Libya

🌍 The USA is not in Libya, because we believe in a nation's right to self-determination. The USA will not intervene unless there is a pro-democracy, pro-humanitarian government that we can support, like there is in Ukraine. Unfortunately, that's not the case in Libya. It's an internal conflict, and both sides in the conflict are totalitarian dictators. Sadly, no matter who wins this conflict, Libyans will end up with a repressive, authoritarian regime with no interest in human rights. The USA can not give financial or military support to either one of these dictators and become responsible for any atrocities they commit in Libya. We can not become responsible for Libya's future under a repressive regime.

A ceasefire and national elections would be the ideal solution. Unfortunately, that has not happened yet despite UN solutions for a ceasefire and elections in Libya. We hope they will succeed this time.

Russia, specifically the Wagner Group, is intervening in the conflict in Libya, they likely started the conflict. I believe they intend to install a military dictator in Libya that will be loyal to Russia. This has already happened in several other African countries. Defeating Russia is paramount to the future of these countries, but we are not going to fight Russia in Africa for them. We learned in Vietnam, that it is a mistake to support a non-democratic government with no interest in human rights. It is a mistake to get involved in internal conflicts unless there is a clear pro-democracy, pro-humanitarian government that we can support. We are not repeating old mistakes. We were a very young superpower back then, we are a more mature superpower now.

African leaders know what is happening in Libya. They know Russia is behind this conflict and many others in Africa. Yet many of them refuse to denounce Russia's activities. They continue to be non-aligned. They continue to seek a working relationship and strategic partnership with Russia. Africans do not have the same political perspective as Americans or Europeans. We can not force these countries to accept our solutions. That's a line we will not cross ever again. We can help resolve these problems in Libya and elsewhere in Africa by defeating Russia. We can do that best in Ukraine, in a country with a long history with Russia, and a firm belief in democracy and our values.

Defeating Russia in Ukraine, will help prevent these scenarios in Africa, by destroying Russia's prestige and clout. These dictators will no longer see Russia, specifically Putin, as an enviable example to follow or a reliable partner. It will severely limit Russia's ability to support terrorists in Africa, stage these internal conflicts, and execute the coups that always follow.

As for the US embassy in Libya, it was attacked in 2012 and again in 2014. That's why the embassy is closed. Americans that were working there lost their lives. It's one of the reasons the State Department is extremely short-staffed in Africa. No one will take any of these assignments. They have not reopened the embassy in Libya, because no Americans are willing to work there again. I'm sure the State Department will reopen it when they are able to staff it.

I think the African countries like Libya would be better served if the USA joins the African Union as an observer, and works on solutions to these issues with the leaders of African democracies like Ghana.

That is how the USA operates in Europe. We have an alliance of European democracies, and we all work on solutions for European conflicts together. Europe has become one the most stable and prosperous regions in the world, because of the security and stability provided to the region by our alliance of democracies. I think we should pursue the same strategy in Africa. Joining the African Union would be the first step in showing our sincere interest to work on African issues with African leaders. And then we can establish a new alliance with African democracies.

As for the oil in Libya, we just don't care. The USA has more untapped oil reserves than any other country in the world, and we are moving away from fossil fuels as an energy source. We're not going to make the investments in the necessary infrastructure in a politically unstable country where there is a possibility that a corrupt dictator may nationalize the industry and confiscate the property after foreigners have invested billions into it. For Africans to attract these kinds of investments from the West, from the USA anyway, they must create politically stable countries that respect property rights.

I believe that should be the USA's goal in Africa. We should help African nations create politically stable countries - democracies - so they can attract investments from the West. African nations need to create the right political environment so Africans can grow and thrive, and in turn, Africans will create robust and thriving economies themselves. All they really need is the liberty to do so.

xo

Response to: https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/04/06/libya-us-embassy-state-department-diplomacy-wagner-group/

Background Information: https://www.csis.org/blogs/post-soviet-post/exploiting-chaos-russia-libya