UK govt failing to learn Libya lessons, say MPs

The UK government was accused of not learning the lessons of its Libya intervention in 2011 after it flatly rejected criticisms of its strategy by a parliamentary committee.

The all-party Foreign Affairs committee said the government had failed to “work through the logic” of the evidence provided by “key figures....who suggested that decisions were not based on accurate intelligence or a full understanding”.

In its response to the committee's report, published in September, the government said it did not agree with the conclusion that “no proper analysis of the rebellion or threat posed by the Gaddafi regime was carried out”.

“Real-time and evolving military, intelligence and diplomatic assessments gave ministers an understanding of the detailed context in which to take strategic decisions, as well as identifying areas where further information was needed,” the government countered in its response.

“Throughout 2011, the intelligence assessment community produced regular all-source analysis on the unfolding situation in Libya for policy meetings.”

An international coalition led by Britain and France launched air and missile strikes against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in March 2011 after the regime threatened to attack the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

Gaddafi was deposed, but Libya then became unstabilised, creating a vacuum for so-called Islamic State to start building support. It also led to thousands of civilians crossing to Europe, worsening the refugee crisis.

Committee chairman Crispin Blunt said in a statement that the government's reluctance to accept that intelligence mistakes were made was “troubling” as it could lead to problems in future foreign policy decisions.

“The failure of the stabilisation, including an appreciation of the scale of the task, should have engendered a robust process of self-examination in government to improve future performance,” he said.

"I believe we are about to repeat the failure to have adequate plans and resources for stabilisation in Mosul (in Iraq). Libya should have taught us these lessons."