Al Qaeda may already be among Libya's rebels

Libyan freedom fighter or al Qaeda operative?

/ AP Photo

The roots of al Qaeda were famously planted in Afghanistan in the 1980s, fighting the Soviet Union. Many current al Qaeda fighters, including Osama bin Laden, were then mujaheddin rebels that benefited greatly from American arms and covert military training against a better-equipped fighting force.

Today, in Libya, a ragtag group of rebels fight a seesaw battle against Muammar Qaddafi's better-equipped forces, and a debate rages over whether to provide them arms and training.

However, whispers are growing that al Qaeda may already be among them, complicating the current debate over arming the rebels.

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Admiral James Stavridis, NATO supreme commander for Europe, said of Libya's rebel force: "We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al Qaeda, Hezbollah."

Former CIA officer Bruce Riedel took things a step further, telling the Hindustan Times: "There is no question that al Qaeda's Libyan franchise, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, is a part of the opposition. It has always been Qaddafi's biggest enemy and its stronghold is Benghazi. What is unclear is how much of the opposition is al Qaeda/Libyan Islamic Fighting Group - 2 percent or 80 percent."

For al Qaeda, Libya may represent a rare opportunity and a blank slate, as uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia seem almost certain to result in democratic governments. An Afghan Taliban operative told The Daily Beast earlier this month that, for al Qaeda, the Libya 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."

Arming Libya's rebels would be a tricky gamble

At the outset of tensions, Qaddafi blamed al Qaeda for the uprising, a charge which rebel leaders have repeatedly denied.

Regardless of Qaddafi's well-documented penchant for exaggeration and distortion, his message was heard and vetted by his Western opponents. In an interview with "Early Show" co-anchor Erica Hill in New York Tuesday, President Barack Obama conceded that, "Among all the people who (are) opposed (to) Qaddafi, there might not be elements that are unfriendly to the United States and our interests. ... And that's why I think it's important for us not to -- jump in with both feet" with all of them.

Following that interview, reports surfaced that Obama signed an executive order allowing the CIA to open contacts with rebels, so the extent of al Qaeda's role in the Libyan rebellion may be clarified soon.

As Mr. Obama has already authorized covert support for the rebels, that answer may still not come soon enough.

[endurorob_5]

euge005 March 31, 2011 5:58 AM EDT
Maybe that is why he has not sent any troops? He is much more intelligent, honest and prudent than you give the man credit for. Maybe listen to him. Itis about humanitarian effort to save people. Now if it were Bush, the troops hit the beach, ignore the people and deploy to protect the oil fields & terminals. That is the difference. Much more responsible and deserves full support.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Wow! You really buy his BS? Humanitarian effort? This is a military effort in support of rebel forces not a humanitarian effort.

[guyfrompa46]

euge005- Did you say he's much more intelligent? Ah now I see, you voted for this idiot and this is your way of justifying it.. What ajoke. Really Dude? Come on wake up and admit you f***** up by putting this clown in office.

[guyfrompa46]

This will confuse our idiot in chief even more so. He couldn't decdie what top do before and now throw this wrench into it and watch the fireworks.

[euge005]

There might be someone inclined to support the terrorists, true. But there might be some martians too. No point making policy from fears of the unknown. Mubarek used that boogie man for 30 years to hold onto his authority and became worse than the threat he used.

[bamio]

President Barack Obama, as an Illinois state senator in 2002, said that using military force to topple a murderous dictator amounted to a "dumb war" and should be opposed.

Hypocrite!!!

[euge005]

Maybe that is why he has not sent any troops? He is much more intelligent, honest and prudent than you give the man credit for. Maybe listen to him. Itis about humanitarian effort to save people. Now if it were Bush, the troops hit the beach, ignore the people and deploy to protect the oil fields & terminals. That is the difference. Much more responsible and deserves full support.

[bamio]

To say Obamie screwed up would be to charitable. The far more likely that Obamie has known he would aid Al Qaeda's ascent in Libya, all along. No group has made out as well during Obamie's tenure as his fellow Muslims.

[MEW29]

Arming these rebels is just a re-enactment of some of our prior follies in Afghanistan and elsewhere. WRITE TO YOUR SENATOR. Stop this folly before it goes any further.

[askagain]

We have to be crazy to support either side in Libya. It is a no win proposistion. Either way, we become the bad guy.

[euge005]

We have been the bad guy for 50 yrs supporting Israeli occupation of the west bank. This is to win some friends when the whole group of corrupt old dictators die or get deposed. Good thinking. About time to have a balanced, smart policy with Nuiance.

[fedup12]

We are always going to be too stupid to stay out of this s. But at least with Libya we arent getting azz deep like Iraq.

McCain would have us there. He wants us there now.

Relic of a past era worshiping USA's past superpowerdom.

[tiredofthebs]

"Change we can believe in ......"

Yeah .... right. The US still hasn't learned it's lesson about meddling in the affairs of other nations. I can only imagine what type of "support" the CIA is lending to the (Al Qaeda) rebels. Imagine if Osama and the gang gain control of an oil rich nation. The US has as much business in Libya as we did in Iraq & Afghanistan. Get out NOW, and save what little face is left.