Chapter 388
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Odyssey Dawn
George Herbert Walker Bush did not declare war on shadowy terrorist organizations.
In fact, that was only natural.
There was no more absurd notion than waging war against something as intangible as "terrorism."
Instead, the United States launched concrete actions against Al Qaeda.
"We will surely punish the terrorist group that dared to touch the United States."
The U.S. mobilized its vast intelligence assets and espionage personnel to track down Al Qaeda.
This was good news for Korea, which had been fiercely competing with the United States beneath the surface.
"This is some good news."
Of course, Washington wasn't staffed by fools, so they knew full well this wasn't a favorable situation for them.
"Whether we catch Al Qaeda or not, we need an excuse to save face."
While pondering this, one particular country caught Washington's eye.
Libya.
Libya's dictator, Gaddafi, had always criticized the West's "plundering" of resources and shown goodwill toward Korea.
He was already a thorn in their side, and he had a history of supporting terrorist groups while preaching that terrorism was a good means of resisting the West.
Of course, he hadn't gone as far as downing a Pan Am flight like in the Lockerbie incident, but donating funds to "terrorist organizations" provided a perfect pretext.
The moment the U.S. latched onto this, they designated Libya as the "backers of terrorism."
"Terrorist groups are hard to pin down anyway. Instead of chasing Osama bin Laden as he slips between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it's cheaper and gives us more to show the public if we swiftly collapse Libya and pull out."
The White House agreed with the views from the diplomatic and security lines.
However, the U.S. President added one condition.
"Don't set overly ambitious goals like occupying Libya. Our objective is to show we're punishing them and then get out."
George Herbert Walker Bush devised a strategy of striking quickly and withdrawing to avoid the quagmire the Soviets had suffered in Afghanistan after getting too deeply involved in Libya.
"What about regime change, then?"
"Don't do it. A warning is enough."
Southern Italy and Britain, which had insights into the region, also agreed with the U.S. approach.
"If we completely dismantle them, we'll have refugees and all sorts of headaches. Your Excellency has judged correctly."
The United States assembled considerable forces for the Libya attack.
Starting March 9, 1990, the U.S. began moving troops to Italy.
The main force was the U.S. Navy, commanded by Central Command chief General Norman Schwarzkopf.
The operation name was Odyssey Dawn.
The scale of forces the U.S. assembled was modest compared to the Gulf War, but sufficient to pressure Libya.
As it gathered troops, the U.S. also explained the justification for the attack to neighboring countries.
"Libya is a state sponsor of terrorism. If we don't punish them, more countries will resort to terrorism in the future."
The U.S. worked to sweet-talk the Arab Federation into allowing airspace passage.
It also spared no effort in laborious diplomatic battles at the UN to secure procedural legitimacy for the Libya attack.
"Korea will abstain on the Libya attack."
"Our Federation will also abstain."
Korea and the Soviet Union signaled their tacit approval of U.S. actions through silence.
This wasn't support for the U.S., but a way to show that even allies couldn't back "terrorism."
With all four permanent Security Council members expressing agreement or acquiescence, the UN vote was a foregone conclusion.
"I declare the Libya war resolution passed."
With "legal legitimacy" secured, the U.S. meticulously prepared its invasion plans.
Arab Federation states and Tunisia allowed airspace passage but not use of their territory, so U.S. invasion bases were limited to Sicily, Pantelleria, Malta, and southern Italy.
When General Norman Schwarzkopf realized there weren't enough bases to launch aircraft, he urgently pulled in British and French carriers.
While the formidable U.S. forces assembled, Libya made its own efforts.
It asked Korea and the Soviet Union for mediation,
and through mid-tier European nations caught in the middle, it attempted negotiations with the U.S. as well.
"Hey, if we go down, U.S. influence along the Mediterranean coast will solidify even more. We have to stop that, right?"
"We are not connected to this terrorism. If any Islamic extremists wanted by the U.S. are found in our country, we'll hand them over to Washington immediately."
Despite Libya's relatively humble posture, the U.S. had no intention of backing down.
The U.S. chose to target a tangible state over an intangible ghost.
On June 5, 1990, the multinational force led by the U.S. began "striking" the "Libyan regime."
At dawn, the Anglo-American allied fleet fired 200 Tomahawk missiles toward Libya's coastal regions.
The targets were Libya's key military facilities.
The Tomahawks, flying hundreds of kilometers, struck their pre-confirmed targets precisely.
After dismantling Libya's air defenses with missiles, the U.S. deployed stealth bombers like the F-117 Nighthawk to precisely hit Libya's airfields and military bases.
Libya was pummeled relentlessly, not even knowing what hit them.
"Libya's air force is annihilated, and their communications and air defense networks are effectively crippled."
The overwhelming results on the first day of combat surprised even the U.S. military.
"We could just send in ground troops and occupy the place."
Hawks in the administration proposed shifting the grand strategy to topple Libya and install a "democratic regime" while they were at it.
"Nonsense."
The Libya attack was best left as a show of force.
The White House flatly rejected the hawks' proposal to deploy the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force moved to Sicily.
"The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force was brought here as proof that we have the capability to invade mainland Libya but are exercising 'restraint.' Keep that in mind."
Faced with the President's firm resolve, the hawks couldn't utter a word.
The President had no intention of toppling the Libyan regime, but he did want to teach Gaddafi's regime a lesson.
Over a week, the multinational force unleashed 350 missiles and an average of 400 aircraft sorties per day, mercilessly hammering Libya.
In the process, Gaddafi's eldest son Muhammad was killed by a missile strike.
The U.S. planned to vent some steam this way, declare the "end of the war," and pull out.
But a problem arose.
"That infidel Gaddafi is getting thrashed by the Americans? This is our chance."
Rival tribes suppressed under Gaddafi's iron grip in Libya suddenly raised their heads.
"We want freedom."
To America's embarrassment, these groups appealed for help in the name of "freedom" and "democracy."
The Democrats, already displeased with the Republicans and Bush boosting approval ratings through war, seized on this.
"Can we call ourselves guardians of democracy if we don't support Libya's free citizens?"
As Democratic pressure mounted, the hawks found it easier to speak up.
"Your Excellency, if we keep this up, we'll hand the initiative to the Democrats. Before we lose the framing, we need to move toward helping the 'free citizens.'"
"And if Libya turns into our quagmire, who takes responsibility?"
The President drew a firm line: no ground troops.
"Then at least provide air support."
Here, the U.S. faced a choice.
Abandon the "free citizens" rising in Libya, or support them to effect regime change.
Bush wasn't thrilled with either, but he couldn't abandon national ideology.
"Support them with air power only."
As the U.S. shifted its grand strategy toward regime change in Libya, Pyongyang and Moscow held an emergency meeting.
"How should we respond if the Americans come at us like this?"
Moscow lacked the capacity to cope with the situation.
They were pouring all their energy into suppressing the rising tide of nationalism at home.
As a result, Moscow could only look to Pyongyang.
"Let the Americans do whatever they want."
"What do you mean?"
Bae Seong-jun, Korea's power broker, had a simple response.
"We don't need to do anything."
Whether Libya fell or not, Korea and the Soviet Union had little to lose.
The cost of one friendly dictatorship being toppled?
They could bear it.
Gaddafi's Libya wasn't part of the Second or Third World alliances.
"Still, if Libya falls, Western control of the Mediterranean will tighten."
What the Soviets feared was their own breathing room being squeezed.
But there was no real need to worry about that.
"They'll never hold onto Libya."
Bae Seong-jun believed the West could exert temporary influence in Libya, but not sustain it.
The basis for his confidence was the flow of events in the original timeline.
'As long as Islamic extremist forces exist, Western domination can't last long.'
The current U.S. government also likely had no desire to rule Libya.
George Herbert Walker Bush, unlike his son, wasn't blinded by oil interests.
Korea and the Soviet Union decided to temporarily acquiesce to the U.S. decision.