Killing Gaddafi: Longstanding US Policy - by Stephen Lendman

Absent reliable independent proof, some sources believe a double was killed, not Gaddafi. More on that below.

Nonetheless, clear evidence shows Washington wanted him dead for years.

On October 27, Algeria ISP headlined, "Libya - On what Sarkozy and Obama killed Gaddafi?" saying:

"It's confirmed, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy have indeed ordered (Gaddafi's) assassination...."

"According to Le Canard Enchaine (on October 26), the Americans had located (him) on October 19."

Claude Angeli's article "is unambiguous." Titled "Gaddafi condemned to death by Washington and Paris," it said both leaders ordered his extrajudicial killing because he knew too much. Preventing a public show trial was key.

US and French Special Forces were involved. Numerous bombing attempts failed. War still rages across Libya. The country "has entered a no man's land policy, an area of (unpredictable) turbulence....This should worry" Western and regional leaders because eight months of fighting resolved nothing.

Toppling foreign leaders by coups or assassinations is longstanding US policy. William Blum's done some of the best research on it. His books, including "Rogue State," are must reading.

He documented dozens of successful and failed US interventions post-WW II, including:

• toppling Iran's Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, its first successful coup after an initial failure;

• ousting Guatemala's Jacobo Arbenz in 1954;

• failing to kill China's Chou En-Lai in 1955;

• failing numerous times to kill Fidel Castro;

• failing to kill France's Charles de Gaulle; and

• plotting Gaddafi's assassination for decades.

Media Freedom International reported how "US and British Intelligence Have Repeatedly Tried to Kill Qaddafi - CIA Involved in Libya's Civil War," saying:

In the early 1990s, former UK MI5 operative David Shayler said "he paid a sum of over (0,000) to Al Qaeda" to kill him.

"A bomb was placed inside what was thought to be (his) vehicle." It wasn't and the plan failed.

From 1978 - 1987, CIA operatives were involved in Chad's intermittent wars with Libya.

In 1981, CIA elements established the anti-Gaddafi National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL) and its militant wing called the Libyan National Army based in Egypt near Libya's border. It was directly involved in NATO's campaign to oust and kill Gaddafi.

In 1995, the CIA was instrumental in establishing the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) to topple Gaddafi. Ideologically allied with Al Qaeda, latter day elements fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

In December 2004, the State Department designated LIFG a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Its members were accused of being allied with bin Laden and Al Qaeda.

In 2007, the State Department said "Libyans associated with the LIFG are part of a broader international terrorist movement. The LIFG is one of the groups believed to have planned the Casablanca suicide bombings in May 2003....The LIFG constitutes a serious threat to US interests and personnel."

The State Department also said they were responsible for a failed 1996 Gaddafi assassination attempt. At the time, CIA and MI5 operatives were involved. America strategically uses Al Qaeda, LIFG, and other groups as allies and enemies.

Allied with CIA in the 1990s, LIFG often clashed with Libyan security forces. Former LIFG members joined Anti-Gaddafi rebel rats.

Led by US, UK, French and other special forces and intelligence operatives, they comprise the main anti-Gaddafi fighting force.

Well before bombing began on March 19, US Navy Seals, UK SAS Forces, and French Legionnaires were active in Libya with CIA and MI5 elements.

They enlisted, armed, trained and funded opposition fighters in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, as well as fundamental international and US constitutional law.

Their mission involved regime change and killing Gaddafi. In 1986, Washington falsely accused him of bombing a Berlin discotheque.

In April, Ronald Reagan tried to kill him. At the time, he said US air and naval forces "launched a series of strikes against (Gaddafi's) headquarters, terrorist facilities, and military assets, (carefully) targeted to minimize casualties among the Libyan people with whom we have no quarrel. From initial reports, our forces have succeeded in their mission."

In fact, over 100 died, mostly civilians, including Gaddafi's infant daughter when his personal compound was bombed.

In addition, dozens were wounded, including two of Gaddafi's young sons. The French, Swiss, Romanian and Iranian embassies were damaged. So were Japanese and Austrian diplomatic residences.

Dozens of residential buildings were also damaged or destroyed. Libya's Central Hospital reported up to 100 people needing treatment for serious injuries, including infants.

In 1988, Gaddafi was falsely accused of downing Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. So was Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi. Scottish judges knew he was innocent but convicted him under pressure.

Gaddafi never admitted fault. He took responsibility solely to have international sanctions removed. To this day, he and al-Megrahi stand falsely accused. Likely CIA /MI6/and/or Mossad involvement is never mentioned.

Media Lens contributor Richard Keeble discussed "The Secret War Against Gaddafi," saying:

Soon after he assumed power in 1969, Gaddafi "became the target of massive covert operations by the French, US, Israeli and British" to oust him.

Britain's 1971 invasion plan failed badly. In 1980, French secret service head Col. Alain de Gaigneronde de Marolles "resigned after a French-led plan ended in disaster when a rebellion by Libyan troops in Tobruk was rapidly suppressed."

In 1982, the Reagan administration helped install Chad's Hissene Habre to "bloody Gaddafi's nose." It was Reagan CIA head William Casey's first covert operation. Moreover, "throughout the decade, Libya ranked almost as high as the Soviet Union" as America's bene noire.

Habre got considerable US military and financial aid to topple Gaddafi. Other countries funding him included Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, and Morocco. A May 8, 1984 plan to kill him failed. In 1985, Reagan officials asked Egypt to invade Libya, but Mubarak refused.

During the decade, Washington recruited a secret anti-Gaddafi army. Britain was heavily involved.

For decades, America, France and Britain wanted him ousted and killed. Nothing tried earlier worked. NATO's 2011 war was launched to undue past failures. Nothing so far is resolved. Jamahiriya loyalists continue their liberating struggle valiantly. They've tied down NATO's killing machine for over eight months.

Its rebel rat army would have been routed long ago without air and special forces ground support and direction. NATO claims Operation Unified Protector will end October 31. Its name may change, not daily air and ground attacks against loyalists wanting to live free.

Eight months of terror bombing and rebel rat atrocities took a horrific toll. NSNBC said hardly any Libyan hasn't lost a loved one and/or friend.

Gaddafi - Dead or Alive?

On October 27, Mathaba.net headlined, "Dry your tears and continue the fight: the one you were shown was not Muammar Al-Gaddafi," saying:

Videos and photos reputed to be Gaddafi have "been identified as....Ali Majid Al Andalus...." A Sirte resident, he closely resembled "the brother Leader of the El Fateh Revolution."

"The man in the photo with the bullet hole in the head was not (Gaddafi), but his double." Examining his face closely shows noticeable differences.

Mathaba calls its source "reliable." Obama, Sarkozy, Cameron, and TNC officials know "they did not kill" him. However, their purpose is served if people believe it.

Mathaba endorses information written in French. Since Gaddafi's announced October 20 assassination, it's been skeptical about official reports, not least because accounts shifted from one version to another.

NATO's credibility is in tatters. Nothing it reports is reliable. Nor are regurgitated major media accounts. Throughout the war, their daily lies were exposed. They continue to be about a war far from resolved. It rages across Libya.

Evidence Mathaba found showed Gaddafi "was no where near Sirte on 19 - 20 October." He's also taller and older than the man killed. Photos used are suspect. Specific Gaddafi marks weren't visible.

An emailer to this writer said here's "proof" Gaddafi's alive, saying:

• his 1971 appendectomy scar was absent in photos;

• the dead body shown isn't "a 70 year old man who lived in the desert all his life;"

• "Gaddafi almost always sent doubles on official business, and almost always remained in secret due to (numerous) assassination attempts;"

• Gaddafi has (had) a "distinct look, distinct eyes, and that is why his doubles almost always wore sunglasses;"

• only about 10% of public photos shown are him; nearly all are doubles;

• "Gaddafi was too smart to walk around looking like a 'Gaddafi double' in the middle of" NATO's war; and

• he never would have exposed himself in a convoy, let alone 75 vehicles speeding out of Sirte under attack.

A previous article said hopefully he'll have the last word on Syria's Arrai TV. It aired previous recorded remarks he made.

If so and he discusses October 20 events, he'll confirm what some believe is true. Millions of Libyans hope so.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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