Libya Rebels Get Formal Backing, and $30 Billion

NYT ^ | Published: July 15, 2011 | By SEBNEM ARSU and STEVEN ERLANGER

[Borough Park]

ISTANBUL — The United States formally recognized the rebel leadership in Libya as the country’s legitimate government on Friday, allowing the rebel government access to $30 billion in Libyan assets held in the United States. It is not yet clear how and when the money would be released. Enlarge This Image

Osman Orsal/Reuters Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the meeting on Libya in Istanbul on Friday. Multimedia

TimesCast | Libyan Rebels Recognized Readers’ Comments Share your thoughts. Post a Comment » Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at an international gathering held to discuss the Libyan conflict that Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s government no longer had any legitimacy, and that the United States would join more than 30 countries in extending diplomatic recognition to the main opposition group, known as the Transitional National Council.

“We will help the T.N.C. sustain its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya,” Mrs. Clinton said, “and we will look to it to remain steadfast in its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

The decision by Washington not only increased diplomatic pressure on Colonel Qaddafi to step down, but also held the prospect of funneling money to rebels to propel an offensive that has proceeded in fits and starts.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

The United States formally recognized the rebel leadership in Libya as the country’s legitimate government on Friday, allowing the rebel government access to $30 billion in Libyan assets held in the United States.

0bama is so socialist, he even redistributes other countries' wealth as well.

[Norm Lenhart]

Unpossible! we are about to default! Grandma won’t get her SS check!!! (/sarcasm)

Why do the republicans not drive this crap home on every tv outlet/radio/print and the web? WHY?????

[screaminsunshine]

I am heading to some little Island to start an uprising. I want my 30 billion. How many Rebels are there and how much is that per Rebel?

[hinckley buzzard]

Hey, what good is it to set up a puppet regime if you can't water it with other people's money?

[org.whodat]

Just stealing money no one else will steal, and what happens in a few years if the world court says give it back. Going to be a lot of money from third world countries leaving the USA and headed to china by the am. Would you trust your money in a united states bank under this condition.

[screaminsunshine]

The GOP is intent on focusing on Social Security in 20 years from now. Can you believe it? It is Pathetic.

[GeronL]

$30 billion here, and $30 billion there and pretty soon we might have a debt problem.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I am heading to some little Island to start an uprising. I want my 30 billion. “

Peter Sellers made a movie about a tiny country(Grand Duchy of Fenwick) that formally declared war on the United States in order to surrender, and get financial aid ;-)

[driftdiver]

So he just gave $30 Billion to folks that hate America. sweet

[stephenjohnbanker]

Probably giving the money to the Muslim Brotherhood

[In God I trust]

Please remember back to about 2005 when Bush was trying to get more funding for our war in Iraq of about 85 billion. The Dems were all over the news fighting this tooth and nail and it was a huge ta-do. The hypocracy on the left is unprecedented. We can't pay grandma or our soldiers but we can send 30 billion to about 3000 “rebels” in a foreign country fighting a war we have no business in. Wow we are upside down in this country these days.

[GeronL]

It’s nice to know we have $30 Billion to throw around, we should let Grandma and Grandpa hear about it

[Norm Lenhart]

The only foreign aid I can see/agree with is Israel and that should be a matter of national defense. Fund it there and eliminate the rest. Then make THE PUBLIC vote on ANY request for it one country at a time.

We can continue funding all our domestic programs on the savings alone. Then fix them as we go after 2013.

Give Lybia or anyone else money while people in our own country have plenty to spend it (or not spend it) on? HELL NO.

[funfan]

Who authorizes these funds?

[tlb]

>>> 0bama is so socialist, he even redistributes other countries’ wealth as well

The fun part is he’s redistributing the cash to the CIA. The rebel military commander is a CIA frontman named Khalifa Hifter.

Libyan rebel leader spent much of past 20 years in suburban Virginia

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/26/111109/new-rebel-leader-spent-much-of.html#ixzz1SELwb7TX

“Suburban Virginia” refers to Vienna, Va. That’s five miles down the road from Langley.

A 2001 book, Manipulations africaines, published by Le Monde diplomatique, traces the CIA connection to 1987, reporting that Hifter, then a colonel in Gaddafi’s army, was captured fighting in Chad in a Libyan-backed rebellion against the US-backed government of Hissène Habré. He defected to the Libyan National Salvation Front (LNSF), the principal anti-Gaddafi group, which had the backing of the American CIA.

He organized his own militia, which operated in Chad until Habré was overthrown by a French-supported rival, Idriss Déby, in 1990.According to this book, “the Haftar force, created and financed by the CIA in Chad, vanished into thin air with the help of the CIA shortly after the government was overthrown by Idriss Déby.”

The book also cites a Congressional Research Service report of December 19, 1996 that the US government was providing financial and military aid to the LNSF and that a number of LNSF members were relocated to the United States.

[Prokopton]

They could give some of this money to the US government agencies supplying guns to narco terrorists who could then deal the guns to the terrorist of al quida who is supporting the Libyan terrorist rebels. They might even share some with the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood who now control Egypt. WOW! That Obama sure is smart! 4 terrorist groups supported with the same funds.

[DJ MacWoW]

Men of Honor

Benjamin Franklin

Click The Pic

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.

Donate

[little jeremiah]

Are the Repubs going to try to stop this? How can this 30 billion just be handed over to insane muslims who hate the US without Congress having something to say about it?

I can’t stand what’s happening. It’s like a very bad acid trip.

[Drill Thrawl]

The Mouse Who Roared.

(Gum on the street) Germ warfare!