After the fall, US concerned about Libyan weapons

[Ichingcarpenter]

WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The United States has pressed for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down, but a leadership vacuum raises concerns about the security of Libya's weapons stockpiles and the danger of them falling into the hands of adversaries, officials said on Monday.

Libyan rebels have taken over most of Tripoli, Gaddafi's location is unknown, and great uncertainty exists about who will eventually end up in charge of the country.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers warned of security concerns while Gaddafi's rule crumbles.

"Even after Gaddafi is out of power we will have to step up and lead to ensure U.S. national security interests are safeguarded," Rogers, a Republican, said in a statement. "In particular, we must ensure that Gaddafi's stockpiles of advanced weapons, chemical weapons and explosives don't fall into the wrong hands."

SNIP........... http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFN1E77L1JO20110822



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But who armed him in the first place?

EU; SELLING ARMS

The key points are:

• The EU granted export licenses for €834.5m worth of arms exports in the first five years after the arms embargo was lifted in October 2004
• 2009 is the highest amount ever: €343.7m
• Italy is the top exporter, with €276.7m over the five years
• The UK got off to a big start in 2005, with €58.9m of the €72.2m total. UK licenses over the five years are worth €119.35m
• Malta saw some €79.7m of guns go through the Island en route to Libya in 2009 - apparently sold via an Italian company

It's worth checking out Dan O'Huiggin's round-up of the brilliant European coverage of these sales for examples of the arms trade in action.


Obama administration approved $40billion in private arms sales to countries including Libya and Egypt
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365523/Obama-a...


Gadhafi's military: Trained and armed by Uncle Sam


The backdrop for the cooperation between the American and Libyan militaries was improving relations between the two countries generally, following the announcement in 2003 by President Bush that Moammar Gadhafi had agreed to give up "weapons of mass destruction" programs. When John McCain visited Tripoli in the summer of 2009, Gadhafi's son Muatassim pressed a receptive McCain on getting military supplies. McCain, according to a diplomatic cable describing the meeting, spoke of the cooperation between the two militaries:

" encouraged Muatassim to keep in mind the long-term perspective of bilateral security engagement and to remember that small obstacles will emerge from time to time that can be overcome," the cable says. "He described the bilateral military relationship as strong and pointed to Libyan officer training at U.S. Command, Staff, and War colleges as some of the best programs for Libyan military participation."

It's not clear how many Libyan officers have taken part in training at American war colleges. But in fiscal 2009 (the year beginning in October 2008), the most recent period for which the government has released data, the Defense Department spent about $30,000 training two Libyans in the Combating Terrorism Fellowship Program. An annual report on foreign military training talks about increasing spending for fiscal 2010, including a State Department program to teach English to Libyan officers. The report praises Libya as "an important partner in counterterrorism and regional stability," and makes the case for future training.

"Such training and language capability will improve the Libyan military’s interoperability with U.S. forces, facilitate interaction in potential future contingency operations such as joint CT and Peacekeeping Operations, and prepare Libyan military personnel for increased training opportunities," the report says.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/03/23/...



This is what i see as the huge contradiction.

[NNN0LHI]

1. Fox news was on at the restaurant I was at yesterday and this was their #1 story

It was like it was on a loop being played over and over.

Don

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. Which story the one about worrying about weapons

or that the West stockpiled weapons to a dictator in the first place?

[NNN0LHI]

4. WMD's and how Obama has given them to the terrorists

Over and over.

Don

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Muammar Gaddafi sold oil mostly to Europe...

(This was stated last night on Olberman) and then gave their money back to them for weapons systems to stay in power.

What an interesting trade system.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. The US sold arms too and supplied training

I find the arms merchants like crack dealers with governmental support.