[Summer Series] Hillary's Mails. Libya 2011, a new playground for AQIM terrorists
(BRUSSELS2) The Libyan Arab Spring which began in February 2011 is an unprecedented opportunity for terrorist organizations active in the neighborhood such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) which can thus find a new "playing field". The risk of the infiltration of rebel groups by AQIM terrorists, the reinforcement of armaments has been known since the very beginning of the Libyan civil conflict... What reveals, or rather confirms, these exchanges of emails between Hillary Clinton and one of his informants (Sid aka Sidney Blumenthal, former adviser to Bill Clinton when he was in the White House and who continues to work in an unofficial capacity for Hillary, as confirmed by The Guardian).
AQIM infiltrates the ranks of opponents
Barely a month after the start of the conflict, in March 2011, French President Nicolas Sarkozy received numerous reports that terrorist groups “like the “group of Libyan fighters” and “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” are in the process of infiltrating the military command of the National Transitional Council”. It is In this context, it is therefore essential that “French diplomacy and intelligence services based in Egypt have regular contact with rebel figures” as is the case with Gaddafi's former chief of protocol, considered one of the masterminds of the rebellion, Nousri Mesmari or even “General Abdelfateh Younis, leader of the rebel armed forces”. These infiltrations represent a major risk. A threat that seems to grow as the conflict lasts.
The AQIM risk when Gaddafi falls
European sources on the spot observe a multiplication of possible terrorist anchor points. And they warn of the possible consequences for a Libya rid of its leader. When " the Gaddafi regime will fall, France and other European countries will have an interest in acting quickly to ensure that the new government does not allow AQIM or other small local and semi-autonomous entities to settle in the south-east of the country, oil and gas producing regions”.
The tactic of the "low profile" of the organization
Indeed, according to a senior European official, “AQIM observes the developments underway in the country” with great vigilance. And this, from the beginning of the Libyan crisis, in March 2011. At the beginning of the conflict, the terrorist groups certainly seem to be waiting, lurking in the shadows. On April 8, 2011, sources directly linked to the National Transitional Council (CNT) indicated that “Islamist activity in Libya has kept a low profile”. But AQIM seems to be patiently weaving its networks. European sources warn Hillary Clinton's office. In all likelihood “the organization has established contacts with different tribal groups in the south east of the country”. The strategy is simple. The rebellion must continue to weaken Gaddafi and thus infiltrate the territory of Libya. We must therefore avoid give credence to the arguments of Colonel Gaddafi, who claims that the rebels are terrorists” and act in the shadows. But as “the CNT is taking shape, AQIM is raising its voice and influencing events directly from the ranks of the CNT”.
AQIM has a "ready-to-use" influence strategy in the drawers
Received Friday, April 8, 2011 at 17:27 p.m., Hilary Clinton's email reveals that AQIM is developing its penetration strategy in Libya. “Ali Salabi, Salem Al Shiki and Mohamed Al Guirtili, leading Islamic figures, based in London and close to the Muslim Brotherhood, are said to have designed a “national pact”, a sort of roadmap, organizing the Islamic movement for the time of the Libyan transition. post-Gaddadi. Remember that before the revolution, "the former Minister of Justice and current President of the CNT, Mustapha Abdel Jalil, called for the release of the reformed Islamists".
Sam 7s destined for rebels in the hands of Al Qaeda
Libya's chaos is also a source of opportunity in terms of supplying modern weapons and ammunition. The terrorist organization has obtained weapons "on the black market in western Niger and northern Mali".
According to the French (DGSE) and British (MI-6) intelligence services “AQIM would (thus) have succeeded in acquiring portable anti-aircraft systems of type 10 SAM 7-Grail/Streela”. Weapons "intended for sale to the Libyan rebel forces but the AQIM forces would have secretly met the arms dealers and considerably reinforced their equipment".
The rebel forces also fear that AQIM will obtain "SPIGOTT-type anti-tank wire-guided missiles and an undetermined number of Russian anti-tank mines, made of plastic and therefore undetectable with anti-mine equipment". The arsenal procured by AQIM raises fears of the worst in particular "for southern Morocco, Algeria, northern Mali, western Niger and eastern Mauritania" he writes.
The objective alliance of the regime and terrorist groups?
After the death of Osama bin Laden (killed by American special forces on May 2, 2011 in Pakistan), sources at the CNT fear a reversal of the situation. The AQIM groups could thus " use weapons they obtained, which were originally intended for the rebels in Libya, to retaliate against the United States and its allies for this attack in Pakistan ". Thereby "CNT authorities are concerned that bin Laden's death comes at a time when reports indicate that AQIM leaders are planning attacks in North Africa and Europe". "The leaders of the CNT are also concerned that with the death of Saif al-Arab (...) the government of Tripoli could undertake reprisals against the United States and its Western allies through terrorist groups, in particular Hezbollah ». For these sources on the ground, this context is explosive. “While the deaths of bin Laden and Saif al Arab are unrelated, two distinct and dangerous groups will now seek revenge against the United States and its allies”. Moreover, these desires for revenge could spread in the ranks of the Libyan rebels "where the leaders of Al Qaeda have been very popular".
(Johanna Bouquet with NGV)
sources: Hilary Clinton's emails To download:
Summer Series – Hillary's Emails
- Libya 2011, When the French and the British thought about the country's split
- To be continued: the notable role of Egypt