Changes

==Benghazi rebellion==

==Benghazi rebellion==

The Benghazi rebellion started as a series of protests in eastern [[Libya]] on February 16, 2011 after the fall of the [[secular]] regimes in [[Tunisia]] and [[Egypt]]. Ansar al-Shariah, an affiliate of Al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM) vowed to do everything in the uprising against Libyan 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>  

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>

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 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>  

On March 21, 2011, President Obama disclosed he ordered U.S. military forces operations began in Libya two days earlier, "to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe" in his words, against the advice and his most knowledgeable confidants. Secretary of Defense [[Robert Gates]] opposed the action and warned establishment of a no-fly zone meant attacking the legitimate government of Libya.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20038391-503544.html</ref>  Officials such as National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough and the counterterrorism chief, [[John O. Brennan]], urged caution. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and Libyan 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>  Officials such as National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough and the counterterrorism chief, [[John O. Brennan]], urged caution. Libya was not vital to American national security interests and Libyan 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:

{{cquote|We are currently doing everything we can to bomb, strafe and use missiles to carry the rebels into power in Libya. We want them to win. We just don’t know who they are.” <ref>http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/06/23/hillary-clinton-to-libya-skeptics-whose-side-are-you-on/ </ref>}}

{{cquote|We are currently doing everything we can to bomb, strafe and use missiles to carry the rebels into power in Libya. We want them to win. We just don’t know who they are.” <ref>http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/06/23/hillary-clinton-to-libya-skeptics-whose-side-are-you-on/ </ref>}}

This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp</ref> Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for the rebel jihadis.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref>

This set off a fierce debate in the [[Obama administration]] over the wisdom of arming terrorists.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/africa/30diplo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss</ref> It is now known sometime prior to March 31, 2011,<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/world/africa/31intel.html?_r=2&hp</ref> Obama signed a Presidential Finding authorizing support for the rebel jihadis.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/30/us-libya-usa-order-idUSTRE72T6H220110330</ref>

===Ghaddafi's murder and Sharia law installed===

===Ghaddafi's murder and Sharia law installed===