Splitting Libya

We hear of the brave exploits and battles for independence from tyranny of the Libyan rebels. Who are, in fact, clan cliques, various militias representing a number of tribal groups inhabiting that country. With far less in common with one another than their temporarily unifying mission to rid the country of Moammar Gadhafi's regime, along with his odious presence, an insult to decency and the world order.

Those who have been more or less as the occasion seemed to demand, in concert with one another striving to unseat their long-term tyrant and his loyal forces, may quickly begin to unravel despite the interim ruling council claiming to represent all Libyans. The country is now aflood with weapons of every description, some gifted from NATO, some looted from government weapons depots.

How to extract them from the possession of Libyans to ensure that what will follow the complete surrender of government troops and agencies to the Transition Council will not instead descend into a full-blown civil war of tribal interests seeking vengeance one against the other? Ah, and yes, there is the delicate issue too that among the tribal and regional conflicts were those where atrocities took place.

We hear only of government loyalist troops exacting their revenge of horrible atrocities against the rebels. The reverse of course, also takes place. Moreover, apart from the rebels destroying regime loyalists, also assaults of one tribe against another, where, for example, one tribe refused to join the rebellion and another indulged themselves in a massacre of the first.

The Salafists fighting for their vision of a new pan-Muslim emirate, refusing to acknowledge the presence of territorial lines and governments are there, waiting in the wings as al-Qaeda offshoots, lingering to seize their opportunity. When looting was taking place of government weapons depots they were there, too, availing themselves of invaluable, technologically-advanced weaponry.

Libya may yet split between east and west. The factional unity that exists may not stand the test of limited time. The rebel alliance of fractious clan and tribal interests may yet disintegrate. And it is precisely the presence of the Islamists in the background of the National Transitional Council, and Algeria's fear of their influence that explains its reluctance to recognize the NTC.

And its willingness to give safe haven to Moammar Gadhafi, his wife and his familial entourage.
"Algeria, with thousands of kilometres of border with Libya, must handle this issue with care and consider Algeria's security as a top priority", explained Abdelhamid si Afif of the country's foreign affairs committee.

Algeria, it seems, does not trust the interim National Transitional Council to keep a firm grip on al-Qaeda's North African wing. Should these possibilities not be something that NATO should be concerned with beyond acknowledging a distant potential?