United States Intervention: The Case of Chad

TLDR: The United States' intervention in the Chadian Civil War was due to the perceived Soviet threat that would increase from the Libyan intervention in Chad while the concern in Chad was Colonel Qadhafi's Soviet-equipped Libya, the United States saw Chad as a stepping stone for further Libyan aggression as mentioned in this paper.

Abstract: : Motivation for United States intervention with military assistance in the Chadian Civil War is an intriguing question It is significant because the United States did not make this intervention until 1981, sixteen years after the Civil War began The reasons for the intervention do not seem to have much to do with Chad, but other factors did affect the United States' interests in Africa and the Middle East, and ultimately did involve Chad This thesis explores motives that may have been the reason(s) for United States intervention These motives include: (1) Libyan terrorism, destabilization policies, and expansionism; (2) Soviet expansionism and influence in the region; and (3) Chad's potential in mineral and oil reserves This study contends that the United States' intervention in the Chadian Civil War was due to the perceived Soviet threat that would increase from the Libyan intervention in Chad While the concern in Chad was Colonel Qadhafi's Soviet-equipped Libya, the United States saw Chad as a stepping stone for further Libyan aggression Truly Libyan aggression in Chad was viewed as Soviet aggression Qadhafi had to be stopped (emk)