Oorlog in Libië #91: Speelgoedgeweren en Stalinorgels

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Khamis Gaddafi, 27, spent four weeks in the US as part of an internship with AECOM, a global infrastructure company with deep business interests in Libya, according to Paul Gennaro, AECOM's Senior Vice President for Global Communications.

His US trip was to include visits to the Port of Houston, Air Force Academy, National War College and West Point, Mr Gennaro said.

The West Point visit was cancelled on Feb 17, when the trip was cut short and Gaddafi returned to Libya, Mr Gennaro said. The uprising in Libya began with a series of protests on Feb 15.

By late February, forces controlled by Khamis Gadhafi were leading the brutal assault to retake Zawiya, a city near Tripoli that rebels captured soon after the uprising began.

Reports suggested that Khamis Gaddafi may have been killed earlier this week after a disaffected Libyan air force pilot crash-landed his jet in the ruling family's headquarters. There has been no confirmation of his death.

Mr Gennaro said the US state department approved of the trip, and considered Khamis Gaddafi a reformer. He said the government signed off on the itinerary, at times offering advice that affected the company's plans for Gaddafi.

State department officials denied any role in planning, advising or paying for the trip.

"We did greet him at the airport. That is standard courtesy for the son of the leader of a country," said Mark Toner, state department spokesman. Mr Toner said the government was aware of Gaddafi's itinerary, but "did not sign off on it."

AECOM was not paid to arrange the trip, and did not pay for related expenses, Mr Gennaro said. He said the trip was arranged at the request of a Libyan, whom he declined to name.

Mr Gennaro was one of the AECOM executives who met with Gaddafi during the trip, to educate him on American corporate practices.

He said Gaddafi was "very, very interested in the planning, design, how do you advance large infrastructure projects."

"That was the nature and the tenor of this internship," he said.

Gaddafi, Moammar Gaddafi's youngest son, was pursuing an MBA at the IE Business School, in Madrid, Spain, until earlier this month. The school expelled him because of his role in attacks on Libyan protesters.

Khamis Gadhafi led the Khamis Brigade, one of several professional military units that are loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi.

US diplomats in leaked memos have called it "the most well-trained and well-equipped force in the Libyan military."

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Op zaterdag 26 maart 2011 14:09 schreef yavanna het volgende:
Khamis Gaddafi toured US military facilities weeks before Libya crisis

A son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi toured US ports and military facilities just weeks before he helped lead deadly attacks on rebels protesting his father's authoritarian regime.

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Op zaterdag 26 maart 2011 14:10 schreef Slayage het volgende:

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laat zien hoe snel en onverwacht alle ontwikkelingen gaan

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Op zaterdag 26 maart 2011 14:15 schreef yavanna het volgende:
ShababLibya

Reports say that freedom fighters are 15 km away from the town of Brega. \

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Op zaterdag 26 maart 2011 14:15 schreef yavanna het volgende:
ShababLibya

Reports say that freedom fighters are 15 km away from the town of Brega. \