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In libya, disapproving rumors that he was killed in an allied air strike. youngest son of leader moammar gadhafi hands the notorious 32nd brigade, known for its brutality. >> this is one of gadhafi's most loyal units and are also one of the most active in terms of attacking innocent people. >> reporter: and here's another title he's held, intern in the u.s. for a month he interned with an american engineering and construction firm called icom. the l.a.-based company had deep business dealings in libya until the uprising began. as an intern, he wasn't exactly getting people's coffee or running ...

On this. it says it's undecided on whether arming rebels is the right thing to do. part of the reason for that might be based on history. the problems that the strategy has caused in the past. we want you to take a look at a few of the nations where this has played out before. 1984, the united states arms afghan rebels who were fighting off of the soviets. little did we know those same weapons that we gave to the afghan rebels were pointed at our. current u.s. troops. but in the 1980s, the united states also armed iraq during the iran-iraq war in an effort to kind of turn the tide there. that ...

More now on those discussions about u.s. potentially arming rebels in libya. lawmakers peppered defense secretary robert gates questioned about rebels and about moammar gadhafi's military advantage. here is what gates said about the rebels' shortcomings during a congressional committee hearing. >> i think that what -- what the opposition needs as much as anything right now is some training, some command and control and some organization. it's a pretty -- it's pretty much a pick up ball game at this point. and as i got a question government one of the briefings, the truth is in terms of providi...

So, nic, intelligent sources saying that the cia operatives are already on the ground in libya. and in contact with rebel fighters. what more can you tell us about this relationship? >> reporter: well, it's a relationship that's going to bring in proof, coulding of the rebels of what they're capable of achieving. how quickly they may realistically or not able it get to tripoli, as we just heard ben talking about there, and what dangers could be there arming the rebels in terms of al qaeda elements. they may want to divert weapons for their own needs for later, and the possibility, therefore, o...

Put a pair of brigade in there with the capability to call fires, to kill gadhafi's tanks. his center of gravity is his tanks and its artillery. that's his tactical, his strategic center of gravity is his oil fields and his ability to sell oil. we have taken the oil away from him. now we've got to kill those tanks and artillery so the freedom fighters will have a chance. >> okay, so if already the track record has not been incredibly impressive, meaning the u.s. supplying weaponry, whether it be in afghanistan or maybe even iraq, why would this potential arrangement be different? >> well, fred...