Here are three things Americans need to know about the Libyan “rebels” that the U.S. government isn’t telling us. One: The inspiration of the Libyan war is as much anti-Western as it is anti-Gadhafi. The “Day of Rage” that kick-started the Libyan war on Feb. 17 marked the fifth anniversary of violent protests in Benghazi, which included an assault on the Italian consulate during which at least 11 were killed.

The 2006 mayhem, as John Rosenthal has reported, during which consulate staff were evacuated after 1,000 to several thousand men tried to storm and burn the building, may be linked to the Italian TV appearance two days earlier of Italian minister Roberto Calderoli.