By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. does not have an overall strategy to deal with the turmoil in Libya, President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the military operation in Africa said Tuesday.
Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee and laid out AFRCIOM’s objectives in helping to stabilize the UN-brokered interim Government of National Accord and to disrupt Daesh presence in Libya.
But, he said, “I’m not aware of an overall grand strategy at this point.”
That comment drew criticism form committee chairman John McCain who lambasted the Barack Obama administration for what he said was failure to handle crises Washington face across the globe.
McCain characterized Obama’s Libya policy as “another disgraceful chapter in the history of this administration” saying the U.S. walked away from Libya after striking the country with NATO in order to remove Col. Muammar Gaddafi from leadership in 2011.
Noting some gains by Libyans against Daesh, Waldhauser said they couldn’t be considered as a consolidated success because tribal allegiances have the potential to shift in a war-torn country.
According to the general, Misratan militia, a group based in Misrata and, Petroleum Facilities Guard Forces, a militia set up with the support of the Government of National Accord to protect Libya’s oil assets, are fighting against Daesh in Sirte.
He said that the African Command is watching the fight and in the coming weeks may produce a support plan if it sees consolidated progress.
American warplanes have struck Daesh targets in Libya three times in the past, the general said, but the U.S. is not flying missions above the country or going after Daesh in Libya or the region due to a lack of presidential authority.
While agreeing with the need for more U.S. troops on the ground, he also said it would be “wise to have that authority” to strike Daesh because it would contribute to the efforts against the militant group in Libya.
Waldhauser also told lawmakers that the Nigeria-based Boko Haram militant group is a concern because he believes it “will ultimately move out of the region, perhaps to the continent, and perhaps ultimately to the homeland as the ISIL brand.”
Boko Haram last year pledged allegiance to Daesh, rebranding itself as Daesh in West Africa.
Waldhauser said African Command is providing intelligence and training to a regional alliance fighting Boko Haram.
