AL-QADHDHAFI ON GULF WAR, U.S. ISRAEL, EGYPT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05-01559R000400410021-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2012
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: February 22, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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V. 25 Feb 86
LIBYA
NORTH AFRICA Q I
General People's Congress Meeting Begins 25 Feb
LD251019 Tripoli JANA in English 0948 GMT 25 Feb
[Text]
NEWSAG
this morning ho
Y - The General People Rongress has started
Yunis University i
sessions have come
he city of Bayan'al-Awal (Banghazi). These
formulateIhe resolutions passed by the
AI-Qadhdhafi Ins fcts Comb eady SAM Missile Sites
LD251134 Tripo,JANA in Arabic 20 GMT 25 Feb 86
[Text] Trip f, 25 Feb (JANA) - The they leader of the
revoluti , fe supreme commander of the Li n Arab Armed
Forc yesterday inspected some SAM-5 missile series which
ar ow ready for combat. The range of these missi is more
an 200 km which covers the whole region of the Gulf of S
Al-Qadhdhafi on Gulf War, U.S. Israel, Egypt
NC241430 Beirut AL-SAFIR in Arabic 22 Feb 86
pp1,9
[Interview with Libya's Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi by
unidentified correspondent of the Lebanese AL-KIFAH AL-
'ARABI magazine; date and place not given]
[Text] Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi has stated that the
recent escalation in the Gulf war has come about in response to
the Saudi oil position, which has harmed the interests of Libya,
Algeria, and Iran. Saudi Arabia has aligned itself with those
states which have not adhered to their production quotas as laid
down by OPEC. Al-Qadhdhafi warned that this war will extend
to the Gulf states unless the rate of'oil production and oil prices
are corrected.
In an interview to be published today in the magazine AL-
KIFAH AL-'ARABI, Al-Qadhdhafi said that "there is no use in
holding any dialogue with the United States." While expecting
a resumption of the fighting in South Yemen, he said that the
new forces in Aden are "unknown to us." He noted that Syrian
President Hafiz al-Asad will visit the Libyan Jamahiriyah
shortly to amend the Confederation of Arab Republics, which
comprises Libya, Syria, and Egypt, and make it more effective.
Question: How do you think the U.S.-Libyan conflict will end?
AI-Qadhdhafi: I do not envisage an end to this conflict as long
as there is a U.S. imperialist policy that desires to control the
world and bring all areas under its influence. Essentially, the
conflict is not one between Libya and the United States or
between the U.S. President and so and so from Libya. What is
between them and us is a glaring example of the situation which
exists between imperialist America and every country in the
world seeking freedon and wishing to live in peace and security.
Therefore, there is a big contradiction between the aims of
America and other states of the world. This contradiction can
Fig- MiF.4 ?g&-gyp.3_?
i, Jumada Thani 15, Feb 2, J'AHIRIYAH
'
only be settled by expanding the circle of struggle. Consequently,
the various nations must rise to confront American ambitions.
This must not conceal the fact that the conflict is ultimately a
struggle between the superpowers, between the socialist camp
and the imperialist camp, between the Soviet Union and the
United States. However, other nations are the victims of this
global struggle. The superpowers cannot clash without stepping
into the areas inhabited by small nations. America believes it
cannot encircle the Soviet Union unless it occupies the Arab
homeland and controls the Mediterranean. Consequently, its
bases must extend from Western Europe to the Mediterranean,
to the Arab countries, and to its main base in occupied Palestine.
The U.S. bases then extend to the Indian Ocean, the Philippines,
and the Pacific. This is a strategic encirclement operation which
cannot be implemented without subduing the peoples of this
entire region - from the Philippines, to the Arab countries, to
those states which have not entered into a pact with the United
States, or which, unlike Israel, have refused to become bases for
the United States. The United States believes that these regions
must come under its influence. For this reason, it is using every
weapon at its disposal, including provocation, terrorism, and
force.
We in Libya have a special significance in the eyes of the United
States. We are the force that is awakening the Arab will through
our progressive and unionist concept. America sees Arab unity
as a real danger to its interests and to the influence it has at the
moment, thanks to the Arab homeland's division and to U.S.
agents in the region. Therefore, in its struggle with us, the United
States is trying to strike at the Arab homeland's real attempt at
liberation and unity.
Therefore, while the United States adheres to its imperialist
policy, and while we remain unliberated and disunited, there will
be no end to the conflict. We must meet it with increased
vigilance. We must also use every means of resistance in this
struggle.
Question: Outside of the recent provocative exercises and the
massing of ships and aircraft carriers, have there been any other
contacts between you and the United States?
AI-Qadhdhafi: Several states have tried to mediate between us,
including Yugoslavia, Greece, Malta, Algeria, Morocco, and
Saudi Arabia. However, the United States has turned down all
mediation attempts and insisted on achieving its ambitions
through threats of force and economic war. We have felt from
the beginning that there is no use in holding any dialogue with
the United States. The only solution is confrontation. We
accepted mediation, but we did not desire it. We accepted
mediation in order to show our friends and Arab brothers the true
objectives behind America's confrontation with us. We wanted
the friendly and brotherly states to see'that the U.S. pretexts were
one thing and the U.S. objectives something else.
If the United States continues with these provocations, then we
must introduce new elements into our conflict. We will be obliged
to transfer the battle to the United States and its military bases
through the revolutionary forces and the peoples allied with us.
We will continue this action until America realizes its limits and
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leaves the Arabs to liberate themselves, unite themselves, and
build their own future.
Question: Arab sources have told AL-KIFAH AL-'ARABI that
you had planned a naval strike against a target in Israel in
anticipation of a threatened military action,by Israel against
Libya in the wake of the Vienna and Rome operations. Did you
actually make preparations for such a strike, and if so, why was
it called off?
AI-Qadhdhafi: That is correct, although the strike we had
planned was an air and not a naval one. However, we called it off
at the 11th hour because we thought it was a limited operation,
which we did not want. We would have liked Israel to have made
some kind of raid against Libya. This would have meant war. We
then would have been entitled to stage an open-ended series of
military operations which would have ended only when the
Zionist entity was finished. We wanted the Zionists to carry out
their threat so that we could be on their heels and surround them
everywhere. In this state of war, we would have made everything
in this region subject to the laws of war.
Question: From the standpoint of international law, do you think
that the U.S. veto of the UN Security Council draft resolution
condemning Israel for the hijacking of a Libyan plane justifies
your own decision to hunt Israeli planes?
AI-Qadhdhafi: Certainly. Precedent is a source of legislation. For
this reason I did not decide to chase Israeli civilian planes until
after the United States had sanctioned such a course of action by
using its veto power in the UN Security Council. We had been
waiting for the conscience of the world to speak out, but the
United States has rendered this conscience ineffective. Our only
recourse is to act as they do.
Question: Did you hold any Arab or international consultations
prior to your decision to chase Israeli planes?
AI-Qadhdhafi: We notified our allies and friends of this decision
before we announced it, but we did not consult with them. We
simply told them that we are implementing such a measure and
that we wanted them to know about it, but we did not consult
with them.
Question: How long will this decision remain in effect?
AI-Qadhdhafi: We do not intend to let up or give up. We will get
them at some point.
Question: You are the commander of the Arab Revolution
Forces. Does this mean that every operation conducted by a
national command platoon requries your prior consent, or are
there some operations which can be undertaken autonomously by
these platoons without consultation with you?
AI-Qadhdhafi: Leadership does not mean that one should become
involved with all the details and personally approve everything.
This is the responsibility of the field command. I am not a field
commander. I do not have to supervise every single operation.
Mine is a national, political, and revolutionary leadership. I am
interested in mobilizing national, revolutionary, and political
efforts to achieve the final objectives of liberation and liberty.
The means for action and the choice of targets are matters which
concern every organization; they may even be classified among
the secrets of a particular organization. We have no right to ask
any group to give us these details, nor are we trying to claim such
rights.
Question: There have been heated discussions during meetings of
the popular conferences about the formation of death squads.
Considering the already charged atmosphere, would such squads
undertake operations now, or would they only act in case of an
attack against the Jamahiriyah by the United States, Israel, or
both?
AI-Qadhdhafi: The role of the death squads is in fact confined to
the case when Libya or any other Arab country is attacked,
whether this be by Israel or the United States. Any Israeli or U.S.
attack against the Arab people would automatically send these
squads into action to confront the aggression.
Question: Despite the popular anger which has been generated
throughout the Arab world by the current U.S.-Libyan confron-
tation, it has been noticed that Arab labor unions and workers
associations have remained rather cool. They were reluctant to
take any measures against U.S. ships and planes in response to
the American boycott on Libya. How would you explain this?
AI-Qadhdhafi: These labor unions and associations have
becomme government organs. This is why they have responded
in this manner. We are very proud that workers and popular
organizations throughout the world demonstrated their support
for us. Regrettably, however, this did not happen in the Arab
world due to government control over the unions. Workers and
organizations in many countries demonstrated at U.S. Embassies
and clashed with police. But this did not happen in the Arab
world. Governments here enjoy too much control. This is what
we are fighting against. We want the power of governments to
revert to the people. This is our theory.
Question: How true are reports about Sudanese mediation
between Libya and Egypt?
AI-Qadhdhafi.: Absolutely untrue. We are not seeking any medi-
ation with Egypt. A meeting with Egypt for us would have only
one point on its agenda, namely, that Egypt should get out of the
Dawud barn [derogatory Libyan designation of Camp David].
This must be absolutely clear. We do not accept mediation. We
do not want reconciliation. We will tighten the embargo on Egypt
and we will make any individual or country which tries to break
this embargo pay. Any country or individual who invests in Egypt
to help the regime get by or to neutralize the effect of the Arab
embargo, which has been ordered by the Arab League, is acting
against the Arab will and against the sacred national cause.
Question: How do you interpret the Jamahiriyah's support for the
new Sudanese regime in view of its continuing, special relation-
ship with the Egyptian regime?
AI-Qadhdhafi: Everything now in Sudan is temporary. There is
no fixed policy because there is no fixed authority. The 6 April
people's revolution has come to a temporary halt because a
transitional military regime took over, and because a transitional
government was formed. This means that everything in Sudan is
temporary, though based on the victory of the 6 April revolution
and the victory of the people. Therefore, there is no doubt that
we have to stand with the Sudan during this stage, because we
support its popular revolution which has led to the present
situation. However, when this temporary period is over and when
the people's authority is firm, we certainly will not have relations
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with any regime that recognizes the Israeli enemy, whether
Egypt's or any other regime. We will stand with Egypt when it
returns to lead the battle of liberation and unity, as was the case
when Jamal `Abd al-Nasir was alive. But, when Egypt takes the
lead in a defeatist and reactionary course, we cannot stand with
it, whether it involves Sudan, Libya, or any, other place in the
Arab homeland.
Question: The Jamahiriyah's stand with respect to the situation
in the PDRY is not yet clear. Can you elaborate?
AI-Qadhdhafi: The information we have received so far indicates
that the fighting has actually stopped, but the situation is still
like a time bomb. Unfortunately, the fighting might start all over
again. If this happens, it will be a regrettable and painful thing.
We felt saddened when the fierce fighting broke out in Aden
because the blood of thousands was shed. That blood could have
been enough to liberate Palestine, or to liberate the whole area
surrounding Yemen. But it is not easy for anyone to respond to
people who have destroyed their country in this way. What kind
of assistance can be given when they recklessly destroyed civilian
targets with strategic rockets?
In general, the new forces in the PDRY are unknown to us. We
have heard one or two of their names before, such as 'Ali Salim
al-Bayd, who is a real revolutionary. I met him at the summit
meeting preceding the death of `Abd al-Nasir. The man came to
Tripoli more than once, and during these visits I got to know him
well. I consider him a personal friend; he is the only man among
the leaders of the second and third rank that the Libyan leader-
ship knows and considers a friend. However, we are not sure yet
if he is really ruling the country or if he is just a figurehead. Those
we knew are gone. `Ali Nasir is out of the regime; `Ali `Antar,
Salih Muslih, and 'Abd al-Fattah Isma'il were killed. These are
the names of the leaders we used to know; the new names are
unknown to us. We hope that the brothers in the PDRY will keep
it a revolutionary country opposing imperialism and reaction. We
hope that they will seriously try to unite Yemen and liberate
Musqat and Oman, and will not betray the revolution. If there is
any risk of a new outbreak, I call on all parties to resort to
negotiation. We in the Jamahiriyah are ready to mediate between
'Ali Nasir and the other brothers so that they will not take up
arms again.
Question: The Jamahiriyah has witnessed intensive moves
regarding the crisis in oil prices. Have you adopted any plan to
face this crisis?
AI-Qadhdhafi: 1 consider the oil crisis a real war, a very
destructive one. It is not less harmful than a war with planes and
gunboats that destroys factories and wastes the economic efforts
of any country. This war is against Libya, Iran, and Algeria in
particular. These three countries have been greatly harmed as a
result of this war. Those who have waged this war are similar to
or as dangerous as those who wage military wars. Before I
disclose the most dangerous aspect of this question, I want to
backtrack a bit. We all know that Saudi Arabia was not respon-
sible at the outset. The violations that led to the present oil crisis
were those of other Arab countries, particularly Iraq; other
OPEC members such as Nigeria under the rule of the previous
regimes; and some Arab emirates such as Dubay and Sharjah.
Abu Dhabi is an exception, because it has acted outside the
framework of the organization, and has exported its oil according
to the mood of its rulers - any quantity and any price. These
countries are the ones that have violated the production quota,
which had been set at not more than 16 million barrels per day.
Saudi Arabia in fact drew attention to the seriousness of these
violations and their effect on the future of the oil market. It issued
several warnings but there was.noresponse. Saudi Arabia has
now absolved itself from its initial Commitment and begun to
flood the market. Saudi Arabia is to be held responsible for all
that is taking place. The problem, however, was actually gen-
erated by those states that failed to abide by their oil production
quotas. With its recent actions, Saudi Arabia has committed the
same sin, although I can see a justification and I am on its side.
Saudi Arabia had always warned against tampering with produc-
tion quotas and prices, but the others practiced treacherous
methods to sell above their specified quotas and at reduced prices.
However, the Saudi move has seriously affected countries such
as Libya, Algeria, and Iran. Therefore, unless Saudi Arabia
abides by its assigned quota, namely, 3 million barrels or less, the
situation will be further aggravated. I would like to divulge here
a grave secret: The recent stage in the Gulf war was in response
to this position. I warn the Gulf oil countries that this war will
expand and will escalate unless everyone cuts production to the
allowed levels. We in Libya, Algeria, and Iran cannot keep silent
about the oil, war declared,on us. Therefore, the Gulf war will
escalate with. renewed momentum unless prices and quotas are
observed. I had earlier made this prediction in a statement to
Italy's LA STAMPA, but they did not publish it. Before Iran
crossed the Shatt al-`Arab, I said that unless the prices were
amended and overproduction stopped, the Gulf war would esca-
late within a few days. I predict now, through AL-KJFAH
AL-'ARAB/, that the war will escalate and expand to involve all
oil-producing countries in the area unless the Gulf countries stop
the price and quota war. This war declared on us is quite serious.
They are declaring war on our livelihood, the health of our
elderly, and the education of our children. We will not allow this
to happen.
Question: Once again Chad is at the top of the news. What is your
position now that France has responded to Habre's request and
has sent troops to Chad?
AI-Qadhdhafi: I concluded an amicable agreement with Mitter-
rand in Crete. This agreement is based on the following points:
1. Libya and France shall refrain from sending troops to
Chad no matter what takes place. We expected the struggle
between Goukouni and Habre to continue because this struggle
is tribal, sectarian, and racial. Nevertheless, France and Libya
must refrain from sending troops to Chad whether the struggle
continues or escalates.
2. If France or any other foreign forces enter Chad, Libya
will have the right to send its troops back there.
3. France and Libya will make all efforts to find a peaceful
solution to the Chadian problem and persuade the combatants to
negotiate. Since then we have made strenuous efforts to work out
a peaceful solution to the Chadian problem and convince all
parties to negotiate. We managed to persuade certain friendly
parties like General (Gabriel Goukou) to hold negotiations with
Habre. These parties actually held negotiations with Habre,
We were surprised when fighting broke out while we in Libya
were occupied with confronting the United States at sea. We
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were told later that Goukouni had uncovered a colonialist ploy
that enabled Habre to gain control of Chad, and that there was
a plan to establish U.S. bases in Chad. The United States had
told France that it wanted to set up military bases in Chad,
considering that France has bases in the Cameroon and Central
Africa, not to mention bases in Gabon and-the Ivory Coast.
Therefore, France does not need bases in Chad. French troops
deployed in African bases are capable of operating inside Chad.
In fact, the United States is establishing a base in the Niger, and
is getting ready to establish another in Chad. Goukouni discov-
ered that his country would be sold out and that the 16th parallel
had become a permanent line dividing Chad into two states. At
a time when his relations with us were at an ebb, he launched the
offensive of his own accord. The offensive was launched at an
ideal time, according to Goukouni: After he managed to unify
the political front in the wake of the lengthy meetings in Benin,
Brazzaville, and Algeria. The unity of the political front has led
to the reformation of the government and reorganization of the
forces. Goukouni believed that the continuation of the political
stalemate meant capitulation to Habre and bringing Chad under
the control of the United States and France.
Goukouni believed this, basing himself on documents and infor-
mation that he obtained from Ndjamena. Relying on his own
counsel, he launched his offensive of which we had been unaware
until after it had taken place. This made us refrain from giving
him any assistance in this war. We have called on all parties to
resume peaceful negotiations. As we were calling for nego-
tiations, however, France surprised us with its air attack on the
Doum airfield. This airfield is far from the area of military
operations and has nothing to do with the military efforts. Douro
is the only civilian airfield in northern Chad and was built to
transport food and medicine. It is well known that most of the
aircraft that use this airfield belong to the Red Cross and Red
Crescent. There were civilians and engineers at the Douro airfield
who were the victims of a treacherous act of aggression by
France. What is worse is that it was announced that this attack
was on orders from Mitterrand himself. I am surprised that
Mitterrand would give orders to strike at a civilian airport used
by the Red Cross and Red Crescent to bring supplies to the
famine-stricken people of northern Chad. I have really tried to
excuse the French president. I said to myself, he might have been
misled by false reports about the purpose of this airport. Perhaps
he is sorry for what he did now that he has found out that the
airport is a civilian one. They again misinformed him when they
told him that the airport had been completely destroyed. As a
matter of fact, the airport has not been destroyed and the air raid
was a failure. The evidence is that the Red Crescent has not
stopped using it. However, certain Red Crescent employees now
hesitate to use this airport for fear that France may again make
the same ugly mistake. Everyone knows that Goukouni Oueddei
recently received fighter aircraft. He also held graduation cere-
monies for his pilots. Early this morning, these pilots retaliated
for the French air raid by launching a successful air raid on
Ndjamena airport, the counterpart of Douro airport. There is a
government in the north and another one in the south. Since
France gave itself the right to try to destroy the Doum airport,
Goukouni has the right to destroy the Ndjamena airport.
Question: Let us go over to your constant concern: Unity. Unity
talks were held with Algeria a few days ago, and there are reports
about successful talks in Damascus. So, what's new?
Al-Qadhdhafi: I expect that the talks in Algeria will culminate
in a declaration of union within the next few months.
Question: Don't you think that unity with Algeria will affect your
federation with Morocco?
AI-Qadhdhafi: Quite the contrary, because the two unions com-
plement each other. I view these unions as a step toward a
confederation of the Arab Maghreb.
Question: Don't you feel that union with Algeria will lead to
conflict with Morocco?
AI-Qadhdhafi: This could not happen. The Arab African feder-
ation with Morocco has achieved major successes and is hardy
enough to survive. In addition, the Oujda agreement permits the
Moroccan and Libyan states to set up federation with other
countries. Our federation with Algeria in addition to our feder-
ation with Morocco will be a step toward confederation uniting
the Arab Maghreb. We hope that through both federations we
can solve the Sahara problem so that we can all direct our guns
at the Zionist enemy.
Question: What about the Syrian part in the union?
AI-Qadhdhafi: The Confederation of Arab Republics, which
includes Libya, Syria, and Egypt, will be amended so that it can
be more effective. I expect to meet with President Hafiz al-Asad
in Libya in the near future to proclaim a form of advanced union
within the framework of the Confederation of Arab Republics.
Question: What would be Egypt's status in this confederation?
AI-Qadhdhafi: We consider Egypt to be a constitutional member
of this confederation. We will do our duty toward Egypt in
accordance with the constitution of the Confederation of Arab
Republics. A referendum was held in Egypt regarding this
constitution and the Egyptian people unanimously approved it.
Question: What do you mean by doing your constitutional duty
toward Egypt?
AI-Qadhdhafi: I repeat what I have said: Egypt is a member of
the Confederation of Arab Republics, and the constitution of this
confederation brings with it duties toward Egypt, which we will
exercise in a constitutional way and in accordance with constitu-
tional norms. I thanked the leader of the 1 September revolution
for affording me the opportunity to meet with him and for giving
AL-KIFAH AL-'ARABI important information. I said goodbye
to the man who always has many surprises because he advocates
clarity and holds on to his dream.
Furthet,Beportage on Visit of Nigerian Minist
[Text] Tripoli, 24 FebN`A) ~"F-brother leader of the
revolution received t y at noon Mr B6Iaj' Akinyemi, the
Nigerian ministev external affairs and perso ?\voy of
President Ibr .fim Babangida, the president of the a al
Republic o igeria. The envoy handed brother leader of the
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