White House says Trump spoke to Libyan commander Haftar on Monday

[rooster59]

White House says Trump spoke to Libyan commander Haftar on Monday

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: Khalifa Haftar, the military commander who dominates eastern Libya, arrives to attend an international conference on Libya at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 29, 2018. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo

 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump spoke by phone earlier in the week and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, leader of a military assault on the capital Tripoli in opposition to the internationally recognised government.

 

In Libya on Friday, two children were killed by shelling in the southern Tripoli suburb of Qaser Ben Ghasher, residents said. Officials could not immediately reached for comment.

 

A White House statement said that in the phone call on Monday, Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system".

 

It was unclear why the White House waited several days to announce the phone call. Europe and the Gulf have been divided over a push by Haftar's forces to seize Tripoli.

 

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said "a military solution is not what Libya needs." He said he supported Haftar's "role in counterterroism" and that Washington needed Haftar's "support in building democratic stability there in the region."

 

Asked whether Trump contacted him before calling Haftar, Shanahan said the Pentagon and the White House "are well-aligned on Libya."

 

At least seven people had been killed as of Tuesday, a day after Trump's call to Haftar. The current death toll is not known.

 

At least 2,000 people protested on Tripoli's central Martyrs' Square on Friday against Haftar and his offensive. Some protesters criticized Trump's call to the commander.

 

"The call has no meaning but we will respond to it," said Abdelrizaq Musheirib, a protester.

 

Ahmed Mismari, spokesman for Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), said Trump's call showed the pivotal role of the LNA in fighting terrorism, Sky News Arabia reported.

 

CEASEFIRE CALL

 

On Thursday, both the United States and Russia said they could not support a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya at this time.

 

Also on Thursday, mortar bombs crashed down on a suburb of Tripoli, almost hitting a clinic, after two weeks of an offensive by Haftar's eastern troops on the capital.

 

Russia objects to the British-drafted resolution blaming Haftar for the latest flare-up in violence when his LNA advanced to the outskirts of Tripoli earlier this month, diplomats said.

 

The United States did not give a reason for its decision not to support the draft resolution, which would also call on countries with influence over the warring parties to ensure compliance and for unconditional humanitarian aid access in Libya. The country has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

 

White House national security adviser John Bolton also spoke recently to Haftar.

 

Jalel Harchaoui, research fellow at the Clingendael Institute international relations think-tank in The Hague, said the Trump phone call was tantamount to supporting Haftar's operation and thus creates "an environment where a military intervention by foreign states, like Egypt, is likelier".

 

"One reason behind Trump’s phone call is that Haftar’s army has revealed itself less powerful than the Libyan strongman had claimed," Harchaoui said.

 

Haftar was among officers who helped Gaddafi rise to power in 1969 but fell out with him during Libya's war with Chad in the 1980s. Haftar was taken prisoner by the Chadians and had to be rescued by the CIA after having worked from Chad to overthrow Gaddafi.

 

He lived for around 20 years in the U.S. state of Virginia before returning home in 2011 to join other rebels in the uprising that ousted Gaddafi.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-20

[leeneeds]

31 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

On Thursday, both the United States and Russia said they could not support a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya at this time

U.N. has requested a cease fire , dismissed as with so many other requests in other conflicts, a total toothless tiger when the big 3 have interest in these regions, 

abstaining when it suits them, accountability is zero, 

The  U.N. system came into being after WW2 

the world has moved on since those times in so many ways it is a blight that this council of betterment of humanity has not itself moved into the modern times.

 

 

[simple1]

Again trump acts contrary to advisers, in this case Sec of State.

 

https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/04/290949.htm

[eggers]

Perhaps "Thumper Trump" is considering moving there, given the current bind  he's in???? 

[bendejo]

Probably told him of the record-breaking attendance at his inauguration, his landslide popular vote, his great golf game, etc.

 

I think this was just yet another attempt at a diversion of The Report fallout.

 

 

 

[Khun Paul]

That's done it then, comp0letely screwed up now that Moron Trump has spoken . 

[JoePai]

Do not expect Dump even knew where Libya was until someone told him they had oil - all this, and many other problems in this part of the world, boil down to oil  

 

Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, simple1 said:

Again trump acts contrary to advisers, in this case Sec of State.

 

https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2019/04/290949.htm

Maybe Pompeo is leaving his post but doesn't know it yet.

With North Korea denuclearization stalled and Nobel Peace prize still out of reach, National Security Advisor Bolton would be a natural replacement.

[simple1]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Maybe Pompeo is leaving his post but doesn't know it yet.

With North Korea denuclearization stalled and Nobel Peace prize still out of reach, National Security Advisor Bolton would be a natural replacement.

God forbid...

[farcanell]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

both the United States and Russia said they could not support a U.N. Security Council resolution

Allies sticking together.

[zydeco]

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The White House said on Friday that President Donald Trump spoke by phone earlier in the week and discussed "ongoing counterterrorism efforts" with Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, leader of a military assault on the capital Tripoli in opposition to the internationally recognised government.

And Haftar laughed at him directly over the phone like everyone else who deals with him.

[bendejo]

16 hours ago, JoePai said:

Do not expect Dump even knew where Libya was until someone told him they had oil - all this, and many other problems in this part of the world, boil down to oil  

 

Trump "recognised Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources

Me too, I was wondering if he knew BENGAZI! was there.

 

It sounds like the call didn't go too well, maybe Haftar wanted a love letter, like he heard DT sends to Kim.

 

 

[ThaiFelix]

On 4/20/2019 at 5:21 AM, rooster59 said:

Washington needed Haftar's "support in building democratic stability there in the region."

"building democratic stability"  nowadays that seems to be  code word for bombing the country back to the stone age.   One can clearly see the results of the US's aid to 'democratic stability' in Syria and Iraq today.

[candide]

For those who don't have the keys to decrypt this news: Haftar is allied to Salafist organisations, and against the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Salafists are supported by Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood by Quatar. Get it?

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/haftar-and-salafism-a-dangerous-game

 

Additional note: most Islamic terrorists who killed people in the USA and in Europe have been brainwashed in Salafi mosques.....

[simple1]

1 hour ago, candide said:

For those who don't have the keys to decrypt this news: Haftar is allied to Salafist organisations, and against the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Salafists are supported by Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood by Quatar. Get it?

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/haftar-and-salafism-a-dangerous-game

 

Additional note: most Islamic terrorists who killed people in the USA and in Europe have been brainwashed in Salafi mosques.....

Thanks. You and others may be interested in some more info. really does seem Libya is being torn apart by the various Muslim political alliances...

 

https://thearabweekly.com/qatar-picks-side-tripoli-militias-libya-showdown

[candide]

27 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Thanks. You and others may be interested in some more info. really does seem Libya is being torn apart by the various Muslim political alliances...

 

https://thearabweekly.com/qatar-picks-side-tripoli-militias-libya-showdown

Thanks! Yes, it's a bit more complex than I stated, it was only one aspect of it. The article also highlights the rivalry between France and Italy, the French supporting  Haftar and the Italian the other camp. 

However, unlike Saudi Arabia and the UAE, I doubt the French influenced Trump's support for Haftar.