The Obama administration has lifted longtime restrictions on U.S. flight and nuclear science training for Libyans –  despite potential dangers that the country could still be breeding anti-American terrorists, according to FreeBeacon’s Adam Kredo.

Photo Credit:  geopoliticalmonitor.com

The Department of Homeland Security is asserting that the 31-year-old regulations are no longer needed because the United States and Libya now have normalized relations. But that directive does not take into account the Benghazi terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in 2012, or that violence between rival militias prompted the U.S. government to shutter its operation in Tripoli just weeks ago, the FreeBeacon reported.

The restrictions were established after the Lockerbie bombing that brought down Pan Am Flight 103, killing 270 people, including 189 Americans, according to history.com.

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“The Departments of State and Defense requested the Department of Homeland Security consider revising regulations dating from 1983 to permit Libyan nationals, and other foreign nationals acting on behalf of Libyan entities, to engage in studies or training in aviation maintenance, flight operations and/or nuclear-related fields,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, said, according to the FreeBeacon article. “This would permit the educational exchange of information with Libyan nationals so they can reconstitute, operate and sustain their fleet to address threats posed by extremist groups seeking to derail the democratic transition.”

The Obama administration has not provided Congress any backup materials or evidence to justify the change, and Republican congressmen have expressed outrage at the move.

“The House Judiciary Committee has repeatedly sought information about the Administration’s policy reversal, but political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security have stonewalled the Committee’s requests and have not articulated why it is in Americans’ best interests to change policy,” committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., wrote in a statement posted Monday on the committee’s website.

Included in the committee’s statement were comments from U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House subcommittees on border security and immigration.

“It is extremely concerning that DHS is moving forward with these plans but has not provided information on the policy change despite repeated requests from Members,” Gowdy wrote.

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Don Noel

A self-described "political enthusiast," Don Noel is a veteran of the local political scene with keen insights to share about the world of politics, government and nonprofits.

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