The Foreign Service Journal, October 2005

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 45 F O C U S O N “ R O G U E ” S T A T E S L IBYA : A N A LTERNATIVE P ARADIGM early 33 years after leaving Libya as a young diplomat in 1972, I recently returned to Tripoli for five days of meetings with officials, university faculty and students and businesspeople. While recognizing that I only got a partial and brief look at the Libya of 2005, let me offer a few general observations. Muammar Qadhafi is still in charge and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Even senior Libyans are unsure how his policies might evolve, but the leader’s current direction is the most reality-based and promising of his more than three decades in power. Internationally, he seeks acceptance by the West and integration into the global system. He N T HE U.S.-L IBYA DÉTENTE PROMISES GREAT MUTUAL BENEFIT , PROVIDED THE FORWARD MOMENTUM IS MAINTAINED . B Y D AVID L. M ACK PJ Loughran