Interesting. Here we have US Sec of Defense Gates supporting what Gaddafi, rather than merely "realising', has always strongly stated. Which is that in Libya the real power is in the hands of the Libyan people, in the hands of the tribes.
This fact conflicts with the "Gaddafi as dictator' storyline. It seems the journalists from US, UK, France, and Qatar, who were in Tripoli until August, had read the Obama/Clinton script, rather than US Senate committee transcript. All year the foreign press have chosen to ignore the fact that the tribal peoples of Libya - what did Gates say? -- "hold the real power in Libya," and instead used any means to bolster their "Gaddafi as dictator' narrative, and have thus distorted the news that has beamed into our living rooms since February. News that has formed the opinion of millions, deprived them of the truth, and so delayed the groundswell of dissent against NATO's war on Libya.
And about al Qaeda. Gaddafi had said from the beginning that the rebels were al Qaeda led. Gates and Mullen dismissed that in March, though in vague terms.
It's become apparent in recent months that Gaddafi was telling the truth again. More camera-shy than the youthful rebels, the al Qaeda contingent is nevertheless a huge presence. They are led by Abdel Hakim Belhadj, an al Qaeda affiliate and Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) leader who had "close relationships" and trained with al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The LIFG is still included on both UK and US lists of terrorist organisations. Belhadj is now the NTC's new official chief military commander.
Rehabilitated in the western press and approved by NATO though Belhadj may be, Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen got one more thing right. The Libyan people don't want a bar of anyone associated with al Qaeda leading them in any capacity. Nor do they trust Belhadj's LIFG background. Libya is 97 per cent Islamic, and though other religions are allowed to practise freely (though not proselytize), one group not tolerated by law in Libya is militant Islamic fundamentalism.
For months now buried in the official records, Gates and Mullen's take on Libya is, well, just not politically correct. Despite the evidence of "mission creep', NATO leaders seem determined to bet against a future Nuremberg-style war crime action against them, and continue to pound the city of Sirte by night, to "break the ground' for their daytime sniper-fodder "relief team.'
During a two day so-called truce in early October the Red Cross tried to enter Sirte to provide humanitarian aid. On the first day they managed to visit a hospital on the southern outskirts, bringing in a few needed supplies, but the hospital came under NTC rebel attack, and they were not able to inspect the whole building let alone get into the city proper and visit other areas.
On the second day the Red Cross tried to take two large aid trucks into the city. But the rebels began firing and so the Red Cross backed up quickly and abandoned their attempt. Preventing access for aid, another war crime.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
