ISIS is contained
Pull my finger and I'll take another dump on America.
Posted on 12/04/2015 5:12:15 PM PST by csvset
PARIS (AFP) -
There is an increasing risk of Libya becoming a haven for combatants from Islamic State, even as western nations target the extremist jihadist group in Iraq and Syria, the French defence minister warned in comments published Sunday.
"We see foreign jihadists arriving in the region of Syrte (northern Libya) who, if our operations in Syria and Iraq succeed in reducing the territorial reach of Daesh (Islamic State, IS) could tomorrow be more numerous," defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the Jeune Afrique weekly.
Le Drian ruled out military intervention in Libya but warned the West had to try to foster Libyan unity in the face of such a threat.
"It is a major risk and that's why there absolutely must be understanding between the Libyans," said Le Drian.
Analysts believe Libya would present a less hospitable environment for IS than Syria and Iraq.
But Tripoli is hampered in presenting a united front as rival governments vie for power -- a militia alliance including Islamists that overran Tripoli in August 2014, and the internationally recognised administration that fled to eastern Libya.
The current chaos in Libya with groups of competing militias since the overthrow and death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011 has allowed IS to build influence, notably in Kadhafi's coastal home town of Sirte, east of Tripoli.
And there are widespread fears the group could exploit tribal conflicts further into Africa.
Recognising Islamic State's increasing Libyan reach, Le Drian said he feared that ultimately the group could form one half of a double-edged jihadist challenge in conjunction with Boko Haram, which pledged allegiance to their fellow Islamic extremists in March and which has been bringing terror to Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
"There is a major risk of a link being forged with Boko Haram," said Le Drian, urging Libya's rival administrations to make common cause while urging neighbours Algeria and Egypt to work diplomatic channels to that effect.
But Le Drian insisted that France would not countenance military action at least while the Libyans are divided among themselves.
"That's not on the agenda. One cannot release the Libyans from their responsibilities by suggesting there might one day be an intervention. They must find solutions themselves."
Pull my finger and I'll take another dump on America.
Interesting. Libya was stable since Reagan bombed them. Did something change?
Ummmm, Benghazi and a CIA Annex for starters. Ever heard testimony from the personnel at the Annex? WHAT WERE THEY DOING THERE?
Running guns to ISIS via Turkey.
Target-rich environment.
Gee, France, didn’t you support 0bama’s destruction of Libya with your own NATO troops? Remind me again when did Libya attack any NATO nation? You laid down with 0dawg and now you have 0fleas.
"That's not on the agenda. One cannot release the Libyans from their responsibilities by suggesting there might one day be an intervention. They must find solutions themselves."
Sacre Bleu !
Holy smokes! No, I hadn’t read down that far. I guess the gist of that is...
“Crawl out from under the rubble we left you under and
get the two dozen squabbling terrorist groups (that we
left you at the mercy of) under control or we’ll be back
to bury you under some more rubble someday.”
When the going gets tough, the tough move their carrier group to the Persian Gulf
Buh bye France
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