The FUUO Qaddafi Files: Part 1

I had the opportunity to attend a conference at a think tank this past fall and was fortunate to scribble down copious notes from the experts (acknowledged academic experts as well as diplomatic ones, i.e. ambassadors).  I am pretty sure this conference fell under the Chatham House rule so I have removed their names but wanted to share their insight in light of recent events. 

A career diplomat opened with a perspective on the history of Qaddafi.    He broke up Qaddafi’s evolution/development into 4 distinct phases:  Anti-zionism and support for African independence, exportive revolution, “I am an African”, and finally “I am president of Africa.” 

            Beginning in the 1970’s, his initial anti-zionism stance was largely an attempt to court the Arab world and emerge as a leader within/of it.  During this time period, the United States closed its embassy (and Wheeler Field) there.  By and large, this attempt was a failure.  However, Qaddafi’s support of African independence does resonate within the continent.  Indicative of his influence over the years is that the first place Nelson Mandela visited after being freed from prison was Libya (then the United States, followed by Cuba). 

            In the 1980’s the “Exportive Revolutionary” or “Coup-maker” phase began. 

One question from a senior State Department offical to the speaker during that time period has stuck with him all these years.  Secretary asked him: “How can we hurt Libya?”  This question ignited many efforts including the beginning of satellite imagery analysis which revealed guerilla training of the various groups in the Sahel region. 

Some of the people being trained included Liberian Charles Taylor and his followers (only 100 people at the start).  Of all the ‘guerilla training’ conducted by Libya, only Taylor’s resulted in the successful overthrow of a government.  Taylor’s initial attack occurred on December 24, 1989 and lead to a devasting 7-year war.  During this war, Qaddafi funneled arms, money and supplies through the Sahel to Burkina Faso and then through the Cote D’ivoire by truck along the coast into Liberia.  He also set up another hub in Benin (their leader at the time held political views similar to those of Qaddafi). 

            One area that the U.S. determined it could hurt Libya was Chad.  During the 70’s and 80’s Qaddafi ‘Finlandized’ Chad through troop presence and financial support.  So the U.S. began covertly supporting rebel leader Hissène Habré (Habré has been dubbed “the African Pinochet” by the Human Rights Watch and currently awaits trial for atrocities committed).   In 1987, Habré began an offensive which routed the occupying Libyan forces in Northern Chad. Shortly after this victory, Habré was brought to the White House for a congratulatory lunch with President Reagan.   During this same time period, Libya also sent 50 taxis to The Gambia in an attempt to help upset and overthrow the government there.  Habré is said to have commented that the reason Qaddafi acted the way he did in West Africa was because “he never accepted the fact that slavery had ended.”

            From 1987-1992 sanctions against Libya began.  Without any Arab support a new Qaddafi emerged: “I am an African.”  And so he began major investments throughout the continent through Libyan government owned companies.  Of interest is that Libya owns the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra, Ghana (reportedly the only nice hotel).  When President Obama visited there he was unable to stay there because of his fact.  His emergence as a self-proclaimed “African” soon developed into his aspiration to become the “President of Africa.”  Promoting African unity, Qaddafi was quick to proclaim his ability to bring the continent together.  In 1998, he was instrumental in the formation of CEN-SAD (The Community of Sahel-Saharan States) which today has 29 members but also has limited effectiveness.  From this position, he began mediating African conflicts in an effort to exert ‘benign influence’ starting in 1999.    His aspirations to become “President of Africa” met ten years later when he was elected as the head of the African Union (for a term of one year).  During this time period, he continued to push his pan-african vision of a single country, currency, army and passport for all Africans.