Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12218 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AORC AMGT AFIN AS AMED AF AM AJ AU AE AR ABLD AG AY ASIG AEMR APER AMBASSADOR ASEAN AA AL ASUP ABUD AX APECO AID AUC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ADANA AFFAIRS AND AN ADCO ARM ATRN AECL AADP ACOA APEC AGRICULTURE ACS ADPM ASCH AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ARF ACBAQ APCS AMG AQ AMCHAMS AORG AGAO ADM AFSI AFSN AINF AIT ASEX AORL AGR AO AROC ACABQ ATFN AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AC AZ AVERY AGMT
BEXP BR BA BRUSSELS BL BM BH BTIO BIDEN BO BT BC BU BY BX BG BK BF BBSR BMGT BTIU BILAT BE BD BWC BB BP BN
CA CO CVIS CODEL CASC CFED CH CMGT CW CI CU CONDOLEEZZA CR CSW CPAS CS CJUS CY CDG CE CG CBW COUNTER CN CKGR COUNTERTERRORISM CWC CJAN CIA CD CLINTON CT CARSON CONS CB CM CLMT CROS CNARC CIDA CBSA CIC CEUDA CHR CITT CAC CACM CVR CDC CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE COM CARICOM CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CV CL CIS CTM CICTE
DR DEA DA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DEPT DTRA DPRK DEFENSE DE DJ DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEAX DOE DK DS
EAGR ENRG EC ECON EAID EFIS ETRD EUN ETTC EFIN EWWT ECIN EINV ELAB EPET ECPS EU EAIR EIND ELTN EK ES EN EG EPA ER EI EZ ET EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS EXTERNAL ELN ELECTIONS EMIN EINN EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ECUN EINT ENGR ENNP EUR EAP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI EFTA ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ENVR ECONOMY ECONOMIC EUMEM EAIDS ETRA ETRN EUREM EFIM EIAR EXIM ERD EAIG ETRC EXBS EURN ERNG EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENERG ENGY ECONCS EINVETC ECONEFIN ESA ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH
FI FJ FR FTA FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FMLN FBI FOR FOREIGN FINANCE FO FISO FDA FAC FOI FM FAS FINR
GOV GAERC GT GG GM GV GH GOI GA GTIP GR GZ GE GCC GY GANGS GL GLOBAL GERARD GF GAZA GTMO
HK HR HO HA HUMAN HU HILLARY HSTC HUMOR HEBRON HI HURI HYMPSK
IRS IR IMO IS IZ ID IWC IN ICAO IV IC IT IZPREL IRAQI IO IAEA ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR INRB ITALY ICRC INTERPOL IQ ICTY INTELSAT IEFIN IA INR IRC IACI ITRA IL ICJ INTERNAL ISRAELI INMARSAT ITU ILC IBRD IMF ILO IDP ITF IBET IGAD IEA IAHRC ICTR IDA INDO IIP INRA INRO IRAJ IF
JA JP JO JOSEPH JOHNNIE JM JUS JAMES
KSCA KDEM KCIP KCRM KNNP KSTC KIPR KOMC KHLS KPAO KTDB KJUS KOLY KTFN KMDR KIDE KSTH KISL KN KS KMPI KZ KG KRVC KICC KIRC KTIA KTIP KWMN KVPR KV KU KIRF KR KACT KPKO KGHG KFRD KCOR KE KSUM KPAL KSEP KGIC KFLO KAWC KUNR KNPP KNEI KBIO KPRP KWBG KMCA KTEX KGIT KNSD KCFE KLIG KFLU KBCT KOMS KBTS KCRS KGCC KDRG KWMM KAWK KHIV KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KPAI KCRCM KHSA KTLA KO KFSC KVIR KX KFTFN KHDP KPLS KSAF KMFO KRCM KSPR KCSY KSAC KPWR KTRD KID KWNM KMRS KICA KRIM KSEO KPOA KCHG KREC KOM KRGY KCMR KSCI KFIN KVRP KPAONZ KCGC KNAR KMOC KCOM KESS KAID KNUC KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KPIN KPRV KBTR KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNUP KTER KDDG KPAK KREL KNNPMNUC KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KTBT KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LU LTTE LI LO LH LG LAB LA LABOR LOG LT
MARAD MOPS MARR MASS MNUC MX MCAP MIL MO MU MEPI MR MDC MPOS MEETINGS MD MTCRE MK MUCN MASC MRCRE MY ML MA MEPP MAR MAPP MP MT MAS MTS MLS MI MERCOSUR MV MEDIA MILI MG MW MIK MTCR MEPN MC MZ MOPPS MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MTRE
NZ NZUS NU NL NATO NO NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NS NPT NI NATIONAL NPG NGO NG NK NSSP NRR NSG NSC NPA NORAD NT NW NEW NH NSF NV NR NE NSFO NC NA NAR NASA
OTRA OPIC OREP OIIP OPRC OVIP OEXC OAS OSCE ODIP OSAC OPDC OFDP OIE OECD OPCW OVP OPAD OFDA OIC OFFICIALS OSCI OMIG OBSP ON OCS OCII OHUM OES OTR
PREL PGOV PHUM PTER PHSA PINS PARM PINR PREF PROP PK POL PE PSOE PAK PBTS PAO PM PF PNAT POLITICS PARMS PBIO PSI POLINT POLITICAL PARTIES PL PA PO PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PRELP PAS PPA PRGOV PUNE PG PALESTINIAN POLICY PROG PDEM PREFA PDOV PCI PRAM PTBS PSA POSTS PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PGIV PHUMPGOV PCUL PSEPC PREO PAHO PMIL PNG PP PS PHUH PEPR PINT PU PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PMAR PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL POV
QA
RS RICE RUPREL RU RIGHTS RO RW RSP RP REACTION REPORT REGION RCMP RSO RF RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT
SENV SY SOCI SNAR SMIG SCUL SW SP SZ SA SENVKGHG SU SF SAN SR SO SHUM SYR SAARC SL SI SNARCS SWE SN SARS SPCE SNARIZ SCRS SC SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS SYRIA SEVN SSA STEINBERG SG SIPRS SH SOFA SANC SK ST
TRGY TU TPHY TBIO TSPA TW TC TX TI TN TS TT TO TH TSPL TIP TP TERRORISM TURKEY TD TZ TFIN TNGD TINT THPY TBID TF TL TV TAGS TK TR TRSY
UN UK UP USTR UNGA UNSC UZ USEU US UNMIK USUN UNESCO UNHRC UY UNO UG UNDC UAE UNAUS UNDESCO UNHCR UNEP UNCHC UNFICYP UNCHR USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNDP UNC UNODC USOAS UNPUOS UNCND USPS UNICEF UV UNCHS UNVIE UE USAID
VE VN VZ VT VTPREL VM VI VAT VC
WTO WHO WS WTRO WITH WTRQ WBG WI WHA WMD WMO WIPO WHTI WFP WB WWARD WA WEU WZ
XF XK XM XV XR XG XT XA XH XL XS XW XY XE XD XZ XX XTAG XQ XB XU XI XC
YM YI YMCS YE
ZR ZP ZI ZANU ZU ZO ZB ZL ZK ZF ZEALAND ZN ZA ZOELLICK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09TRIPOLI191, EASTERN LIBYANS FAVOR WEALTH DISTRIBUTION AND ABOLISHING

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09TRIPOLI191.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09TRIPOLI191 | 2009-02-27 12:12 | 2011-01-31 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tripoli

`

    VZCZCXRO4810
    OO RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDU RUEHKUK RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV
    DE RUEHTRO #0191/01 0581254
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O P 271254Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4555
    INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
    RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
    RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
    RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1017
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0703
    RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 5081

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000191

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/26/2019
    TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ENRG LY
    SUBJECT: EASTERN LIBYANS FAVOR WEALTH DISTRIBUTION AND ABOLISHING
    GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

    REF: A) TRIPOLI 186, B) 08 TRIPOLI 227 TRIPOLI 00000191 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Gene A. Cretz, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy - Tripoli, U.S. Dept of State. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)

    1.(C) Summary: Consideration of a draft constitution was on the agenda for the recently-concluded session of the Basic People's Congresses (BPC), but was apparently dropped out of concern that including it could undermine efforts to gain support for controversial wealth distribution and government re-structuring reforms proposed by Muammar al-Qadhafi. Western Libyan contacts were united in their concern that the hazily-formulated reforms could prompt economic problems and threaten the limited reform initiatives already underway; however, xxxxxxxxxxxx told us that the majority of BPCs in eastern Libya xxxxxxxxxxxx had recommended that the General People's Congress adopt wealth distribution and government re-structuring. He argued that eastern Libyans, frustrated by years of calculated neglect by the regime, believed they stood a better chance of getting a more equal share of oil revenues and having less corrupt government if they adopted al-Qadhafi's proposed reforms. In addition, eastern Libyan politicians and leaders viewed the reforms as a means by which to devolve resource allocation decisions and, to a limited extent, political authority away from the central government and toward provincial leaders, potentially facilitating their long-term goal of a return to the federal system of government that existed before the 1969 al-Fateh Revolution/coup. The fact that the majority of BPCs in eastern Libya, a region not known for its love of Muammar al-Qadhafi or his regime, have reportedly supported al-Qadhafi's proposals is best understood as a reflection of the extent of their frustration with the extant political system rather than an endorsement of the ideas themselves. End summary. CONSTITUTION DROPPED FROM AGENDA AMID CONCERNS ABOUT FOCUS ON OTHER PROPOSED REFORMS

    2.(C) As reported ref A, Libya's 468 Basic People's Congresses (BPCs) convened February 18-23 to consider direct distribution of Libya's oil wealth to its citizens and government re-structuring that would involve dismantling most existing ministry-equivalents, proposals first posited by Muammar al-Qadhafi last March (ref B). xxxxxxxxxxxx said the preliminary draft agenda for the BPCs included reviewing the draft constitution prepared by a committee under the auspices of Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, with the expectation that it would be put forward to the upcoming General People's Congress (GPC) in early March for consideration and (presumably) ratification. In the end, the constitution was dropped from the BPCs final agenda and was not/not considered.

    3.(C) xxxxxxxxxxxx said concerns at the General People's Committee level (cabinet-equivalent) about apparent opposition to the core issues of wealth distribution and government re-structuring prompted the decision to drop the constitution from the agenda. The regime's concern was to ensure that BPCs ultimately recommended to the General People's Congress that it adopt wealth distribution and government re-structuring; given sensitivities about adopting a constitution (Libya currently does not have one), it was feared that considering that issue as well would dilute the BPCs focus. xxxxxxxxxxxx said the constitution was on the BPCs' agenda as recently as February 14, when Muammar al-Qadhafi hotly responded to dissent within the General People's Committee about the proposed reforms, urging BPC members and regime officials to move ahead with wealth distribution and re-structuring. Criticizing the poor performance of the General People's Committee system xxxxxxxxxxxx characterized the changes as part of an effort to combat endemic corruption in and underperformance by the GPCs. It is unclear whether the constitution will be considered at the upcoming session of the General People's Congress. The constitution is reportedly being reviewed by the General Peoples Committee and may be put forward by it to the General Peoples Congress, possibly a workaround devised after it was removed from the BPCs' agenda (further details septel). MAJORITY OF EASTERN LIBYAN BPCS ENDORSE AL-QADHAFI'S PROPOSED REFORMS ...

    4.(C) With respect to wealth distribution and re-structuring, xxxxxxxxxxxx put forward the recommendation that both proposals be considered and adopted by the General People's Congress. xxxxxxxxxxxx Citing conversations on Feb 23-24 with secretaries of other BPCs, he said it appeared that the majority of BPCs in eastern Libya had made similar recommendations. Wealth distribution, an idea that has sparked the imagination of many ordinary Libyans, dominated most of the proceedings. Little attention was focused on the potentially more critical issue of government re-structuring. He conceded that his BPCs' recommendations contained few specific details about how to successfully implement the initiatives. He said the Sha'abiyat and General People's Congress were responsible for coming up with such ideas. (Comment: Given the performance of xxxxxxxxxxxx representatives in their meeting with the Ambassador on February 23, this does not give cause for much hope. End comment.) ... BUT FOR REASONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH LOYALTY TO THE REGIME

    5.(C) Acknowledging the lack of clarity about how wealth distribution and re-structuring would be implemented, xxxxxxxxxxxx stressed that his constituents were disappointed enough with the Jamahiriya's performance to give the relatively radical proposals a try. Eastern Libya had suffered until very recently from a lack of investment and government resources, part of a campaign by the al-Qadhafi regime to keep the area poor and, theoretically, less likely to develop as a viable alternative locus of power to Tripoli. Despite a recent surge in government projects in and around Benghazi (further details septel), eastern Libyans had generally not benefited from limited economic reform to the extent that those in the western province of Tripolitania had.

    6.(C) xxxxxxxxxxxx argued that eastern Libyans calculated that they stood a better chance of getting a more equal share of oil revenues and having less corrupt government if they adopted al-Qadhafi's proposed reforms. In addition, eastern Libyan politicians and leaders viewed the reforms as a means by which to devolve resource allocation decisions and, to a limited extent, political authority away from the central government and toward provincial leaders. xxxxxxxxxxxx stated that a long-term goal of most eastern Libyans was to effect a return to something akin to the federal system of government that existed before the 1969 al-Fateh Revolution/coup, in which the provinces enjoyed greater autonomy. The government re-structuring advocated by al-Qadhafi would theoretically entail dismantling the existing system of General People's Committees, potentially creating a vacuum into which provincial leaders could move.

    7.(C) Comment: As reported ref A and previous, the consensus among contacts in and around Tripoli since al-Qadhafi first proposed wealth distribution and re-structuring last March was concern that the hazily-formulated scheme could prompt serious macro-economic distortions (hyperinflation among them) and that nascent reforms already underway would be hurt, jeopardizing the increased availability of consumer goods and other recent improvements in the standard of living for ordinary Libyans. Of particular concern to western Libyans was the proposal to scrap government support for education and health care. The Executive Director of the Qadhafi Development Foundation said as recently as February 22 that the weight of opinion at the BPC level appeared to be against supporting wealth distribution. The fact that the majority of BPCs in eastern Libya, a region not known for its love of Muammar al-Qadhafi or his regime, have reportedly supported al-Qadhafi's proposals is best understood as a reflection of the extent of their frustration with the extant political system rather than an endorsement of the ideas themselves. As such, it underscores the lack of cohesion and lingering mistrust between the three major regions that comprise modern Libya: Tripolitania (western Libya); Cyrenaica (eastern Libya); and the Fezzan (southern Libya). End comment. CRETZ

`