“There is some concern that ISIS could use Libya as a springboard to go into Europe.” Michael Maloof — Former Pentagon Official

More than five years ago, Libya’s ex-leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was killed by the rebels who pinpointed him in drainage pipes after a NATO air strike hit his convoy outside his hometown of Sirte. Since then, the country has been in chaos. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY

A UK parliamentary report has severely criticised the intervention by Britain and France that led to the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The foreign affairs committee accused the then PM David Cameron of lacking a coherent strategy for the air campaign.

“We were dragged along by a French enthusiasm to intervene, and the mission then moved from protecting people in Benghazi, who arguably were not at the kind of threat that was then being presented… Indeed, on the basis of the evidence we took, the threat to the people of Benghazi was grossly overstated.” “This report determines that UK policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation. (…) The UK’s actions in Libya were part of an ill-conceived intervention, the results of which are still playing out today.”

The report concluded with the following recommendation:

‘The United Nations has brokered an inclusive Government of National Accord [GNA]. If it fails, the danger is that Libya will sink into a full scale civil war to control territory and oil resources. The GNA is the only game in town and the international community has a responsibility to unite behind it.”

As I wrote before, this is NOT what seems to be going on. Western countries — US, UK and France – are operating in Libya. Officially, they are supporting the GNA with a lot of words. In reality, it appears that their military forces are supporting the rival of that government: General Khalifa Haftar. A rumoured new US Policy could make it semi-official.

[By the way… Saif Al Islam Gaddafi is said to be free and could very well make a come back in politics.The rumor goes that General Haftar intends to use Saif as a way to gain the support of the tribes loyal to Gaddafi.]

President Obama: Libya aftermath ‘worst mistake’ of presidency

US President Barack Obama has said that failing to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was the worst mistake of his presidency.

“President Obama has expressed regret over Libya. He told the Atlantic magazine last month the operation went as well as he had hoped, but Libya was now a mess”. “In that interview, he also criticised France and the UK, in particular saying British Prime Minister David Cameron became “distracted” after the intervention.” [BBC]

Towards a New US Policy?

The Trump administration is working the details of a new diplomatic and military policy for Libya that will significantly expand US involvement in the country.

The policy, if approved, would aim to further the existing US goal of supporting reconciliation between rival factions in eastern and western areas of Libya. The policy could also lead to the eventual re-opening of the US embassy and the establishing of a new intelligence sharing effort led by US special forces, according to the officials. The US is also considering re-establishing a presence in Benghazi after a 2012 attack that killed four Americans — and also re-establishing a coordination center for some US forces and Libyan officials to facilitate counterterrorist intelligence sharing. US troops could also carry out a training and advisory role in conjunction with Libyan forces.

The GNA (Government of National Accord) — led by Prime Minister al Sarraj –controls much of the west of Libya. The Libyan National Army headed by Khalifa Haftar dominates the east. The new US policy calls for closer cooperation and intelligence sharing with Haftar.

Trump ‘Special Envoy’ suggested to partition Libya into three

On Monday April 10 2017, The Guardian revealed that:

“Sebastian Gorka [senior White House foreign policy official] has alarmed foreign diplomats with his views on Libya’s future. The map he drew on a napkin during the transition period cut Libya into three sections, apparently based on the old Ottoman provinces of Cyrenaica in the east, Tripolitania in the north-west and Fezzan in the south-west.”

Sebastian Gorka has since been fired!

Libya without Gaddafi: 5 years of turmoil

REFERENCES

CIA Asset? Mystery of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar Exposed by Leaked Tapes — The Libyan Gazette

Coup leader? CIA asset? Mystery surrounds Libya’s rogue General Haftar — FRANCE 24

French government acknowledges it has special forces, spies, in Libya — Intel News

Libyan intervention based on erroneous assumptions; David Cameron ultimately responsible

US military considers ramping up Libya presence — CNN July 10 2017

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Libya without Gaddafi: After 5 Years of Turmoil, a new US Policy?