Libya: those who cause their illness cry themselves. The military mission that was not there

(To Tiziano Ciocchetti)
04/01/20

By now Turkey has reached out to Libya, or at least to Tripolitania. The memorandum signed in November between al-Sarraj and Turkish President Erdoğan poses a serious threat to General Haftar's forces.

36 hours after the Ankara Parliament vote in favor of military intervention, the silence of our Executive is deafening.

Prime Minister al-Sarraj - installed in Tripoli thanks to the support of Rome - asked for military aid to defend himself from the attack of the strong man of Cyrenaica, we responded with diplomatic delegations.

Yet, at least initially, we had other intentions.

In 2015, the Renzi government pledged to directly support the establishment of the National Unity Government of al-Sarraj, by sending 5.000 soldiers to Libya.

After verifying the operating conditions, the IOC (Interforces Summit Operational Command) which coordinates all Italian military operations abroad, would have used, in the initial phase of the mission, the 2nd CC Brigade of Livorno, with operational departments of the 1st rgt CC paratroopers of the Tuscania, of the 7th rgt CC of Laives, in charge of the protection and security of the government of al-Sarraj, as well as of public structures such as Parliament, state television and public services. Along with other Army assets, such as the paratroopers of the thunderbolt, the Rangers of the Monte Cervino would have ensured the security of the UN headquarters in Tripoli. In addition, the Italian military would take care of the training of the reconstituted Libyan army, loyal to the government of Tripoli (thus preventing the proliferation of the turkish militias of Misurata).

The detachments of the special forces (Col Moschin and GOI) would have been responsible for ensuring the continuity of flow and loading of the oil products of the coastal terminals and intervening on the bays and docks, from the Tunisian border to Tripoli, and from Misurata to Benghazi, from where they left the boats, rafts and old fishing boats with their load of migrants.

In addition they would monitor all the coastal and land bases in the different ones willayat Libyans who fell into ISIS, in order to target, with targeted actions, the commanders of all the centers occupied by the jihadists, between Sirte and Benghazi.

For various reasons (mainly because of the "pacifist" fringes within the PD), the stabilization mission of Libya did not see the light.

If then there had been more courage, today we would not have been reduced to one political nullity in an absolutely strategic territory for our country.

Photo: US Army