CSPAN reported:
When asked at the Defense Department briefing about who the opposition rebels are, Vice Admiral William Gortney told the press that he did not know. "We would like a much better understanding of the opposition but we don't have it," Gortney said. He said they are providing neither direct support nor is the U.S. "consulting" with those fighting Col. Gadhafi's forces.So the U.S. Military doesn't know who is behind the new Libyan Oil Company and Central Bank? The U.S. Treasury is negotiating with the group. The President said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would meet with the Libyan opposition. He went on to say:
We will safeguard the more than $33 billion that was frozen from the Qaddafi regime so that it’s available to rebuild Libya. After all, the money doesn’t belong to Qaddafi or to us -- it belongs to the Libyan people. And we’ll make sure they receive it.
They established a new oil company and monetary authority a mere two days after the United Nations Resolution. Our Secretary of State clearly knows who "they" is, but the Pentagon doesn't? Bizarre. It's one heck of a conundrum.
Update 8-25-11: The U.S. plans to release $1.5 billion in seized Libyan assets to "relevant authorities."
Update 8-28-11: Libya's Rebel rulers promised to honor all legal oil deals.
