Changes

By March 2, 2011, reports arrive by experts identifying weaponry recovered in Gaddafi's Katiba, Benghazi compound. Most equipment is 1970s-80s [[Soviet]] equipment, still effective and operational. Some equipment designs date back to World War II. Chinese equipment also is found. A ''Wired'' magazine article specifically states, "Most of the weaponry at the Katiba has been removed and handed over to the army," although the Benghazi rebels and TNC had not yet, nor ever were sufficiently organized into an "army." ''Wired'' reported, "everything had to be stripped, scrubbed, and reassembled before testing." Much anti-aircraft equipment was confiscated.  

By March 2, 2011, reports arrive by experts identifying weaponry recovered in Gaddafi's Katiba, Benghazi compound. Most equipment is 1970s-80s [[Soviet]] equipment, still effective and operational. Some equipment designs date back to World War II. Chinese equipment also is found. A ''Wired'' magazine article specifically states, "Most of the weaponry at the Katiba has been removed and handed over to the army," although the Benghazi rebels and TNC had not yet, nor ever were sufficiently organized into an "army." ''Wired'' reported, "everything had to be stripped, scrubbed, and reassembled before testing." Much anti-aircraft equipment was confiscated.  

On March 20, 2011 NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, days before President Obama publicly disclosed his decision to intervene, that US the intelligence community knew of [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements among the rebels.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html]</ref><ref>Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Stavridis was asked by Republican Sen. James Inhofe to comment on "reports about the presence of al Qaeda among the rebels, among those with whom we are associated." "As you can imagine, we are examining very closely the content, composition, the personalities, who are the leaders in these opposition forces," Stavridis responded. "The intelligence that I am receiving at this point makes me feel that the leadership I am seeing are responsible men and women who are struggling against Colonel Gadhafi. We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al Qaeda, Hezbollah, we've seen different things, but at this point I don't have detail sufficient to say that there is a significant al Qaeda presence or any other terrorist presence in and among these folks. We'll continue to look at that very closely. It's part of doing due diligence as we move forward on any kind of relationship." http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2011/03/saceur-j2-please-call-your-office.html</ref> Two days later a leaked email from Stravidis email to David Manners, business partner of  Marc Turi who resigned as a congressional staffer to Sen. [[John McCain]] Weekes earlier, discussed illegal weapons supply to the TNC ''per'' a Hillary Clinton State Department authorization.<ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2015/09/11/exclusive-new-emails-in-benghazi-weapons-mystery.html</ref><ref>http://www.captainsjournal.com/2015/09/14/the-weapons-of-benghazi/</ref>

On March 20, 2011 NATO's Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, days before President Obama publicly disclosed his decision to intervene, that US the intelligence community knew of [[al Qaeda]] and [[Hezbollah]] elements among the rebels.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8414583/Libya-al-Qaeda-among-Libya-rebels-Nato-chief-fears.html]</ref><ref>Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Stavridis was asked by Republican Sen. James Inhofe to comment on "reports about the presence of al Qaeda among the rebels, among those with whom we are associated." "As you can imagine, we are examining very closely the content, composition, the personalities, who are the leaders in these opposition forces," Stavridis responded. "The intelligence that I am receiving at this point makes me feel that the leadership I am seeing are responsible men and women who are struggling against Colonel Gadhafi. We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al Qaeda, Hezbollah, we've seen different things, but at this point I don't have detail sufficient to say that there is a significant al Qaeda presence or any other terrorist presence in and among these folks. We'll continue to look at that very closely. It's part of doing due diligence as we move forward on any kind of relationship." http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2011/03/saceur-j2-please-call-your-office.html</ref> Two days later a leaked email from Stravidis email to David Manners, business partner of  Marc Turi who resigned as a congressional staffer to Sen. [[John McCain]] Weekes earlier,<ref>https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2016/10/11/the-secrets-behind-the-wire-marc-turi-speaks-out-about-hillary-clintons-covert-weapons-shipments/ </ref> discussed illegal weapons supply to the TNC ''per'' a Hillary Clinton State Department authorization.<ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2015/09/11/exclusive-new-emails-in-benghazi-weapons-mystery.html</ref><ref>http://www.captainsjournal.com/2015/09/14/the-weapons-of-benghazi/</ref>

By March 28, ''AP'' reported on [[Turkey]] taking over operation of  the Benghazi airport.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110618103616/http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/turkey-will-run-benghazi-airport-prime-m</ref> This was the start of a direct flightline to Adana, Turkey where captured Gaddadi regime weapons were delivered to AQI/ISI jihadis, for the purpose of overthrowing the [[Bashar Assad|Assad]] regime. The AQI/ISI eventually changed its name to the [[Islamic State]]. On July 3 NBC reported Turkey gave more aid to the TNC to refurbish Benghazi airport.<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43626058/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/turkey-recognizes-libya-rebels/#.WQ_p0U5MHMI</ref>

By March 28, ''AP'' reported on [[Turkey]] taking over operation of  the Benghazi airport.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110618103616/http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/turkey-will-run-benghazi-airport-prime-m</ref> This was the start of a direct flightline to Adana, Turkey where captured Gaddadi regime weapons were delivered to AQI/ISI jihadis, for the purpose of overthrowing the [[Bashar Assad|Assad]] regime. The AQI/ISI eventually changed its name to the [[Islamic State]]. On July 3 NBC reported Turkey gave more aid to the TNC to refurbish Benghazi airport.<ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43626058/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/turkey-recognizes-libya-rebels/#.WQ_p0U5MHMI</ref>