North Korea Denuclearization & The Libya Model
Tuesday May 29th, 2018
By: A Omar Turbi, Expert, U.S Libya Relations
By: A Omar Turbi, Expert, U.S Libya Relations
Lessons learned from the history of U.S Libya relations and current U.S North Korea plans for the possible upcoming conference on June 12th, between Kim Jong and President Donald Trump - The Trump presidency appears very weak in its approach and projects utter ignorance and lack of political acumen, direction or planning. Stating that the Libya model can be applied to North Korea is naive to say the least.
The Libya model has been touted as a good one to apply in dealing with North Korea denuclearization. National Security Advisor John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and recently Vice President Michael Pence have brought the possibility of a conference for advancing peace talks with North Korea to the brink of collapse. They all blundered in their ignorance of the facts and history of how Libya U.S, and Western relations went down with respect to Libya’s chemical weapons in 2003.
I was personally involved in persuading strongman dictator Muammar Qadddafi to eliminate Libya’s stock piles of chemical weapons, and scud missiles. It was carried out in to total secrecy. Details when and how are not relevant at present. What is important “Is the Libya model remotely applicable to North Korea?”
It is important, however to set the record straight. Whether it would help the Trump administration in its dealings with another dictator - Kim Jong or just simply educate the pubic about the so called Libya model. The single most important qualification of any foreign policy official is basic knowledge and history of what transpired, in this case with Libya - Here are the facts:
- Population of Libya is 5 Million Vs. that of North Korea of 25 million.
- The Qaddafi regime had outdated stock piles of muster gas and not nuclear arsenal.
- Libya had no delivery systems other than outdated short range scuds missiles.
- Libya never even once ever test fired any of its outdated scud missiles.
- The U.S’s desire to start normalization of relations with Libya started in the year 2000 and was prompted and encouraged by the UK. The UK took the lead in 1999 and normalized relations with Libya.
- Sanctions were imposed on Libya for over 10 years NOT for having chemical weapons, but for being accused for bombing Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988.
- Chemical stock plies in Libya were eliminated in less than ten C130 flights and in less than 6 weeks.
- The demise and death of Qaddaif in August 2011 was nearly a decade later, and had absolutely nothing to do with chemical weapons.
- American and EU oil companies resumed operations in Libya shortly after U.S normalized relations with Libya.
- Qaddafi was killed by Libyan rebels with air cover from the French NOT the U.S.
- The U.S provided support to the French and UK air force NOT for killing Qaddafi but ONLY after:
(a). A UN resolution was passed to prevent Qaddafi’s forces from advancing and massacring hundreds of thousands of Libyans in Benghazi in Eastern Libya. Benghazi was the source of the uprising early 2011.
(b). Qaddafi ordered a massive ground assault which had to make its way through 700 miles journey from Western Libya to Benghazi - That gave the UN Security Council, and NATO time to debate, deliberate and vote on intervention. (c). Appeal from the world community |
12.During the Arab spring early 2011, the Tunisian and Egyptian regimes fell to an uprising. The U.S tried behind the scenes to keep the Libya regime and Qaddafi in power. The U.S feared an Islamic extremist from taking over as Qaddafi was very actively supporting the U.S in its fight against Al-Qaida.
13. The U.S ceased its support for Libyan opposition nearly 12 years before the fall of the Libyan regime and the demise of Qaddafi.
13. The U.S ceased its support for Libyan opposition nearly 12 years before the fall of the Libyan regime and the demise of Qaddafi.
Mr. A Omar Turbi, Expert, U.S Western & Libya relations offers clarification on the misuse by the Trump administration that North Korea can be treated much like Libya. Mr. Turbi is considered to be the foremost authority on U.S Libya relations. He testified before House Foreign Relations Committee on U.S Foreign Policy on Libya. He appress on CNN International, BBC, CBC, PBS - News Hour and many other networks.