George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 169

< Chapter 168 >

Afghanistan was developing rapidly, almost like South Korea in the 1950s. This remarkable growth, fueled by national unity, became a topic of discussion in foreign media, but it also brought about serious side effects.

As the domestic economy suddenly expanded, intense factional infighting began. When he was king, managing factions was relatively easy because he held absolute authority. It was easy to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental factions because the latter invariably opposed his will.

Even after regaining power, when the government was small and enjoyed guaranteed autonomy, Muhammad could slowly resolve Afghanistan’s numerous problems simply by sitting in his office, reviewing documents, and approving reasonable proposals. However, to achieve more efficient governance and eradicate drugs, he aimed for a larger government, which ironically complicated matters.

Muhammad didn’t have many years left, and he was destined to step down when his term ended. Having been usurped once and witnessed his country collapsing, it was understandable that he worried, ‘What if the next person ruins everything?’

In reality, political parties with distinct ideologies were forming, but from Muhammad’s perspective, they seemed indistinguishable. This was because these parties were largely composed of the same tribal elements that had enjoyed wealth and power under the Taliban regime.

This situation was somewhat similar to how, after liberation, a significant portion of the South Korean government was filled with individuals who had collaborated with the Japanese during the colonial period. Isn’t it often the case that politics in the early days of a nation are dominated by those who already possess power? This period is the most critical, as it determines the future direction of the country.

Just as Afghanistan’s internal affairs began to stagnate, Iran faced a situation where every aspect of its administration seemed to be creaking under the strain.

Relations with the United States were already tense, but as the U.S. began to promote Afghanistan, right next door, as a model and forward base for Middle Eastern capitalist democracy, Iran felt extreme anxiety. Especially after North Korea, which had seemed so resistant, began opening up the year before last, they had been going through a period of intense uncertainty.

Particularly as the 21st century arrived, the Iranian army’s tanks were becoming increasingly outdated. Most were either modified 2nd generation tanks imported from both sides during the Cold War or Chonma-ho tanks imported or donated from North Korea. The only 3rd generation tanks they possessed were the Zulfiqar tanks, which Iran had developed based on the American Patton series and the Russian T-series. Even then, production was limited to around 150 units.

On the other hand, Afghanistan, which they now had to consider a potential adversary, was receiving proper maintenance for its export-type M1 Abrams tanks, with parts and expertise routed through India if any issues arose. Even that workaround would soon be unnecessary as Afghanistan established a domestic tank assembly plant.

The air force was in a similar predicament. Iran’s air power consisted primarily of F-4s, F-5s, and F-14s imported during the pro-American regime, while Afghanistan was being equipped with F-15s. However, even with Afghanistan’s best efforts, it would inevitably concede air superiority to Iran for the next decade or so unless it received substantial assistance from the U.S. Air Force. Despite being a relatively new air force, Afghanistan had accumulated considerable expertise from operating F-14s for many years, resulting in a cadre of highly skilled pilots.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Afghanistan was a landlocked country and lacked a navy, but the presence of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers stationed in neighboring India drove Iran to distraction. In short, an ‘arms race’ with no end in sight had begun.

Iran had been managing to maintain a precarious balance, but as this arms race intensified, it began to descend into an endless quagmire. The budget that should have been allocated to administration and welfare to stimulate economic growth was instead being poured into military spending, driving the Iranian government to the brink of despair.

To put it simply, ‘Afghanistan was being nourished, while Iran was being starved.’

And as problems mounted in the Arab world, things also began to unravel in ‘Libya.’ Anyone who has looked closely at a globe or traveled to Libya might wonder, ‘Why is Libya suddenly being mentioned here?’ Because Libya is a country located on the African continent.

While Libya is indeed located in Africa, it also borders Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, it has been one of the countries most closely connected to Europe. However, anyone with even a passing interest in the country would know that its current ruler is the infamous dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

With a little more knowledge, one might also know that Gaddafi, unlike many other African dictators, was not just a simple strongman. As of late 2003, he was a relatively successful dictator. Here, ‘success’ refers to ‘national power.’ Since Gaddafi seized power in a coup in 1969, Libya’s national power had grown to the point where it was the wealthiest country on the African continent, often called the continent of poverty. This included not only the national budget and military but also the GDP.

Of course, he was still a ‘dictator,’ and he ultimately undermined his own achievements, making it fair to call him incompetent. His story serves as a cautionary tale that even dictatorship requires a certain level of competence. However, his economic accomplishments at the end of the 20th century led some to reevaluate Gaddafi. Of course, from the U.S. perspective, he remained a problematic figure.

He eliminated all foreign oil companies in Libya and nationalized the oil industry, expelling most foreigners. However, because he was a staunch believer in ‘Pan-Arabism’ [a political ideology advocating for the unification of Arab countries], he was not particularly skilled at diplomacy, and as time went on, he completely lost touch with reality, as is common among dictators.

Pan-Arabism, which is often confused with Pan-Islamism [a political ideology advocating for the unity of Muslims under a single Islamic state], is a pan-nationalist movement encompassing the Middle East and North Africa, aiming to unite the Arab peoples of the region into a single confederation transcending national borders.

He actively supported the ‘Provisional Irish Republican Army’ [an Irish republican paramilitary organization seeking to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland], which engaged in terrorist activities in the UK and the Western world in general (excluding Ireland), so from the UK’s perspective, he was an implacable enemy.

However, the event that triggered his full-fledged and explicit hostility with the United States was undoubtedly the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The United States believed it had established sufficient legal security procedures at the time, but in reality, these were inadequate, as evidenced by the later 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In the Toyota War [a conflict between Libya and Chad in 1987, named after the Toyota pickup trucks used by Chadian forces], he failed to grasp the concept of Third World-style mobile warfare or African-style mobile warfare. He attempted to overwhelm the Chadians with superior numbers and advanced weaponry imported from the Soviet Union, instead of investing in proper military training, and was thoroughly defeated. This was largely due to his failure in ‘information warfare.’

Libya possessed MiG fighters, hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and combat helicopters imported from the Soviet Union, but due to a lack of accurate intelligence, it was decisively defeated by mobile tactics employing only 400 Toyota technicals [light pickup trucks equipped with weapons]. The fighters stationed at the airport were destroyed, and most of the armored forces were captured.

Originally, Libya had intended to obtain intelligence from the rebel Umar faction, which had initiated the Toyota War, but they were decisively crushed before the war even began in earnest. Furthermore, this allowed for the intervention of external forces such as France and the United States, who suspected Soviet support, and Libya ultimately lost.

In this process, the Soviet Union was greatly angered by the leakage of its advanced weapons to the United States due to Libya’s defeat, and as a result, Libya under Gaddafi became a complete pariah state, with the exception of a few countries.

In summary, Gaddafi was viewed as a vicious dictator in the First World, a dictator to be wary of in the Second World, and a complex but still relatively capable dictator in the Third World because he had invested in and assisted them.

As of 2003.

“I became the leader of this country by force. Therefore, you must understand that I will never relinquish my power by force.”

He had made similar statements in the past, but the meaning of his past speeches and his current speech were completely different, even though the content was similar. His past speeches expressed confidence that ‘I will not step down even if a coup occurs,’ but now, an undisguised desperation was evident.

What was truly alarming was that the country directly adjacent to Libya was Sudan. Or rather, ‘was’ is the more accurate term. Because now it is not just Sudan, but West Sudan.

A pro-American regime that even receives support from the Western world. Doesn’t this situation seem strangely familiar? For those interested in world affairs, doesn’t the dynamic between Libya and West Sudan mirror that of Iran and Afghanistan?

Of course, there are differences in the details, but Darfur, the territory of West Sudan, possessed considerable potential as a viable nation.

Moreover, unlike many other African countries, it is situated directly above the Mediterranean Sea, making it adjacent to Europe. Libya had already been defeated by the French Air Force in the Toyota War and pushed back by U.S. support for Chad.

Gaddafi was so shocked to hear about the independence of West Sudan and South Sudan that he reportedly fainted that day. Even without a deep understanding of psychology, one can imagine his feelings upon regaining consciousness. But that wasn’t the end of his troubles. Unbeknownst to him, anti-government organizations were forming in the basements of the capital, Tripoli, calling for the overthrow of the dictatorship and the establishment of a democratic regime, driving him to the brink of madness.

As Gaddafi came under increasing pressure both internally and externally, he finally made a fateful decision.

“All of Libya’s wealth will be channeled into military power!”

The fact that Libya, a country where 99% of its territory is desert, made this decision was a declaration that it would sacrifice everything for the sake of its dictatorship, regardless of the welfare of its people. It also signaled his readiness for a civil war.

In fact, he had openly stated that he would rather turn Libya into Somalia than relinquish power, so the Libyan people initially dismissed it as hyperbole. However, as prices soared, welfare programs disappeared, and essential goods became scarce due to import suspensions, dissatisfaction grew. Finally, on October 11, 2003, at 4 a.m., the Libyan civil war erupted when the military opened fire on protesters.

The Libyan civil war had a profound impact on neighboring dictatorships and people living under oppressive conditions, and whether motivated by democracy, tribal ambitions, or religious fervor, numerous new rebel groups emerged.

As a result, a ‘new prelude’ to the 21st century finally began on the African continent, where wars never ceased due to various conflicts, with the blood of Africans.

Each fighting for a better Africa, as they envisioned it.