Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Rise Of The Islamic State In Libya

Islamist supporters in Libya Photograph: Reuters

US Expresses Fears As Isis Takes Control Of Northern Libyan Town -- The Guardian

* Isis supporters declare Derna the first town in Libya to join Isis
* US believes Isis is running training camps across Libya

It is a warm October evening in Derna, a small town on Libya’s north east coast, 450 miles from the capital, Tripoli.

The main square is packed with young men, brought by a summons from the town’s self-proclaimed emir to swear allegiance to a newly formed Islamic caliphate.

The emir, on a stage just visible through the jumping throng, calls for the crowd to repeat his calls to join the a caliphate, to listen and follow orders, and to acclaim that the Islamic State (Isis) is here to stay.

To each call, they repeat the chant, roaring their support – and with that, the emir declares Derna the first town in Libya to join the Islamic State, making common cause with fighters in Iraq and Syria.

Read more ....

My Comment: It is amazing how history has a tendency to repeat itself. There was no plan on what to do in Iraq after the invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein .... and there was/is no plan on what to do in Libya after the fall of Gaddafi. Pursuing policies with no appreciation on what may be the consequences has become a trademark for U.S. foreign policy .... and when I look at Washington today and at the people who are running it .... I am more than willing to bet good money that this American tradition is going to continue.

1 comment:

D.Plowman said...

They're like locusts... Spreading from town to town, looting and pillaging, murdering and raping as they go.

I wonder, how much intelligence is being used in the seemingly non-effective strikes against them?

ISIS need jeeps, fuel, ammo, weapons, food and water. Are their logistics being targeted? If so, are the airstrikes being backed up by good intelligence? If so, is the effectiveness being monitored?

Or is it just random airstrikes and hope for the best kinda thing...