Fifty-ninth edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Sat, 05 Apr 2003 23:24:06 +0200)

Intelligence profile :Libya

Background:

Since he took power in a 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Kadhafi has espoused his own political system - a combination of socialism and Islam - which he calls the Third International Theory. Viewing himself as a revolutionary leader, he used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, even supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. Libyan support for terrorism decreased after UN sanctions were imposed in 1992. Those sanctions were suspended in April 1999. Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; is in fact, a military dictatorship.

General:

Local name :
Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
(Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)
Short name :
Libya
Capital :
Tripoli

Military branches:

Armed Peoples on Duty (Army)
Navy
Air and Air Defense Command (includes Air Force)

Intelligence and security:

Maktab Maaloumat al-Kaed:
The Guide's (= Kadhafi) Intelligence Bureau is a major coordinating body. Located in the Bab al-Aziza barracks in the center of Tripoli.

Haiat amn al Jamahiriya
The Jamahiriya's Security Organization

This service is divided into two branches: Internal Security, and Foreign Security. This organization has several branches, amongst which: Foreign Liaison Office, which has overall responsibility for most overseas intelligence operations and a sub-directorate provides direct contact with international terrorist groups.
- Foreign Security Special Operations,
- External Security (including External Operations and Fundamentalist Movements).
Istikhbarat Askaria
Military Intelligence
Kataeb al Amn
Security Battalions, including the Green Brigades

Responsible for the regime's security in the major cities.
Al Haras Assauri
The Revolutionary Guard

Responsible for the security of Colonel Kadhafi and his family.