Some will probably say Libyan Army Chief General Khalifa Haftar's warning (that without military (and general) aid to his country, extremist groups such as ISIS will spread into Europe more readily) is "alarmist", "worst case scenario", "unlikely", etc. They'll likely say he's aiming for a greater role for himself in the formation of Libya's future, that he's attempting to "be a hero" and "save Libya from the scourge of terrorism." The whole, "you gotta elect me, I saved the country."
I call bullshit.
They fail to realize that this man is one of the few IN the country who has taken an active role in combating the spread of ISIS/IS/ISIL (among other names) within Libya, and preventing attacks like the US Consulate attack in Benghazi (before he was in an active role). Attacks by IS in Libya haven't taken place within the borders of Libya, though IS is linked to recent attacks in two neighboring countries (both Egypt and Tunisia). Likewise, he is calling attention to something which is very valid, very important, and, if ignored, could have very severe consequences.
Much of Europe is within reach of groups, like IS, which seek to do harm and commit horrendous, barbaric acts in the name of religion, and especially with countries, like Libya, which do lack significant infrastructure following the fall of Old Fuzzhead. If there isn't a STRONG Navy/Coast Guard like the United States has, or strong border police (which the US also has, in the form of the US Border Patrol), terrorists will be able to slip into international waters, and then, into other countries' territories more readily. It is highly likely that attacks like that on the USS Cole nearly two decades ago will take place again, against Western targets. Considering IS terrorists have slipped across borders in two countries-- Tunisia and Egypt-- in order to spread their disgusting brand of terror wrapped up in extremist, misguided religious rhetoric, the land borders are a primary concern. Sea borders are likewise important, but land borders, when porous, are, in this writer's opinion, more dangerous. Countries such as Italy and Malta, which lie close, geographically, to Libya, and which have historical ties to Libya, should take a strong role in promoting Libyan security. Likewise, under Old Fuzzhead, Libya was one of the strongest powers on the African continent.
From what I've heard, and from what recent acts show, NONE of Libya's borders (land or sea), are completely "secure" (the same could be said for the borders of the United States :) ). I liken it to literally, a screen with a plethora of holes. Terrorists are able to slip across the border, commit heinous, barbaric terroristic acts, and then slip back to their terrorist hidey-hole, back across the border, because nobody's there to stop them. I would say those countries which Libya borders (land borders with Algeria and Tunisia to the west, Niger, Chad, and Sudan to the south, and Egypt to the east) SHOULD share some of the burden. Not all of these countries have stable governments, and one (Sudan), in fact, is known for having sheltered terrorist gurus (OBL) in the not-so-distant past.
It has been said that many of the terrorists operating freely in Libya today were set free from Libyan prisons by Old Fuzzhead when he could tell that the fall of the country to opposition forces (I refuse to use the term "rats", because to do so is to dishonor and malign the sacrifices made by these men and women) was imminent.
Considering all that has come out about the man since the fall of his tyrannical government, I wouldn't put it past him to do so. I also wouldn't be surprised if his (often) outspoken, controversial, criminal daughter (and other children/inlaws/his widow) who are exiled abroad are also engaged, in some capacity, of "organizing" these sorts of people and their acts within the region. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's Iraq, his children (and at least one wife) fled to neighboring Jordan (with which Iraq has historically strong ties), those children were involved in, well, similar subversive acts. Sodamn Insane (yeah, that's what the West called him)'s eldest daughter was quoted, multiple times in Western and Arab media, pleading/cajoling Iraqi citizens to "fight off the Western crusaders" (in whatever means necessary being the unspoken words). Gaddafi's scions are now in the country of Oman, "living a luxurious life as guests of the Sultan of Oman" (according to a story in the Australian newspaper, here-- Gaddafi's Widow and Children Living Luxurious Life in Oman). Three of them-- Aisha, Hannibal, and Hannibal's Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, are wanted by Libyan authorities/Interpol, for crimes committed during the 2011 revolution.
Like I've said before-- I sincerely hope Libya's second "civil war", e.g., the struggle with IS and other Islamist/terrorist groups, is not in vain. I hope that Libya, the military, and citizens, stand up to such terror groups, and kick the @#$% out of those who seek to hijack Libya's newfound freedom and who, by direct action, besmirch Islam's reputation in the world. Further, I hope the world community listens to Gen. Haftar and gives support to Libya with this battle against terrorism and tyranny. It seems, unfortunately, that we engaged in "regime change", along with our NATO allies, without any thought of what would happen to the country (and the world) AFTER. And unfortunately, things have not turned out as they SHOULD and COULD.
And yes... that goes for the snafu/Charlie Foxtrot that is and was Iraq as well (don't get me started). And that Syria COULD become (again... don't get me started).
In a previous paragraph, I classified things as "Islamist/terrorist."
Note that the "wasp/hornet" classification applies here. Namely, not all hornets are wasps, but all wasps are hornets. And as classification goes, hornets and wasps are usually considered to be one and the same.
The dominant Islamist party in Libya, ISIL, IS, by definition of most of the West, an "international terrorist organization." Around the world, many Islamist parties are classified as terrorists. Some, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, have some measure of legitimacy, yet do support some of the same causes as extremist Islamist parties, yet are also listed as "terrorist organizations" due to causes or acts which they have taken part in or have funded.
NOTE: The following story (my main reference for this post) spells Gen. Haftar's name as "Hifter." Which, well, is either a gross mistake by the journalist (it happens), or a different transliteration/translation of the name (that also happens). The spelling I use here is that used on the General's Wikipedia entry (General Khalifa Haftar Wikipedia page).
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/libyan-army-chief-warns-of-islamic-state-spread-to-europe-if-libya-gets-no-aid-1.335559
I call bullshit.
They fail to realize that this man is one of the few IN the country who has taken an active role in combating the spread of ISIS/IS/ISIL (among other names) within Libya, and preventing attacks like the US Consulate attack in Benghazi (before he was in an active role). Attacks by IS in Libya haven't taken place within the borders of Libya, though IS is linked to recent attacks in two neighboring countries (both Egypt and Tunisia). Likewise, he is calling attention to something which is very valid, very important, and, if ignored, could have very severe consequences.
Much of Europe is within reach of groups, like IS, which seek to do harm and commit horrendous, barbaric acts in the name of religion, and especially with countries, like Libya, which do lack significant infrastructure following the fall of Old Fuzzhead. If there isn't a STRONG Navy/Coast Guard like the United States has, or strong border police (which the US also has, in the form of the US Border Patrol), terrorists will be able to slip into international waters, and then, into other countries' territories more readily. It is highly likely that attacks like that on the USS Cole nearly two decades ago will take place again, against Western targets. Considering IS terrorists have slipped across borders in two countries-- Tunisia and Egypt-- in order to spread their disgusting brand of terror wrapped up in extremist, misguided religious rhetoric, the land borders are a primary concern. Sea borders are likewise important, but land borders, when porous, are, in this writer's opinion, more dangerous. Countries such as Italy and Malta, which lie close, geographically, to Libya, and which have historical ties to Libya, should take a strong role in promoting Libyan security. Likewise, under Old Fuzzhead, Libya was one of the strongest powers on the African continent.
From what I've heard, and from what recent acts show, NONE of Libya's borders (land or sea), are completely "secure" (the same could be said for the borders of the United States :) ). I liken it to literally, a screen with a plethora of holes. Terrorists are able to slip across the border, commit heinous, barbaric terroristic acts, and then slip back to their terrorist hidey-hole, back across the border, because nobody's there to stop them. I would say those countries which Libya borders (land borders with Algeria and Tunisia to the west, Niger, Chad, and Sudan to the south, and Egypt to the east) SHOULD share some of the burden. Not all of these countries have stable governments, and one (Sudan), in fact, is known for having sheltered terrorist gurus (OBL) in the not-so-distant past.
It has been said that many of the terrorists operating freely in Libya today were set free from Libyan prisons by Old Fuzzhead when he could tell that the fall of the country to opposition forces (I refuse to use the term "rats", because to do so is to dishonor and malign the sacrifices made by these men and women) was imminent.
Considering all that has come out about the man since the fall of his tyrannical government, I wouldn't put it past him to do so. I also wouldn't be surprised if his (often) outspoken, controversial, criminal daughter (and other children/inlaws/his widow) who are exiled abroad are also engaged, in some capacity, of "organizing" these sorts of people and their acts within the region. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's Iraq, his children (and at least one wife) fled to neighboring Jordan (with which Iraq has historically strong ties), those children were involved in, well, similar subversive acts. Sodamn Insane (yeah, that's what the West called him)'s eldest daughter was quoted, multiple times in Western and Arab media, pleading/cajoling Iraqi citizens to "fight off the Western crusaders" (in whatever means necessary being the unspoken words). Gaddafi's scions are now in the country of Oman, "living a luxurious life as guests of the Sultan of Oman" (according to a story in the Australian newspaper, here-- Gaddafi's Widow and Children Living Luxurious Life in Oman). Three of them-- Aisha, Hannibal, and Hannibal's Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, are wanted by Libyan authorities/Interpol, for crimes committed during the 2011 revolution.
Like I've said before-- I sincerely hope Libya's second "civil war", e.g., the struggle with IS and other Islamist/terrorist groups, is not in vain. I hope that Libya, the military, and citizens, stand up to such terror groups, and kick the @#$% out of those who seek to hijack Libya's newfound freedom and who, by direct action, besmirch Islam's reputation in the world. Further, I hope the world community listens to Gen. Haftar and gives support to Libya with this battle against terrorism and tyranny. It seems, unfortunately, that we engaged in "regime change", along with our NATO allies, without any thought of what would happen to the country (and the world) AFTER. And unfortunately, things have not turned out as they SHOULD and COULD.
And yes... that goes for the snafu/Charlie Foxtrot that is and was Iraq as well (don't get me started). And that Syria COULD become (again... don't get me started).
In a previous paragraph, I classified things as "Islamist/terrorist."
Note that the "wasp/hornet" classification applies here. Namely, not all hornets are wasps, but all wasps are hornets. And as classification goes, hornets and wasps are usually considered to be one and the same.
The dominant Islamist party in Libya, ISIL, IS, by definition of most of the West, an "international terrorist organization." Around the world, many Islamist parties are classified as terrorists. Some, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, have some measure of legitimacy, yet do support some of the same causes as extremist Islamist parties, yet are also listed as "terrorist organizations" due to causes or acts which they have taken part in or have funded.
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NOTE: The following story (my main reference for this post) spells Gen. Haftar's name as "Hifter." Which, well, is either a gross mistake by the journalist (it happens), or a different transliteration/translation of the name (that also happens). The spelling I use here is that used on the General's Wikipedia entry (General Khalifa Haftar Wikipedia page).
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/libyan-army-chief-warns-of-islamic-state-spread-to-europe-if-libya-gets-no-aid-1.335559
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