Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States is examining ways to renew
defense cooperation with Libya.

Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has
discussed options to resume defense and military cooperation in wake of the
ouster of Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi. They said the Defense Department
would issue recommendations in early 2012 in wake of the visit by Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta.

“We are and will be your friend and partner,” Panetta said. “This new and free Libya can become an important security partner of the United States.”

On Dec. 17, Panetta held talks with the new Libyan regime on
cooperation. The defense secretary met Libyan leaders including Prime Minister Abdul Rahim Al Kib and said Washington was ready to offer a range of defense assistance.

“At this stage there was certainly no discussions involving arms or military equipment,” Panetta told a news conference in Tripoli.

Under Gadhafi, overthrown in September, the administration mulled a range of defense sales, including military aircraft, combat vehicles and command and control. None of the proposals were implemented by the time of the revolt against Gadhafi in February.

“The purpose of my trip to Libya is to have an opportunity to look at
that situation up close but to also pay tribute to the Libyan people to what
they did in bringing Gadhafi down and trying to establish a government for
the future,” Panetta said.

Officials said Washington was already helping Tripoli to track and
retrieve thousands of surface-to-air missiles taken from Gadhafi’s arsenal
during the revolt. They said at least 5,000 SAMs were retrieved amid reports
that many other weapons were smuggled to the Al Qaida network in North
Africa and the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip.

“We know how serious the issue is,” Al Kib said. “I’m very optimistic.”

Officials said the administration sought to become involved in training
of Libya’s military and security forces. They said they envisioned Libya as
a U.S. partner in regional counter-insurgency efforts, particularly against
Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb.

  ‘We will be your friend’: Panetta hails Libya as potential ‘security partner’, Adul Rahim Al Kib, Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Leon Panetta, Moammar Gadhafi