By Michael Collins. Monday was the day we heard that the “US believes al-Qa’ida is on the verge of defeat after deputy leader’s death” as The Independent (“US believes al-Qa’ida is on the verge of defeat after deputy leader’s death” The Independent ) headlined the story. It stood out as a sequel to the recent United States action in Pakistan, which brought us the news (but not the body) of a dead Osama bin Laden. It appears that a US operated drone killed Al Qaeda’s top deputy, one Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, a Libyan citizen. After decades as a jihadist, Rahman is no more. But is that the end of al Qaeda?
On Tuesday, foreign affairs columnist for the Asia Times, Pepe Escobar, (“How al-Qaeda got to rule in Tripoli” Asia Times) published a remarkable column outlining the command structure of the victorious NATO backed military leaders. Abdelhakim Belhaj, the lead commander of the rebels and the next two commanders, in terms of power, were once affiliated with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LGIF). In fact, commander Belhaj was once the subject of a US led extraordinary rendition (aka torture) in Thailand. About the time the US planned to send Belhaj to Guantanamo Bay, the Libyan government of Gaddafi requested his return to Libya.
Terrorist Rehab, Libyan Style
At this point, you may be thinking, “Good grief, that’s when the real torture started!” Au contraire! The request for repatriation came from none other than Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libya’s former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Saif, and others in the Gaddafi government, began a bold program of repatriating and rehabilitating individuals belonging to LGIF and other jihadist groups. Many fled Libya for Afghanistan where they fought (“How al-Qaeda got to rule in Tripoli” Asia Times) with al Qaeda (“From Terror Group Founder to Libyan Rebel Military Commander” ABC News) against the Soviet Union and then the United States Afghan effort. The LGIF had engaged in violent resistance to the Gaddafi regime. A large contingent of the LGIF fought the US in Iraq. According to reports, they “officially joined al Qaeda” (“Report: More Libyans joining militants in Iraq” CCN) in November 2007.
Saif Al Islam Gaddafi had a better idea:
“Saif Gaddafi worked hard to get individuals from the Muslim Brotherhood out of jail and paved the way for increase cooperation between the LIFG and the security services. This helped boost the level of mutual confidence between them.” Combating Terrorism in Libya through Dialog and Reintegration, March 2010 p, 6 (ICPVTR VISIT TO LIBYA).
The gathering of terrorists in Libya served a purpose – terrorist rehabilitation or deradicalisation, as the program termed it. Efforts focused on intensive dialog and debate between those employed by the Gaddafi regime and the terrorists. The main goals were a renunciation of violence and surrender of their weapons. From there, a holistic approach was applied to lay the foundations for a reintegration into Libya society. Psychological and social factors were included to reorient those detained as they adapted to a peaceful existence.
On graduation day in March, 2010, Saif Al-Islam presided over a formal press conference. As he freed 214 former members of LGIF, the Muslim Brotherhood, and other groups hostile to his regime, he said:
“Today is an important day because 214 prisoners are released. However, its greatest importance lies in the release of the group’s leaders, and therefore, today, we have reached the crest of the reconciliation and dialogue program. Thanks to the efforts of our brothers and the Gaddafi Foundation, 705 people were released including of course this group. Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, Press Conference in Tripoli, March 23, 2010 p, 13 (ICPVTR VISIT TO LIBYA)
It was less than a year later that the February 17, 2011 (‘Day of rage’ kicks off in Libya, Aljazeera) days of rage marked the start of the Libyan rebellion led by the graduates of the deradicalisation program. This was the same program initiated by Gaddafi’s son and sponsored by the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charitable Associations.
The rehabilitation failed.
The Bush Administrations Gaddafi Rehab Program
Before Muammar Gaddafi and his son started their terrorist rehabilitation program, the Bush Administration conducted its own deradicalisation effort with Gaddafi. On May 15, 2006, the US restored diplomatic relations with Libya. Then Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice (U.S. to restore relations with Libya CNN) said, “We are taking these actions in recognition of Libya’s continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism.”
Time Magazine heralded the Gaddafi’s conversion with a headline; Why Gaddafi is now a Good Guy (Why Gaddafi’s Now a Good Guy, Time). It noted that, “Even though Gaddafi has done little to loosen his dictatorship, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac, among other statesmen, have already visited Libya to signal the West’s pleasure. President Bush, or his successor, could be next to visit the leader in his tent.”
The diplomatic contacts went hand in hand with weapons (EU arms exports to Libya: who armed Gaddafi?, The Guardian) and energy contracts and it was all good (Leaked Cable: McCain Promised Qaddafi To Help Secure Military Equipment From U.S., Thinkprogress Security) until those rehabilitated al Qaeda allies, the LGIF, began stirring the pot.
Now things have turned upside down again. The military leadership of the Libyan rebellion is wall to wall LGIF with their links to al Qaeda. The NATO military machine may have taken some advice from its deradicalised allies. There have been reports of NATO bombings in urban areas with a range of civilian casualties. Unfortunately, on May 10, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs stopped its tally of civilian casualties (Libya: the toll Nato didn’t count: The justification for the bombing of Libya was to protect civilians. So why aren’t casualties recorded? The Guardian). That was our only chance to know how many Libyans had to be killed in the name of freedom.
So what about the end of al Qaeda announced Monday? What about a Libyan revolutionary military command infested by al Qaeda sympathisers? It doesn’t really matter, it appears. The Libyan effort is about something more important – oil (Libya to honor all legal oil deals: Jehani, Reuters).
Just a few years after pronouncing Gaddafi civilised, the US now demands that he leave Libya. Instead of selling him billions in weapons, NATO forms an alliance with a revolutionary military command dominated by members of an organisation with strong historical ties to al Qaeda. It is all about oil. Whoever has it is our friend. Those who had but could not hold the oil concession are forgotten.
The United States and Europe have no permanent friends or enemies, to borrow a phrase, just a permanent lust for oil. That can justify any sequence of events. Just bet on the winner and get the goods.
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