Libya: Is there any hope for peace or will it become a
hub for regional instability and violence? No and yes
-The US/EU/NATO toppling of long-time strongman Muammar Gaddafi has led to a cycle of instability and continuous violence.
- It has also led to severe cuts in oil production and loss of significant revenue.
- More importantly, Gaddafi’s massive weapons stocks have directly flowed to Boko Haram in Nigeria, terrorist groups in Mali and to arm other movements in Tunisia — as well as financing them via the sales and trading of these weapons.
- The US and EU seem to have no strategy to deal with the situation. White House sources tell us “it has literally fallen off the table” as an issue of focus. Is this now Egypt’s problem through which the US will send money/weapons?
Libya total oil production (1980-2013)
thousand barrels per day
2,000
1995
— total oil production
Deutsche Bank Francis J. Kelly Global Public Affairs francis.j.kelly@db.com
18
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026812