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==Benghazi rebellion==

==Benghazi rebellion==

The Benghazi rebellion started as a series of protests in eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011 after the fall of  regimes in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. Ansar al-Shariah, an affiliate of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM) vowed to do everything to overthrow Libyan [[secular]] strongman [[Muammar Gaddafi]]<ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/24/al-qaeda-in-n-africa-backs-libya-uprising-site.html Al Qaeda in N. Africa backs Libya uprising: SITE] </ref><ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates Libya uprising.] </ref> and establish [[Sharia]]. [[President Obama]] granted U.S. assistance to this same group.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/extremists-among-libya-rebels_n_837894.html Anti-American Extremists Among Libyan Rebels U.S. Has Vowed To Protect], David Wood, ''Huffington Post'', 3/19/11.</ref>

The Benghazi rebellion started as a series of protests in eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011 after the fall of  regimes in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. Ansar al-Shariah, an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb vowed to overthrow [[secular]] strongman [[Muammar Gaddafi]]<ref> [http://www.dawn.com/2011/02/24/al-qaeda-in-n-africa-backs-libya-uprising-site.html Al Qaeda in N. Africa backs Libya uprising: SITE] </ref><ref> [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates Libya uprising.] </ref> and establish [[Sharia]].  

Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi said [[jihad]]ists who fought against American troops in [[Iraq]] served on the front lines. <ref> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links.] </ref> <ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/guantanamo-files-libyan-detainee-now-us-ally-of-sorts.html Libyan, Once a Detainee, Is Now a U.S. Ally of Sorts.]</ref> NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama publicly admitted to intervention that U.S. intelligence knew of [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements among the Libyan insurgents.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html</ref>  

Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi of the U.S. organized Libyan Fighting Group said [[jihad]]ists who killed American troops in [[Iraq]] were now serving on the front lines in Libya. <ref> [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html Libyan rebel commander admits his fighters have al-Qaeda links.] </ref> <ref> [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/guantanamo-files-libyan-detainee-now-us-ally-of-sorts.html Libyan, Once a Detainee, Is Now a U.S. Ally of Sorts.]</ref> NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee days before President Obama publicly admitted he ordered intervention that U.S. intelligence knew [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements were among the Libyan insurgents.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html</ref>  

On March 21, 2011, President Obama disclosed he had ordered U.S. military force operations in Libya two days earlier, "to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" in his words, over the objections of his most knowledgeable experts and confidants. Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]] opposed the action and warned it meant attacking the legitimate government of Libya.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough, and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]], urged caution. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and the rebels had ties to Al Qaeda.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=2&hp]</ref> But [[Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] "won the bureaucratic battle to use [Department of Defence] resources to achieve what's essentially the State Department's objective... and Obama let it happen". <ref>[http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war How Obama turned on a dime toward war.] </ref>  Secretary Clinton stated:

On March 21, 2011, President Obama disclosed he had ordered U.S. military force operations in Libya two days earlier, "to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" in his words, over the objections of his most knowledgeable experts and confidants. Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]] opposed the action and warned it meant attacking the legitimate government of Libya.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough, and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]], urged caution. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and the rebels had ties to Al Qaeda.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=2&hp]</ref> But [[Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] "won the bureaucratic battle to use [Department of Defence] resources to achieve what's essentially the State Department's objective... and Obama let it happen". <ref>[http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war How Obama turned on a dime toward war.] </ref>  Secretary Clinton stated: