US Dilemma: Either Arm Jihadist-Infiltrated Libyan Rebels Or Let Gadhafi Prevail
- Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:05pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
- Print »
- Email »
As situation in Libya grows more tenuous, a senior intelligence official told the AP today that rebel fighters may fall to Gadhafi if they do not receive more coalition support. Meanwhile, those same rebel fighters are being infiltrated by jihadists who see the revolution in Libya as an opportunity to spread their Islamist ideology.
The Daily Beast reports that hundreds of al Qaeda fights may be on their way to Libya to join rebel fighters:
As the battle for the future of Libya continues, the excitement is almost palpable among Libyan-born al Qaeda fighters and other Arabs hunkered down in Pakistan’s remote and lawless tribal area. According to Afghan Taliban sources close to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist group, some of the 200 or so Libyans operating near the Afghan border may be on their way home to steer the anti-Gaddafi revolution in a more Islamist direction….
Since the anti-Gaddafi revolution began last month, al Qaeda—especially Libyan-born affiliates—have viewed the fighting as an opportunity to spread their radical Islamist ideology. Indeed, as one Afghan Taliban operative who helps facilitate the movement of al Qaeda militants between the tribal area and Pakistani cities told The Daily Beast earlier this month: “This rebellion is the fresh breeze they’ve been waiting years for. They realize that if they don’t use this opportunity, it could be the end of their chances to turn Libya toward a real Islamic state, as Afghanistan once was.”
And the Washington Times says that there are already about 1,000 jihadists in Libya:
A former leader of Libya’s al Qaeda affiliate says he thinks “freelance jihadists” have joined the rebel forces, as NATO’s commander told Congress on Tuesday that intelligence indicates some al Qaeda and Hezbollah terrorists are fighting Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s forces.
Former jihadist Noman Benotman, who renounced his al Qaeda affiliation in 2000, said in an interview that he estimates 1,000 jihadists are in Libya.
And this AP report says that without more Western support, the rebels may very well fall to Gadhafi.
A senior U.S. intelligence official says Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is mobilizing second-tier ground combat forces to press his counter-offensive against rebels in eastern Libya, and that he has adopted new, unconventional tactics to counter the effects of coalition airstrikes….
Gadhafi’s success in dealing fresh battlefield setbacks to the opposition forces seeking his ouster is hardening the U.S. view that the rebels probably are incapable of prevailing without more decisive Western intervention. One such option under consideration is arming the rebels by the U.S. and its European partners.
What’s the US to do? Increase its support of Libyan rebels who are fighting alongside jihadists? Or let Gadhafi prevail?
Meanwhile–did Matt Lauer tell Michele Bachmann that we need to have compassion for al Qaeda?
Um–freudian slip?
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 590 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 379 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 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 415 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 379 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 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 415 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!
Comments (80)
MastrSSG
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:50pmDear Matt Lauer:
We supported Iran till they overthrew the Shaw for seeming weak by bending to Carters demands that they be more humane to the people of Iran (particularly women) or we would cut off aid. Result,. Hostages in Iran and vow to kill Americans at every opportunity. America becomes the Great Satan!
So what did we do? We supported Saddam Hussein providing him weapons to fight a war against Iran…That turned out well didn’t it? Especially after we asked him to become more humane to his own people. By the Way the whole time the UN was giving Saddam Hussein Humanitarian awards for providing better education to a select portion of his people He was killing 10’s of thousands of his own people.
We supported Osama bin Laden over the Soviets in the 80′s helping them push back Soviet occupation. Result, USS COLE bombed along with many other targets throughout the world and a vow to kill all Americans and Infidels. Lets not forget 1000′s killed and U.S bombed with its own planes. Thank you Al Qaeda!!
Recently the Obama Administration attempting to open doors with Libya, sworn enemy of the US. How’s that working out now?
Support for Syria and other regions in Africa and middle-east for decades leaves us with higher energy cost, OPEC, answering to the will of the U.N, Forced military action, loss of American life all over the world, and the willingness of Islamic extremists to bring terrorism to the shores of the Unites States.
Frankly I don’t think its a mistake to be in the Middle East or Africa(or anywhere else in the world). However I believe we are doing the same thing in Libya we did in Iraq under Clinton and HW Bush where a few years from now we will have spent billions pacifying liberals in the UN and abroad by not taking direct action and being honest about the inevitable truth. That truth being, in order to be truly humanitarian and protect those who depend on us (including American shores) We need to admit we are at WAR with people who mean us and those we should support (ya know like Israel) great harm!
Report Post »quicker
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:48pmBigjay;Because he knows when theSHTF which side they will be on .So if they`re over there they`re not over here.Just sayin
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:40pmFamous Obama quote “I gotta be honest”.
Report Post »swigs
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:36pmAP article;
“What’s the US to do? Increase its support of Libyan rebels who are fighting alongside jihadists? Or let Gadhafi prevail?”
Interesting strawman agrument. They both shout Allah Akbar, they both have contempt for the US, they both hate Israel. I say who cares let them kill each other…quickly.
And tell the Saudis to fight their own wars. What you say?
Report Post »IMO the only reason were in the Middle East is to protect the Saudi interests. Israel just needs to know we got thier backs and nothing more.
SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:06pmWhat you say is true.
Report Post »TeaPartyPatriot
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:28pmThe MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION about Libya: Who are the anti-gadhafi rebels?
Are they al qaeda? Radical Islamic muslims? America-hating Jihadis? Mercenaries working for ahmadinejad? The Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas (who are now taking over Egypt)? From the information gathered by Britain’s Daily Telegraph and elsewhere and summarized by Byron York in the Washington Examiner, it seems that all of these are involved. No rational American would want to help any of them get in charge of Libya.
Thanks to this article, I now understand why “You Lie!” hussein is supporting these rebels. These types stick together.
Report Post »conservativemom99
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:18pmShe asked the question that was rolling off of my tongue…”Compassion for al Qaeda?”
Report Post »The correct response to her question was “Yes, I’m talking about compassion for al Qaeda…so they know we’re not that bad…that’s all they need to be nice…they just need to see how nice WE can be.”
Matt Lauer knows it’s not politically correct YET to respond that way…at the rate we’re going, it will be soon…
needanotherReagan
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:12pmGo ahead and give the rebels weapons so they can go to Afghanistan and Iraq to kill our troops with them. Anything for the jihad, and your muslim brothers, right Barry.
Report Post »Lucifers Hammer
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:07pmBO and his progressives will always side with evil. In Egypt..he had to wait to make sure the MusBros were going to bring their reign of terror. In Iran he has always sided with Mahmoud and his evil ways. In Libya…he‘s can’t go wrong. He’s got evil Gadaffi on one side…and evil Al Qaida on the other.
Report Post »normbal
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:02pmwhy are my comments being withheld?
I posted over an hour ago and posts from 5 minutes ago are showing up.
Was it something I said?
Report Post »TrumpHuntsman2012
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:56pmIt all goes back to the fact that the prophet Muhammad is at the core of Muslim culture. He, not Thomas Jefferson or George Washington, is the ideal of what a man should be and act like for those fighting in Libya. You cannot change that as long as one is a Muslim.Because the jihadists are united and willing to die and are not toying with foreign, vague notions of democracy and freedom as so often the young and educated do in Arab countries, they will prevail. I have seen a number of times in my own life, Arab friends who when they got older went back to their Muslim faith. It usually occurred after they got married.
Report Post »bkeely
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:48pmPutting weapons in the hands of lawful citizens was a the intent of our founding fathers… we must never let the libs take them away.
Report Post »==============================
Buck
http://www.seed.catalog.com
Heirloom Seeds “How God plants His gardens”
DVPFLA
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:47pmShoot first, ask questions later. Nice work here guys. Some more of that “smart” foreign policy.
Report Post »ford100
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:46pmGod Bless America
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:43pmObama and his minions can plot to remove all the weapons from citizens’ hands in this country, but these same people will freely dispense all kinds of weaponry and support to every other “rebel” in the world who claims they are fighting for “freedom.” By that logic alone, shouldn’t we all here be allowed the same? … after all, we seem to be getting more oppressed everyday.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:39pmFLASHBACK—1979 Russia invades Afghanistan. USA starts arming a resistance movement fighting the Russian occupation and several years later Russia retreats. FORWARD to 9/11/01. As a result of the terrorist attack on America we bomb Afghanistan and occupy the country. Could we be doing the same thing with Libya???
Report Post »LAZYGATOR
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 3:14amYES, proberbly but i realised some time ago that the people running things dont seem to read history books
Report Post »sdranger
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:35pmWhat do you expect when you elect a 13K a year community organizer, with a non provable law degree.
Report Post »Pelling1020
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 9:45pmAnd birth certificate.
Report Post »MastrSSG
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:31pmLauer seems to forget History. We already supported Al Qaeda in Afghanistan during the 80′s against the Soviets. Remember who supported Osama bin Laden then and look what compassion it’s gotten us in return.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:27pmget out now,this is not our war,just wondering what and if we as americans turn on our government,would the rest of the world will demand obama leave office or will they bomb him???? just thinking out loud.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:24pmthis is all intentional
obama knows dam well what he is doing, and his goals are not our goals
there will be an attempt to use r2p to sanction, then attack Israel this is the end game of everything going on in the middle east ………….the end of Israel
Report Post »kevin1122
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:21pmPresident Obama is either totally incompetent or is deliberately attempting to undermine America’s National Security. Hmmmmm ….. I wonder which it could be?!?
Report Post »jackeric61
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:29pmKevin I will go with option #2 This whole thing stinks on ice and when the “rebels” win (Thank God the msm is not calling them freedom fighters) Israel is doomed.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:29pm@kevin1122, i am sure someone is taking bets on weather obama is going against israel or not, i can’t find the bet boards yet,but willing to bet that the odds or great he will
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:34pm@ Jacker= Depends on which of thetruly fine professional news comentator you’re listening to.
Report Post »Remember Mr. Ed, the talking hporses ass hasn’t been on yet today. Hmm, the sun IS going down.
caexpat
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:18pm“I” could not agree more!!! It’s not our business…it’s there country….
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:17pmWhat a jackhole.
Al Qaeda is a strictly male dominated society that will not understand compassion. Any assistance we give them will be accepted with open arms and redistributed to the men of that society, and they will use it against us in the future. Just as we aided the Afgans against Russia, now we are there fighting amongst them.
They will use this charity as the Vietnamese used the cease-bombings. Re-arm, re-supply, reinforce.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:16pmTypical liberal thought at the end: Al Qaeda hates us because they don’t know what good guys we are.
Nonsense. Al Qaeda hates us because our view of freedom is antithetical to their view of Islamic purity. Trying to prove to them what compasionate people we are is just going to make us look weak. We should do what we will do regardless of what these savage idiots think about us. If we think it is right and prudent to have compassion on the Libyan rebels than we should do it. If we think it is just another tarbaby we will get stuck with then maybe we should mind our own business.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:08pmIt none of our business, get out and stay out. Or Obama should resign too……
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:20pmright on brother…let the 1.2 billion muslims take care of their own …MYOFB !
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:19pmLibya could be in the market for a presidesnt. We got one! Hell he’s p[robably a citzen of Libya too!!
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 9:22pmYou are absoultely correct. I read that Mid-East countries are good at getting other people to fight their wars. I say leave’m and let Allah sort them out.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:08pmI’ve said it before and this is a fitting time to repeat it.
Paying attention to politics and events in today’s world affairs is like watching a big rainstorm on an overdeveloped CA hillside… just waiting for the giant mudslide.
Report Post »taxed
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:16pmHussein has made it clear he isn’t taking Gadaffy duck out. Hussein, Gadaffy, and Farrakahn are all buds…
http://conservativepoliticalforum.com/index.php?board=1.0
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:19pmHussain will do whatever is in the best interest of jihad.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:25pmI’m sure Israel will appreciate us giving all their neighbors weapons… after they shoot each other up, where do you think they will be used? … or are they supposed to give ‘em back when they’re done?
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:43pmIf we start sending arms to these “rebels,” you can bet that some of them will end up being used against us or Israel.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 5:44pmBIGJAYINPA
Report Post »I gotta wonder why he seems so Hell-bent to stretch our military to the limit.
————
because then he can justify his own ambition of having a civilian national security force,
just as well armed and funded as the US military.
He did promise us that , didn’t he ?
kryptonite
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:22pmOK, Hussein, Traitor-in-Chief, bring our troops home. The bad guys have moved to Libya, and NATO, not the U.S. is in charge of that war — or so you say.
To that senior intel official, We can get out of this quagmire. It’s very simple. You take care of the Traitor & Co., and our foreign policy will revert to former specs.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:24pmIt would be INSANE to provide weapons to the VERY PEOPLE WHO KILLED AMERICANS IN THE IRAQ WAR.
The insult to those American service men and women by such a stupid action would be greater then those suffered by former vets from the poor treatment on returning from Vietnam.
We made that mistake when we armed them as they fought the Soviets. They used those very weapons to kill American service personnel when we went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But it will not be surprising to see Obama providing terrorist weapons they WILL use against us. After all that is just what he did when he supplied guns to the drug dealers in Mexico.
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:08pmEither arm the Al-Queda rebels… or simply give only air support to them?
How abooouuut… NEITHER ONE!
Report Post »How abooouuut… WE GTFO of Libya?!?!?!
Rollo2
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:15pmTAXED’
PREZ-O said he wouldn’t target Ghadaffi, now The Col. is emboldened, and is throwing everything he’s got into putting down the rebellion that PREZ-O encouraged!
Who’s side is our President on?
Neither, and both???…
That does not make the USA look like a good ally.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:27pmArm yourselves. When we support Israel after the far Left paints them as evil because they will have had to defend themselves, they will come for us, also.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 8:13pmThe US should stay out of this mess. Let these idiot people kill each other all they want. When they have no more to kill, then the US should help the winner or clean house.
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 11:30pmThis isn’t a dilemma. Obama knows exactly what he isn’t doing: Notifying Congress beforehand, promoting Peace, and fighting Al Qaeda.
Before this is over he will be bosom buddies with top al qaeda leaders.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 11:49pm@stifroc
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:08pm
Either arm the Al-Queda rebels… or simply give only air support to them?
How abooouuut… NEITHER ONE!
How abooouuut… WE GTFO of Libya?!?!?!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How abooouuut… AMEN!!!
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 12:30amThis is one fight that we should watching from the sidelines. It’s a no-win situation no matter what for the US. Either Gaddafi stays in power and continues his dictatorship that despises America, or the rebels gain control of the country and continue to despise America. Let’s face it, these rebels are no Ben Franklins, Thomas Jeffersons, or even Paul Reveres. They will never set up a government similar to our republic and its ideals. They will always look upon the West as property waiting to join the Caliphate. And we might be handing them guns to do it eventually? Madness on our part.
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:47amThe more they talk the more food I buy. This is going to happen fast, and probably before we think. I would bet on the end of the year.
Report Post »GRuss
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:04pmObama wants to Arm Libyan Rebels and Disarm Americans! Something is wrong with that man!
Report Post »