Al Qaeda heads to Libya to help out rebels..

[Upton]

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.

"We have heard a number of fighters have already departed from the tribal area," says an Afghan commander who is linked to the powerful Haqqani network, a North Waziristan-based organization that shelters many al Qaeda fighters. Others may be on their way. "Libyans and Arabs seem to be getting ready for departure and are eager to go home and fight," says the Afghan source. "I've heard that some fighters are saying goodbye and giving thanks with kind words to their (Pakistani) tribal friends who have been sheltering them." 


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."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-03-30/al-qaedas-libya-pilgrimage/#

So, we're fighting against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but now we're fighting for them in Libya.

[Teaser]

1. We must help the HERO GADDAFI. HE is a SCOURGE OF TERRORISTS

.

[David__77]

8. You're the only one advocating that here.

I have not heard one single poster here advocate that. I presume you are being facetious. But if not, this is a first.

Now, that said, many of us do not want to intervene in Libya. That does not mean that we support Gaddafi, let alone want to "help" him.

[bluestate10]

12. Insert picture of an angel smiting snakes. Qaddafi for sainthood.

Them damned al quedas, stand back USA and let Qaddafi teach them a lesson between spates of killing his people.

[killbotfactory]

2. All two dozen of them

Proof that Obama is an al-qaeda agent.

[Upton]

3. Actually it's closer to 200..

now added to the Al Qaeda fighters that were already there..

[The Magistrate]

5. So You Have Maybe A Company's Worth, Then, Sir?

It sure makes me shiver in terror....

[AndyTiedye]

7. These Rebels Seem too Disorganized and Untrained to be Al Qaeda

[Upton]

13. Obviously they're not all al Qaeda..

but to continue to deny their presence and subsequent influence, seems to me to be rather naive.

[The Magistrate]

19. And To Continue To Exaggerate It, Sir, Seems To Me Both Hysterical And Foolish

Rum fun to watch though....

[Baclava]

21. That the fact, jack. But our Iran Contra II CIA Black Ops teams will get them trained in no time.

Hua!

[tabatha]

4. Anderson Cooper disagrees

Live CNN - In The Arena: Anderson from front lines says: No Evidence of Alqaeda in #Libya & I speak for the majority of Muslim rebels here
Twitter -
1385
23 minutes ago

[Upton]

6. Even NATO disagrees with Anderson..

The presence of Islamist insurgents led by al-Qaeda and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah in violence-torn Libya has been established by Western intelligence agencies, reports quoting NATO's top military official said on Tuesday.

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1586330&SM=1

[tabatha]

10. There are Libyan fighters who fought in Iraq for al-Qaeda.

Whether they consider themselves as al-Qaeda is another matter.

[Godhumor]

11. Did you read his quote? Here let me give it to you right from your source:

"We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al-Qaeda, Hezbollah. We've seen different things. But at this point I don't have detail sufficient to say that there's a significant al-Qaeda presence or any other terrorist presence in and among these folks," he said.

-----------------

Actually let me give you his other quote, too:

According to Stavridis, intelligence inputs showed that the rebel leadership was made up of "responsible men and women who are struggling against Colonel (Moammar) Qadhafi and will continue to seek more information about the opposition."

[bluestate10]

14. Watch your news. NBC reports that top US military people in the

Gulf of Sidra see no signs that the rebels have al queda influence. Of course you will dismiss that source as a corporatist, military industrial complex news source. Guess truth is where you prefer to see it.

[Upton]

15. "Guess truth is where you prefer to see it."

To be honest with you, after reading some of your posts, it appears to be that way with you as well..

[EFerrari]

23. LOL! Anderson Cooper is speaking for the Muslim rebels now?

:rofl:

[bluestate10]

9. May be? May be? May be if a truck load of gold fell on my car with me in it

I would be rich, errrr, and dead.


"Afghan border may be on their way home to steer the anti-Gaddafi revolution"

[gateley]

16. Maybe the people of Libya don't want Al Q there, although this is the perfect time

for them to take advantage. They just MAY be more partial to the powers who are helping them in their quest to oust Qaddafi. I respond better to support, not well at all to fear mongering.

[Upton]

17. Maybe..maybe not..

truth is, nobody here really knows what a Libyan government will look like when and if Gaddafi is toppled. You just can't dismiss outright the possibility of an Islamic fundamentalist state hostile to America..

[gateley]

18. No - I don't dismiss the possibility at all. What they have to "offer" may sound

just perfect to people whose lives are in disarray.

Since there is no sense of who might replace Qaddafi or what Libya could become, I'm actually surprised that NATO, et al, agreed to act. I have to say, though, it's tough to look at those people asking for help and not want to do something.

[bvar22]

25. My money is on...

"an Islamic fundamentalist state hostile to America."
It would be foolish to wager against history.

It will take "boots on the ground" and a long, hostile Occupation to prevent the inevitable.

[SoCalDem]

20. Wacky, dangerous idealogues, sometimes are born from financial instability & boredom

Idle hands are the devil's workshop.. like Grandma said..

If you are a young-ish man in MOST Arabic societies these days, you are very likely to be unemployed, and any education you received is likely to have come from a "religious" school.

Young men love adventure & excitement, especially in societies that do not allow casual contact with the opposite sex. There are raging hormones and an abundance of testosterone & adrenaline to be served.

I am NOT surprised that many young men from all over the Arab world would travel to "help" in Libya..

Lots of young Americans couldn't wait for war here and joined Lafayette Escadrille...and many went to fight in the Spanish Civil War.. is this very different?

[provis99]

24. that's an odd comparision.

Lots of young Northern Europeans also left their home countries during world war 2 and went to fight for the Waffen-SS. Is that very different?

[GSLevel9]

22. lol... SUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[The Magistrate]

26. Anyone Interested In Facts, Sir, Will Profit From This Article

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/31/getting_libyas_rebels_wrong?page=0,1