Starting last April President Trump caught many in his own administration off guard when he unexpectedly thanked renegade General Khalifa Haftar for “securing Libya’s oil resources” at a moment the rebel leader assaulted the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. The public praise and phone call between Trump and the former CIA-backed warlord was a shock at the time given the US has maintained a policy of only recognizing the GNA in line with UN allies . But now that continued recognition appears to be shifting fast after this week Trump admin officials held multiple meetings with an official representing Haftar’s political team named Aref al-Nayed , expected to hold a top leadership position once Tripoli is ‘ liberated ‘ by Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). Khalifa Haftar, center, leader of the Libyan National Army, also holds American citizenship and is believed to be a longtime CIA […]