Back in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan ordered the bombing of Libya, I heard a news report and then did some reporting on my own about an interesting development at the Voice of America (VOA). It seems that as soon as the aircraft were launched from a base near London–a full eight hours before the bombs started landing, including the one which killed the adopted daughter of Libyan leader Muamar Qaddafi–the VOA’s Arabic language announcer was sequestered.
Then as the horror was unfolding and grief began to spread among the unsuspecting victims, the announcer’s voice was broadcast so that listeners in Libya could hear it telling anyone who might have been listening, that the reason they were suffering from the fire raining down from the American F-16 aircraft was “the fault of your leaders.”
At that very hour, a minor uprising (which was clearly planned to coincide with the bombing which may have been intended to kill the Libyan leader) took place in a remote Army barracks, but it was quickly put down.
The entire scenario was clearly an attempt at fomenting a rebellion, a la “Mission Impossible.” Unfortunately, the luckless conspirators who rose up on cue, were disposed of, and were never heard from again.
“Blame your own leaders,” was the U.S. message. Continue reading