Libya updateU.S. to help Libya create an elite anti-terror force

Published 17 October 2012

The Obama administration has received a tacit Congressional approval to reallocate about $8 million from Pentagon operations and counterterrorism aid budgeted for Pakistan to Libya, for the purpose of building an elite Libyan force over the next year – a force that could ultimately rise to about 500 troops; the post-Qaddafi Libyan government does not have meaningful military and law enforcement forces at its command. Instead, it relies on several armed militias to maintain law and order in different parts of the country

U.S. to train Libyan counter-terror forces // Source: rizospastis.gr

Libya is a deeply tribal society. Col. Muammar Qaddafi, with an iron fist, was able to impose a centralized rule on the divided society, but with his removal to traditional fissures have resurfaced.

One area where these deep divides are manifesting themselves is internal security. The post-Qaddafi Libyan government does not have meaningful military and law enforcement forces at its command. Instead, it relies on several armed militias to maintain law and order in different parts of the country. One reason the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was so exposed was that the security commitments given by the Libyan government to American diplomats could not be kept.

The United States now wants to change that situation. The New York Times reports that the Obama administration has received a tacit Congressional approval to reallocate about $8 million from Pentagon operations and counterterrorism aid budgeted for Pakistan to Libya, for the purpose of building an elite Libyan force over the next year – a force that could ultimately rise to about 500 troops.

The Times reports that unclassified internal State Department memo sent to Congress on 4 September describe the plan’s goal as enhancing “Libya’s ability to combat and defend against threats from Al Qaeda and its affiliates.”

A Pentagon document, which accompanied the State Department papers, said that the elite Libyan commando force will “counter and defeat terrorist and violent extremist organizations.”

U.S. officials say that right now, Libya has no such capability.

The Times notes that a senior Pentagon official is quoted saying that the proposal to create the elite force reflects the security environment and the uncertainty coming out of the government transition in Libya. He added that, “The multimilitia fabric that’s providing security there needs to be brought into a more integrated national security system.”

The document also describes an additional $4 million to help Libya improve control of its borders.