Changes

==Al Qaeda in North Africa==

==Al Qaeda in North Africa==

{{Main|Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb}}

{{Main|Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb}}

[[File:Blumenthal Belhadj McCain Graham Feb 2012.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Abdelhakim Belhadj, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Lindsey Graham. Belhadj, a veteran jihadi, was kidnapped by the [[CIA]] in 2004 and "[[extraordinary rendition|rendered]]" to Libya where he spent 7 years in prison being "rehabilitated." He was released in March 2010 to reactivate the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, of which Ansar al Shariah was part. In August 2011 he was appointed commander of the Tripoli Military Council by the TNC, and in 2015 head of the Mujahideen Shura Council in Derna.]]

[[File:Blumenthal Belhadj McCain Graham Feb 2012.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Sen. [[DaNang Dick Blumenthal]], Abdelhakim Belhadj, Sen. [[John McCain]], and Sen. [[Lindsey Graham]]. Belhadj, a veteran jihadi, was kidnapped by the [[CIA]] in 2004 and "[[extraordinary rendition|rendered]]" to Libya where he spent 7 years in prison being "rehabilitated." He was released in March 2010 to reactivate the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, of which Ansar al Shariah was part. In August 2011 he was appointed commander of the Tripoli Military Council by the TNC, and in 2015 head of the Mujahideen Shura Council in Derna.]]

The [[Benghazi rebellion]] started as a series of protests in eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011. Ansar al-Shariah, an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM), 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]].  

The [[Benghazi rebellion]] started as a series of protests in eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011. Ansar al-Shariah, an offshoot of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM), 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 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>[https://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>[https://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>https://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>[https://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>[https://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>https://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]] announced he ordered U.S. military force operations in Libya two days earlier over the objections of his most trusted and knowledgeable experts. Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]] opposed the action<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> as did National Security Adviser [[Tom Donilon]], Deputy National Security Adviser [[Denis McDonough]], and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]]. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and the rebels had ties to Al Qaeda.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=2&hp]</ref> However [[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]] announced he ordered U.S. military force operations in Libya two days earlier over the objections of his most trusted and knowledgeable experts. Secretary of Defence [[Robert Gates]] opposed the action<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref> as did National Security Adviser [[Tom Donilon]], Deputy National Security Adviser [[Denis McDonough]], and [[White House]] counterterrorism chief [[John O. Brennan]]. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and the rebels had ties to Al Qaeda.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19policy.html?_r=2&hp]</ref> However [[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: