LIBYAN AND IRAQI RECRUITING ATTRACTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOGADISHU 02896

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: MCAP PINS PREL SO LY IZ XF
SUBJECT: LIBYAN AND IRAQI RECRUITING ATTRACTS
SOMALI APPLICANTS


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. IN RECENT DAYS, FLIERS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED BY
THE LIBYAN EMBASSY AROUND THE CITY OF MOGADISHU WHICH
SEEK RECRUITS FOR AN "ALL-ARAB ARMY". THE "ARMY" IS
AIMED AT FIGHTING "IMPERIALISM AND ZIONISM" AND ON
FREEING ARAB LANDS FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE ARABIAN
GULF FROM FOREIGN DOMINATION. THE FLIERS TELL
PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS TO GO TO THE LIBYAN PEOPLE'S
BUREAU IN MOGADISHU, WHERE THEY WILL BE TREATED
"AS LIBYANS". SIMILAR FLIERS ARE REPORTEDLY BEING
PASSED AROUND BY THE IRAQI EMBASSY, AS WELL. THE LIBYAN
FLIER IDENTIFIES AS PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SOME TECHNICAL OR MILITARY TRAINING.
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3. THERE HAVE BEEN LARGE CROWDS OUTSIDE THE LIBYAN
AND IRAQI MISSIONS HERE, LIKELY IN RESPONSE TO THE
FLIERS. ON BOTH MARCH 12 AND 13 POLICE DISPERSED
THE CROWDS, AND ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 13, THE
MILITIA, WHICH IS ORGANIZED BY THE SINGLE POLITICAL
PARTY HERE, WAS TAKING INTO CUSTODY THOSE PEOPLE WHO
REMAINED HANGING AROUND THE LIBYAN MISSION.
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4. COMMENT: THE SOMALIS HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TROUBLE
GETTING ENOUGH RECRUITS TO MAN THEIR OWN ARMY,
AND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SEND PRESS GANGS PERI-
ODICALLY AROUND THE CITY. THEY PROBABLY WILL LOOK
ASKANCE AT SOMALIS RESPONDING FAVORABLY TO A FOR-
EIGN MILITARY RECRUITMENT. SO FAR THE FOREIGN
MINISTRY HAS NOT CALLED IN EITHER THE LIBYANS
OR THE IRAQIS TO COMPLAIN OF THESE RECRUITMENT
EFFORTS.


BRIDGES