The Libyan conflict seems to proceed toward the only reasonable outcome – building of the new, democratic state in the post Gaddafi reality.
The war with the Gaddafi loyalists is not over. Colonel himself hasn’t been found yet. Although, from time to time we could hear his “barking”, and spewing hatred, communiques, promising a bloodbath to all who dared opposing him, he and his forces are less, and less likely to create any real thread to the will of the nation.
The city of Sirte, Colonel’s birthplace and the last stand of his supporters (also his possible place of hiding), received an ultimatum from the Rebel Forces: surrender before the Saturday (09.03) or face a bloody end of existence.
Learning on the example of Tunisia and Egypt, that the 2011 Arab Rebellions might be as fast as lightning, both America, and NATO reacted relatively fast to the call from the UN (resolution 1973) calling for “protection of the civilians by any means necessary”, and launched the campaign against Gaddafi forces, allowing the Rebels to advance, and eventually reach and take the city of Tripoli, with its vast archives full of proofs of inhumane atrocities committed against anybody who’s thinking didn’t go along the government indicated lines.
Gaddafi’s bureaucratic machine was very efficient, and documented in details the ways the regime acted during the 42 years of the Gaddafi’s “leadership”. Although some members of the apparatus did their best to destroy the evidence, burning the whole buildings containing the archives, a lot of the paperwork fell in the hands of the Rebels, and later to the hands of journalists. Every day of the ‘post Gaddafi’ era will be bringing some ground braking revelations.
One of these days is TODAY.
The war with the Gaddafi loyalists is not over. Colonel himself hasn’t been found yet. Although, from time to time we could hear his “barking”, and spewing hatred, communiques, promising a bloodbath to all who dared opposing him, he and his forces are less, and less likely to create any real thread to the will of the nation.
The city of Sirte, Colonel’s birthplace and the last stand of his supporters (also his possible place of hiding), received an ultimatum from the Rebel Forces: surrender before the Saturday (09.03) or face a bloody end of existence.
Learning on the example of Tunisia and Egypt, that the 2011 Arab Rebellions might be as fast as lightning, both America, and NATO reacted relatively fast to the call from the UN (resolution 1973) calling for “protection of the civilians by any means necessary”, and launched the campaign against Gaddafi forces, allowing the Rebels to advance, and eventually reach and take the city of Tripoli, with its vast archives full of proofs of inhumane atrocities committed against anybody who’s thinking didn’t go along the government indicated lines.
Gaddafi’s bureaucratic machine was very efficient, and documented in details the ways the regime acted during the 42 years of the Gaddafi’s “leadership”. Although some members of the apparatus did their best to destroy the evidence, burning the whole buildings containing the archives, a lot of the paperwork fell in the hands of the Rebels, and later to the hands of journalists. Every day of the ‘post Gaddafi’ era will be bringing some ground braking revelations.
One of these days is TODAY.
Al Jazeera News Team reported today on the documents found in the offices of the Intelligence Headquarters in Tripoli. The building was evacuated in a hurry. The personnel, fearing for their lives didn’t have enough time to set the place ablaze.
Usually, the news provided by Al Jazeera was credible, and easily confirmed by some other news sources. This time, since they concern the newest development, confirming them is not possible. I understand this limitation, and report it after Al Jazeera with such a waiver. However, if the allegations suggested in the report are true, they are an evidence of nothing less, but treason, by two (at this point) representatives of the American Establishment: David Welch (former Assistant Secretary of the State), and Dennis Kucinich
(Democratic Congressman from the State of Ohio).
Before I attempt to comment on the findings, I will loosely repeat, what was reported by Al Jazeera:
____________
Retrieved from the abandoned Intelligence Headquarters in Tripoli documents suggest the high rank American politicians tried to help Gaddafi – prevent toppling of the regime.
Despite of Gaddafi’s anti-American rhetoric his regime was in direct contact with highly influential American figures, until just weeks ago. In the offices of Abdullah Senussi (Gaddafi’s Head of intelligence Service)
Al Jazeera found detailed documents about communication between senior Libyan officials and David Welch (American diplomat who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, as well as was instrumental in braking a deal between Libyan regime and the USA in 2008, ending years of histilities.
Currently D. Welch works for BECHTEL corporation, with $Billions in construction projects across the Middle East).
David Welch met with Gaddafi’s representatives in the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo on August 02 this year.
At this meeting Welch advised Gaddafi’s team on ‘how to win a propaganda war’, suggesting some ‘confidence building measures’. He also advised on ‘how to undermine the rebel movement with the possible assistance of foreign intelligence services, including Israel.
“Any information related to Al-Qaeda or other terrorist extremists organizations should be found and given to the American Administration, but only via intelligence agencies of either Israel, Egypt, Morocco or Jordan. America will listen to them… It is better to receive this information as if it originated from those countries”.
The documents also suggest how to take advantage of the current unrest in Syria:
“… the importance of taking advantage of the Syrian situation particularly regarding the double-standard policy adopted by Washington… the Syrians were never your friends and you would lose nothing from exploiting the situation there in order to embarrass the West.”
He also criticized the role of Qatar in the Arab Spring calling it ‘cynical’ – with a goal to divert the world’s attention from the unrest in Bahrain.
David Welch promised to present the matter to the American Administration, Congress, and other influential figures, and lobby for it.
According to Welch the solution of the conflict should be based on: Gaddafi stepping aside - but not relinquishing his powers. Proposed by him solution is not along the official White House statement, which says that Gaddafi MUST STEP DOWN.
_____________________________________________
When the NATO was locked in the battle with the Gaddafi’s Regime, also other political figures in the US, gave their help to the Regime.
Representative Dennis Kucinich (Democratic Congressman from the State of Ohio) opposed the American and NATO involvement in the Libyan conflict from the beginning. On March 18, when the US started implementing the No-Fly Zone in Libya (in accordance with UN Resolution 1973), Kucinich in his lengthy statement condemned the American “unlawful attack on a sovereign country” and suggested the impeachment procedure against the president Obama.
The same Dennis Kucinich is a subject of the discovered in the Intelligence Headquarters document.
The document in question is a letter addressed to Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi – one of the Colonel’s sons, who is a subject of the International Criminal Court investigation – with the warrant issued for his capture.
The letter contains a summery of the conversation between the Representative Kucinich and the intermediary for the Gaddafi’s son.
The details relate to the Kucinich’s request to be provided with information, which could help to lobby the American Lawmakers to stop support for the Libyan Transitional Council, and put an end to the NATO airstrikes. His inquiry suggested the existence of Al-Qaeda elements.
“Any corrupt (verifiable) acts by the Opposition leaders. Include any personal motives for instance to make money or gain certain types of power. Any known Al-Qaeda operating in the Opposition”?
He asked also for a specific info to be used to defend Saif al Gaddafi in ICC in Hague.
Finally, and more significantly, Kucinich asked for any evidence, which could be used to file lawsuits against the NATO and against the USA.
____________________________________
Let me be clear – the report provided by Al Jazeera is very disturbing.
If it’s unsubstantiated smear campaign, with a gain to discredit American politicians… It’s despicable and simply very low.
But, if the allegations contained in the Al Jazeera report, reported today in their News programming is true…
It would mean that some of our, American politicians (and I would like to believe, that only two) simply committed treason. Let’s not be afraid of this word. TREASON.
What they did, not only counteracts the agreed upon support for the Libyan Opposition, but undermines the official political position of the United States, and its President.
Quite recently the World learned with bewilderment, that American Political Trenches are so deeply dug, that the compromise across the party lines is virtually impossible. We have learned that some Conservative politicians would rather see the Country fall in the long lasting recession (if we defaulted on our debts), just to prove their ‘unshaken’ convictions.
Now, we all learn, that there are also politicians who would risk ‘defacing’ American International Policy (if there is anything left of its face), just to feed their ego, or some convoluted private agendas.
David Welch is now a ‘private citizen’. We know it, but when he meets with the foreign parties and acts like having the authority to negotiate, he creates different impression. So, has he acted alone – with no authorization from the white House, or was it done to discuss “a Plan B”, and to create the situation of “full deniability” if it fails...
David Kucinich is not a private citizen. He is a Congressman in the US Congress. He is one of the 435 publicly elected representatives who are supposed to have the Country interest on their mind in whatever they say, or do.
I understand that some actions may be conducted by seemingly unimportant politicians, and then create something good, or something more important transpires… Such was a case of Representative Charlie Wilson (Democrat from Texas), whose unilateral action originated Operation Cyclone – the largest ever, covert operation resulting in arming the Afghan rebels with the weaponry to combat Soviet aircrafts. His actions in the result helped bringing down the Soviet Empire to its knees.
But in case of David Kucinich… it looks like acting against his own Government, and the interests of his own Country…
Every war is ugly. It is ugly while the war in on, and the people perish for no reason… But every war is probably more ugly for many years after the hostile activities are ceased, when the public opinion learns about the deceit, and conniving by all parties involved.
What are we going to learn about our involvement in the World’s affairs? Is it going to help us understand the World’s complexity, or we will learn over and over that the “particular interests of some individuals” may be the driving force of the countries politics.
Particular interests of the individuals, or very small groups – versus the billions who are only on the receiving end, without a chance to say otherwise…
++
Usually, the news provided by Al Jazeera was credible, and easily confirmed by some other news sources. This time, since they concern the newest development, confirming them is not possible. I understand this limitation, and report it after Al Jazeera with such a waiver. However, if the allegations suggested in the report are true, they are an evidence of nothing less, but treason, by two (at this point) representatives of the American Establishment: David Welch (former Assistant Secretary of the State), and Dennis Kucinich
(Democratic Congressman from the State of Ohio).
Before I attempt to comment on the findings, I will loosely repeat, what was reported by Al Jazeera:
____________
Retrieved from the abandoned Intelligence Headquarters in Tripoli documents suggest the high rank American politicians tried to help Gaddafi – prevent toppling of the regime.
Despite of Gaddafi’s anti-American rhetoric his regime was in direct contact with highly influential American figures, until just weeks ago. In the offices of Abdullah Senussi (Gaddafi’s Head of intelligence Service)
Al Jazeera found detailed documents about communication between senior Libyan officials and David Welch (American diplomat who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, as well as was instrumental in braking a deal between Libyan regime and the USA in 2008, ending years of histilities.
Currently D. Welch works for BECHTEL corporation, with $Billions in construction projects across the Middle East).
David Welch met with Gaddafi’s representatives in the Four Seasons Hotel in Cairo on August 02 this year.
At this meeting Welch advised Gaddafi’s team on ‘how to win a propaganda war’, suggesting some ‘confidence building measures’. He also advised on ‘how to undermine the rebel movement with the possible assistance of foreign intelligence services, including Israel.
“Any information related to Al-Qaeda or other terrorist extremists organizations should be found and given to the American Administration, but only via intelligence agencies of either Israel, Egypt, Morocco or Jordan. America will listen to them… It is better to receive this information as if it originated from those countries”.
The documents also suggest how to take advantage of the current unrest in Syria:
“… the importance of taking advantage of the Syrian situation particularly regarding the double-standard policy adopted by Washington… the Syrians were never your friends and you would lose nothing from exploiting the situation there in order to embarrass the West.”
He also criticized the role of Qatar in the Arab Spring calling it ‘cynical’ – with a goal to divert the world’s attention from the unrest in Bahrain.
David Welch promised to present the matter to the American Administration, Congress, and other influential figures, and lobby for it.
According to Welch the solution of the conflict should be based on: Gaddafi stepping aside - but not relinquishing his powers. Proposed by him solution is not along the official White House statement, which says that Gaddafi MUST STEP DOWN.
_____________________________________________
When the NATO was locked in the battle with the Gaddafi’s Regime, also other political figures in the US, gave their help to the Regime.
Representative Dennis Kucinich (Democratic Congressman from the State of Ohio) opposed the American and NATO involvement in the Libyan conflict from the beginning. On March 18, when the US started implementing the No-Fly Zone in Libya (in accordance with UN Resolution 1973), Kucinich in his lengthy statement condemned the American “unlawful attack on a sovereign country” and suggested the impeachment procedure against the president Obama.
The same Dennis Kucinich is a subject of the discovered in the Intelligence Headquarters document.
The document in question is a letter addressed to Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi – one of the Colonel’s sons, who is a subject of the International Criminal Court investigation – with the warrant issued for his capture.
The letter contains a summery of the conversation between the Representative Kucinich and the intermediary for the Gaddafi’s son.
The details relate to the Kucinich’s request to be provided with information, which could help to lobby the American Lawmakers to stop support for the Libyan Transitional Council, and put an end to the NATO airstrikes. His inquiry suggested the existence of Al-Qaeda elements.
“Any corrupt (verifiable) acts by the Opposition leaders. Include any personal motives for instance to make money or gain certain types of power. Any known Al-Qaeda operating in the Opposition”?
He asked also for a specific info to be used to defend Saif al Gaddafi in ICC in Hague.
Finally, and more significantly, Kucinich asked for any evidence, which could be used to file lawsuits against the NATO and against the USA.
____________________________________
Let me be clear – the report provided by Al Jazeera is very disturbing.
If it’s unsubstantiated smear campaign, with a gain to discredit American politicians… It’s despicable and simply very low.
But, if the allegations contained in the Al Jazeera report, reported today in their News programming is true…
It would mean that some of our, American politicians (and I would like to believe, that only two) simply committed treason. Let’s not be afraid of this word. TREASON.
What they did, not only counteracts the agreed upon support for the Libyan Opposition, but undermines the official political position of the United States, and its President.
Quite recently the World learned with bewilderment, that American Political Trenches are so deeply dug, that the compromise across the party lines is virtually impossible. We have learned that some Conservative politicians would rather see the Country fall in the long lasting recession (if we defaulted on our debts), just to prove their ‘unshaken’ convictions.
Now, we all learn, that there are also politicians who would risk ‘defacing’ American International Policy (if there is anything left of its face), just to feed their ego, or some convoluted private agendas.
David Welch is now a ‘private citizen’. We know it, but when he meets with the foreign parties and acts like having the authority to negotiate, he creates different impression. So, has he acted alone – with no authorization from the white House, or was it done to discuss “a Plan B”, and to create the situation of “full deniability” if it fails...
David Kucinich is not a private citizen. He is a Congressman in the US Congress. He is one of the 435 publicly elected representatives who are supposed to have the Country interest on their mind in whatever they say, or do.
I understand that some actions may be conducted by seemingly unimportant politicians, and then create something good, or something more important transpires… Such was a case of Representative Charlie Wilson (Democrat from Texas), whose unilateral action originated Operation Cyclone – the largest ever, covert operation resulting in arming the Afghan rebels with the weaponry to combat Soviet aircrafts. His actions in the result helped bringing down the Soviet Empire to its knees.
But in case of David Kucinich… it looks like acting against his own Government, and the interests of his own Country…
Every war is ugly. It is ugly while the war in on, and the people perish for no reason… But every war is probably more ugly for many years after the hostile activities are ceased, when the public opinion learns about the deceit, and conniving by all parties involved.
What are we going to learn about our involvement in the World’s affairs? Is it going to help us understand the World’s complexity, or we will learn over and over that the “particular interests of some individuals” may be the driving force of the countries politics.
Particular interests of the individuals, or very small groups – versus the billions who are only on the receiving end, without a chance to say otherwise…
++