King, however, may instead want to focus his investigative energies on the larger story – how the Obama administration armed Libyan rebels who were known to include Al Qaeda and other anti-Western jihadists, and how the White House is currently continuing that same policy in Syria.
During the revolution against Muammar Khaddafi’s regime, the U.S. admitted to directly arming the rebel groups. At the time, rebel leader Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi boasted in an interview that a significant number of the Libyan rebels were Al Qaeda gunmen, many of whom had fought U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adm. James Stavridis, NATO supreme commander for Europe, admitted during the Libyan revolution that Libya’s rebel force may include Al Qaeda: “We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential Al Qaeda, Hizbullah,” he said. Also at the time, former CIA officer Bruce Riedel told the Hindustan Times: “There is no question that Al Qaeda’s Libyan franchise, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, is a part of the opposition.”
Ambassador Stevens was directly involved in arming the rebels, according to Egyptian security officials speaking to this column. Those officials claimed Stevens played a central role in recruiting jihadists to fight Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
The officials further claimed Stevens served as a key contact with the Saudis to coordinate the recruitment by Saudi Arabia of Islamic fighters from North Africa and Libya. The jihadists were sent to Syria via Turkey to attack Assad’s forces.
The Egyptian security officials said Stevens also worked with the Saudis to send names of potential jihadi recruits to U.S. security organizations for review. Names found to be directly involved in previous attacks against the U.S., including in Iraq and Afghanistan, were ultimately not recruited by the Saudis to fight in Syria, said the officials.
Editor’s note: Aaron Klein is available for a U.S. speaking tour in October. Topics include the 2012 presidential election and Israel. To book Klein, call 215-380-3469 or e-mail [email protected].
Aaron Klein is Jerusalem bureau chief and senior reporter for WorldNetDaily.com. He is also host of an investigative radio program on New York’s 770-WABC Radio, the largest talk radio station in the U.S., every Sunday between 7-9 p.m. His website is KleinOnline.com.
