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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Libya
Index
Paralleling the swift and fundamental domestic transformations
Qadhafi initiated upon coming to power in 1969 were equally radical
and controversial foreign policy changes. King Idris had been proWestern , quiescent if not passive, and scarcely interested in panArab issues. Qadhafi, in contrast, was markedly anti-Western,
highly activist, and a strong advocate of Arab unity. Although
Qadhafi's internal policies could be ignored or tolerated by the
rest of the world, regardless of their radicalism, his foreign
policies elicited strong resentment and widespread condemnation
from many quarters. Even the so-called "progressive" or
revolutionary regimes in Algeria, Iraq, and Syria that supported
some of Qadhafi's policies opposed his maladroit diplomacy,
rhetorical excess, and provocative tactics.
Allegations of Qadhafi's involvement in subversive activities
were numerous
(see International Terrorism and Support for Insurgent Groups
, ch. 5).
Over the years, Libya has been accused of
subversion by several Arab countries, including Egypt, Sudan,
Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. For example, Libyan
agents reportedly planned on several occasions to disrupt the
pilgrimage at Mecca in Saudi Arabia. And for many years Libya
supported the mostly Christian rebels in southern Sudan, who are
led by John Garang, as against the central government in Khartoum.
Many observers linked Libya's lack of restraint in foreign affairs
with its oil wealth, which paid for foreign adventures while
keeping the domestic population content.
By disregarding the rules of the international political game,
Libya became so ostracized and isolated that when the United States
bombed Libyan cities in April 1986, only a few countries condemned
the action strongly. Potential friends in the Arab world were
already alienated by the constantly changing pattern of Libyan
alliances.
Nevertheless, Libya was subject to certain practical
limitations. Its oil revenues were dependent on the world market
and subject to inflationary pressures. Although well armed, Libya's
military was undermanned, unable in most cases to support foreign
policy initiatives by force. Libyan foreign policy was not so
erratic and disjointed as it appeared, however. Instead, it was
consistent with, and in large part based on, the initially
proclaimed ideals of the Revolution and the developments that
followed
(see Political Ideology
, this ch.).
Libyan foreign policy grew from the historical legacy of
colonial domination, Nasser's philosophy, and most important, the
creation of Israel. Qadhafi's concept of foreign relations has been
determined to a large extent by his implacable hatred of Israel and
his desire to destroy it. The policy of eradicating Israel either
shapes or takes precedence over his ideology. For example, Qadhafi
advocates Arab unity not only for ideological reasons, but because
of his conviction that a unified Arab nation would be capable of
defeating Israel militarily.
Qadhafi's worldwide support of revolutionary and insurgent
movements evolved in part from the sponsorship and funding he
provided to Palestinian organizations that fought against Israel.
Moreover, Qadhafi's antipathy toward imperialism derives less from
Libya's struggle against Italian colonialism than from the
perceived creation of Israel by the United States and European
powers. And, although Qadhafi espouses nonalignment, he has
advocated a close Arab relationship with the Soviet Union as a
means of obtaining arms to defeat Israel and excoriated the United
States because of its support of Israel.
Libyan foreign policy is not, however, dictated entirely by
opposition to Israel. Libya's activism in Africa and the
Mediterranean basin is motivated by a desire to be a regional
power. In the 1980s, Libya's reckless and adventurous intervention
in the Third World was driven by QQadhafi's desire to disseminate
his
Third Universal Theory and his personal aspirations for worldwide
recognition.
Data as of 1987
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