In 2008, Washington approved $46 million in defense exports to Libya, a
nearly 10-fold increase from $5 million during the previous year. The
exports included explosives and incendiary agents meant for energy
exploration. Defense exports to Libya were said to have declined to
$17 million in 2009.
Washington had also been mulling a plan to export the U.S.-origin Humvee
combat vehicle to Libya. But officials said the proposal foundered on the
refusal by Congress to approve lethal systems.
"This was to have been the first major upgrade of U.S. equipment for
Libya," an official recalled.
Officials said the project called for the modernization of the
U.S.-origin M113 APC, a 1970s-era combat vehicle. They said the program
called for Turkey's FNSS Systems to enhance the engine, structure and
subsystems. In 2010, the company launched a similar upgrade for the army of
Saudi Arabia.
The project was reportedly canceled in late February amid the revolt
in Libya. Officials said congressional leaders had demanded the end of
export plans
by the State Department.
Officials the Libyans wanted the project to include the installation of
machine guns on the M113. They said the administration of President Barack
Obama refused to supply lethal systems until the regime instituted
democratic reforms.
"We would not discuss the possibility of lethal U.S. arms sales until
Libya made significant progress on human rights issues, visas and other
areas of bilateral relationship," State Department spokesman Mark Toner
said.
ShareThis
