Preparing to Attack Libya?

Scan page 5

"THE MOST direct way of dealing with Gadaffi is to kill him" . So says Sunday Times correspondent David Bundy:

Thinking out aloud? Or just summing up the hot air in high places?

According to his article, US officials are openly talking about getting rid of Gadaffi. Henry Kissinger, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is quoted as saying, 'We should have taken him out a long time ago"

But it's not all talk. Nor is it simply a matter of the daily press accusations that Gadaffi was Sadat's murderer, that he is a 'madman' and • 'Muslim fanatic', and (to quote the US Vice-President) 'the world's principal terrorist'. • Reagan's rushing AWACS radar reconnaissance planes to Egypt is physical evidence of war preparations against Libya.

The US has also announced 'a very extensive joint enterprise' with Egyptian forces, Operation Bright Star. This will involve landing amphibious assault ships at Oman and Somalia, making practice runs with B52 bombers, and dropping 1400 airborne troops.

At the same time, Sudan's dictator, President Numeiri, claims that he lears either an assassination attempt or a full-scale Libyan invasion. He also accuses Libya of bombing Sudanese villages along Sudan's border with Libya and Chad.

Clearly imperialism is preparing public opinion for the possibility of an armed intervention in Libya. (It is not hopeful of an internal coup: We tried all the different angles, but. there was no momentum going for a coup', an ex-CIA operative wrote recently).

That intervention will most likely come through Egypt and Sudan, operating with American support. We give not the slightest support to Gadaffi's regime. But socialists must support Libya right to independence, and must oppose any attempt by imperialism to impose its will on Libya.

ANDREW HORNUNG

Scan page 6

Socialist Organiser, Thursday22nd October, 1981 Page Socialist Organiser, Thursday -aD Party