The Reagan Administration continued to leave unanswered today whether the U.S. plans to use force, either by itself or in cooperation with Israel, against those responsible for the terrorist attacks at the Rome and Vienna airports December 27.
State Department deputy spokesman Charles Redman would neither “confirm or deny” any ” contingency plans” the U.S. might have for military action, despite statements by Israeli officials yesterday that Israel should not have to be the only country responding with force to terrorism.
However, Redman stressed that in general, for the response to terrorism “to be effective” it should “best be undertaken by the international community.” He said this can be done on a bilateral, multinational, regional or international basis.
But Redman said that the “culprits are clear” in the attacks on the El Al counters at the Rome and Vienna airports in which 19 died and more than 100 were wounded. He reiterated that the atrocity was carried out by the Abu Nidal group which, he said, has long had the backing of Libya, including this latest terrorist act.
REACTION TO QADDAFI WARNING
Asked about the warning by Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi that if there is either American or Israeli retaliation, Americans will be endangered, “even in their own streets, ” Redman replied, “We particularly abhore Qaddafi making excuses for the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent men, women and children.” He said Qaddafi’s statement “was not worthy of being dignified by comment.”
Qaddafi, in a press conference with Western reporters, justified the airport attacks as “revenge” for Israel’s air raid on Palestine Liberation Organization headquarters near Tunis October 1.
But Redman continued to urge other countries to join the U.S. in diplomatic and economic sanctions against Libya. He said the U.S. has been discussing this with Western European and Middle Eastern countries all of which “are the victims and targets of terrorism.”
He said U.S. sanctions against Libya have had an effect but need other countries to join in to fully work. He noted that there are now only 1,500 Americans in Libya as compared to 6,000 before December 10, 1981, when the U.S. made American passports invalid for travel to Libya. He said the U.S. government has continued to talk to American companies doing business in Libya to try to persuade them to stop.
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