Oh, well, okay, then! 214 jihadists return to the struggle: “Libya releases 214 Islamic militants,” from AP, March 26 (thanks to Kris):
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya has released 214 Islamic militants, including senior members of a group accused of plotting to overthrow Moammar Gadhafi, after they renounced violence.
The Libyan leader’s son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi said 34 members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, including its leader, were sent home Tuesday after they affirmed they had broken ties with the organization. The group is suspected of having links to al-Qaida.
“This is an important day for Libya because it is a day of forgiveness and honesty,” the younger Gadhafi said at a news conference Tuesday.
Gadhafi’s son has been leading a dialogue with militants through a rehabilitation program run by his organization, the Gadhafi Foundation.
The efforts are the latest by Arab governments to address militant movements through rehabilitation programs rather than solely through force. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have both pioneered programs to “deprogram” militants and allow them to rejoin society….
Cosmetic and farcical programs that have been signal failures.