EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece was originally published in the Spring 2019 magazine.
Eleven years after the tragic terrorist attacks of 9/11, the US embassy in Benghazi was attacked, resulting in the deaths of four Americans. Just two months before the 2012 presidential election, prominent voices from both sides did not hesitate to comment on the issue. Republican candidate Mitt Romney was quick to criticize President Obama’s response, calling it disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn the attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks. In the wake of this crisis, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified for more than eight hours, and the State Department along with eight Congressional Committees released reports. The American public demanded answers about an attack in a country that many could not, and still cannot, find on a map.
Despite the uproar, the attack has become merely a talking point that can be used against political opponents. However, one question remains: why did we forget about Libya? The Arab Spring flooded the Middle East and North Africa with a wave of protests and uprisings that changed some countries permanently. Even though Muammar Gaddafi, who had ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly forty years, was executed months before the attack, this political revolution seemed to be less significant in the minds of the public. The deterioration of the country was secondary to its impact on Americans. While this lack of saliency in the American public does nothing to take away from the devastating attack, it opens the door for an in-depth examination of Libya’s current situation now that the American public has stopped paying attention. How did so many people look at the situation in Libya through such a narrow lens?
In the wake of Gaddafi’s death, the country has been hammered by factional and tribal disputes over control of the country. Recent months have proven especially volatile. Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) since 2014, has been a major disruptor in the path toward democracy. He has successfully taken control of the key oil terminals of Zueitina, Brega, Ras Lanuf and Sidrah, in the oil-rich heartland locally known as the Oil Crescent. It is no secret that his control of key oil fields is strategic. Libya sits on massive oil reserves, something Gaddafi took advantage of. Control of the oil fields means control of the economy, and control of the economy means control of the country. By doing this, he has slowly consolidated economic control over the country and has effectively inserted himself into the national conversation. In June, Haftar and the LNA control most of Eastern Libya.
While the internationally recognized government in Tripoli is trying to maintain order, it is clear that they in no way have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Even now, the Government of National Accord (GNA) goes toe-to-toe with the House of Representatives, which is based in Tobruk. Both have their own banks and national oil companies, making it clear that Haftar is not the only problem. Despite this split, the international community is pushing forward with to hold elections. The African Union released a statement stating they would take all necessary measures to ensure that presidential elections take place in October. While October is still several months down the line, the lack of internal stability in Libya threatens the validity and the security of these elections. With skirmishes still ongoing and the LNA launching a new wave of attacks in the south, it appears too optimistic to believe that elections will happen before the year is over. In September, the United Nations (UN) was incredibly concerned about the safety of civilians. More than 1,700 families in Tripoli were displaced in a 24 hour period due to skirmishes between two GNA affiliated groups. Both argue that they are working to remove criminals and outlaws from the city, but unfortunately citizens often have borne the brunt of the costs. As the conflict in Libya enters its seventh year, there does not seem to be a clear path to peace. It still begs the question: why did we forget about Libya? This conflict has lasted just as long as the Syrian Civil War yet it was pushed aside and rarely revisited in detail by American news outlets.
More recently, a possible explanation has emerged for our short memory in relation to Libya: the new administration. As President Trump entered the White House, many were incredibly critical of his foreign and domestic policy stances, citing Islamophobic and racist comments. While the Trump has done little to assuage these fears in his opponents, he has made some efforts to reach out to Middle Eastern leaders, though the motives are quite clear. In a visit to the region in May of 2017, Trump visited Saudi Arabia and Israel. He met with leaders of several countries to discuss the situation in Syria, met with the King of Saudi Arabia which resulted in a $100 billion arms deal, and reassured Israel that the United States would remain their ally. Two stops with two objectives: secure an arms deal and keep Israel happy. Libya did not make it onto the docket. Generally, there is little said about North Africa by this current administration, making it clear that they are devoting their attention to other things. What some may fail to realize is that fragile states deserve much more attention. If these states collapse, their neighbors become inundated with problems that they may not have the resources to solve. Egypt and Algeria do not exist to serve as buffers for the collapse of their neighbor.
Though Benghazi is a city that lingers in the minds of many, the country which it calls home does not. A clear blind spot in regards to the overarching situation in Libya exists among top policy makers, and a situation that has left millions of people struggling has been used as a cheap talking point for politicians trying to win debates and discredit their opponents. Consequently, a situation that required careful and comprehensive support was ignored and has raged on and may continue to rage on into a new decade.