Libyan PM kidnapped

It appears that al Qaeda retaliated for the kidnapping by US Delta troops of terror mastermind al-Libi by kidnapping the Libyan Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan early this morning. He was released after a few hours, but it has influenced NATO to seriously consider bolstering Libyan security, according to Stars & Stripes;

Libya made a formal request for support in May, an apparent indication that the country is open to outside support. After that request, NATO sent a team of experts to Tripoli.

“When we received the request we acted swiftly,” [NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh-Rasmussen] said.

Now, NATO needs to determine the best way to provide support, though accepting that support will ultimately be up to Libyan officials, Rasmussen said.

“We have to make sure we do not duplicate the work [of other organizations such as the EU] and waste resources,” Rasmussen said. “Any NATO assistance should add value.”

“Swiftly” probably doesn’t mean the same to bureaucrats that it means to the rest of us. al-Libi’s wife has been saying that the team that snatched her husband was made up of Libyans, so they probably should have been expecting some sort of retaliation, but Ali Zeidan should probably thank his lucky stars that he hasn’t been separated into several parts along some dusty road.

From Fox News;

A militia commander affiliated with the Interior Ministry told a private Libyan television station that the prime minister was freed when members of a Tripoli-based militia stormed the house where he was held hostage.

Haitham al-Tajouri, commander of the so-called “Reinforcement Force,” told Al-Hurrah television that his men exchanged fire with the captors but that Zidan was not hurt.

“He is now safe in a safe place,” he said. His account could not be independently verified.

They probably need to review their own security procedures if their Prime Minister gets kidnapped, and then come to NATO for help.

Category: Terror War