REAGAN APPROVAL REPORTED ON PLAN TO WEAKEN LIBYA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000403940040-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: November 4, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00552R000403940040-9
ARTICLE APPEAR D
QN PAGE I
REAGAN APPROVAL
REPORTED ON PLAN
NEW YORK TIMES
4 November 1985
over the unauthorized disclosure of in-
telligence and classified information."
Mr. Reagan "13 ordering an mvesu-
gation of the disclosure of the United
States intelligence documents cited in
this news report in an effort to deter-
mine
r
posp such di
b
a
,'
and to take appropriate priate action,' 7
.: Hart
TO WEAKEN LIBYA
Spsclal to nw Now York Times 1fr.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 - President
Reagan has approved a covert plan
aimed at weakening the regime of the
Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qad-
daft, according to Congressional
sources and Administration officials.
An Administration official said today
that disclosure of the plan today would
not necessarily derail it.
"We went ahead with the world's
most open covert operation against
Nicaragua," the official said. "I would
not assume that the opponents of this
can kill it with leaks."
Called Somewhat Damaging
Democrat of Oklahoma, said today
that he expected the House panel to
conduct its own investigation of how
the information was disseminated.
While refusing to confirm or deny the
existence of a s L4, Libya operation,
Mr. McCurdy said of the reports: "I'm
really appalled. I'm just telling you
that there is an apparent breach of se-
curity here, and I think staff and mem.
bers of Congress will be under close
scrutiny on this one. This is a serious
The official said disclosure was dam-
aging, but added, "Qaddafi probably
already assumes we're doing this." An
account of the Central Intelligence
operation appeared in today's
issue of The Washington Post.
Congressional sources said members
of the House Intelligence Committee
had questioned the plan, which was
said to call for the C.I.A. to help coun-
tries opposing Colonel Qaddaft. It could
not be learned whether the agency had
begun to carry out the operation or
which countries were expected to coop-
erate.
Investigation Ordered
The House committee was told about.
a month ago that Mr. Reagan had
signed the formal document necessary
to start a covert action, according to a
House source. Last week the Adminis-
tration sent Secretary of State George
P. Shultz to brief the House committee
and respond to the concerns raised by
several members, the source said.
The chairman of the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence, Dave
Durenberger, Republican of Minneso-
ta, could not be reached for comment.
A spokesman for the Senate committee
would not say whether it shared the
concerns raised by the House panel.
A White House spokesman said today
that Mr. Reagan had ordered an inves.
tigation into the release of secret intel-
ligence reports on Colonel Qaddafi that
were quoted in The Post account.
Bill Hart, the spokesman, said he
would not comment on "alleged intelli-
gence activities" but added, "In gen-
eral, the President is very concerned
The Administration is required by
law to report to the House and Sate
Intelligence committees on all signifi-
cant intelligence activities.
Covert operations for overthrowing
the government of a country are, per-
mitted by law. An executive ordeti
issued by Mr. Reagan bars the Qj A,
.
from sponsoring assassinations.
Committees Lack Veto Power
The committees lack formal
powevover plans for covert but
they can register objectionsaction
and w
hold money. In 1983 the Administration'
dropped a plan calling for the over-
throw of the Government of Suriname,
a former Dutch colony in South Amer-
ica, in the face of Congressional objec-~
I lions.
More recently, the Administration
continued to provide covert aid to the
rebels in Nicaragua, even though the
C.I.A.'s involvement in the secret
operation was disclosed by news ac-
counts and assailed by members of the
House and Senate.
Since the time Mr. Reagan took of-
fice, members of his Administration
have been engaged in diplomatic
maneuvers aimed at isolating Libya.
The President and other officials
have Openly d expressed their distaste
for the Qad regime. Secretary of
State Shultz was reported to have told
his staff last year that "we have to put
Qaddafl in a box and close the lid."
Said to Sponsor Terrorism
Admininstration officials contend,
that Libya is one of the chief sponsors
of an international terrorist network
that has attacked American and West.
ern targets throughout the world.
Libban diplomats tiofrom n expelled s United
States in 1981, advised American coin-
panies and personnel to leave Libya
and barred American importation of
Libya's Oil. There have been no Amer-
ican diplomats in Libya since 1980,
when the embassy was burned down.
There have been several attempts to
overthrow Colonel Qaddafi. Some have
come close to succeeding, according to
a former member of the Senate Intelli-
gence Committee.
In May, the Libyan leader crushed
an attempted coup. At least 2,000 Liby-
ans were arrested afterward.
Approved For Release 2010/08/24: CIA-RDP90-00552R000403940040-9
By STEPHEN ENGELBERG