OK, this occured to me during talk with one member on FB.
During 1980s Libya was pissing on/off several NATO members. between La Belle bombing, Gulf of Sidre incident and firing Scuds against Italy these nations had sufficient justification to invoke NATO charter article 5. Why they didn't I can't say but I guess political decissions were made not to as potential problems would outweight whatever benefit there ight be had. Plus I guess in 1980s NATO didn't want to get in shooting war in Libya as it could easily spill in several directions.
But let's assume that Libyans manage to actually hit Lampedusa station and kill some Americans, since that is easiest way to raise the stakes. This would be clear attack, even clearer than first Gulf of Sidre incident.
Would that be enough for article 5 to be invoked and Libya fiding itself on wrong end of military action? This would be 1986 so after Grenada when US military was finding it's mojo again and US leadership ready to start fighting wars again.
If not what would it take? Obviously it would need to be political decission POD as act were clear.
During 1980s Libya was pissing on/off several NATO members. between La Belle bombing, Gulf of Sidre incident and firing Scuds against Italy these nations had sufficient justification to invoke NATO charter article 5. Why they didn't I can't say but I guess political decissions were made not to as potential problems would outweight whatever benefit there ight be had. Plus I guess in 1980s NATO didn't want to get in shooting war in Libya as it could easily spill in several directions.
But let's assume that Libyans manage to actually hit Lampedusa station and kill some Americans, since that is easiest way to raise the stakes. This would be clear attack, even clearer than first Gulf of Sidre incident.
Would that be enough for article 5 to be invoked and Libya fiding itself on wrong end of military action? This would be 1986 so after Grenada when US military was finding it's mojo again and US leadership ready to start fighting wars again.
If not what would it take? Obviously it would need to be political decission POD as act were clear.