Libya: An Islamist Terrorist Takes Command of Main Rebel Forces

By Barry Rubin

Finally, we have evidence that IsIamists and even al-Qaida supporters will play a central role in Libya’s new regime. Up to now there has been reasonable speculation that the U.S. government and NATO might be installing an anti-Western, Islamist government in Libya. Now there’s proof that this is so.

The actual government remains in the hands of non-Islamists, technocrats, ex-regime officials, and moderate. But the armed rebels who actually made the revolution have voted and their idol is...an al-Qaida guy. Political power, said Mao Zedong, grows out of the barrel of a gun and in Libya's case this seems a very reasonable expectation.
According to al-Jazira, the network recommended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as fair and balanced, Abd al-Hakim al-Hasadi, also known as Abdelhakim Belhaj, has been named commander of the Tripoli Military Council. He was formerly head of the Libyan Islamist Fighting Group, an al-Qaida affiliate. Moderates are understandably nervous.

And so should we all be!

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http://pajamasmedia.com/barryrubin/2011/09/02/libya-an-islamist-terrorist-takes-command-of-main-rebel-forces/