Word: gaddafi
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...overthrow of King Idris last September, Libya was an oasis of Western opportunity between Egypt and Algeria. But in the four months since a group of young army officers seized power, much of that has changed. Last week U.S. Ambassador Joseph Palmer acceded to the wishes of Strongman Muammar Gaddafi, who demanded that the U.S. withdraw entirely from Wheelus airbase outside the city. The base was used for bombing and gunnery training for NATO-assigned U.S. fighter squadrons. In similar sessions, the British also agreed to give up smaller bases at Tobruk and El Adem...
...option except to give up a base whose lease would have expired in 1971 anyway. "The sky over Arab Libya," charged Colonel Gaddafi, "is being polluted by foreign planes." Whipping up popular sentiment against the American and British military presence, Gaddafi asserted that Libyans were being "terrified" by colonialist soldiers. Unless Britain and the U.S. agreed to give up their bases, he threatened to take them by force...