EXCERPTS OF INTERVIEW: 'WE REFUSE TO ASSASSINATE'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250095-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 95
• Publication Date: December 7, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250095-2
ARTICLE APPEARED
z _
ON PAGE_______
THE WASHINGTON POST
7 December 1981
excerpts of Interviei_
`fie Refuse to Assassinate
Excerpts of the interview with
Col. ltluanmar Qaddafi yesterday:
Q. The [U.S.] government says it
has evidence that you've sent assas-
sination squads ... for the purpose
of killing President Reagan and
other top American officials. Would
you comment?
A. We have no patience to hear
this again. If they have evidence,'we
are ready to see this evidence, to see
who these people are who are acting
behind us and behind the Libyan
people to commit this crime.
"We refuse to assassinate any per-
son. On the other side, we are ready
to' fight against American military
received on our borders, because
America is taking us?;taking our
Arab country, Arab land .... it is
not our character, not our behavior,
to'assassinate any person.
It is the behavior of America, pre-
paring to assassinate me, to poison
my food. They tried many things to
do this.
Q. Are you saying . that the
Americans actually tried to kill you?
A. Yes, I am sure. The world is
sure also. It is true .. .
Q. If the reports about the Libyan ~
plot against the president are not,
true, why do you think the United
States is making these accusations
against you?
.A.... because we are refusing to
bow our head in front of America.
and we refused to be under the dom-
ination of America and we refused to
be- slaves of America ... - America
wants to dominate all the world and
divide the world into enemies or
slaves to America, and we. refuse to
be slaves.
I think the Zionist propaganda is
behind the many accusations and
allegations against us in America.
Q. Do you still want good, normal
relations with the United States? .
_A. Yes, we still want good,rela-
tions with the United States, like
any other countries in the world. But
America refuses to normalize 'the i
f..
relations between us. ..._ A,S; ,:...r.. ;. ]
Q. Are you ready to normalize
diplomatic relations?
A. Yes....
Q: Have you hired former Amer-
ican CIA agents and Green Berets to
train your troops and to bring in
weapons?
A.... we didn't hire them, but
they escaped. from America
... came here asking freedom, ask-
ing peaceful life because, they said,
we are living in a hell of CIA, in the
fire of America ....
Q. Did they ever provide you with
American weapons?
A. Not at all, because we have
... our friends to buy weapons and
... we don't depend on these
sources for buying weapons.
Q. . . . there are reports that the
worldwide terrorist called Carlos
lives here in Libya, you're giving him
protection.
A.... it is silly question, anyhow.
We dons know this person, and he is
not here,, absolutely : America
the superpower is afraid of Qaddafl,
Carlos.
. Always Reagan and his adminis-
tration, saying to their people
through their TV and every broad-
casting stations: Qaddafi, Qaddafi,
Qaddafi, Carlos, Carlos, I4ya, Lib-
How you are silly people ...
Libya is only 2 million, and you are
200 million. You are a superpower:]
How you are afraid? a
it is silly, this administration
and this president. America must get
rid of this administration and fell it,
down, as they did with Nixon, andl
elect another respectful president tol
get respect for America.
Q, .... those reports of a .Libyan
plot, the president, of the United l
States himself seemed to take them
seriously. Why?
A.... because he's silly, he's 1g.
norant. Who gave him this informa-
tion? [Sudanese President Jaafar}
Nimeiri? He is liar .:... How you
believe him?
We ready to make' large investi-
gations in all these' reports and to
see who is liar.. Andy you will see;
Reagan is liar..
Q. .. the antagonism: between
your country and the United States,
actually did result in. violence ._ ..
two of your planes were shot down
by planes of the American 6th Flee
... Did , you plan anything, any
revenge against the U.S.?
A. It is not a matter of revenge, it
is a matter of defense for our coun-
try, for our dignity . ; . ,
Q....,How do you make relations
between your country and the U.S.
better?
A. I don't think you can change
this until the American people itself
changes Reagan itself and this bad
administration .... I am saying to
the ... American . people to - fell
down Reagan as they ' did with
Nixon, and to get rid of his admin- '
istration, to establish good relations
Reagan is silly, and he is not qual-
ified to lead America as a superpow-
er. He is [behaving] like a child.
Q. . . . You're not saying that, he
should be killed. :,.
A. No. I don't speak for killing. 'It
is not my1matter. I speak politically:
Q... there are hundreds of Lib-
yan students in the'-United States
studying., Are you going to bring]
them home? ;:...... .. - .:..1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250095-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250095-2
A. Their existence there is evi-
dence of our good willing towards
America. Unfortunately, the CIA
... succeeded to get about 30 Lib-
yan students in America to be agents
.... They themselves write some
reports about these false matters,
like assassination .... we want in-
vestigation to ... let the American
people and the Libyan people and
the Congress, of America know
.. who is liar, Reagan or Libya. - ' .
... I am challenging ... them to
make this investigation.
Q. If you could talk to President
Reagan, what would you tell him-
right now?
A. V would have to tell - him . `
are you mad? Why are'you acting
terrorist against; us? ...:. We are
small people whq wants to he free,,
. But they are'against us.
Q..[You once said] you were ready'
to go to war-, against the United.,
States. Do you still feel that way?., r;
A. We are ready to face America, -
and we will not avoid- a war with-
America in the Mediterranean See.
and in out territories... _..:
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000505250095-2