Rebel leader big hit in wonk world

I confess I was distracted during the visit to DC this week of Mahmoud Gebril ElWarfally, interim prime minister of the Transitional National Council of the Libyan Republic.  But he unquestionably performed well:   on NPR, in the New York Times, and at Brookings. I imagine also at the White House, where he met with National Security Advisor Tom Donilon.

Gebril, as most seem to call him (and as the New York Times spells his name), has to his credit University of Pittsburgh degrees in political science and strategic planning (MA and PhD respectively) as well as more than two decades of making a living in the Middle East as a leadership trainer, after which he served in the Gaddafi regime as head of the National Economic Development Board.  Sophisticated and urbane are the usual adjectives, the kind of Libyan who had enough to say to merit occasional mention in U.S. embassy cables made available by you know who.

Washington was warm and fuzzy on the occasion of his visit, but it did not immediately give him what he was looking for:  recognition as the legitimate head of government in Libya, money (from Gaddafi’s frozen stash of $34 billion) or a meeting with the President.  I imagine some in Libya may see this as less than half a loaf, but it really isn’t too bad.  The United States has the annoying habit of recognizing countries, not governments, so it is hard for Washington to treat Gebril the way he would have liked until he gets to Tripoli.  Congress is working on legislation to free up at least some of the money, and Gebril is not actually the top dog in the Interim National Council.  That glory belongs to its Chair,  Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil, so a call on the president might have created as many problems as it solves.  A presidential drop-by to Donilon’s office would have been nice though.

Still, Gebril did okay. Compliments to the Harbour Group. NATO has intensified its efforts, so maybe on his next visit he’ll get more of what the rebellion certainly deserves:  unequivocal support from Washington.  The sooner we are finished with Gaddafi, the better off Libya and North Africa generally will be.