What to do about all those ex-rebels in Libya?

It's too early to tell what sort of government is forming in Libya, because there have been no cabinet appointments yet.

But there is a big pool of talent to draw from, including Libyans educated in the U.S. In the NTC chairman's speech yesterday, he called for tolerance, and also adds the new law of the land will be based on Sharia law. Later, the chairman added that Libya is going to be a moderate Islamic country.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports that the country's new leaders are anxious to put the Qaddafi years behind them, and now one of their biggest problems is figuring out what to do with all those newly-minted war veterans..

Libya's deputy interior minister had a blunt message for a room full of soon-to-be ex-rebel fighters: The war's over. It's time to hand in your guns and move on.

To help, the new government is promising jobs, housing, and even free college education.

A morbid cleanup left in Libya
Special Section: Anger in the Arab World

The offer seemed to go down well, but on the outskirts of Tripoli, ex-rebel fighter Khaled says he needs something else: a psychologist "to help me come to terms with the atrocities I saw."

Khaled trained as an oil engineer. He and thousands of young men joined the anti-Qaddafi forces six months ago, totally unprepared, and found themselves fighting a brutal battle for the future of their country. Khaled didn't even know how to use a gun before the fighting began.

Having risked his life for a free Libya, Khaled says he won't hand over these weapons until he's convinced the government is stable and democratic.

If and when that time comes, he could deliver more than weapons. Some of his best soldiers - self-styled special forces soldiers - don't want to go back to civilian life.

Novice volunteers when they joined the fight against Muammar Qaddafi, many are now proud veterans in a brand new country.

The military commander for Tripoli confirms that Said al-Islam is alive and is believed to be in the sourthern desert near the border of Niger, seeking protection.

38 Photos

The death of Muammar Qaddafi

[SaddamBear]

And so the Qaddafi era formally ends but challenges remain.

Please check our blog at www.globalbearings.net

Currently we are running a "Next Steps in Libya" analysis preceded by a picture essay on the "End of the Qaddafi Era" - Check back often for much more.

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[Fareed17]

There is a lot of Clean Up Work in the war zones throughout Libya. Libya will need to rebuild its' infra structure, medical capability, central government and military defense. A well disciplined fighting force will need to be fashioned from the civilians who did much of the fighting with no basic training. De activation and transition to civil society needs time to let expectations of removing Qadaffi catch up with the reality that he is indeed gone.

[mZahza]

Who enabled these KILLERS??? Who flooded arms to these killers despite a UN arms embargo??? Who bombed infrastructure and ground targets in support of these KILLERS with LITTLE or NO TRUE regard for "civilians" while enforcing a "so called" NO FLY ZONE??? We need the TRUE ENABLERS of these killers BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!!!! They destroyed a sovereign nation in a truly deceptive manner, WE ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE.....

[sepa2]

Obama and NATO

[Fareed17]

Another Qadaffi Fan.

[askagain]

Some of those rebel fighters might turn to illegal activities as a means of supporting themselves. Others might form militias and fight against the new government. No doubt, some of the rebels will be unhappy with whatever new government forms. Libya may be a classic example of a destroyed economy, a chaotic society, and a country unable to provide jobs for many of its people. Revolution may not be as glamorous as some people may think.

[meincalifornia]

HMMM!!! Another revolution. No! OH!.

[Vegitius]

What is traditional in most revolutions, after a certain amount of time, is the new leaders---who are very rarely the guys who actually fought in the revolution---get tired of the fighters demanding silly things like people's rights and simply liquidate them as troublemakers. Let's wait and see what happens in Libya.

[sepa2]

this is not a revolution. any government can be brought down by carpet bombing. hope Europe receive the pay back from these rebels.

[RobAla]

Where is the article about Libyans beginning the effort to impose Islamic law? I am afraid we may be looking at another Iran, but I hope I am absolutely wrong.