world can be president or vice-president of this once great country.
Report Post »therealconservative
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:59pmHey no problem, Ron Paul says “look the other way”
Report Post »EndTheFedNOW
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:08pmOh so you still think that al qaeda is the real threat, not our government who stages all these false flag ops to keep pushing the agenda that americans must give up there libertys for security.
Thats all you had to say brother.
Report Post »therealconservative
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:27pmYou obviously haven’t read my other posts, I‘m part of ’our government’. We’ve been watching you for some time.
Report Post »EndTheFedNOW
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:46pmLol. Tell me something I dont know. So I will continue to speak out…and you continue to “watch”
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:28amyeah mind your own business you nazi
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:56pmAchmed The Dead Terrorist kept popping into my mind as I read this one.
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:41pmStrong smelling, I gather.
Report Post »Uranium Wedge
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:51pmWell he does look like an A$$ wipe to me.
Report Post »db321
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 9:58pmI predict that he will win the Election by 100% – Just like Saddam did in Iraq! Or else it‘s off with the little people heads that didn’t vote for him!
America will have the opportunity to live under an Evil Dictator if Obama gets a second term.
I’m not calling Obama evil – GOD is! Abortion, Gay Marriage, and thumbing your nose at Israel is like spitting in the face of God – and God warned us that this behavior is EVIL!
Obama has shown his cards; yet, some people REFUSE to heed God’s Warning!
Report Post »