LIBYA: Anthony Cordesman, a former U.S. Department of Defense and NATO official, says western nations should provide aid focused on advice, letting Libyans lead in their own development

Record ID: 722483

  • Title: LIBYA: Anthony Cordesman, a former U.S. Department of Defense and NATO official, says western nations should provide aid focused on advice, letting Libyans lead in their own development
  • Date: 23rd August 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AUGUST 22, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIBYAN REBELS ABOARD PICKUP TRUCKS DRIVING ON CITY STREET LIBYAN REBEL CARRYING ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE LAUNCHER MANNING CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 22, 2011) (REUTERS) ANTHONY CORDESMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND NATO OFFICIAL TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTHONY CORDESMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND NATO OFFICIAL, SAYING: "I think we need to be very careful because anarchy and civil war are sort of worst cases: they can happen. But everyone looks at Libya or Tunisia or Egypt or any of these cases needs to remember that even in the West, most revolutions do not succeed in any of their original goals. Most of the people who start revolutions are not the people who emerge in power once the regime changes, and the people who do emerge rarely last more than a couple of years." BENGHAZI, LIBYA (AUGUST 20, 2011) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF LIBYA'S TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING WITH U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS, JEFFERY FELTMAN WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 22, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTHONY CORDESMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND NATO OFFICIAL, SAYING: "You put in strong country embassy teams as soon as possible. You don't focus them on vast, highly expensive programs for aid - but rather bringing in advisors and help for developing political parties, elections, improving governance. You deal with the most serious economic problems immediately, not with large amounts of aid, but helping the Libyans to use the capital they've already got in providing the kind of projects which you'd spend on, but it's limited spending that serves as examples. You do it their way. You evolve at their pace." TRIPOLI, LIBYA (AUGUST 22, 2011) (REUTERS) LIBYAN REBELS STOPPING A VAN AT A CHECKPOINT WOMAN IN CAR CELEBRATING CAR DRIVING AWAY WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 22, 2011) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANTHONY CORDESMAN, FORMER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND NATO OFFICIAL, SAYING: "The kind of focused limited aid effort to help the Libyans help themselves will take more time and a lot more patience, but it is far less costly, far more focused on things where there are real plans, measure of effectiveness, cooperation with our allies. We know if you tailor your programs to what people want, and the aid they can absorb, you produce success. We know that when you try to transform them, you fail." WIDE OF CORDESMAN TALKING
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Education,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA8FCOSI9UW7YN2FPD3LF88TBZQ
  • Story Text: With Libyan rebels continuing to sweep into Tripoli on Monday (August 22), the future of the oil-rich north African country remains uncertain as a fractious rebel movement attempts to consolidate its hold on power.
    Anthony Cordesman, a former U.S. Department of Defense and NATO official, says it will take years before Libya's new leaders and institutions will emerge.
    "I think we need to be very careful because anarchy and civil war are sort of worst cases: they can happen. But everyone looks at Libya or Tunisia or Egypt or any of these cases needs to remember that even in the West, most revolutions do not succeed in any of their original goals. Most of the people who start revolutions are not the people who emerge in power once the regime changes, and the people who do emerge rarely last more than a couple of years," Cordesman said.
    While U.S. diplomats have already met with members of Libya's Transitional National Council, the West is expected to provide more aid to the country. But unlike expensive and inefficient development projects imposed in Afghanistan and Iraq, Cordesman says the United States should limit the scope of its aid projects - providing more advice and letting Libyans take the lead.
    "You put in strong country embassy teams as soon as possible. You don't focus them on vast, highly expensive programs for aid - but rather bringing in advisors and help for developing political parties, elections, improving governance. You deal with the most serious economic problems immediately, not with large amounts of aid, but helping the Libyans to use the capital they've already got in providing the kind of projects which you'd spend on, but it's limited spending that serves as examples. You do it their way. You evolve at their pace," Cordesman said.
    Adopting lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq and employing a smaller, tailored approach towards providing aid will take longer, but is more likely to succeed, Cordesman said.
    "The kind of focused limited aid effort to help the Libyans help themselves will take more time and a lot more patience, but it is far less costly, far more focused on things where there are real plans, measure of effectiveness, cooperation with our allies. We know if you tailor your programs to what people want, and the aid they can absorb, you produce success. We know that when you try to transform them, you fail."
    U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday the conflict in Libya was not quite finished, but that Gaddafi's 42-year rule was over. He urged him to surrender to end the bloodshed. Obama and his NATO allies backed the six-month revolt with air power but eschewed the ground combat that cost American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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