tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post8945785032359895199..comments2024-03-22T05:20:44.167-07:00Comments on The Disaffected Lib: Has Libya Already Fallen to al-Qaeda?The Mound of Soundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-24078582682218652572011-08-29T10:57:25.901-07:002011-08-29T10:57:25.901-07:00That's actually pretty simple. The rebels are...That's actually pretty simple. The rebels are a coalition of religious and tribal forces. The al-Qaeda group need to first get rid of Gaddafi and his supporters and then consolidate their own position within Libya. However when they assassinated General Younis they pretty much cemented their control of the rebel side.<br /><br />When Younis was ambushed I wondered whether the rebel alliance would fracture and begin turning on each other. It seems that the moderates were more interested in getting rid of Gaddafi than in battling it out with the jihadis.<br /><br />Libya isn't Afghanistan or Pakistan which somewhat curbs al Qaeda's appetites. They've got to be somewhat pragmatic, especially at the outset. Even Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood looks very moderate compared to the Talibs in Afghanistan. It's a long way from Kabul to Paris but it's just a short flight from Tripoli. European influence is felt throughout North Africa and that's a good thing.<br /><br />I doubt you'll see attacks launched out of Libya but the country may become a support base for extremism elsewhere, particularly in South Asia.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-68011127219071034062011-08-29T10:27:26.706-07:002011-08-29T10:27:26.706-07:00If the Libyan rebels where controlled by al-Qaeda,...If the Libyan rebels where controlled by al-Qaeda, why didn't they started imposing their religious views on the parts of the country they controlled?doconnorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04941265860606353518noreply@blogger.com