Al Qaeda’s Libya Pilgrimage
World News
As debate rages in Washington over whether to arm anti-Gaddafi rebels, an exclusive report by The Daily Beast indicates al Qaeda forces are gearing up to join the rebels and seize power in Libya.
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.”
Now, as the White House and NATO continue to debate the possible ramifications of arming the Libyan opposition, the Haqqani network-linked Afghan commander says Libyan al Qaeda affiliates seem to be more “enthusiastic” about the war against Gaddafi every day. And from what the Afghan Taliban commander has seen, there appears to be more than “flickers” of al Qaeda’s presence in Libya, the description given by NATO commander Admiral James Stavridis. According to the Afghan commander, al Qaeda fighters can’t believe their good luck that U.S. and NATO aircraft—the same forces that have dropped bombs on their heads in Afghanistan and Pakistan—are now raining down ordnance against Gaddafi.
Over the past few decades, several Libyans have held top roles in al Qaeda. Some traveled to Afghanistan in the 1980s to fight the Soviets and stayed, eventually teaming up with bin Laden after his return from Sudan in 1996. Taliban sources estimate there were some 200 Libyans with bin Laden in Afghanistan at the time of the 9/11 attacks.
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
Barack Obama, the gift that keeps on giving… to Al-Qaeda….to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Oh WOW I finally get it, this must be Obama superduper secret, cross your heart top secret plan to win in Afghanistan by luring al-Qaida to Libya. Yes that’s it, how could we have missed this.
Sheesh! Someone needs to tell obama these pieces of flesh cannot vote for him they do not live in America.
Prayer for our troops!!
Obama bin Laden…. The ONLY difference between
OBAMA & OSAMA is the letter’s… B/S ?
O B A M A
O S A M A
Barck HUSSEIN Obama!
Obama bin Laden…. The ONLY difference between
OBAMA & OSAMA is the letter’s… B/S ?
O B A M A
O S A M A
Barack HUSSEIN Obama!
We need to get the hell out of this mess. We are already overcommitted and neither side in this rebellion is pro America. obama the muslim is supporting his al Qaeda buddies.
Darth, good one, thanks.
Tom, we sure do. I am not crazy about either side too like you said. deep deep sigh