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| Africa: North |
| Gadhafi a terror target? |
| 2003-12-24 |
| The Canadian Intelligence Security Service (CSIS) report obtained by the Post claims Gadhafi has become a target for al Qaeda-backed terrorists who want to establish an Islamic state in Libya. Views of the current government are considered anti-Muslim, CSIS says. I guess giving up your WMD program, having female bodyguards, telling the Arab league goodbye, and sponsoring beauty pagents could be seen as anti-muslim. The report emerges just days after Libya agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to enter the country for spot checks of its nuclear facilities. Those inspections could begin as early as next week. Libya also pledged to give up efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. These moves are considered a major policy shift for Libya, which for decades was a pariah and state sponsor of terrorism. Still is, until proven otherwise. Now, CSIS documents say a group known as the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) is waging a holy war against Gadhafi and has "made numerous attempts" to kill him. Also battling Gadhafi are three other armed groups: the Islamic Movement of Martyrs, Libyan Jihad Movement and Islamic Movement for Change. They don’t seem to have had much success, more bark than bite? Meanwhile, Gadhafi is urging other "rogue nations" to cooperate with the West. The U.S. and Britain hope to use Libya as an example to other states accused of sponsoring terrorism how they can be received back into the international community. Should be interesting to watch. According to U.S. President George Bush, the new stance in was the result of nine months of negotiations between officials in Libya, the U.S. and Britain. Bush said the move by Libya would be rewarded. Perhaps the means the U.S. will lift sanctions it imposed after the United Nations voted earlier this month to end its punitive measures. We’ll see. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 The British newspaper The Observer reported last Sunday that Libya provided intelligence on hundreds of al-Qaeda and other Islamic militants, as well as renouncing attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction, in a bid to end its pariah nation status. This must have gotten Al Qaeda more than a bit peeved at Mr. Gadhafi. Perhaps we will hear more about this in the coming weeks... I am wondering whether this new information might have contributed to America's heightened alert state since this info seems to have been transferred just recently. |
| Posted by: Lars 2003-12-24 7:43:31 PM |
| #3 Christmas just keeps coming this year. |
| Posted by: Charles 2003-12-24 6:51:09 PM |
| #2 Now wouldn't that be deliciously ironic? |
| Posted by: Tibor 2003-12-24 3:33:31 PM |
| #1 Here's more from the National Post: The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) is the most powerful radical faction waging holy war against Col. Gaddafi. It aims to establish an Islamic state in Libya and views the current regime as oppressive, corrupt and anti-Muslim, CSIS said. "The group has clearly stated its view on the use of force, promoting the ideology that Libyan people can only gain freedom by actively supporting the mujahedin in the war against Gaddafi's regime," the report said. "In order to achieve their goals, the LIFG has made numerous attempts to kill Colonel Gaddafi," said the "Unclassified: For Official Use Only" report, dated September, 2002, and titled Libyan Islamic Fighting Group. Headed by Anas Sebai, a key al-Qaeda leader, the Libyan fighting group includes about 2,500 "Libyan Afghans" who fought in the 1979-89 Soviet War in Afghanistan and then returned home to ignite an Islamic rebellion. The group's stronghold is in the mountains on Libya's northeast coast. "Using the mountains around the Benghazi and al-Akhdar area as a base, the LIFG employs ... guerrilla tactics to attack Gaddafi's forces and then retreat into hiding." Three other armed groups, the Islamic Movement of Martyrs, Libyan Jihad Movement and Islamic Movement for Change, are also battling Col. Gaddafi and at one point had "thousands, if not tens of thousands of supporters," CSIS said. "All Libyan Islamist terrorist groups, including the LIFG, are believed to have links with neighbouring Islamic extremist groups in Egypt and Algeria. Furthermore ... the LIFG has openly pledged to show support and loyalty to all jihad groups everywhere. This has led the LIFG to be recognized as a key component in the global network of militant Islamic groups," the CSIS report said. The LIFG began trying to kill Col. Gaddafi in 1995 and its last attempt was in August, 1998, when the colonel's motorcade was attacked. The LIFG smuggles weapons into Libya from neighbouring North African countries, and is funded by private donations, Islamic aid agencies and criminal activity, CSIS said. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-12-24 2:26:34 PM |