Europe News
Italy helped "save" Gaddafi by warning of US air raid (Extra)
Oct 30, 2008, 13:20 GMT
Rome - Italy 'probably helped save' Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's life when it warned Libya of a 1986 US air strike, Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Shalgam said Thursday.
Shalgam's claim, made at a conference in Rome, referred to an April 15, 1986 operation in which the then US president, Ronald Reagan, ordered several attacks against Libya, the ANSA news agency reported.
Shalgam, who was Libya's ambassador to Rome at the time, said he was personally warned of the US intentions a day before the raids took place by 'mutual friend' sent by Italy's then prime minister, Bettino Craxi.
'I don't think I am revealing a secret if I announce that Italy informed us...that there would have been an aggression against Libya,' Shalgam was quoted as saying by ANSA.
Speaking at the same Rome conference, veteran Italian politician Giulio Andreotti appeared to confirm the Libyan foreign minister's claim.
Describing the US raids as 'totally inappropriate' Andreotti, at the time Italy's foreign minister, said he believed Rome had informed Tripoli.
The warning probably helped save Gaddafi's life, even if it did not contain the precise date and targets of the attacks, Shalgam said.
Libyan officials have said that at least 40 people were killed in the raids, including Gaddafi's 15-month-old adopted daughter, Hanna.
Reagan ordered the operation in the aftermath of a April 5, 1986 bombing at a West Berlin disco in which two American soldiers and a Turkish woman were killed and some 200 others injured.
Washington claimed it had obtained cable transcripts from Libyan agents in East Germany involved in the attack.
Despite being a US NATO ally, Italy during the 1970s and 1980s often pursued a diplomatic policy towards the Arab world which was at odds with Washington's.
The sharpest dispute occurred in 1985 when a tense stand-off took place between Italian and US forces over several Palestinian militants involved in the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro.
The militants were being held by US forces at a NATO base in Sicily, but Craxi, claiming Italian territorial rights over the area, demanded they be handed over to Italian authorities.
Italy refused US extradition requests for the militants and subsequently allowed their leader, Abu Abbas, to flee to Yugoslavia.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
The NATO alliance is stronger than ever. Peace...
The USa would do better NOt to go i's own way;look at the mess Bush created in Iraq,hundred thousands of people killed,millions displaced,the infrastructure in shambles only because the USA fdid not heed the warning of the consequences of it's actions given by the european leaders.
Learn your recent history Marge .
Judging the track record of 'intelligence' lead, operations, the question that ought to be asked is; why did Reagan Want to bomb Libya? (the real reason behind the coercion, and strong arming of Qaddafi)
So far as those decrying the NATO' lack of cohesion goes, evidently in the views of these NATO ought to transcend the national interests of it's member countries, a ludicrous over expectation, that can only be held by the citizens of the US. That effectively means frowning upon any member country that does not fall in line behind the Imperious ambitions of various US administration.
Finally the fact that NATO is a relic of cold war, and why should this relic remain relevant in the twenty first century, is an overlooked, and often discounted facet. This in the current climate of financial austerity, and the allocations of oodles of funds for the sake of keeping the boys in jobs, and satiating the various 'leaders'' appetites for playing the hot shot 'commanders in chief' is beyond idiotic.
My recollection is that the Reagan administration decided, at the 11th hour, to tell the Russian ambassador that the strike was coming. And the Russians gave the warning. This new report is strange, and I wonder if it could be an attempt at historical revisionism designed to protect Ronald Reagan.
Good for Italy! Unprovoked aggression is a crime under Nuremberg and the Italians did the right thing.
Unprovoked? You're an idiot.
'Learn your recent history Marge'
We ignorant Americans are supposed to heed advice from Euro leaders?
Euro leaders are all talk, and no action.
Here is some recent history: British MoD makes deal with Shi'ite militia
in Basra not to intefere. When the Iraqi army calls the British for help
during operations, the British do not respond forcing the Americans to
cover the Iraqi operations. Some overwatch. Go home as Malaki suggested.
Some more recent history: European governments have placed over 70
restrictions on the use of their soldiers in Afghanistan. Most of them cannot
be used in combat making them all but useless. This underscores my point
that NATO is dysfunctional.
Perhaps the anonymous @ should learn some recent history.
And what exactly gave you the right to invade Iraq?WMD,ties between Saddam and Al Quaida ties ?Other lies?
No wonder you're in it alone .Not a decent human would ever condone this aggression.The result?Hundreds of thousands of deaths,millions of Iraqi refugees fled to other countries,a ruined infrastructure,an economy in shambles.Proud about that ?
It was not a 'right' in the normal sense of the word to invade Iraq. There was, however, a bipartisan vote of congress and a UN mandate. Economy in shambles? You neglect to mention the $80 billion surplus the Iraqi government has currently. The elected Iraqi government is dictating SOFA terms to the US, and has secured terms that no other nation has.
Perhaps you just dislike the USA, which is your right. I happen to dislike Europe. What I am trying to express is that the USA and Europe no longer have the joint security interests that justify NATO. You keep citing policy differences, stupid American decisions, alleged crimes, etc. What you don't address is that Europe disagrees, but participates in Iraq (less so now) and Afghanistan in a cautious and ultimately useless fashion. The obvious exception is the brave British & Canadian soldiers that fight, while the rest knit, and polish their kit. All I am suggesting is follow up your talk with action. Either fight or leave.
Why do you say we dislike the USA,do you realy think you represent the USA ?When did that happen.Last time I checked Obama was winning,that puts you outside of the picture...
quote:There was, however, a bipartisan vote of congress and a UN mandate...
A bipartisan vote based on forged evidence and lies.Does that constitute a valid reason for you ?
And there was no mandate from the UN for an invasion ,whatever made you think so ?
The trouble with the neocons like you is that you think you rule the world and the rest just has to obey you.When we don' you start wailiing about how unreliable the Europeans are.So for the record:the neocons are on the way out,and we definitely are no vassals.
LMAO: 'So for the record:the neocons are on the way out,and we definitely are no vassals.' I actually volunteer for the Obama campaign fool, and you are impotent, which definitely makes you a vassal. Expect some change you can believe in.
page: 1
MargeOct 30th, 2008 - 22:32:39
Unbelievable. I did not know the Italians did this.
This is yet another example of why the NATO alliance
is dysfunctional. The Europeans and the Americans
are best served by going their separate ways.
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