Al Jazeera Report: Files Show American Aid For Gaddafi

As the dust settled in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, Al Jazeera producer Jamal Elshayyai filed a shocking report from Gaddafi's former intelligence headquarters. Inside the now deserted compound, Elshayyai found documents that seem to indicate that influential American citizens maintained relations with the Gaddafi regime until only a few weeks ago.

Documents in the office of Abdullah Al Sinnousi, head of Libya's intelligence service, provide minutes of what appears to have been a meeting between senior Libyan officials and former U.S. assistant secretary of state David Welch. According to Al Jazeera, the document states in Arabic that Welch met with Libyan officials on August 2, 2011, and advised the Gaddafi loyalists on how to wage a propaganda war and how to exploit the volatile situation in Syria.

In another office, Elshayyai found a document that allegedly records an exchange between Gaddafi regime officials and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).

In a statement to the Atlantic Wire, Congressman Kucinich denied Al Jazeera's findings. The congressman's office wrote that "Al Jazeera found a document written by a Libyan bureaucrat to other Libyan bureaucrats. All it proves is that the Libyans were reading the Washington Post, and read there about my efforts to stop the war."

The Guardian reported last week that Kucinich was invited by the Gaddafi regime on an all-expenses-paid "peace mission" to Libya in June 2011. The congressman declined the invitation due to security concerns.

The Guardian wrote:

"Because of the efforts I had made early on to bring an end to the war, I started to get calls from Libya, including from the prime minister," the congressman told the Guardian. "He had taken note of the fact I was making an effort to put forward a peace proposal. I had several requests to go to Libya. I made it clear I could not negotiate on behalf of the administration. I said I was speaking as a member of Congress involved in the issue and willing to listen to what they had to say.

Read Jamal Elshayyai's full report and the documents the found in the compound on the Al Jazeera website.

Watch the report here:

Comments

[John R Dausend]

06:41 PM on 09/03/2011

Subject:
Shouldn’t all Major political parties..... Including the GOP, Tea, and Democrats want this heavily investigated and desiring hearings on the matter in regards to C. David Welch and his current discussions in Libya with the Gaddafi regime ?

Democrats on the Hill I am sure are going to want to have this Investigated and request hearings in concern to potential Political involvement against the Administration and possible National Treasonous concerns.

As Well, wouldn’t you think that the Republican & Tea party members would want this Investigated considering their stance on Budgetary spending(s) ? If the GOP & Tea party members don’t desire a Fact finding Investigation and hearing on the Hill then doesn’t it question their True desires to cut spending Legitimately !!!

David Welch’s discussions with the Gaddafi regime may have assisted to a continuance in prolonging the conflict in Libya. That of course would mean additional expenditures likely, yes cost ($$$) to the American Taxpayers. The more alarming possible factor that could have come about from this situation is the possibility resulting to the Loss of Lives of American Airmen in Libya afterwards.

If this is Not Treasonous Act then what is the Definition of Treason ?

[John R Dausend]

06:14 PM on 09/03/2011

Subject:
Is it a Treasonous Act involving Politics ? ( Post # 1 )

A past American State Department Official under the Administration of Republican President George W. Bush gave Advice to Muammar Gaddafi during the recent Libyan Conflict as Late as August 2, 2011. Others may have as Well: Story per Al-Jazeera

This story may Later possibly prove to be Extraordinarily more shocking then it presents itself Currently ?

What is the Truth concerning an (Ex) State Department Official [C. David Welch] from the George W. Bush Administration ?

A Republican Party plot involving (David Welch of the George W. Bush Administration) to assist Muammar Gaddafi against the current Administration’s continued conflict in Libya opposing Democratic President, Barack Obama ?

Special Note:
C. David Welch is No Longer with the State Department !!!

Treasonous like activities from David Welch ? David Welch speaking to Muammar Gaddafi as late as August 2, 2011, per Reports.

The United States for many month Now, No Longer recognizes the Gaddafi regime as the Legitimate Government of Libya !!!

Is David Welch a Loyal Republican, undermining the Obama Administration and the County as well ?

Yes, A Valid Question..... Is David Welch doing it on behalf of the GOP party ? A Treasons Act in regards to U.S. policy ?

[Achim]

09:20 PM on 09/01/2011

Mainstream media are slow to pick up on the story. On the Al Jazeera website it`s among the news items clicked most. A US Congressman pandering to a regime under sanctions by the UN and in the midst of a crackdown on democratic protest seems rather unprecedented. This story essentially is about two politicians coming out in support of the Gaddafi regime whilst the US is taking part in an effort at implementing UN Security Council resolution 1973.

[ghostcommander]

05:28 PM on 09/01/2011

Here is some more fuel for the fire:"Pakistani ambassador hosted fundraiser for neocon think tank" and "Leading conservatives openly support Terrorist group"
Just Google the above titles!

[mek0123]

12:34 PM on 09/01/2011

And I believe what they found about the former Asst Secretary of State, and I definitely believe what Dennis Kucinich stated. War is all about profiteering for the big corporations. I am certain that the oil fields in Libya have already been subdivided by the big oil corporations so that they can now, make their billions in this war torn country, now that the U.S. has paid the Military Industrial Complex their $hundreds$ of $billions$ to clear out the area of any adversity. And these same corporations that benefit solely on what this country has done for them continue to make their money at NO cost because the majority pay either no taxes or less than I pay to the Feds! What a country. (In Thom Hartmann's words), "we have the best gov't money can buy".

[bbb000]

12:13 PM on 09/01/2011

Al Jazeer is as trustabe as the Huffington Post.

Obama SENT Welch to try to get Gaddafi to relinquish power. That's what the documents indicate.

Why Welsh? Because he brokered the deal to reopen diplomatic relations with Libya in 2008
All you moronic substanceless partisan hacks again look like the utter fools you are.

[jonamerin]

01:17 PM on 09/01/2011

Here is a link to a copy of the minutes from their discussions with Kucinich, which you don't elaborate on: http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/239518-ar-c262m-20110830-143257.html

How does Welch advising them on propaganda tactics (e.g. exploit the situation in Syria) contribute to Gaddafi stepping down? Oh yea and nevermind the fact that the Gaddafi regime paid for him to come do this as well. You have no evidence to support your theory either.

[ghostcommander]

04:37 PM on 09/01/2011

Why do you ridicule yourself by posting blatant misinformation?

[jonamerin]

11:32 AM on 09/01/2011

This is no suprise, the US was definitely on the wrong side of history with Libya this time. It has always been in America's best interest to keep dictators in power (as long as they do business with us) because it's easier to take advantage of them by catering to with one man's greed rather than a whole democratic system.

You will find the same kind of deceptive activity in Southeast Asia as well but on more complex levels. The NED and Soros' Open Society Foundation are funding activist movements aimed at toppling current governements (just succeeded in Thailand) only to make sure they have the right powers (with more authoritarian style) to take over, in order to streamline deals. The fact that simultaneous oil deals involving BP/Chevron/Cambodia/Thailand/Malaysia are taking place in the Gulf of Thailand speaks volumes. They are using democracy like a carrot in front of a horse.

[FrTown]

09:37 AM on 09/01/2011

There are more important factors than the financial greed that pushes some people to act in direct opposition to the official US government discourse on the crisis in Libya. We have never been sincere about spreading democracy to the world, and in particular to the Middle East. In fact we don't want to see any of those countries become democratic as it puts to peril, or so we think, the interests of "our ally" in the region. Plus it's much easier to "steal" their natural resources when one thug is in power rather than a democratic system which could put us in a disadvantage of the "free market" rule.

[AZreb]

09:14 AM on 09/01/2011

Good grief - Gadaffi and other dictators and autocrats were our BFFs until the uprisings - now Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are just about the only monarchies or dictators that we still support.

[Max is Back]

09:06 AM on 09/01/2011

Ever wonder why Gadhafi had tons of photos of Condoleeza Rice? Think it might have had something to do with her crafting oil deals for him and working out a way to let him off the hook for the Lockerbie bombing?

[cynic1]

08:20 AM on 09/01/2011

The US response (Obama's response) to this crisis is the first example of a war that Obama played a roll at the beginning of the conflict. Obama's response was measured and well thought out. After the initial action he forced Europe to take the lead. We can't be the world's policeman!!

The Libyan people can take pride in the fact that they took their country albeit with alot of outside air support. I think the six months of bloodshed by Libyans in this struggle will engage them to take control of the outcome and mold the countries future.

And this is one of the only bright spots I see for Obama in the last 2 years.

[bbb000]

01:48 PM on 09/01/2011

Obama's "response" was not well measured. His rhetoric was.

We've been bombing Libya for 6 months. The very humanitarian crisis which was the claim for the intervention was never a possiblity.
A country fighing armed rebels is not the definition of a humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has about 40 to 50 thousand casualities, And NOW there is a humanitarian crisis in Libya, no power, no water, no food , no hospitals

[cynic1]

09:41 AM on 09/02/2011

Sorry the world is not Black & White. It is shades of gray. Gadaffy stated he was going after his own people and had already started waging his campaign. The ANC, surrounding Arab countries and Europe all asked for help. We initiated the action and Europe took over. Yes it has gone beyond the mandate to regime change. And I support that change. I think this is a much more healthy way for us to intercede in a country. And yes their is an extremely slippery slope involved in such action.

[Mahi Joe]

08:01 AM on 09/01/2011

If the US is working with NATO on behalf of the Rebels and Bechtel is supporting Gaddafi then why aren't these American citizens being held on the charge of treason?

[rosiebond007]

11:43 AM on 09/01/2011

Exactly ..... but they will get away with it.

Treason is an age old charge, hasn't been used much !

[bbb000]

12:19 PM on 09/01/2011

Because OBAMA SENT WELCH to get GADDAFI TO RELINQUISH POWER.
Thats what Welch got around to in the documents.
All ways forwarded depened on Gaddafi giving up power.

In any case, We are not in a war with Libya according to Obama , nor has Libya threatened us. "Treason" would not apply even in your warped analysis.

[Mahi Joe]

01:23 PM on 09/01/2011

LOL you better inform you tea bagging tr0ll buddies we are not at war with LIbya. They all seem to think so.

[bbb000]

01:51 PM on 09/01/2011

There is NO such thing as a humanitarian effort that ONLY consists of bombs.

[fairwayhill]

07:04 AM on 09/01/2011

A U.S. assistant secretary of state, is not just anyone ... it is quite possible that Welch intended to derail Gaddafi loyalists. A war is a war, and any can happen in a war. But to suggest he acted in opposition to US war policy is obnoxious. For sure he did nothing war monger Hillary was not aware of.

[Runey]

07:04 AM on 09/01/2011

yeah cuz US officials wouldn't lie

[BestGuest]

04:41 AM on 09/01/2011

Fund/Arm/Help both parties and side with the victor.... An old tool used by empires...

[Tanrioldu]

07:36 AM on 09/01/2011

just like the US did with Iraq and Afghanistan.

but you forgot the last part of the equation: Fund/Arm/Help/ Invade