What About These Bombers?

The Soviet Union is in the process of selling Libya as many as 15 advanced Su-24D jet bombers, a plane which has sufficient range to reach Israel, neighboring North African countries or southern Europe. The Soviets are also converting a Libyan transport so that it can refuel the bombers in flight, thus extending their radius by as much as 50%. American officials say they are puzzled by these actions. Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev likes to talk about his interest in damping down regional conflicts; he did so again during his visit to Cuba this week. Now he is discovered supplying long-range weapons to a country whose emotionally unstable leader believes he has a messianic mission to meddle in the affairs of other countries. That does not exactly suggest an effort to alleviate regional tensions.

The Su-24D is an all-weather plane capable of flying at twice the speed of sound and carrying up to 12 tons of weapons. It has a very accurate bomb delivery system. Libya has lately been detected building a chemical weapons plant, with consider able help from West German and other foreign companies. Against that background, the introduction of the bomber into its arsenal raises particularly disturbing questions.

A Soviet foreign ministry spokesman says his country is entitled to provide for the defensive needs of friendly and allied states. But the Su-24D is unmistakably an offensive weapon, and the threat it presents is considerably enhanced by an in-flight refueling system. William H. Webster, the director of Central Intelligence, told Congress a few weeks ago that if Libya was able to extend the range of its bombers, it could alter the Middle East power balance. The Su-24D gives every sign of being an invitation to trouble, quite possibly not least for Libya itself. What led the Soviets to make the planes available? The question is one Gorbachev refused to answer in his talks in London with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Secretary of State James A. Baker III plans to see Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze next month. Perhaps he will have better luck.