An alleged Libyan connection to the December 27, 1985, terrorist attacks on the Rome and Vienna airports has focused attention on Tripoli's role in the global spread of contemporary terrorism.
To be sure, "state-sponsored terrorism" may be defined as the deliberate employment of violence or threat by sovereign states or their proxies to attain strategic objectives by creating overwhelming fear in a target population larger than the actual victims attacked or threatened.
In other words, the main goal of state-sponsored terrorism is to undermine the stability of pluralists states with representative governments.
Indeed, Libya's policy and actions are a manifestation of state-sponsored terrorism in the Middle East and the international arena. Under the leadership of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, Libya sponsors and provides substantial assistance to the rejectionist elements among the Palestinian terrorist groups, and also supports terrorist groups in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
In pursuit of Qaddafi's objectives of expanded state power and influence, Libya employs tactics of assassination and violence against opponents of its regime and against other targets. Libya is also one of the main centers for the training of international terrorists.
Primary Target: Other Libyans
Direct Libyan terrorist activity is focused upon Libyan dissidents living in exile and involves Libyan embassies as operational bases. Continuing his campaign to silence the opposition, in February 1984, Qaddafi once again ordered all Libyan exiles to return home or to face death at the hands of Libyan Revolutionary Committees.
Dissidents in Greece, West Germany, Cyprus, Italy, and Austria were attacked in 1985, as Qaddafi's instructions were implemented.
Moderate Arab leaders Qaddafi deems as insufficiently dedicated to the armed struggle against Israel are an additional target of Libyan terrorism. Libya has been connected to assassination plots against Egyptian President Mubarak and former Sudanese President Nimeiri.
Other moderate leaders, such as the presidents of Zaire and Chad, have also been the object of Libyan-backed plots. Moderate Arab states are themselves victims of Libyan attacks as illustrated by the implication of Libyan ship in the July 1984 mining of the Suez Canal.
Diplomatic Channels
Libyan diplomatic support of terrorist groups is extensive and diverse. Libya's diplomatic service was used, for example, to assist the Palestinian terrorists involved in the 1972 Olympic Munich massacre. Libyan diplomatic pouches are used to smuggle money and weapons to Palestinian terrorists operating in Western Europe. Forged passports, cash, and documents are provided by Libyan authorities to international terrorists.
Libya has also sent arms, by diplomatic courier, to
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