U.S. Officially Recognizes Libyan Rebels as Legitimate Government
- Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:10am by
Billy Hallowell
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ISTANBUL (The Blaze/AP) — More than 30 nations, including the United States, on Friday declared that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi‘s regime is no longer legitimate and formally recognized Libya’s main opposition group as the legitimate government until a new interim authority is created.
The decision will keep up the military pressure on Gadhafi and potentially free up cash that the rebels fighting Libyan forces urgently need. The front lines in the Libyan civil war have largely stagnated since the popular uprising seeking to oust Gadhafi broke out in February. Rebels, backed by NATO air force bombers, control much of the country’s east and pockets in the west. But Gadhafi controls the rest from his stronghold in Tripoli, the capital.
In Friday’s final statement following a meeting of the so-called Contact Group on Libya, the nations said: the “Gadhafi regime no longer has any legitimate authority in Libya,” and Gadhafi and certain members of his family must go.
The group said it would deal with Libya’s main opposition group – the National Transitional Council, or NTC – as “the legitimate governing authority in Libya” until an interim authority is in place.
The recognition of the Libyan opposition as the legitimate government gives foes of Gadhafi a major financial and credibility boost. Diplomatic recognition of the council means that the U.S. will be able to fund the opposition with some of the more than $30 billion in Gahdafi-regime assets that are frozen in American banks.
“The United States views the Gadhafi regime as no longer having any legitimate authority in Libya,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. “And so I am announcing today that, until an interim authority is in place, the United States will recognize the TNC as the legitimate governing authority for Libya, and we will deal with it on that basis.” CNN has more:
Clinton said the United States “will help the TNC sustain its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya, and we will look to it to remain steadfast in its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
…Diplomatic efforts have been afoot to end the crisis, and Clinton said Libyans are “looking past Gadhafi.”
In addition to the U.S., the Contact Group on Libya includes members of NATO, the European Union and the Arab League.
Ahead of the meeting, a defiant spokesman for the Libyan government said its members were ready to die in defense of the country’s oil against attacks by the rebels and NATO forces. “We will kill, we will die for oil,” Moussa Ibrahim said. “Rebels, NATO, we don’t care. We will defend our oil to the last drop of blood and we are going to use everything.”
A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic conversations with the TNC and the other Contact Group members, said Friday‘s decision by the Contact Group on Libya indicates strong support for the TNC and that Gadhafi’s time is up. The National Transitional Council won international recognition after it said it would abide by its commitments and find a way forward for a truly democratic Libyan government, the official said.
The assurances included upholding the group’s international obligations, pursuing a democratic reform process that is both geographically and politically inclusive, and dispersing funds for the benefit of the Libyan people.
The U.S. official said the recognition of TNC as the government of Libya would allow countries to help the opposition access additional funds. However, he stressed that more legal work needs to be done by some countries, including the U.S., and at the United Nations, to fully legalize that step.
The recognition does not mean that the U.S. diplomatic mission in the rebel-held city of Benghazi, Libya, is now an embassy. Titles of staff and names of offices would be decided in the coming days, the official said.
Speaking on the sidelines of Friday’s meeting, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters that “the entire Libyan Contact Group decided to recognize the NTC as the legitimate authority of Libya.”
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said, “This means that we will be able to unfreeze a certain amount of money belonging to the Libyan state since it is the Transitional National Council which as of now will have this responsibility.”
A road map to end the conflict demands that Gadhafi must resign and a cease-fire be declared with a goal for democratic elections, Juppe said. He stressed that military pressure will be kept until Gadhafi steps aside.
Earlier, Turkey’s foreign minister urged delegates to find “innovative ways” to support the Libyan opposition. Ahmet Davutoglu suggested the group open lines of credit to meet the Libyan rebels’ “urgent need for cash” before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which starts next month. Turkey has already started a $200 million credit line, he said.
Davutoglu also stressed the need to increase humanitarian aid Ramadan approaches, warning that ongoing U.N. sanctions are causing suffering among people living under Gadhafi’s control.
There have been concerns about whether the initial government would represent the full spectrum of Libyan society, and Human Rights Watch called on the Contact Group on Libya to press the opposition to ensure that civilians are protected in areas where rebels have assumed control.
The right groups said Friday it has documented abuses in four towns – Awaniya, Rayayinah, Zawiyat al-Bagul, and Qawalish – recently captured by rebels in the western mountains, including looting, arson, and beatings of some civilians who remained when government forces withdrew.
“Rebel abuses may pale in comparison with the atrocities by Libyan government forces, but they require immediate attention,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Governments supporting the NATO campaign should push the opposition to protect civilians in areas where rebels have control, especially where some people may support the government.”
Back in March, The Blaze reported on Libyan rebel leader Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi’s claim that jihadists who fought against the U.S. in Iraq are now fighting with U.S.-supported Libyan rebels. The presence of possible jihadists among the rebels is not something that was mentioned by U.S. government officials, nor was it discussed publicly by other international powers embracing the Libyan rebels. This will surely be an issue worth exploring further as power transitions and democratic ideals are instilled.
Turkey, which co-chaired Friday’s meeting together with the United Arab Emirates, has called for an immediate cease-fire and providing water, food and fuel to strife-torn cities. It wants NATO to stop targeting ground forces to prevent civilian casualties, HaberTurk television said Friday.
Davutoglu has said Gadhafi could remain in Libya if an agreement is reached, but Gadhafi has refused to step down.
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Comments (60)
let us prey
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:43pmObumma lied people died.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:51pmWhat does Democracy look like?
*Images of U.S. troops bombing people to put Al Qeda in charge of Europe’s oil supply*
This is what Democracy looks like!
Report Post »Marci
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 2:03pmNice. We now embrace radical Islam and an Islamic Caliphate. What a shocker! How bout those people who keep denying this fact? Time to get over it. Obama is usurping the presidency in EVERY way possible.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:57pmThis is all a dry run with the UN for when Hillary takes over this country with their blessing. Obama will create the chaos, Hillary will plead for UN and world assistance and our govt will be declared illegitimate.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 3:25amWow, really? The U.S. thinks the Libyan rebels are a government? or is it really Obama that thinks that? I think the latter.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:38pmbganana republic… NEXT anythingtoapease the muslum killers… the socialist shall be removed in 2012 this BS must end
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:35pmWhy are Democrats and President Obama so blood-thirsty? They terrorize Libya so that Europe can have cheap oil. I say to you, “No American Blood For Oil, Mr. President!”
Now they’re legitimizing Al Qeda as the official government of Libya? Seriously? I say Libya was an “inside job”. What did the Obama Administration know BEFORE the rebels overthrew their government?
Report Post »Furious American
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:23pmSo, with this way of thinking , if 30 countries agree that the obama presidency is illegitimate then it must be so.
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:50pmI was thinking the exact same thing. What if all the other countries in the Middle East got together and declared that Obama was not legitimate as president of the country. Does their voice get to be heard?
Sadly McCain probably would have done the same thing. This is the point Ron Paul has been making about non-intervention. These things that we do in other countries telling them how to run their lives is going to cause more resentment then anything.
Report Post »KAZ-2Y5
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:58pmI say, we outright fire, even push out, all these incompetent criminals in Washington, let’s only begin electing Elementary first grade school children. Certainly they could do a much better, common sense job.
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:35pmyou got a tiger by the tail…its plain to see…
Report Post »So i thought it was Bush that was all about the oil?
Really? now you see the real story!
it has been the democraps all along
that squack the most about going to war for oil…
NOW embrace an unknown for OIL!
once again
what you say is
what you are
Seems whatever a democrap say about someone else is
what they really ARE!
Funny NO ONE in the MEDIA ever holds them accountable for what they have said in the past
as pertains to what we see in their actions today….
talk about disingenuous……
and you wonder why no one listens to the laim stream media!
This_Individual
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:34pmReady for WWIII?
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:44pmyes… Lets get the inevitable over with…
Report Post »Gabriel Faulk
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:10pmNot with Obama as President…………..
Report Post »Gabriel Faulk
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:27pmRecognizing a government that is not a government does not make sence to any logical person until you look at it in this light….the muslim brotherhood and other anti-western groups are behind the so called Arab Spring and Obama is doing what he can to lower this country’s power in the world so anyone that hates this country he will support. He wants there to be a true balance of power in the world, shared between the US, Russia, China, and Europe. No one country should be top dog in any liberal’s mind, especially the USA. After all, he did say and his platform was/is, “I am going to fundamentally transform America.”
Report Post »HogansHero
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:16pmThis is going to work out great for us, now we will recognize Taiwan as real the China and start sending all of our payments to her since they like us better anyway. Same with Russia, Chechnya is now the real Russia so we ca now cut all communication with Putin and just speak directly to Chechnya, they like us better anyway. Then again, the UN will decide that California better represents their values and recognize California as the real government for the USA.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:13pmLet get this right. First we send assualt weapons to narco-terrorists and one of the weapons kills a Border Patrol Officer. The narco-terrorists in Mexico use Al-Queda-like tactics right on our border and may have formal ties to Al-Queda.
Now we help take out a tame dictator (we bombed till he wet his pants), just to support a non-existent government with Al-Queda participants and connections with the Muslim Brotherhood.
America sucks at nation building. Every time we try it we suck. But in Lybia we are not nation building we are Caliphate building.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:12pmTest
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:06pmWhat happened to the US’s stance of Responsibility to Protect? Gahdafi is to be ousted from control because of his treatment of civilians, but the rebels are exempt? I guess the rebels are going to sell the oil to us at a discount – cheap oil makes us look the other way, apparently.
We may not have boots on the ground now, but if Gahdafi steps down, you can bet we will be in there with a NATO or UN force to help “rebuild” the country and help install a new democratic government. Gahdafi leaving would not be the end – it would be only the beginning of our “non-war”.
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:02pmI wonder who the federal government will put in as dictator, this time.
Report Post »Obama_Sham
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 12:47pmWhen we make Libya a state, then Barry will become the dictator…
Report Post »audiemurphy
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:39amthe enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Report Post »I guess that means The Clintons are my friends I should send her campaign money!
lylejk
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:35amI say take all of the Libyan booty and fund our governement for a week (or a day; not sure how many assets of Kadafi we actually hold control of; lol). Can you just imagine if we give the Libyan rebels this bounty of cash and they purchase weapons (that we make) and then somehow those weapons gets used on our own GI’s (which will happen)? Fast and Furious Part Duex. :)
Report Post »Gobomama
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 2:28pm@LYLEJK
Fast and Furious Part Duex
Don’t you mean Part Trois? Part Duex is project Operation Castaway.
2012 cannot come soon enough
BO stinks!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:35amHe11, you might as well make the KKK a new government. No wait…even better…the new black panthers, they certainly aren’t racist.
Report Post »fertlmind
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:32amBetter keep asking yourself what is the payoff for Obamma.
Report Post »Nothing in this administration is done unless it benefits Obamma politically.
And watch them turn into a radical jihadi Muslim stronghold after they dispose of Khadaffi.
There is something fishy about this relationship.
You can be sure of that because McCain supports it too!
code green
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:42amMrs Bill Clinton too
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:32amHow so? These are the Muslim Brotherhood. In a year the people will be saying “America did this to us” and the Democrats will be saying “Bush did it”
Report Post »calebgs83
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:30amFantastic. The USA formally recognizes the Al-Queda Rebels as the legitimate government.
Report Post »Richard Compton
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:27amDo they mean the same rebels who have been looting and burning homes etc.? The ones with ties to Islamic extreemist?
Report Post »We are on the verge of ecconomic collaspe yet we have money to send to finance these guys, are you kidding me?
So just how dire is our ecconomic situation if we still have funds to finance these guys? It can‘t be that bad since we’re going to give them 30 Billion dollars!
Gonzo
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:26amHey Barry, 50% of America doesn’t recognize your government as legitimate.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:40amAMEN…make that 51%
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:24amWe consider whomever we want to be the leadership of Libya….. WTF
Report Post »It would be like other Country’s still considering George Bush the President inspite of who is actually in office…..LOL
We need to get out of the nation building business and let them do it themselves. We need to pull all engaged forces from the wars zones Bin Laden is dead that was the goal and it’s done. We need to re-establish our military fro its orginal purpose defense. Not defense of wannabe democracies eferywhere defense of our shores. Let other nations handle their own business.
sWampy
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:23amCome on, that’s about as stupid as recognizing the University of Mississippi as a legitimate university.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:20amWhy would I care about a corrupt people? Neither side is worth a crap. Best we could hope for is for the entire region to implode.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 1:10pmI still say make the entire region a glass sheet.
Report Post »agameofthrones
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:18amHow can the US government recognize them as the legitimate government of Libya when we don’t really know WHO they are? Okay, I just answered my own question. We have to recognize them as the legitimate government BEFORE we can know who they are.
Kinda like the Obamacare Bill!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:21amNow that the administration has done this step the next question is a simple one; how long until the boots hit the ground in force to support the new terrorist brethren seeking to topple Quaddafi? As if the Arabian world were not alreay given enough reasons to hate the US as it is with this admin.
Report Post »agameofthrones
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:31amTrue, he wants to have it both ways with the Arabs. I doubt they recognize him as the legitimate leader of the US though. I think it would have to be one of them in order to be legitimate. Part of the World Wide Caliphate!
Report Post »fertlmind
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:35am@snow
Report Post »He already has boots in the air and boots in the sea.
Boots on the ground are there too.
America‘s best are secretly being used as pawns for Obamma’s evil intentions.
It will all come out soon.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 15, 2011 at 11:48amDid they want to be a Democracy? Who determines who is the leader? Will this administration then recognize whoever tries to topple the toppler? It must be something in the DC water system.
Report Post »