LaRouchePAC.com
January 19, 2013
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UPDATED FACT SHEET
IS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATIOn
ALLIED WITH AL QAEDA IN LIBYA & SYRIA?
While claiming credit for the killing of Osama bin
Laden (OBL), President Barack Obama was forging an al-
ing so-called “deliberative” discussions as he did in the
case of Operation Fast and Furious.
liance with al-Qaeda, first, to overthrow the government
This updated fact sheet presents the presently
of Libya, and now, the government of Syria. This reckless
available evidence from the public domain. A serious
and lawless policy of allying with the perpetrators of
Congressional investigation would uncover far more.
9/11/2001, and now, 9/11/2012, to conduct war without
Here are the facts known thus far:
the consent of Congress, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, runs the immediate danger of leading to world
The Case of Libya
war, which can only mean thermonuclear war.
This is “the elephant in the room,” which explains
In the case of Libya, the evidence is overwhelming.
why the Obama Administration has lied and attempted
Under the guise of humanitarian interventionism, Presi-
to cover up the true facts about Benghazi. The policy of
dent Obama ordered American military forces to create
allying with al-Qaeda, and covering up that alliance and
a no-fly zone, provide close air cover for and approved
its consequences, is, indeed an impeachable offense. The
the provision of weapons to al-Qaeda groupings to over-
President of the United States as well as all members of
throw Muammar Qaddafi. He did this in violation of the
the Senate and the Congress swear an oath to “support
U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution.
and defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign
The opposition in Libya was dominated by the Lib-
and domestic.” The President has violated that oath. The
yan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), which was created in
question is whether members of Congress will have the
the 1990s by Abdel Hakim Belhadj, who had fought with
courage to fight for the truth and for justice on behalf of
al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, from 1988 to
the victims of this criminal policy and will uphold their
1992. (On Feb. 15, 2011, the LIFG changed its name to
own oath of office.
the Libyan Islamic Movement for Change.) After Kabul
The recent report issued by the Senate Homeland
Security Committee states that DNI Clapper offered to
fell in 1992, Belhadj moved to Sudan with Osama bin
Laden.
provide the committee with a detailed timeline regard-
In 1995, British MI6 approached the LIFG, many of
ing the development of the talking points used by UN
whose leading members resided in the U.K., to carry out
Ambassador Susan Rice, but despite repeated requests
a coup against Qaddafi. After the coup and four assassi-
has not done so. The timeline has reportedly not been
nation attempts against Qaddafi failed, many members
delivered “because the Administration has spent weeks
of the LIFG were jailed in the Abu Selim prison in Tripoli.
debating internally whether or not it should turn over
Four leading members of the LIFG, who later par-
information considered ‘deliberative’ to the Congress.”
ticipated in the overthrow of Qaddafi, escaped back to
Thus, Obama seems to be moving in the direction of cov-
Afghanistan in 1998 where they provided training to al-
ering up his lies by asserting executive privilege regard-
Qaeda in camps situated in Jalalabad and Kabul.
Kronos Advisory LLC in its Dec. 16, 2011 report “A
In 2004, Belhadj and Sami Al-Saadi were captured
View to Extremist Currents in Libya” reports that JTF-
by the CIA in Bangkok, Thailand, and returned to Libya,
GTMO analysts have asserted that most LIFG fighters
where they were also imprisoned in Abu Selim. This was
fought with bin Laden in Afghanistan and trained at the
shortly after Tony Blair had organized the recognition of
OBL-sponsored Torkham Camp on the Afghanistan-Paki-
Qaddafi by the West. At the time, Blair stated that Qad-
stan border. LIFG fighters played a critical role preparing
dafi wanted to join the West in combating al-Qaeda.
al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters for operations targeting
Al-Saadi, who Taliban leader Mullah Omar once
Western forces. Leaked JIF-GTMO detainee assessments
called the “Sheikh of the Arabs,” was the author of a plan
reveal training provided at a camp in Afghanistan by
to overthrow Qaddafi. This plan was found in the home
one LIFG military committee official was so renowned
of Abd al-Rahman al-Faquih in Birmingham, U.K., during
that Yemeni al-Qaeda member Zuhail Abdo Anam Said
a police raid in the middle of the last decade. Al-Faquih
al-Sharabi, who underwent training to become a suicide
had been convicted in absentia by a Moroccan court for
bomber for an aborted component of the original 9/11
complicity in the May 2003 suicide bombings in Casa-
attacks, told interrogators he traveled to Afghanistan to
blanca. This same war plan would later be employed
undergo training there to prepare for participation in
against Qaddafi, beginning in February 2011.
the 9/11 plot.
In March 2010, due to the intervention of Tony
A note contained in the 9/11 Commission Report
Blair, Saif Qaddafi (Muammar’s son) announced the re-
reveals that the so-called mastermind of the 9/11 at-
lease of Belhadj and 233 other members of the LIFG
tack, Khalid Shaykh Mohammad, claimed to have pro-
from Abu Selim as part of a reconciliation of the Qaddafi
vided members of the LIFG computer training.
government with the LIFG and the Muslim Brotherhood.
LIFG member Abu Anas al-Libi was indicted along
The mediator in this effort, which began in 2005, was the
with Osama bin Laden for the August 7, 1998 al-Qaeda
Libyan, Muslim Brotherhood-linked, Qatari-based cleric
bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and
Ali al-Sallabi. Less than a year after they were released,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is now believed to be oper-
Belhadj and the other members of the LIFG became the
ating clandestinely in Libya.
core of the opposition to Qaddafi. According to the Wall
JTF-GTMO detainee assessments reveal the LIFG’s
guesthouse in Jalalabad, Afghanistan was visited by
Street Journal, bin Qumu began training jihadists in Derna in April of 2011.
many prominent terrorists, including in 2000 by Abu
Musab al-Zarqawi, who later became the leader of al-
LIFG Designated a Terrorist Organization
Qaeda in Iraq.
In 2001, when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, Belh-
At the time of the operation to overthrow Qaddafi
adj, who had returned to Afghanistan in 1998, fled to Tora
under the cover of a UN resolution, the LIFG was desig-
Bora with Osama bin Laden. Sami al-Saadi, the spiritual
nated a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department,
leader of the LIFG, elected to stay in Kabul to fight the
the U.K. Home Office, and the United Nations Security
U.S. forces. Both eventually escaped. Two other mem-
Council.
bers of the LIFG who later participated in the Obama-led
On September 25, 2001, President Bush signed an
overthrow of Qaddafi, were arrested by the Pakistanis
executive order to freeze the LIFG’s assets in the U.S. In
and handed over to the U.S. They were Abul Hakim al-
December 2001, the LIFG was added to the terrorism ex-
Hasadi and Abu Sufian bin Qumu, both originally from
clusion list. On December 8, 2004, the LIFG was desig-
Derna, Libya. Al-Hasadi, who had fought for five years
nated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State
in Afghanistan, was sent back to Libya and jailed. When
Department. An excerpt from the U.S. State Department
he was released in 2008, he recruited Libyans to join Al-
report reads as follows:
Qaeda to fight the U.S. in Iraq. Qumu was sent to Guanta-
“On November 3, 2007, senior Al Qaeda leaders
namo until he was later returned to Abu Salim prison in
announced that LIFG had officially joined al-Qaeda. Ac-
Tripoli. He was released in 2010.
tivities: Libyans associated with the LIFG are part of the
broader international terrorist movement. The LIFG is
in Syria and Mali. It is most likely that these weapons
one of the groups believed to have planned the Casa-
were used to kill Ambassador Stevens and three other
blanca suicide bombing in May 2003. Spanish media in
Americans, but Obama took precautions to ensure that
August 2005 linked Ziyad Hashem, an alleged member
the weapons could not be traced back to him. To have
of the LIFG’s media committee, as well as the impris-
thus intentionally attempted to conceal the source of
oned amir Abdallah al Sadeq (Belhaj), with Tunisian Is-
the weapons reveals criminal intent.
lamist Serhane Ben Abdelmajid Fakhet, the suspected
ringleader in the 2004 Madrid attacks.”
The Perpetrators of the Benghazi Attack
Abdallah al Sadeq is the nom de guerre of Abdel Hakim Belhadj. According to Kronos Advisory LLC,
Before Qaddafi was overthrown by the al-Qaeda
in 2011, Belhadj admitted that he was called twice by
affiliated LIFG, the military wing of the Transitional Na-
Fakhet weeks before the Madrid bombings. He said he
tional Council (TNC) was initially run by Gen. Abd al-
did not answer the phone, but called Fakhet’s Jordani-
Fatah Yunis. However, he was assassinated on July 28,
an business partner instead. The Spanish investigation
2011. Some reports indicate that the assassination was
named him a co-conspirator.
carried out by Ansar al-Sharia, headed by bin Qumu. Ac-
Excerpts from the UN resolution read as follows:
cording to Associated Press a deputy of Yunis, Moham-
“LIFG commanders, including Abu Yahya al-Liby and
med Agoury, stated that the February 17 Brigade was
the now-deceased Abu al-Laith al-Liby, have occupied
behind the assassination.
prominent positions within Al-Qaeda’s senior leader-
Once Qaddafi was driven from Tripoli, the former
ship. On 3 November 2007, LIFG formally merged with
emir of the LIFG, Belhadj, became the military com-
al-Qaeda. The merger was announced via two video clips
mander of the Tripoli Military Council. The Benghazi
produced by Al-Qaeda’s propaganda arm, Al-Sahab. The
Military Council, in turn, was run by Ismael al-Sallabi, an
first clip featured Usama bin Laden’s (QI.B.8.01) deputy,
ally of Belhadj and the brother of Ali al-Sallabi, who is
Aiman Muhammed Rabi al-Zawahiri (QI.A.6.01), and the
described as the spiritual leader of the revolution. Ap-
second featured Abu Laith al-Liby, who then served as
proximately one week after Belhadj was named com-
a senior member of LIFG and a senior leader and trainer
mander of the Tripoli military Council in August 2011, he
for Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.”
and Ismail al-Sallabi accompanied TNC Chairman Jalil on
a trip to Qatar, where they met with the financiers of the
Obama Provides Weapons to the Enemy
revolution and NATO officials, according to the report issued by Kronos Advisory LLC.
According to a Dec. 5, 2012 New York Times ar-
Three of the military brigades operating in the
ticle, in the Spring of 2011 President Obama approved
Benghazi area - Ansar al-Sharia, Libyan Shield, and the
the provision of weapons by Qatar and the U.A.E. to the
February 17 Brigade, the latter two of which operate in
Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, led by Abdel Hakim Bel-
coordination with the Libyan Ministry of Defense - par-
hadj. According to a Wall Street Journal article on Oct.
ticipated in the attack on the United States mission and
17, 2011, 20,000 tons of weapons were provided not to
a CIA annex in Benghazi, killing U.S. Ambassador Chris
the Transitional National Council, but directly to militias
Stevens and three other Americans, on the 11th anniver-
run by Belhadj in 18 shipments. A dozen other Qatari-
sary of the Sept. 11, 2001 al-Qaeda attacks on the World
funded shipments came to Libyan rebels allied with the
Trade Center and the Pentagon. These three organiza-
LIFG via Sudan. The shipments continued in September
tions were the chief American combat allies in the drive
even after the fall of Tripoli. According to the New York
to overthrow Qaddafi.
Times article Obama insisted that the weapons not be
To be specific: Ansar al-Sharia, led by Abu Sufian
weapons produced in the U.S., so that they would not be
bin Qumu, a former al-Qaeda Guantanamo detainee;
traceable to the U.S. According to the New York Times,
the Libya Shield, which met the Marines who came from
these weapons are now being shipped to Al-Qaeda
Tripoli at the airport and accompanied them to the CIA
annex, led by Wisam bin Hamid, identified by the Library
truck driver for one of OBL’s companies. He joined the
of Congress as possibly the head of al-Qaeda in Libya;
LIFG and was assigned to the military committee. He left
and the February 17 Brigade, which provided security
Sudan, allegedly withdrew from the LIFG in 1998 and re-
for the mission, led by Ismail Sallabi, are all run by the
turned to Afghanistan. Captured in 2001, he was sent to
al-Qaeda-affiliated LIFG.. Two other organizations im-
Guantanamo.”
plicated in the attack are the Supreme Security Council
According to the report, he has admitted associa-
(SSC), under the command of the deputy interior min-
tions with al-Qaeda/LIFG facilitator Ayyub Al Libi, Abu
ister and LIFG senior member Wanis al-Sharif, and the
Abdullah al Sadiq, which is the nom de guerre of Abdel
British run Blue Mountain Group, a private security firm
Hakim Belhadj who is the leader of LIFG, and Abu Al Mu-
that employed Libyans.
nihir, a.k.a. Sami Al Saadi, who drew up the war plan to
overthrow Qaddafi in the mid-2000s.
Ansar al-Sharia:
An August 2012 report from the Library of Congress, “Al-Qaeda in Libya: A Profile,” reports that in June
The leader of the Ansar al-Sharia (ASS) brigade
2012, Ansar al Sharia held a demonstration in Benghazi
in Benghazi and Derna that actually carried out the as-
attended by several other militias including Free Libya,
sault on the U.S. mission and CIA annex in Benghazi on
which it reports is Libya Shield, the al-Sahati Brigade,
9/11/12, is Sufian bin-Qumu. As the Senate Homeland
headed by Ismael al Sallabi and the Abu Obeida Bin al-
Security Committee’s report issued on Dec. 30, 2012
Jarrah brigade headed by Amed Abu Khattala (Bukatela).
states: “The group took credit on its own Facebook
The Library of Congress report states that these militias
page for the attack before later deleting the post.” The
“probably make up the bulk of al-Qaeda’s network in
same report also says individuals affiliated with Ansar
Libya.” Wisam bin Hamid’s relationship to Mokhtar Bel
al-Sharia were allegedly involved in storming the Tuni-
Mokhtar was known before 9/11. Why has President
sian consulate in Benghazi on June 18, 2012. According
Obama continued to cover up this relationship?
to his Guantanamo detainee assessment report, Qumu
According to Canadafree press.com, Ansar al-Shar-
received monthly stipends from one of the financiers of
ia also provided security for the hospital where Ambas-
the original 9/11/2001 attack:
sador Stevens was taken after the attack.
“Detainee’s alias is found on a list of probable AlQaida personnel receiving monthly stipends. His alias
Libya Shield:
was found on al-Qaeda’s 11 September attacks financier
Mustafa Al Hawsawi’s laptop as an Al-Qaeda member receiving family support.”
The last signed diplomatic cable from Ambassador
Stevens back to the State Department in Washington,
The assessment continues: “Detainee is assessed
dated Sept. 11, 2012 described a tense Sept. 9 meeting
as a former member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting
in Benghazi between U.S. security officials and two lead-
Group, a probable member of Al-Qaeda. The detainee is
ers of Libya Shield, Wissam bin Hamid (misidentified as
assessed as a MEDIUM to HIGH risk, as he is likely to pose
Wisam bin Ahmed) and Shaykh Muhammad al-Garabi, in
a threat to the US, its interests and allies.
which they argued that if the Muslim Brotherhood can-
“Prior history: he served as a tank driver in the
didate for Prime Minister, Alwad al Barasi, should win, he
Libyan armed forces as a private. The Libyan Govern-
would appoint the commander of the February 17 Bri-
ment states he was addicted to illegal drugs/narcotics
gade, Fawzi Bukatif, as Minister of Defense.
and had been accused of a number of crimes including
“Bukatif’s appointment,” the memo says, “would
murder, physical assault, armed assault and distribut-
open the MOD and other security ministries and offices
ing narcotics. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
to plum appointments for his most favored brigade com-
In 1993 he escaped and fled eventually to Afghanistan
manders - giving February 17 and Libya Shield tacit control
and trained at Osama Bin Laden’s Torkham Camp. After
of the armed forces.” On the other hand, if Jibril, whom the
Afghanistan he moved to Sudan where he worked as a
U.S. government was supporting, won, “they would not
continue to guarantee security in Benghazi, a critical function they asserted they were currently providing.”
On Sept. 16, 2011 the Guardian identified Sallabi
as the head of the Benghazi Military Council, the coun-
According to al-Fetn.com, Bin Hamid fought against
terpart to the Tripoli Military Council led by Abdel Hakim
American forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan before re-
Belhadj. According to Al Arabiya News, the commander
turning to the Benghazi-Derna area of eastern Libya to
of the February 17 brigade is Fawzi Bukatif.
“ally” with Washington to overthrow and execute Qa-
According to al-Hayat, Belhadj was in Benghazi in
ddafi. The same al-Fetn.com reported in late October
April 2011, where he helped organize the February 17
2011 that bin Hamid became the head of a newly formed
Brigade. Included in the security force for the Benghazi
“supreme board of the Libyan mujahideen.”
mission proper, were four members of the February 17
According to the Library of Congress, bin Hamid is
Brigade, described by a State Department source as “a
widely identified as the actual head of al-Qaeda in Lib-
friendly militia which has basically been deputized by
ya. He also held a demonstration in Sirte in March 2012,
the Libyan government to serve as our security, our host
which was attended by the head of al-Qaeda in Magreb
government security.” An additional 16 militia members
in Sahel, Mokhtar ben Mokhtar. Yet, his Libya Shield mi-
were part of the quick-reaction security team based at
litia was entrusted with security for the U.S. mission in
the CIA compound described as the mission’s “annex.”
Benghazi, and the Sept. 9, 2012 meeting likely provided
Ismael al-Sallabi (who is the brother of Libya’s
the group with the travel plans of Ambassador Stevens,
leading Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islamist, Ali al-
who arrived in Benghazi on Sept. 10 for a scheduled
Sallabi) also leads the Martyr Rafallah Sahati Brigade,
several-day visit. According to the Senate Homeland Se-
which began as a battalion of the February 17 Brigade.
curity Committee report, U.S. Government security per-
The Brigade’s commander, Shaykh Muhammad al-Garabi
sonnel who arrived at the Benghazi airport from Tripoli
who is also associated with Libya Shield, met with U.S.
were delayed for at least three hours by Libya Shield.
officials on Sept. 9, along with Wisam ben Hamid of the
“The exact cause of this hours-long delay, and its rela-
Libya Shield.
tionship to the rescue effort, remains unclear and merits
The State Department Accountability Review
further inquiry.” The report asks: “Was it part of a plot to
Board (ARB) report questions whether the February 17
keep American help from reaching the Americans under
Brigade guards at the U.S. mission ever alerted the Feb-
siege in Benghazi?” The attack on the CIA annex only
ruary 17 Brigade barracks less than 2 km away from the
began after Libyan Shield fighters escorted a Marine
mission of the attack. The Senate Homeland Security
rescue team from the airport to the location hours after
Committee report notes that U.S. annex personnel at-
the initial attack on the U.S. mission, where Ambassador
tempted to contact the February 17 Brigade to ask for
Stevens was killed.
assistance upon being notified about the attack on the
mission. When they left for the mission they made a sec-
February 17 Brigade:
ond attempt to contact the February 17 Brigade. Both
attempts were of no avail.
According to Joan Neuhaus Schaan, a fellow in
The Senate Homeland Security Committee re-
Homeland Security and Terrorism at Rice University’s
port states that “U.S. Department of State personnel
Baker Institute for Public Policy in Houston, the Febru-
were concerned about the involvement of members of
ary 17 Brigade, which provided security for the U.S. Mis-
the February 17 Brigade in the extrajudicial detention
sion in Benghazi, was founded by Ismail Sallabi, a known
of U.S. diplomatic personnel in at least one incident in
member of al-Qaeda and the LIFG. Both the Kronos Ad-
Benghazi.... Some U.S. personnel also questioned the
visory LLC report of Dec. 16, 2011 and a Brookings Doha
Brigade’s loyalty to the Libyan government and their ca-
Center policy briefing dated May 2012, entitled “Libyan
pacity or desire to safeguard American interests.”
Islamists Unpacked: Rise, Transformation, and Future,”
Moreover, the contract between the State Depart-
also report that Sallabi heads the February 17 Brigade
ment and the February 17 Brigade had expired by the
based in Benghazi.
time of the attack. On August 29, 2012, the principal U.S.
diplomatic officer in Benghazi wrote that “In early Sep-
ber of the Blue Mountain contingent responsible for
tember, a member of the February 17 Brigade told an-
guarding the perimeter may have left a gate open, al-
other Regional Security Officer in Benghazi that it could
lowing the assailants to gain access to the mission fa-
no longer support U.S. personnel movements. The RSO
cility unimpeded. The Senate Homeland Security Com-
also asked specifically if the militia could provide addi-
mittee report indicates: “After an improvised explosive
tional support for the Ambassador’s pending visit and
device (IED) was thrown over the wall of the U.S. facility
was told no.”
in Benghazi on April 7, 2012,... a spot report on the day
of the event stated that shortly after the event two in-
Supreme Security Council:
dividuals were questioned. The suspects included one
current and one former guard employed by Blue Moun-
According to the ARB, the Supreme Security Coun-
tain Group.”
cil was asked to station a marked police car at the gates
The United Kingdom is known to have been a safe-
of the mission 24/7 during Ambassador Stevens’ visit.
haven for the LIFG throughout the 1990s and up until
The SCC, which is under the direction of the Interior Min-
October 2005 when the UK finally designated it as a
istry, did not do so. Instead, an individual in a Libyan Su-
terrorist organization. In October 2001, the Bush ad-
preme Security Council police uniform was seen taking
ministration provided Libya with the names of Libyan
photos of the mission on the morning of the attack and
militants living in the UK. On February 8, 2006, the U.S.
the SSC vehicle deployed to the U.S. mission in the eve-
Treasury Department designated five individuals and
ning left just before the terrorist attack was launched.
four entities including the Sanabel Relief Agency, based
The individual in charge of the SSC in Benghazi was dep-
in the UK for their roles in financing the LIFG. On Octo-
uty interior minister Wanis al-Sharif. Wanis al-Sharif has
ber 30, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department designated
been identified by Associated Press as a senior leader of
three additional U.K.-based individuals for their roles
the Libyan Islamic fighting Group.
raising funds for the LIFG. According to the Treasury
Al-Sharif’s explanations of the events on Sept.
Department’s press release regarding the designations,
11 were complete disinformation. He announced that
the U.K. “is the greatest source of funding for the LIFG.”
no one was in the mission at the time of the attack and
then, after the news of the deaths was announced, he
Abdel Hakim Belhadj
tried to put the blame on the U.S. by falsely claiming
there was a peaceful demonstration outside the mission
Any serious investigation of Benghazi would have
over the video film in the U.S. attacking the Prophet Mo-
to look closely at the role of Abdel Hakim Belhadj, the
hamed until US security guards started firing. He also
emir of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and, after the
claimed that those responsible for the attack were pro-
overthrow of Qaddafi, the commander of the Tripoli Mili-
Qaddafi elements.
tary Council. As such, he was given responsibility, as of
According to the Libya Herald, Wanis al-Sharif
Aug. 30, 2011, for the security of all foreign embassies
was sacked on September 17, as was Hussein Abu Hu-
in Tripoli, including the U.S. Embassy, until he stepped
maida, the head of the Benghazi security directorate.
down as commander of the TMC to form his own political
Both were replaced by Colonel Salah al-Din Awad Dogh-
party (Watan) in May 2012. He was also put in charge of
man.
coordinating defense on a national level.
On Nov. 17, 2012, the Saudi-based publication
Blue Mountain Group:
Arab News published an article by Ali Bluwi, reporting
that the attack on the Benghazi mission was carried out
The Blue Mountain Group, a British security firm
in revenge for the killing of Abu Yahya al-Libi, a senior
that hired local Libyans is also suspect. The ARB report
Libyan member of al-Qaeda, killed in a U.S. drone attack
indicates no guards were present outside the compound
in Pakistan in June 2012.
immediately before the attack ensued and that a mem-
The article also reports that U.S. Ambassador Chris
Stevens “prevented Abdel Hakim Belhadj from assum-
was spontaneous. The people gathered in front of the
ing the portfolio of defense or interior in Libya.”
consulate, and then an exchange of fire took place be-
Furthermore, according to former Muslim Brother-
tween the two sides – between the consulate’s guards
hood member Walid Shoebat, Belhadj is the al-Qaeda
and the demonstrators, some of whom were armed. This
operative that the Libyan expatriates claim was the
later resulted in the regrettable action which claimed
principal organizer who directed the Sept. 11 terrorist
the life of the U.S. Ambassador.”
attack in Benghazi.
On May 31, 1997, the LIFG published a letter of
Al-Qaeda in Syria:
support to Omar Abdal Rahman (aka the Blind Sheikh),
who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his in-
While Belhadj was commander of the Tripoli Mili-
volvement in the 1993 attack on the World Trade Cen-
tary Council, he deployed on behalf of Obama, the Brit-
ter. In this letter, LIFG emir Belhadj warned the “tyrant
ish Empire, and Saudi Arabia, to provide al-Qaeda mili-
Americans” to take heed of the growing anger among
tary personnel, training and weapons in the attempt
Muslims. Both an attack on the International Committee
to overthrow the Syrian government. Numerous news
for the Red Cross Red Crescent in Benghazi on May 22,
sources, including the Daily Telegraph, have reported
2012 and the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi on
that, in November 2011, less than a month after the as-
June 6, 2012 were claimed by the Brigades of the Im-
sassination of Qaddafi on October 20, Belhadj traveled
prisoned Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman.
to Turkey to meet with the Syrian Free Army, to provide
it with training and weapons to overthrow Assad. Bel-
Al-Qaeda’s “Talking Points”
hadj’s trip to Turkey was supported by the head of the
Transitional National Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil.
Although it is clearly established that there was no
According to Albawaba.com and thetruthseeker.
demonstration outside the mission, the terrorist attack
co.uk, during that same month, some 600 LIFG terrorists
had no relationship to an anti-Muslim video and was
from Libya entered Syria and began military operations.
clearly a premeditated terrorist incident, the Obama ad-
The individual who leads the Libyan fighters is Mahdi al-
ministration adopted the “talking points” employed by
Harati, now head of the Liwa al-Ummah Brigade in Syria.
senior al-Qaeda-allied LIFG operatives Wanis al-Sharif,
According to an Aug. 9, 2012 article in Foreign Policy
Ismael al Sallabi and Abdel Hakim Belhadj.
magazine by Mary Fitzgerald, entitled “The Syrian Reb-
On Sept. 12, Wanis al-Sharif told the press that
els’ Libyan Weapon,” al-Harati is a Libyan-born Irish citi-
there had been a demonstration protesting a US video
zen, who was a commander of the Tripoli Brigade, run by
attacking Mohammed. He also falsely claimed that U.S.
Belhadj during the overthrow of Qaddafi in Libya.
security guards fired first. On Sept. 12, Ismail al-Sallabi
The Tripoli Brigade was one of the first rebel units
said on radio that what we saw in Benghazi yesterday
to enter the Libyan capital in August 2011. After Tripoli
was an intifada to protect the name of the prophet.
was taken by the rebels, al-Harati was appointed deputy
On September 21, Abdel Hakim Belhadj told the
head of the Tripoli Military Council, serving under Ab-
Guardian: “We are fully aware that this despicable
del Hakim Belhadj. In late 2011, Harati stepped down as
hate film, “Innocence of Muslims,” does not reflect the
commander of the Tripoli Brigade and as deputy head of
American people’s views and that the producers of this
the Tripoli Military Council, and left for Syria.
film are an extremist minority.... [A] hate campaign led
According to Harati, more than 6,000 men across
by a small number of extremist Islamophobes has led
Syria have joined Liwa al-Ummah since its establish-
to unacceptable counter-reactions by small extremist
ment. Harati stresses that 90% of its members are Syri-
groups.”
ans, the rest are Libyans, most of them, former members
As late as October 9, Belhadj gave an interview to
of the Tripoli Brigade, along with a smattering of other
the daily al-Sharq al-Awsat in which he stated: “The in-
Arabs. According to Reuters, Liwa al-Ummah includes 20
formation we received is that the issue at the beginning
senior members of the Tripoli Brigade.
According to documents obtained and released
by former Muslim Brotherhood member Walid Shoe-
is believed to have met Osama bin Laden and joined the
al-Qaeda terrorist group.
bat, an array of records provided to Libyan expatriates
from sources inside the Libyan government establish
The Status of Two Identified Suspects
that al-Qaeda operatives in Libya are facilitating the
passage of jihadists through Libya to Syria. Specifically,
The two suspects identified thus far as involved
Abdul Wahhab Hassan Qayad, a leading member of the
in the attack on the U.S. mission are Ali Harzi and Amed
LIFG whose brother, al-Qaeda leader Yahya al-Libi, was
Abu Khattala (Bukatela). Ali Harzi was apprehended after
killed in Pakistan in June 2012 by a U.S. drone attack,
9/11 in Turkey, reportedly on his way to Syria. He was sent
now works in the Libyan Interior Ministry where he is in
back his native land, Tunesia and has since been released
charge of Border Control and Strategic Institutions. The
for “lack of evidence.” According to Investors.com, Sen.
position allows him to arrange open-border passage for
Saxy Chambliss stated that Harzi was confirmed to be a
al-Qaeda operatives, facilitating not only the flow of ter-
member of Ansar al-Sharia. Eli Lake of the Daily Beast re-
rorists into Libya, but also al-Qaeda efforts to transport
ports that Harzi is not considered to be a ringleader of the
terrorists and weapons into Syria from Libya via Turkey.
attack but is considered a suspect because he used social
media to tip off friends about the attack. His brother is
Clandestine Al-Qaeda
believed to be Tariq Abu Ammar, a member of al-Qaeda in
Iraq whose job is to arrange travel of fighters from North
According to numerous reports, al-Qaeda’s strategy
Africa to Syria.
in Libya is not to operate openly in its own name for se-
Amed Abu Khattala (Bukatela), according to the
curity reasons, but rather to operate under the name of
publication Magharebia is a suspect in the Sept. 11 ter-
various militias. Nonetheless, at least two known Core al-
rorist attack on the US mission, as well as a suspect in the
Qaeda operatives are known to have been deployed from
assassination of Major General Yunis on July 28, 2011. He
Pakistan to Libya.
has also been identified as a suspect in connection with
One of the State Department documents released
the assassination of Benghazi police chief, Faraj Drissi on
by the House Oversight Committee in October was from
Nov. 20, 2012. He was the commander of the Abu Obeida
the Research and Information Support Center, dated
Bin al-Jarrah brigade, which was disbanded after 9/11. He
March 1, 2012. It gives the following assessment of the
has been linked as well to Ansar al-Sharia. He is now liv-
presence of al-Qaeda in the Benghazi area:
ing freely in Benghazi and has never been interviewed by
“In late December 2011, reports indicated that the
al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan had sent experienced ji-
U.S. investigators. On Jan. 6, he was the target of an unsuccessful assassination.
hadists to Libya to build a new base of operations in the
country. Between May and December 2011, one of these
Benghazi Attack Precursor to Al-Qaeda/Muslim
jihadists had recruited 200 fighters in the eastern part of
Brotherhood Coup
the country. Documents seized in Iraq indicate that many
foreign fighters who participated in the Iraqi insurgency
hailed from eastern Libya.”
On September 12, Mahmoud Jibril was indeed defeated in his quest to become Prime Minister by Mustafa
According to the August 2012 Library of Congress
Abushagur by two votes, and the Muslim Brotherhood
“Al-Qaeda in Libya” report, the individual sent is believed
candidate, Alwad al Barasi, became deputy prime minis-
to be Abd al-Baset Azzouz, who has been close to al-Qa-
ter. When Abushagur failed to gain approval for his pro-
eda head Al-Zawahiri since 1980. According to the same
posed cabinet, he was voted out as Prime Minister on Oct.
report, he is likely located currently in Libya with another
7. He was replaced by Ali Zeidan whose proposed cabinet
senior Libyan al-Qaeda operative Abd al Hamid al Ruqhay,
was approved on Oct. 31. Half of the cabinet members are
alias Abu Anas al-Libi, who moved, in the late 1980s, liv-
now members of the National Forces Alliance and half se-
ing at various times in Afghanistan and Sudan, where he
lected by the Muslim Brotherhood Justice and Construc-
tion Party. Thus, the Muslim Brotherhood has succeeded
The grip of the LIFG on the government of Libya
in gaining a major foothold in the new government of
was then strengthened on January 11 when Libyan
Libya just as it has done in Egypt and threatens to do else-
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan appointed the deputy emir of
where due to the deliberate policy of the Obama Admin-
the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Khalid al-Sharif, as
istration, the British Empire, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
the deputy minister of defense of Libya.. When the U.S.
On September 24, Fawzi Bukatif, commander of the
invaded Afghanistan in 2001, Khalid al Sharif escaped
February 17 Brigade, and Ismail al-Sallabi, founder of the
Afghanistan to Pakistan, where he remained until 2003.
February 17 Brigade and also head of the al-Sahati Bri-
In 2003 he was captured in Pakistan and handed over to
gade, were relieved of their commands and replaced by
the US which later transferred him to Libya in 2005. He
Army colonels.
was released with Belhadj and others on March 23, 2010
On November 20, Colonel Faraj Drissi, the Benghazi
but re-imprisoned by Qaddafi once the revolution be-
security chief appointed after the attack on the U.S. Beng-
gan. After the liberation of Tripoli by Belhadj he began
hazi mission, was assassinated outside of his home. On
working with the Tripoli military council and then went
Dec. 16 a senior police source informed the Libya Herald
on to form he National Guard, which is under the Min-
that the suspected assassin, who had been detained by
istry of Defense and involved directly with the Border
police, identified seven prominent Islamists in connec-
Guard.
tion with the assassination and related attacks. The most
significant among these are: Sufyan ben Qumu, the head
The Hostage-Taking In Algeria
of Ansar al-Sharia, Rafallah al-Sahati chiefs Mohammed
al-Garabi and Ismael al-Sallabi and Obeida militia chief
On January 16, al Qaeda in Magreb launched a ma-
Ahmed Bukatela. Libya’s new Interior Minister, Ashour
jor terrorist attack in Algeria. This operation is directly
Shuwail, stepped in on Dec. 20 to deny that those named,
related to Obama’s alliance with al-Qaeda in Libya. First,
including Ismail al-Sallabi and the group Ansar Al-Sharia,
as reported above, weapons provided by Qatar with
were being sought in relation to the events in Benghazi.
Obama’s approval to Belhadj and the LIFG have been
Al-Garabi denied any involvement and Ismael al-Sallabi,
supplied to al Qaeda in Mali. Second, the leader of the
speaking from Turkey, also claimed innocence.
hostage-taking in Algeria is Mokhtar bel Mokhtar, an Al-
Meanwhile, in the capital city of Tripoli, the Libyan
gerian who fought against the Soviet forces in Afghani-
military tribunal investigating the assassination of Gen-
stan in the 1980s. As reported above, the Library of
eral Abdel Fattah Younis near the city of Benghazi on July
Congress reports that in March 2012, Wisam bin Hamid,
28, 2011, issued a summons to former National Transi-
the leader of Libya Shield, whom a Palestinian newspa-
tional Council (NTC) leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil, an ally of
per identified as the leader of al-Qaeda in Libya, held
Belhadj. Tripoli militia forces immediately blocked roads
an al-Qaeda-type demonstration in the city of Sirt. The
for three days to protest the court’s summoning of Jalil.
same newspaper reported that Mokhtar bel Mokhtar, the
As a result, the tribunal announced that it was abandon-
leader of AQIM in the Sahara, attended the parade as the
ing its inquiry.
honored guest of Wisam. Thus, the leader of the Alge-
On January 2, 2013, the acting head of the criminal
rian terrorist action is a known ally of the individual who
investigation department in Benghazi, Captain Abdel-
heads Libya Shield, a group which the Obama adminis-
salam al-Mahdawi, was abducted. He was seized at gun-
tration continues to rely upon for security in Benghazi
point as he was reportedly about to name suspects in the
despite its complicity in the assassination of our ambas-
murder of former Benghazi police chief Faraj al-Drissi.
sador and three other Americans.
On January 3, 2013, the President of Libya, Mohammet Megaryef, survived an assassination attempt in a ho-
What Must Be Done
tel in the southern oasis of Sabha where he was then
staying.
President Obama swore an oath to “support and
defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and
domestic,” as did every member of the U.S. Senate and
As this fact sheet conclusively demonstrates to be
House of Representatives Obama has broken that oath
the case in Libya, and as the Syrian opposition itself has
by supporting the enemies of the U.S. Constitution. As
affirmed in respect to Syria by proclaiming that they are
many members of the House Foreign Relations Commit-
all al-Nusra,— the entire Syrian opposition is dominated
tee pointed out in recent hearings, the issue here is the
by al-Qaeda.
policy of the Obama administration which contributed
Obama is in bed with al-Qaeda. Petraeus was
to causing the deaths of Ambassador Chris Stevens and
forced to resign for less. Obama must be forced to resign
three others in Benghazi, and if continued in respect to
or be impeached now.
Syria, threatens to bring the world to the brink of thermonuclear war.
Congressional demands for the creation of a select
Policy questions to be asked by
Congressional investigators:
committee to get to the bottom of the Benghazi 9/11/12
attacks must begin with a thorough airing of the ongo-
The LIFG was listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organiza-
ing alliance between the Obama White House and al-
tion (FTO) by the U.S. State Department, the UN Security
Qaeda. Nothing short of a thorough probe will prevent
Council and the UK Home Office before it officially dis-
a replay of the first two 9/11 attacks, perhaps on a far
banded in February 2011 and merely renamed itself the
grander scale.
Libyan Islamic Movement for Change. In 2007 Al-Qaeda
What makes this particularly urgent, is that in us-
announced the merger of Al-Qaeda and the LIFG. There
ing al-Qaeda to overthrow Assad in Syria, the British
are numerous links between the LIFG and 9/11/2001
Empire, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and their stooge Obama are
known to the U.S. from interrogations in Guantanamo.
pushing the world to the edge of a thermonuclear war
How does the Obama administration justify allying with
with Russia and China. The crimes of Obama of failing
leading members of the LIFG in Libya? Did Obama au-
to provide sufficient security to the mission and not
thorize the decision to work with the LIFG? Given the
responding after the attack by providing military assis-
U.S. State Department designation of the LIFG as a FTO
tance, are the result of the underlying policy. The crimes
did anyone in the State Department object to this poli-
of Obama are not the result of bureaucratic sloppiness.
cy? Why has the Obama administration not designated
These crimes and the lies of the Obama Administration’s
the Libyan Islamic Movement for Change as a FTO?
“talking points,” which were designed to cover them up,
The emir of the LIFG Abdel Hakim Belhadj fought
are a result of the underlying crime of having allied with
with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and then moved
known enemies of the United States of America. As RSO
with him to Sudan in 1992. He ran training camps for
officer Eric Nordstrom testified before the House Over-
Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. He fled Ka-
sight Committee in October “In my view, the Taliban is
bul in 2001 and went with Osam bin Laden to Tora Bora.
inside the building.”
He was listed as a co-conspirator in the 2004 Madrid
The killings of the Ambassador and three other
bombings. In Libya he received weapons from Qatar ap-
Americans were carried out by the very terrorists Obama
proved by Obama. He became the military commander
and his masters intentionally supported to overthrow
of the Tripoli Military Council in August 2011 and was
Qaddafi, and are supporting now to overthrow Assad.
responsible for security at all foreign embassies. Why
The designation of al-Nusra in Syria as a terrorist
did we ally with a known terrorist to overthrow Qaddafi?
organization is just a fig leaf. As reported in the Septem-
Why did we allow Qatar to provide him with weapons,
ber 11 memo sent by Ambassador Stevens to Washing-
bypassing the Transitional National Council? Did the
ton, Wisam bin Hamid and al-Garabi told U.S. officials
Obama administration protest his becoming responsible
on Sept. 9 “fluid relationships and blurry lines” define
for security at all foreign embassies?
membership in the brigades in Benghazi. “They them-
General Yunis, the military commander of the
selves were members of multiple brigades, they said.”
TNC, was assassinated on July 28, 2011. The assassina-
The same is true in Syria.
tion paved the way for Belhadj to become the military
commander of the Tripoli Military Council. A deputy of
attack have been escorted by “Mr. Hamid.” Why do we
Yunis, Mohammed Agoury, told Associated Press that
continue to rely on Wisam bin Hamid and Libya Shield
the February 17 Brigade was behind the assassination.
for security while investigating a crime in which Wisam
Other sources have said that Ansar al-Sharia was respon-
bin Hamid must be a suspect?
sible. Why did the Obama Administration hire the Febru-
The Supreme Security Council police car assigned
ary 17th Brigade to provide security in Benghazi under
to the mission left the scene of the terrorist attack just
these circumstances?
as it began. An individual wearing a SSC police uniform
After Belhadj became head of the Tripoli Mili-
took photos of the mission on the morning of the attack.
tary Council he and Ismael al-Sallabi traveled with TNC
On Sept. 12 Wanis al-Sharif, deputy interior minister for
Chairman Jalil to Qatar to meet with NATO officials. Why
Eastern Libya in charge of the SSC in Benghazi and a se-
did NATO choose to meet with known terrorists? Who
nior leader of the LIFG spread disinformation about the
authorized this meeting?
terrorist attack. On September 17 he was sacked by his
Bin Qumu is head of Ansar al-Sharia. Ansar al-
own government. Why was al-Sharif sacked? What are
Sharia took credit for the attack on the U.S. Mission on
we doing to identify the individual who took photos?
its own Facebook page. The Senate Homeland Security
Have we interviewed al-Sharif to find out why he lied
committee report says individuals affiliated with Ansar
and why he did not provide a marked police car outside
al-Sharia were allegedly involved in storming the Tuni-
the mission 24/7? Have we interviewed the driver who
sian consulate in Benghazi on June 18, 2012. Bin Qumu
left the scene? As deputy interior minister what is his in-
is known to be a member of the LIFG and Al-Qaeda and
volvement in running weapons to al-Qaeda in Syria and
was assessed to be a HIGH risk to U.S. interests. He re-
Mali?
ceived a monthly stipend from one of the financiers
The Senate Homeland Security Committee report
of the original 9/11. He began training rebel forces in
indicates that a current and a former employee of Blue
Derna in April of 2011. What actions did the Obama ad-
Mountain were suspects in the bombing of the mission
ministration take against him and Ansar al-Sharia before
on April 6, 2012. The ARB report says that a Blue Moun-
Sept. 11? Why is Ansar al-Sharia not listed as a FTO? On
tain guard may have left the gate to the mission open
what basis did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argue
and had done so on a previous occasion. Why did we
that an entry on Ansar al-Sharia’s own Facebook page is
continue to employ Blue Mountain?
not evidence?
The February 17th Brigade was formed by Ismael
U.S. officials met with Wisam bin Hamid and Mu-
al-Sallabi. Belhadj was in Benghazi in April 2012 to help
hammad Al-Garabi on Sept. 9. The Library of Congress
form the brigade. According to the Senate Homeland
reports that Wisam bin Hamid is possibly the leader
Security Committee report, the Feb. 17th Brigade was
of al-Qaeda in Libya. He leads Libya Shield, which is
involved in extrajudicial detentions of U.S. diplomatic
the same as Free Libya. He hosted a demonstration in
personnel prior to Sept. 11. On Sept. 11, according to
Sirte in March 2012 attended by the head of Al-Qaeda
the ARB the Feb. 17th Brigade guards at the mission
in Magreb, Mokhtar Bel Mokhtar, as his honored guest.
failed to notify the Feb. 17th Brigade barracks. Accord-
Mokhtar Bel Mokhtar has been identified as the leader
ing to the Senate Homeland Security Committee the
of the hostage-taking event which took place beginning
February 17th Brigade failed to respond to two calls for
Jan. 13 at a British Petroleum gas field in Algeria. Bin Ha-
assistance from the CIA annex. Why did we rely on the
mid also participated in another rally in Benghazi with
Feb. 17th Brigade for security in the first place, given
other militias on June 7-8, 2012. The Library of Congress
that it was created by known LIFG operatives? Why did
reports that these militias “probably make up the bulk
we continue to employ the Feb. 17th Brigade after they
of al-Qaeda’s network in Libya.” Why did U.S. officials
conducted extrajudicial detentions and after their loyal-
meet with him? Why did we rely on Libya Shield for
ties were called into question?
security in Benghazi? On Nov. 28 the New York Times
Did Obama know about the trip made by Belhadj to
reported that US investigators of the Benghazi terrorist
Turkey in November 2011 to meet with the Free Syrian
Army and Turkish representatives? Did Obama approve
a half of the cabinet positions in Libya and the Muslim
this trip? Did this trip result in an agreement to provide
Brotherhood candidate for Prime Minister, Barasi, who
weapons, personnel and training to the Free Syrian
was supported by them, is a deputy Prime Minister. Did
Army?
the Obama administration support this ascension of the
600 LIFG fighters went to Syria in November 2011
Muslim Brotherhood in Libya?
led by al Harati, the deputy commander of the Tripoli
What was the purpose of Ambassador Stevens’
Military Council under Belhadj. Who knew about this
meeting with the Turkish ambassador in Benghazi just
and approved this deployment?
before the attack on Sept. 11?
Belhadj and the LIFG are now providing weapons
The ARB report states that UK diplomatic person-
to Al-Qaeda in Syria and Mali. Why has the U.S. or NATO
nel were in Benghazi on Sept. 11. The attack began im-
not intercepted these weapons, which in the case of Syr-
mediately after UK security personnel left the U.S. mis-
ia are transported to Turkey by ship?
sion. What was the purpose of this one-day visit and did
It is reported that Ambassador Stevens opposed
Belhadj becoming either Minister of Defense or Minister
of the Interior in Libya. Is this true and if so, why?
they meet with Ambassador Stevens?
What was the purpose of the CIA annex in Benghazi? Why was the mission in Benghazi “never formally
The Libyan Interior Ministry official in charge of
notified to the Libyan government” as reported by the
border control is Abdul Wahhab Hassan Qayad, a leading
ARB? Was it involved in support operations for supply-
member of the LIFG whose brother, al-Qaeda leader Ya-
ing weapons or personnel to Syria?
hya al-Libi, was killed in Pakistan in June 2012 by a U.S.
Did the Obama administration tailor its talking
drone attack. What contact does the Obama administra-
points to protect its al-Qaeda assets in Libya who were
tion have with him about the transport of jihadis and
responsible for the terrorist attack?
weapons to and from Libya? What is his involvement in
On January 11, Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan
the events in Benghazi on Sept. 11 given the killing of
appointed the deputy emir of the Libyan Islamic Fight-
his brother on June 2012, which some sources identify
ing Group, Khalid al-Sharif, as the deputy minister of de-
as a potential motivation for the attack?
fense of Libya. Khalid al-Sharif is also the head of the
Wisam bin Hamid and Muhammad al-Garabi told
Libyan National Guard which is under the Ministry of
U.S. officials on Sept. 9 that they would not continue to
Defense and involved directly with the Border Guard.
provide security the for mission, if Jabril became prime
Did the Obama administration protest this appointment
minister. Did the U.S. and Ambassador Stevens support
of an individual who was the second in command of the
the Jabril for Prime Minister in the General National
al Qaeda-allied LIFG.? Is the U.S. military now working
Congress elections which took place Sept. 10-12? On
directly with Khalid al-Sharif in his position as deputy
September 12, one day after Sept. 11 Jabril was de-
defense minister?
feated. Now the Muslim Brotherhood controls nearly
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