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The Real Reasons of Washington’s Intervention in Libya

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The World Disorder

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Abstract

This chapter’s focus is not precisely Libya, but what led Washington to intervene in Libya. There was general ignorance in the United States about the countries it wanted to invade. This fed the belief that they offered easy opportunities for capital expansion through (a) elimination of any apparent obstacles of nationalist nature, such as Gaddafi’s own political projects, and (b) appropriation of funds confiscated from Gaddafi. The disintegration of the state in Libya, and the assassination of Washington’s ambassador in Benghazi, came to be seen as somewhat inevitable collateral effects of the main purpose of Gaddafi elimination and appropriation of funds. To deplore the humanitarian tragedy of the refugees is only a demonstration of Washington’s cynicism or hypocrisis. This logic found its continuation in supporting terrorists against Bashar al-Assad—the new obstacle to Washington’s geopolitical ambitions in the region.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Robert Gates, 2014, pp. 589–590.

  2. 2.

    Ibidem, p. 589.

  3. 3.

    Leon Panetta, 2014, pp. 380–382.

  4. 4.

    Mohammed Bescir Fergiani, 1983, pp. 46–70, 102–109.

  5. 5.

    Ibidem, pp. 111–112; Jon Mitchell, “Libya—War in Libya and Its Futures—Tribal Dynamics and Civil War (1).” The Red (Team) Analysis Society, April 13, 2015. Available at: <http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redanalysis.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F04%2FTribes-Map.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redanalysis.org%2F2015%2F04%2F13%2Fwar-libya-futures-tribal-dynamics-civil-war%2F&h=477&w=550&tbnid=LZASOPFCv39wlM%3A&zoom=1&docid=MzM39PpnHvjhWM&ei=xqyjVeKhFarNygOGhIXoCQ&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=1719&page=1&start=0&ndsp=42&ved=0CDAQrQMwBQ>.

  6. 6.

    Ibidem, p. 381.

  7. 7.

    Ibidem, p. 380. “Libyan rebels ‘receive foreign training’. Rebel source tells Al Jazeera about training offered by US and Egyptian special forces in eastern Libya.” Al Jazeera, April 3, 2011. Available at: <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/04/201142172443133798.html>.

  8. 8.

    Leon Panetta, 2014, p. 381.

  9. 9.

    Ibidem, p. 382.

  10. 10.

    U.N. Security Council Report. Monthly Forecast, March 2014. Available at: <http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2014-03/libya_8.php>.

  11. 11.

    “Libya—Overview—Libya is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the holder of Africa’s largest proved crude oil reserves, and an important contributor to the global supply of light, sweet crude oil.” Energy Information Administration (EIA), November 25, 2014. Available at: <http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=LY>.

  12. 12.

    Barak Barfi, “Khalifa Haftar: Rebuilding Libya from the Top Down.” The Washington Institute, August 2014. Available at: <http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/khalifa-haftar-rebuilding-libya-from-the-top-down>.

  13. 13.

    Ibidem; Mohamed Madi, “Profile: Libyan ex-GeneralKhalifa Haftar.” BBC News, October 16, 2014. Available at: <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27492354>; “Libyan Army GeneralKhalifa Haftar a CIA operative: Analyst.” Press TV, September 6, 2014. Available at: <http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/06/09/366288/gen-khalifa-haftar-cia-man-in-libya/>; Michael Pizzi, “Libya’s rogue general, an ex-CIA asset, vaunts his anti-extremism services. Khalifa Haftar wants to rid Libya of the Muslim Brotherhood—something many regional powers may rally behind.” Al Jazeera, July 24, 2014.

  14. 14.

    Amro Hassan (Cairo), “Libya’s parliament ducks fighting to meet in eastern city of Tobruk.” Los Angeles Times, August 2, 2014. Available at: <http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-libya-parliament-tobruk-20140802-story.html>.

  15. 15.

    “UAE ‘behind air strikes in Libya’. Two US officials say United Arab Emirates carried out air raids against militias using bases in Egypt.” Al Jazeera, August 26, 2014. Available at: <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/uae-behind-air-strikes-libya-201482523130569467.html>; Patrick Kingsley (Cairo) & Chris Stephen & Dan Roberts (Washington), “UAE and Egypt behind bombing raids against Libyan militias, say US officials—Strikes said to be from planes flying out of Egyptian airbases signal step towards direct action in conflict by other Arab states.” The Guardian, August 26, 2014.

  16. 16.

    Steve Fox, “Libya burns as politicians and militia groups vie for control.” Middle East Eye, August 24, 2014. Access on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. Available at: <http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/politicians-and-militia-groups-vie-control-battle-torn-libya-99372368>.

  17. 17.

    “UAE ‘behind air strikes in Libya’. Two US officials say United Arab Emirates carried out air raids against militias using bases in Egypt.” Al Jazeera, August 26, 2014. Available at: <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/uae-behind-air-strikes-libya-201482523130569467.html>; Samira Shackle, “UAE-Egypt attack on Libya aimed at Islamists.” Memo–Middle East Monitor, August 27, 2014. Available at: <https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/blogs/politics/13771-uae-egypt-attack-on-libya-aimed-at-islamists>.

  18. 18.

    Tarek El-Tablawy, “Tripoli Clashes Toll Rises by 22 as Libya Crisis Deepens.” Bloomberg News, August 3, 2014. Available at: <http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-08-03/tripoli-fighting-death-toll-rises-by-22-as-libya-crisis-deepens>.

  19. 19.

    kit Chellel, “Libyan Investment Authority SuesGoldman Sachs in London.” Bloomberg News, January 22, 2014. Available at: <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-22/libyan-investment-authority-sues-goldman-sachs-in-london-court.html>; “High court judge ordersGoldman Sachs to disclose Libya profits—Libyan sovereign wealth fund, which is suing Goldman, estimates the US investment bank made $350 million in upfront profit on nine derivatives products.” The Guardian, November 24, 2014; Jenny Anderson, “Goldman to Disclose Profit It Made on Libyan Trades.” The New York Times, November 24, 2014. Available at: <http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/goldman-to-disclose-profit-it-made-on-libyan-trades/?_r=0>.

  20. 20.

    Chris Stephen, “War in Libya—the Guardian briefing—In the three years sinceMuammar Gaddafi was toppled by Libyan rebels and NATO airstrikes, fighting between militia has plunged the country into civil war and seen Tripoli fall to Islamists. The involvement of Qatar, Egypt and the UAE risks a wider regional war.” The Guardian, August 29, 2014. Available at: <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/29/-sp-briefing-war-in-libya>.

  21. 21.

    AL Arabiya News. “Libya death toll rises as clashes in Benghazi continue.” Al Arabya, October 2, 2014. Available at: <http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2014/10/02/Seven-Libyan-soldiers-killed-in-Benghazi-bombs-and-clashes-army-official-says.html2014>. Access on December 3, 2014.

  22. 22.

    “Some 400 killed over last 6 weeks in Libya clashes.” Press TV Wednesday, December 3, 2014. Available at: <http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/11/30/388096/libyas-6-week-death-toll-reaches-400/>.

  23. 23.

    A/HRC/31/CRP.3. Human Rights Council—31st session, February 23, 2016. Agenda items 2 and 10—Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Technical assistance and capacity-building—Investigation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Libya: detailed findings. Available at: <http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/hrcindex.aspx>.

  24. 24.

    “World must help pull Libya out of human rights chaos five years since uprising that ousted al-Gaddafi.” Amnesty International—Libya Armed Conflict, February 16, 2016. Available at: <https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/02/world-must-help-pull-libya-out-of-human-rights-chaos-five-years-since-uprising-that-ousted-al-gaddafi/>; Magda Mughrabi, “Libya since the ‘Arab Spring’: 7 ways human rights are under attack.” Amnesty International—LibyaArmed Conflict, London, February 16, 2016. Available at: <https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2016/02/libya-arab-spring-7-ways-human-rights-are-under-attack/>.

  25. 25.

    Catherine Herridge & Pamela Browne (Fox Business), “Exclusive: The Arming of Benghazi—The United States supported the secret supply of weapons to Libyan rebels whileHillary Clinton was Secretary of State according to federal court documents obtained by Fox News. In a sworn declaration.” Benghazi Accountability Coalition, June 29, 2015. Available at: <http://benghazicoalition.org/>.

  26. 26.

    Ambassador Christopher Stevens was beaten, was sodomized, had his genitals cut off, and was burned after he was killed. His murder was similar to that ofMuammar Gaddafi.

  27. 27.

    Jerome R. Corsi, “Generals concludeObama backed al-Qaida, Probe of military experts finds U.S. ‘switched sides’ in terror war.” WND, January 19, 2015. Available at: <http://www.wnd.com/files/2012/01/Jerome-R.-Corsi_avatar-96x96.jpg>; Catherine Herridge & Pamela Browne (Fox Business), “Exclusive: The Arming of Benghazi—The United States supported the secret supply of weapons to Libyan rebels whileHillary Clinton was Secretary of State according to federal court documents obtained by Fox News. In a sworn declaration.” Benghazi Accountability Coalition, June 29, 2015. Available at: <http://benghazicoalition.org/>.

  28. 28.

    On the terrorist Abdel Hakim Belhadj, seeLuiz Alberto Moniz Bandeira, 2014, pp. 319, 342, 351, and 404.

  29. 29.

    Michael B Kelley. “Al-Qaeda Jihadists Are The Best Fighters Among The Syria Rebels.” Business Insider—Military & Defense, July 31, 2012. Available at: <http://www.businessinsider.com/al-qaeda-jihadists-are-among-the-best-fighters-among-the-syria-rebels-2012-7?IR=T>.

  30. 30.

    Ibidem; Michael B. Kelley, “There’s A Reason Why All of The Reports about Benghazi Are So Confusing.” Business Insider—Military & Defense, November 3, 2012. Available at: <http://www.businessinsider.com/benghazi-stevens-cia-attack-libya-2012-11?GO=T>.

  31. 31.

    Jeremy Diamond, “Rand Paul skips hearing on State funding, hitsClinton on Benghazi.” CNN, April 22, 2015. Available at: <http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/414500/hillary-clintons-top-aides-knew-first-minutes-benghazi-was-terrorist-attack-e-mails>.

  32. 32.

    Seth G. Jones, “A Persistent Threat—The Evolution of al Qa’ida and Other Salafi Jihadists (Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense).” RAND National Research Institute. RAND Corporation, 2014, p. x. ISBN: 978-0-8330-8572-6. Available at: <http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR600/RR637/RAND_RR637.pdf>.

  33. 33.

    Scott Wilson & Joby Warrick, “Assad must go,Obama says.” The Washington Post, August 18, 2011. Available at: <http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/assad-must-go-obama-says/2011/08/18/gIQAelheOJ_story.html>; Kilic Bugra kanat, 2015, pp. 11, 77 e 83–84.

  34. 34.

    Seumas Milne, “If the Libyan war was about saving lives, it was a catastrophic failure NATO claimed it would protect civilians in Libya, but delivered far more killing. It’s a warning to the Arab world and Africa.” The Guardian, October 26, 2011.

  35. 35.

    Karin Laub, “Libya: Estimated 30,000 Died in War; 4000 Still Missing.” Huffpost World Post—The Huffington Post, September 8, 2011. Available at: <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/08/libya-war-died_n_953456.html>.

  36. 36.

    Aamer Madhani, “White House—Obama Says Libya’s Qaddafi Must Go.” National Journal, March 3, 2011. Available at: <http://www.nationaljournal.com/obama-says-libya-s-qaddafi-must-go-20110303>.

  37. 37.

    “Concern mounts for refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya.” UNHCR, Briefing Notes, August 5, 2014. Available at: <http://www.unhcr.org/53e0c0a09.html>.

  38. 38.

    Ibidem; Nicholas Farrel, “Libya’s boat people and Italy’s tragic folly. The ‘mare nostrum’ policy has acted as a magnet for boat people; the crisis is only growing.” The Spectator, September 6, 2014. Available at: <http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9303722/italys-decriminalising-of-illegal-immigration-has-acted-as-a-green-light-to-boat-people/>.

  39. 39.

    Nicole Winfield (Associated Press), “Italy recovers more bodies of would-be refugees from Libya. Migrants fleeing in boats from unrest in Libya face deadliest few days, as more than 300 have drowned since Friday.” The star.com World, August 26, 2014. Available at: <http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/08/26/italy_recovers_more_bodies_of_wouldbe_refugees_from_libya.html>.

  40. 40.

    Ibidem.

  41. 41.

    Sean Nevins, “2011 NATO Destruction of Libya Has Increased Terrorism Across Region.” “From Libya to Mali, Nigeria and Somalia, NATO’s 2011 intervention against Moammar Gadhafi has had an undeniable domino effect—but when do the dominoes stop falling?” MintPress News, May 20, 2015. Available at: <http://www.mintpressnews.com/2011-nato-destruction-of-libya-has-increased-terrorism-across-region/205801/>.

  42. 42.

    Raziye Akkoc & Jessica Winch & Nick Squires, “Mediterranean migrant death toll ‘30 times higher than last year’: as it happened. More than 1750 migrants perished in the Mediterranean since the start of the year—more than 30 times higher than during the same period of 2014, says the International Organisation for Migration.” The Telegraph, April 21, 2015. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11548995/Mediterranean-migrant-crisis-hits-Italy-as-EU-ministers-meet-live.html>.

  43. 43.

    “Worldwide displacement hits all-time high as war and persecution increase.” UNHCR—Geneva. Annual Global Trends Report, June 18, 2015. Available at: <http://www.unhcr.org/print/558193896.html>.

  44. 44.

    Ibidem.

  45. 45.

    “Irregular Migrant, Refugee Arrivals in Europe Top One Million in 2015: IOM.” International Organization for Migration, December 22, 2015. Available at: <https://www.iom.int/news/irregular-migrant-refugee-arrivals-europe-top-one-million-2015-iom>.

  46. 46.

    “Europe’s boat people—The EU’s policy on maritime refugees has gone disastrously wrong.” The Economist. Europe in Trouble, April 11, 2015. Available at: <http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21649465-eus-policy-maritime-refugees-has-gone-disastrously-wrong-europes-boat-people>.

  47. 47.

    Harriet Sherwood & Helena Smith (Athens) & Lizzy Davies (Rome) & Harriet Grant, “Europe faces ‘colossal humanitarian catastrophe’ of refugees dying at sea. UN considers Africa holding centres as ‘boat season’ is expected to bring sharp increase in migrants making treacherous crossing.” The Guardian, June 2, 2014.

  48. 48.

    Magda Mughrabi, “Five years ago, an initially peaceful uprising in Libya quickly developed into armed conflict involving Western military intervention and eventually ended when Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi was killed in October 2011. Successive governments then failed to prevent newly-formed militias of anti al-Gaddafi fighters from committing serious crimes for which they never faced justice. The country remains deeply divided and since May 2014 has been engulfed in renewed armed conflict.” Amnesty International, London, February 16, 2016. Available at: <https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2016/02/libya-arab-spring-7-ways-human-rights-are-under-attack/>.

  49. 49.

    The Jihadists, supported by NATO, captured approximately 150 people along with Gaddafi, who were transported to Misrata. More than 60 were found dead after suffering all sorts of violence in the vicinity of the Mahari Hotel. Jo Becker & Scott Shane, “The Libya Gamble Part 2. A New Libya, With ‘Very Little Time Left’.” International New York Times, February 27, 2016. Available at: <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/libya-isis-hillary-clinton.html?_r=1>.

  50. 50.

    Jo Becker & Scott Shane, “The Libya Gamble Part 1. Hillary Clinton, ‘Smart Power’ and a Dictator’s Fall.” International New York Times, February 27, 2016. Available at: <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/hillary-clinton-libya.html?mabReward=A6&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine>.

  51. 51.

    Jo Becker & Scott Shane, “The Libya Gamble Part 1. Hillary Clinton, ‘Smart Power’ and a Dictator’s Fall.” International New York Times, February 27, 2016. Available at: <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/hillary-clinton-libya.html?mabReward=A6&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine>.

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  1. Emeritus professor for History, University of Brasília, St. Leon-Rot, Germany

    Luiz Alberto Moniz Bandeira

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Moniz Bandeira, L.A. (2019). The Real Reasons of Washington’s Intervention in Libya. In: The World Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03204-3_9

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