By Kaeun Yu
The U.S.’ Director of National Intelligence told lawmakers on Thursday that Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi will prevail in his struggle for power against thousands of rebel forces.
During testimony before the Senate Armes Services Committee, Gen. James Clapper Jr. said “the regime has more logistical resources in terms of the equipment they have, and there are two special brigades which are very loyal to Gaddafi.”
Due to the fact that the entire Middle East region is experiencing what he referred to as “tectonic change,” Clapper warned that the U.S. is in for a “bumpy time,” and advised the Obama administration to seek continued partnership with regional allies in order to deal with the crisis in Libya, Saudi Arabia and other nations.
Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess Jr., testifying on the war in Afghanistan, predicted that higher levels of violence against the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are likely to occur in the coming weeks and months.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the top Republican on the committee, told both witnesses that the security challenges facing the U.S. has provided a “window of opportunity” to assist the international community and mitigate the turmoil.