119. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter1
SUBJECT
- Message from Qadhafi
Ali al-Houderi of the Libyan People’s Bureau returned urgently from a visit to Tripoli yesterday to deliver a message from Col. Qadhafi. He called me at noon today and read the following message from “Brother Qadhafi” to be passed to you:
“1. Libya condemns the Soviet aggression in Afghanistan2 and is very disturbed by it.
“2. While Libya tries to maintain ties with the Soviets, because they are our major supplier of arms which we need to defend ourselves, this is because the United States denies us the arms which we need to defend ourselves.
“3. You (the United States) are the superpower. You should do something to stop this aggression, which we see not only as a threat to Afghanistan but to the entire Middle East. We will support any action which the United States is able to do, or is capable of thinking of, to stop this Soviet imperialism. We are willing to work closely with you on this.”
I told Houderi that if he had any concrete suggestions, we would be interested in hearing them. He said he had none at this time. I suggested that he might ask.
I said we would also be interested in knowing whether Libya is willing to act in the United Nations to condemn the Soviet actions. We believe that if Third World nations are willing to take this step, it would be more important than just the U.S. and its allies. He said he would transmit this and wait for a reply.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 13, Libya: Secretary General Mu’ammar Qadhafi, 3/77–1/80. Secret. Sent for information. Carter wrote “Zbig, Push them on UN vote and public condemnation of SU. J” in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
- Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan December 24–25, 1979.↩