As the Obama administration’s indecision contributes to Moammar Ghadafi’s increasingly successful military effort to crush Libyan rebels and retain power, I wonder how much consideration was given by the White House to the Charlie Wilson approach?
Wilson, a Texas congressman, was instrumental in pushing for U.S. funds to purchase surface-to-air, hand-held missile launchers for the Afghan rebels, the mujahedeen, in their fight against the Soviet occupation of their country in the 1980s. As Wilson pushed for more and more assistance, the Soviet efforts to hold off the insurgency gradually crumbled as the rebels shot down more and more Red Army planes and helicopters.
A similar approach could have been launched several days ago in Libya, but all we hear from the administration is about their cautious approach to establishing a no-fly zone. When it first became clear that Ghadafi had no intent to cut and run, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned that anyone willing to take military action which could potentially lead to a third U.S. ground war in the Arab world has “lost their mind.”
Gates was right to hammer home the point that a no-fly zone is an act of war. But why was there never – at least as far as we know – an alternative plan to provide the Libyan insurgents with the weapons needed to counter Ghadafi’s firepower?
Surface-to-air missiles, such as the Stingers provided to the Afghans three decades ago, would surely have evened the playing field rather quickly. Also, rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs) would have provided the rebels with an effective tool to counter Ghadafi’s tanks and armored vehicles.
What’s more, the CIA or Army Special Forces could have easily secured assistance from the Egyptian military to sneak weapons across the eastern Libyan border. Because the eastern region is the Libyan rebels’ stronghold, the transfer of those weapons – and some quick training – could have occurred without any threat of counterattacks from the government forces.
But, as Ghadafi’s brutal crackdown approaches completion, it appears we will never know if the alternative approach would have worked. I suspect Charlie Wilson may be rolling over in his grave.
