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Former CIA Operative Mike Baker discusses efforts to get Libya’s oil up and running.
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Welcome back to follow the money Libya rebels have rated Qaddafi is compound in looters even grabbed one of -- these big -- and one of his golden -- But in this Carnival atmosphere there's reason to worry.
Not only about the rebels in their love of Sharia law but what happened to Qaddafi is vast oil fields the largest reserves and all of Africa.
While Europe scrambles to get back in there to turn the taps back John.
All it will take is one cannot be loyalists with the match to spark a holocaust.
Look at what Saddam did to the Kuwaiti oil fields.
These pictures are breathtaking in their destructiveness almost a billion barrels of crude went up in smoke thanks to that dictator another ten million barrels.
Where dumped into the Arabian gulf.
Imagine the disaster if the same thing were to happen.
To the Mediterranean -- The master Donald Trump had the best advice the United States should step -- and and preserve those oil assets take a listen.
What they came just begging for help continue to routing that.
So they come does -- to help it wouldn't you say okay you know we're gonna help you.
But when it if you're successful we get -- a few oil has now look at troubles are going to be Richard that the people in this country because they get a big deal.
Mean while NATO did is around in the rebels keep alluding shouldn't -- United States stepped in and secure those oil fields right now.
We can get back some of the nearly billion dollars we spent already on the conflict and we can prevent another oil catastrophe.
Joining me now is former CIA operative Mike thing.
And Mike thanks for joining us we would have a map over here that's the map of the oil fields a Libyan oil fields in red those are the pipelines that bring.
But the oil out to the Mediterranean Sea.
But in the conflict in in the Middle East and in Iraq.
Saddam Hussein when He was leading Kuwait and every lead message to his troops along the Kuwaiti Iraq border right when He was pushed back away from Kuwait.
He -- all those Kuwaiti oilfields on fire.
That would be easy to do in this case that would.
Well I mean -- there is there is.
Reason for concern but there is some you know differences between what -- to Kuwait -- in Kuwait you -- a retreating army.
That was his burning everything into the ground basements are heading back to Iraq there was no account of what's there to protect the assets -- in the oil wells and fields.
The and the infrastructure so the other the Saddam's troops -- had free rein here.
Right now the militias in the rebel group says disorganized in this independently as they seem to be operating.
They do control much of the oil infrastructure right now.
But you're right it an individual or just a a small opposition groups still supportive of -- that is able to stay underground.
Could carry out significant damage again.
He's yet and say look guys or what kind of a shot here and it shows but.
This is what they've done -- protected these red areas because that's the oil infrastructure it's not actually pumping oil right now they shut down most of it.
But they've kept it at least in tax so that they can turn it back up.
We get the next map can we get the European map and show you -- -- the proximity of of of Libya to Western Europe and that's is why Libyan.
It oil is so important here's Libya.
Here are the various countries that by the oil from Libya France and Italy the two biggest purchasers.
Of Libyan oil and narratives just right across the Mediterranean Sea that's why Libyan oil so important well it's it's it's critical.
-- -- to Europe.
You could -- at the very outset of this whole who you know -- six months ago -- really -- reasons why we -- a little bit late getting to the party was that this question do we actually -- -- critical you know interest in -- European certainly do now for the past six months ever -- really ever -- that the transitional national council took shape and people start to get some confidence in its ability that's that's still a question mark.
But they've been working with them on a variety of things one of them being how do we secure these oil facilities in the British in particular have been working on a plan.
Particular this (%expletive) and here it is again.
The British the French and the Italians were very supportive.
Of the TNC the rebels and independent for good reason -- and that's what you see why I mean people look there was steady around the very outset -- -- why is France of you know all nations being so gone and how about get over the course I mean a map pointed out.
They'd got critical interest in particular oil and really Libya what do they got they got oil.
They don't -- and in fact that those Sarkozy was the one who put pressure on Hillary Clinton and intern put pressure on President Obama weapon to be in Brazil at that time.
To at least RD -- air offensive against the against Qaddafi throughout this whole thing was -- -- as the humanitarian concern.
You'll save the citizens from you know getting under the boot of -- if he's gonna and you know you have retribution against -- for this opposition that was started to bubble up back and in February or so.
And for humanitarian interests you could argue that you know wait a minute if if that's our case then what about Syria.
I mean this -- regime's been out there slaughtering as many protesters is -- they did you get their hands on.
And yet there's no action now well in part the reason why is exactly what you're pointing out the interest in getting into that in in in and working to overthrow -- Is because the European Union have so many interest there in the oil and energy infrastructure -- -- thank you it's in my power to bring you over.
