Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago. ...The Saudis certainly set up an effective network for financing and delivering arms to rebels backed by the United States in Afghanistan in 1979 and on a much bigger scale after St. Reagan took office in 1981. A Saudi billionaire's son who was later to become famous worldwide was a big player in that effort, Osama bin Laden. The particular toxic mix of Islamic fundamentalism and politics that became Al Qai'da's brand of jihadism was forged in the Afghanistan War against the Soviet Union.
The Saudis have been told that opponents of Gaddafi need anti-tank rockets and mortars as a first priority to hold off attacks by Gaddafi's armour, and ground-to-air missiles to shoot down his fighter-bombers. [my emphasis]
But Libya's a different country. What could go wrong with this plan?
Tags: libya
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