Response to Secretary of State Cohen Query on Libyan Support to Liberian Rebels: - 1. Given a successful takeover of Monrovia, what would, be the response from Libya? they took Monrovia. Limited material support is also likely. Libya probably would recognize and politically support the rebels if If the tiby3n s believe the rebels will v-n, they prnbibly would increase clandestine support to them even before they' reach the capita). 2. Would Libya support the rebels even before they. reach the capital? We do not think Libya expected.Taylor to be successful and Tripoli may .ot have thsught out wt,at to du iii that uvetit. I. seems rea;onable;ty assume, however, they will increase or at least continue aid to Taylor when he is a winner since they helped him when they had little hope for his assistance was provided--military training, funds, possibly arms. Tripoli concluded it had little to lose. We believe only moderate Libyan actions in Africa are aimed primarily at countering Western and Israeli relations there and undermining modcroe African regimes. We believe Tripoli began aiding Charles Taylor in late 1987 with these goals in mind. Tripoli had doubts about Taylor and viewed him as little more than an opportunist. Assistance was continued, however, probably because APPROVED FOR RELEASE^DATE: 14-Sep-2009

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RESPONSE TO SECRETARY OF STATE COHEN QUERY ON LIBYAN SUPPORT TO LIBERIAN REBELS