Libya: From Colony to Independence Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi is the leader whom Nelson Mandeladubbed one of the revolutionary icons of our time. With a special passion for Libya's international relations, St John has highlighted virtually all aspects of Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's foreign policy in numerous books and articles. His newest book, Libya: From Colony to Independence, fills an important gap in the literature on Libya by presenting a history not limited to a certain time period. 'Libya' details the struggles of the state from Greek settlements in the fifth century BC to the infamous Lockerbie bombing. For more resources see History of Libya. |
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A word of comment:Has Mr. Obama failed to see he and NATO are helping Al Qaeda to exploit the Civil War in Libya?
Key Point of the news: Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Hundreds of Islamist militants were among the prisoners freed from a notorious Tripoli prison this week, according to a former Libyan jihadist.
The freed militants had been imprisoned in Tripoli's Abu Salim prison by Moammar Gadhafi's regime during the height of the insurgency in Iraq, according to Noman Benotman, once a senior figure in the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group. Benotman said he believes as many as 600 militants may have been among the prison population at Abu Salim.
The human rights group, which recently had a team visit the prison, estimates that before the uprising, there were a few hundred Islamists held at Abu Salim.
Benotman said many of the militants released are pro-al Qaeda.
"Nobody knows what these released prisoners are going to do next," he said. "Will they take part in the fighting and if they do will they join pre-existing rebel brigades or form a separate fighting force?"
Internal al Qaeda in Iraq records seized by the U.S. military in 2007 indicated that proportionately more Libyans traveled to fight with al Qaeda in Iraq than from any other Arab country.
Wednesday's prison release, which occurred as rebel forces took control of the Abu Salim area of Tripoli, comes as Islamists are taking on an increasingly prominent role in the fight against the Gadhafi regime -- to the concern of some in the West.
A word of comment: Is this the sign Obama, Sarzozy, and David cameron have made al Qaeda their ally?
Key Points: “Isn’t it interesting how they were hunting us for years and were working with Muammar el-Qaddafi?” said Abu Sohaib, referring to the United States, which after Libya disbanded its unconventional weapons program in 2003 worked closely with Libyan authorities to combat terrorism. “Now we are cooperating with NATO and the West, those who used to put us in jail.”
A word of comment: The Libyan War is a strange war in the eyes of the members of Al Qaeda, too. They are so puzzled why now suddenly Obama and NATO are cooperating with them from Al Qaeda groups for this war.
Islamist extremists in the Sahara desert have exploited the chaos in Libya to acquire weapons from the north African country, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Tuesday. "Extremists in the Sahel region have taken advantage of the conflict in Libya to get arms," Frattini told a media conference during a visit to Algeria.
A word of comment: Who will continue helping Al Qaeda to smuggle weapons out of Libya?
Key Issues & Facts: the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) wants to impose Islamic sharia law and that the uprising is motivated by regional resentment and vindictiveness.
While condemning Moamer Kadhafi's regime, the group says that "true democrats" are a minority in the TNC.
The movement is "an armed uprising of the east of the country ... which tries to present itself as part of the Arab 'spring', with which it has nothing in common", their report says. The report seems most concerned at the threat of establishing a base for Islamists in the region. Article I of the CNT's National Charter states that sharia should be the basis of the country's laws and the report claims that the Libyan Islamic Combatant Group and Al-Qaeda both claim to have fought against Kadhafi's forces during the uprising.
A word of comment: Article I of the CNT's National Charter states that sharia should be the basis of the country's laws. If it is true that many of the rebel's goal is to establish a base for Islam Extremists,no wonder, then, that not everyone is persuaded by war propaganda which glorifies this militant Islamists as democrats.
Read Hunt for Gaddafi backers in east Libya shows tension By Maria Golovnina updated 6/16/2011 4:11:31 PM ET
Key Issues & Facts: Behind the facade of normality, there is a sense of nervousness. Many people now possess guns. Explosions and brief exchanges of fire ring out almost every night. Neighborhoods are patrolled by armed vigilante groups, and ordinary people worry about crime
One Benghazi resident, Isa, said two people were killed two days ago in a shootout after a family feud escalated.
"Before the revolution life was normal. Now, life is abnormal. Nothing is normal..." said Ali, the construction worker.
A word of comment: A democratic society is where a variety of opinions are listened and tolerated. Yet, the opposite it the case in Benghazi where the rebels kill citizens they do no like without trial. Can one expect a healthy democracy can grow in the environment where a causal free speech can cost his or her life?
Read Libyan bombing alone will not budge Gaddafi, UK officials warn 15 June 2011 Last updated at 16:38 ET
Key Points: A bipartisan group of US lawmakers have sued President Barack Obama for taking military action in Libya without authorisation from Congress.
The lawsuit, which also targets Defence Secretary Robert Gates, challenges the policy "that any president can take the US to war unilaterally", Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said. "We have asked the courts to move to protect the American people from the results of these illegal policies," he added.