Bad company: Qaddafi’s dream of Arab unity brought him into close relations with Syria, Algeria, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), all of which rejected peaceful efforts to negotiate with Israel. During a turbulent 1970s and 1980s, Qaddafi was accused of financing terrorist operations that culminated in the La Belle nightclub bombing in Germany, a popular spot for U.S. soldiers in the region. In 1989, France accused Libya of involvement in bringing down a flight carrying French nationals from Brazzaville, Congo, to N’Djamena, Chad. Above, Qaddafi is seated with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid, and PLO leader Yasir Arafat in 1989.