53. Briefing Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Moose) to Secretary of State Muskie1
SUBJECT
- Libyan Intervention in Chad—Information
During the past six weeks there has been a sharp escalation of Libyan military intervention in Chad, reportedly in response to requests for assistance from Chad’s Transitional Government of National Union (GUNT). The build-up includes the introduction of Soviet-built [Page 145] medium bombers, helicopter gunships and light strike aircraft as well as Soviet tanks, howitzers and armored personnel carriers. An estimated 3,000 Libyan combat and technical personnel have arrived in Chad with this equipment.
Concern grows that Libya’s intervention goes beyond aiding the GUNT against the forces of ex-Defense Minister Hissein Habre and is aimed at a permanent presence in northern Chad in keeping with Libyan expansionist policies.
While our interests in Chad are extremely limited, this increased Libyan intervention is cause for concern. Our immediate goal in Chad is to gain access to our Chancery to complete destruction of classified material. If Goukouni forces occupy all of N’Djamena, and if Libya does not play a spoiling role, the U.S. re-entry team standing by in Kousseri (Cameroon) should be able to complete its task within three hours.
Of longer term interest is prevention of Libyan domination of its southern neighbor. To pursue this goal we have concentrated efforts on an information campaign, including the sharing of satellite imagery showing Libyan equipment, that seeks to (a) increase awareness among Chad’s neighbors of the Libyan threat; (b) encourage Chad’s neighbors to condemn Libya’s actions and (c) strengthen the will of Chadian nationalists to resist any effort by Libya to occupy or dominate Chad. Meanwhile, we will continue our dialogue with the GUNT concentrating our focus on humanitarian assistance which was the topic of a recent exchange of letters between Presidents Goukouni and Carter.2
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 24, Evening Reports (State): 11/80. Secret. Drafted by Horan. Walker concurred. Horan initialed for Moose. Muskie forwarded the memorandum to Carter on November 21, as part of his Evening Report on Libyan intervention in Chad. (Ibid.) A note on the memorandum by Carter reads: “Ed—Why not go to UN & build up public concern? J.”↩
- In telegram 290532 to multiple posts, October 31, the Department transmitted the text of Carter’s reply to Goukouni. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800519–0866) Goukouni’s September 13 letter to Carter was not found.↩