Qaddafi, Terrorism, and the Origins of the U.S. Attack on Libya [Hardcover]

Brian L. Davis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275933024 | ISBN-13: 978-0275933029 | Publication Date: January 9, 1990

Stating categorically that the U.S. military attack against Libya on April 15, 1986, did not occur in a vacuum, this well-documented book gives an account of the context in which it did occur. Tracing the attack's origins, emphasis is placed on Qaddafi's domestic and foreign policies as well as his personality and motivations. The history of U.S.-Libyan relations from the Nixon administration to the collision course under the Reagan administration is covered together with the quiescent approach of the Western European allies. Davis presents a thorough discussion of the Rome and Vienna massacres and The March 1986 clash in the Gulf of Sidra. The closing chapters treat the final days leading to the attack: the LaBelle Discotheque bombing, the U.S. decision to attack, preparations, the military operation itself, and its aftermath and consequences. According to the author, the U.S. military attack on Libya marked the culmination of America's frustration over years of terrorist attacks without reprisal. Davis traces the origins of the attack from the beginning years of Qaddafi's rule up to the April 15th raid. The book's detailed account demonstrates that Libya was not an arbitrarily selected target but rather a logical one. Students and scholars of political science and military studies, or anyone interested in the events surrounding the attack on Libya will find this concisely written and well documented book a source of great interest.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Focussing on the orgins of the US attack on Libya on April 15, 1986, Davis tries to explain the US military action against Qaddafi within the larger context of fighting terrorism. The author believes that one cannot consider what was probably the most controversial foreign policy action of the Reagan administration as though it occurred in a vacuum. The book is organized in six chapters tracing the origins of the attack in the years of Qaddafi's rule on up to the air raids. How a country as small as Libya came to attract such attention from a superpower is made understandable by describing the global activities of Qaddafi, almost all of which were inimical to the interests of the US. Davis goes to great length to refute the charge that Reagan selected Libya as a target because of its weakness and because he had to demonstrate American firmness in dealing with terrorism. In the author's opinion, Qaddafi very much brought his harsh punishment on himself by his terrorist activities, particularly as directed against the US. The question of how successful the US air strikes against Libya were will be controversial for along time. In short, such an isolated event does not provide a sufficient basis for a doctrine of US military retaliation against terrorism. The book is well documented, has an adequate index, a useful appendix of chronology, and a bibliographical essay. Upper-division undergraduate and above.”–Choice

“. . . This is a thorough study of one of the most controversial foreign policy acts of the Reagan administration. The extensive documentation makes the book valuable for professionals and college students; the narrative serves the reader who is interested in Libya or terrorism. There is a useful index and bibliographical essay.”–Perspectives on Political Science

“Starting from the premise that the U.S. military attack against Libya on April 15, 1986, was `probably the most controversial discrete foreign policy action undertaken by the Reagan administration,' Davis offers a solid and very detailed analysis of this incident. In addition to the heroic research effort that went into his account, what makes it especially valuable is that it, unlike the majority of book-length treatments of Mu`ammar al-Qadhdhafi, contains not the slightest taint of apologetics for the `mad dog of the Middle East' (as President Reagan once described him).”–Orbis

Product Details

• Hardcover: 213 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (January 9, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275933024
• ISBN-13: 978-0275933029
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,906,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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