Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) penned a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the reported discovery of U.S. made weapons at a military base used by former CIA asset and rebel leader, General Khalifa Hafter in Libya. Hafter has been leading a months-long offensive against the U.S. backed government in Tripoli. The weapons, four javelin anti-tank missiles, had markings on them that indicated they were sold to the United Arab Emirates in 2008. The UAE has denied that the weapons were theirs.
“If the United Arab Emirates has indeed transferred these weapons, this would appear to be a serious violation of United States law. Such a transfer would also almost certainly be a violation of the UN arms embargo on Libya,” Menendez wrote, “I also note that this is particularly alarming given that you recently tried to bypass Congressional authorization for these specific weapons to the UAE in May through a dubious “emergency” action to counter a supposed Iranian threat.”
Last month, the Senate approved 22 separate joint resolutions of disapproval authored by Menendez, to block Trump’s “emergency” $8 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The 22 resolutions still need to pass the house but President Trump will most likely veto the effort.
Menendez mentioned a CNN expose from last February that showed the UAE, Saudi Arabia and their allies have been arming al-Qaeda linked fighters in Yemen. He ended the letter demanding the state department begin an investigation into the weapons found in Libya.
Although the U.S. is backing the UN recognized Government of National Accord, which is based in Tripoli, back in April, Trump spoke with Hafter on the phone and praised his role in fighting terrorism and securing oil fields. Trump’s phone call with Hafter was just after he began his offensive on Tripoli.
The official statement put out by the White House about the conversation said that Trump, “recognized Field Marshal Hafter’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system.”
Encouraged by Trumps’s phone call, Haftar has hired a lobbying firm in Washington to arrange a meeting between the two leaders.
Hafter, a U.S. citizen and former CIA asset, was captured in the 1987 while fighting for former Moammar Gadhafi in neighboring Chad. He then gained his freedom by joining anti-Gadhafi efforts in Chad with the CIA-backed National Front for the Salvation of Libya. Hafter’s anti-Gadhafi efforts did not last long and after a Libyan-backed coup in Chad, he fled to the U.S., where he took up residence in Northern Virginia, only a 20-minute drive from CIA headquarters.
The insurgent leader returned to Libya in 2011 during the civil war, but returned to the U.S. shortly after to “enjoy his grandchildren,” he told the New Yorker in 2015. In the same interview, he explained what motivated him to return to Libya again in 2014, “Everyone told me the same thing, ‘We are looking for a savior. Where are you?’ I told them, ‘If I have the approval of the people, I will act.’ After popular demonstrations took place all over Libya asking me to step in, I knew I was being pushed toward death, but I willingly accepted.”
Hafter’s ties with the U.S. and his conversation with Trump make the discovery of these weapons all the more suspicious.
How about a Probe of US arms in Syria as well! Why was the US arming Al Qaeda Based terrorists in Syria and Libya!
It is because terrorists are only those that we designate terrorists, and depending on who they serve, they can be promoted into “rebels” and back to terrorists. ISIS was the only exception to the rule — once ISIS was branded with slick Hollywood style image of vicious holy fighters, all with head chopping rituals, there was no way back. But that was on purpose — ISIS was supposed to be a “state”, or better put, a placeholder on Syria-Iraq border territories, spanning from Mosul, Kirkuk, Sinjar and over to Raqqa and Euphrates valley. US was to liberate the territory and create a Sunni-land, neatly separating Turkey, Syria and Iraq. A perfect Middle East Toll Booth. Did not work in Iraq, as Iraq organized militia forces outside of US trained army, used Iranian help, and joint intelligence center (Iran, Russia, Iraq) and conducted land operations contrary to US advice. It is Iraq that liberated ISIS held areas, US mainly indiscriminately bombed Mosul. But while in Iraq, Kurds made peace with Baghdad, in Syria,US decided to fight ISIS using Kurds, and created now a new placeholder, Syrian Kurds. Problem is, Kurds do not live on 90% of this territory and US is stuck with no plan. Syria and Russia liberated Syrian territory, except US protected nominally Kurd controlled areas — and guessed it, Al-Qaeda controlled Idlib. We love Al-Qaeda there, and do not want Syria retake it. Syria is in no hurry. If US rearms them — they will be crushed.
The games we play. It can be EASILY recognized by paying attention to who is being targeted. UAE could do no wrong when they funneled arms to Libyan “rebels”, or Al-Qaeda in Yemen. UAE was our tool when MBS took power, and Saudi policies changed in 2017. We even gave to UAE our mercenaries, a private army to fight AGAINST Saudi supported Al-Qaeda in South Yemen and against presumably recognized Hadi government. Why? We wanted uppity prince that stopped funding Al-Qaeda punished. And UAE was scared that prince was not going to last — doing US bidding. UAE pushed up the Yemeni coast all the way past Mocha towards Hodeidah. UAE did many dirty tricks for us — Lebanese Hariri was spirited from Saudi Arabia to UAE — while presumably kidnapped by MBS. Then former president Salah — wanted to cut deal between Houthis and MBS — but last minute pulled back, tried to run to UAE controlled territory, and killed. What happened? UAE held his son a hostage. But after Kashoggi murder, MBS got all the information he needed to capture the plotters, and get the last off former CIA man’s people out of power. UAE is now repentant— pulling out of Aden and South, means ceding territory to Saudis. We are furious at UAE now. Accusing them of mistreating prisoners jn South Yemen (shocker), and now — weapons in Libya! What a shocker, UAE supplied “rebels” then, later renamed “terrotisfs”.
The general in Libya was written off — new UN government created. But guess what — he controls now most territory, so we like him again. But we like UN government, until we do not like them again. UAE and Bahrain opened embassies in Damascus. So, 4 losses in a. row.
We will just keep renaming and rebranding. We have no clue what we want, so whatever appears to be against something in place today is bad — until something changes tomorrow— then we will be good again.