What if the US invaded Libya in 2003?

What if instead or alongside Iraq, the US invaded Libya in 2003, claiming it sponsored terrorism such as Lockerbie and was developing nuclear weapons? I assume the battle would be quicker than Iraq, as Libya has a smaller and more homogeneous population which would make it easier to subdue.
 

Germaniac

Donor
If Gaddafi had refused to dismantle his program i think its VERY likely tht GWB, especially with the "success" in Iraq, launches any invasion of Libya.

It will probably look look an expanded version of OTL actions against Libya with troops following in. I expect that after initial resistance the mission will be declared a success and the administration will again find every way to to turn the situation into a cluster crap. I figure the resistance will be less of a sectarian nature and more directed directly at the American forces there.
 
I think the problem is that Libya doesn't have as much oil as Iraq. Therefore there is less incentive to go to war with Libya.
 
If Gaddafi had refused to dismantle his program i think its VERY likely tht GWB, especially with the "success" in Iraq, launches any invasion of Libya.

It will probably look look an expanded version of OTL actions against Libya with troops following in. I expect that after initial resistance the mission will be declared a success and the administration will again find every way to to turn the situation into a cluster crap. I figure the resistance will be less of a sectarian nature and more directed directly at the American forces there.

The Iraqi Insurgency was fueled directly by sectarianism, though.

Libya is 100% Sunni Muslim and the population is a lot smaller than Iraq, so I don't think it would be as big of a cluster screw.

Given that Gaddafi at least had actual WMD's it might or might not have more credibility with the world.
 
I think the problem is that Libya doesn't have as much oil as Iraq. Therefore there is less incentive to go to war with Libya.
But there's STILL oil, a much smaller population to deal with, and easier geographical access. If anything, it would be a cheaper, easier conquest.
 
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Germaniac

Donor
Libya has a history of Anti Colonial insurgency. I dont see why it wouldn't continue with an American invasion.
 
> But there's STILL oil, a much smaller population to deal with, and easier geographical access. If anything, it would be a cheaper, easier conquest.

I agree. The Italians did subdue them IRL, so a nation with much more resources such as the USA should have a similar experience
 
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