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Libya
INTERNATIONAL MILITARY CONCERNS AND OBJECTIVES
Libyan Security Concerns
In little more than a decade, Qadhafi effected a transformation
of Libya into a militarized nation. The armed forces were rapidly
expanded, acquiring greatly enhanced firepower and mobility. The
able-bodied civilian population was formed in well-equipped militia
units. Libya's new military establishment and arsenal have enabled
Qadhafi to project his radical vision and ambitions beyond the
country's borders. In spite of frequently irrational and inconsistent
behavior, he has advanced Libya to the forefront of politics in
North Africa and thrown its weight against peaceful settlement
in the Middle East.
As affirmed by Qadhafi's public statements, his primary purpose
in the Libyan arms buildup is destruction of Israel. The armed
forces, however, have not been shaped to confront Israel directly
nor has Qadhafi been eager to commit Libya to battle with Israel
in alliance with other Arab powers. To a limited extent, he has
used his arms inventory as a stockpile, supplying weapons selectively
to those countries and groups most opposed to Israel's existence.
His rhetoric has been devoted to appeals to develop a combined
Arab and Islamic force strong enough to wage a successful "holy
war" against Israel.
In 1987 most observers doubted that either the Libyans or the
Soviets viewed the stored Soviet equipment as an arms depot prepositioned
for eventual use by Soviet forces in action in North Africa. The
matériel has been purchased outright by Libya at a considerable
sacrifice to the country's economy. In spite of large numbers
of Soviet advisers and support personnel, the unused equipment
reportedly has not been maintained in an adequate state of readiness
to be employed at short notice. Anticipated use by the Soviet
forces presupposes close cooperation and approval by Qadhafi of
Soviet operations in North Africa, but other evidence suggested
that he was far from willing to agree to a more active Soviet
role in the area.
The traditional mission of Libyan armed forces has been to protect
Libya's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Normally,
the limited capability of neighboring states to threaten Libya's
borders would not justify a primed and powerful defense arm .
Qadhafi, however, has inflamed relations with all of his neighbors
on one or more occasions. In the late 1980s, the military remained
ready for possible open conflict with Egypt, whose moderate policy
toward Israel Qadhafi viewed as a provocation. Libya's buildup
of naval and air strength helped to protect the country's exposed
Mediterranean coastline against attack and gave Qadhafi a tangible
means for enforcing Libya's claim to the Gulf of Sidra and its
natural resources as Libyan territorial waters. Moreover, submarines
and fast-attack craft with missiles gave Libya a potential striking
power that even major naval forces in the Mediterranean were forced
to heed.
Libya's arms buildup and demonstrated mobility provided the indispensable
underpinning to Qadhafi's efforts to play a leading role in African
politics by extending his influence, particularly to the Sahelian
nations to the south. Libyan involvement has taken the form of
subversion, military assistance, and direct military intervention
aimed at winning other countries to support Qadhafi's radical
policies or supplanting existing governments with others more
amenable to him. Libya's efforts to dominate the Sahel presented
a more imminent threat because of the military weakness, poverty,
and unstable government in the area. In addition, territorial
claims have been advanced against Chad, Niger, and Algeria.
Data as of 1987
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