Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Intelligence suggests that some opposition forces in Libya that have been receiving support from Western powers and now NATO may have “flickers” of Al-Qaeda influence, according to James Stavridis, United States Admiral and Commander of NATO forces.

In comments made at a U.S. Senate hearing on Tuesday, Admiral Stavridis also hinted that the rebels might have links to Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based group.

“The intelligence that I am receiving at this point makes me feel that the leadership that I'm seeing are responsible men and women who are struggling against Colonel Qadhafi... We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah.”

He said, “But at this point, I do not have the detail sufficient to say that there is a significant Al-Qaeda presence or any other terrorist presence in and among these folks.”

However NATO was examining very closely the content, composition, the personalities and who the leaders of the opposition forces were.

His comments came even as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended a conference on the Libyan situation in London, with the arming of the rebels being a key question addressed.

Top U.S. officials including Ms. Clinton have repeatedly said under the Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorised the imposition and enforcement of the no-fly zone in Libya, UNSC members did have the option to arm rebels despite an overall arms embargo for the country.

However Admiral Stavridis' comments are likely to add another layer of complexity to such a process.