Libya 'to give up WMD'

BBC ^ | 19/12/2003 | BBC

[Da_Shrimp]

Libya's leader Colonel Gaddafi has said his country sought to develop weapons of mass destruction capabilities but will dismantle this programme completely, Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced. "This decision is an historic one and a courageous one and I applaud it," Mr Blair said.

Colonel Gaddafi had told him the process of dismantling the programme would be "transparent and verifiable", the prime minister said in a statement from Durham Cathedral.

The range of all Libya's missiles would be restricted to "no more then 300km, he added.

Mr Blair said Britain had been engaged in talks with Libya for nine months.

"Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly cooperative manner," he said.

[NYC Republican]

Dean looks REALLY short in that picture... Rush made a comment that he can't win, if for no other reason than the fact that he's so (relatively) short... How tall is he? 5'9"?

[prairiebreeze]

Isn't it just like CNN and Blitzer? To have to get a former Clinton buttboy to discuss something this big? Never fails!!!

LOL! You're killing me today!

Prairie

[Headfulofghosts]

Libya denies funding Mauritania coup plot

TRIPOLI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Libya on Friday denied accusations by Mauritanian authorities that it funded a bid to topple the government in a plot led by a former military ruler now on trial.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry called the allegations "unfounded lies and fabrications."

In comments carried by the official Jana news agency, it said "the Libyan authorities had not given any funds to anyone and had nothing to do with what is going on in Mauritania."

Opposition leader Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla, who lost disputed elections to the incumbent president last month, is currently on trial in the capital, Nouakchott, charged with plotting with a foreign power to drag the country into war.

A Mauritanian police statement said on Thursday Haidalla's alleged plot was financed by the Libyan secret service.

Haidalla, who was detained after the November poll, denies this and says Mauritanian security forces have set him up.

Tensions had been running high in Mauritania ever since a coup shook the desert nation earlier this year.

The June 8 coup was put down after two days of street fighting in Nouakchott and marked the most serious challenge to President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya since he seized power in 1984 in the West African Islamic republic and ousted Haidalla.

Haidalla, whose trial alongside 14 opposition figures began on December 1, could face a minimum 10 to 20 years in jail and up to a lifetime of forced labour if convicted.

[Da_Shrimp]

Three cheers that Tony Blair made the announcement first....but what time is it in Britain?

Currently 23:02 as I type. It seems that President Bush started his announcement as soon as Blair finished his, but not too sure on that!

[Mr. Buzzcut]

From the DU

Judging by the often childish tone there, many of the DUers are likely in their early 20's and are no doubt getting their first look at foreign policy run by adults.

[TheBigB]

"This is all window dressing. Libya has no WMDs and never did. I know because I looked under the couch cushions in Khadaffy's castle and didn't see any."--Hans "Ignorance Is" Blix

[RS]

To all those who care -

To "cock a snook" at someone is a bit more elaborate than simply thumbing one's nose. To "cock a snook" is a classic display of derision, properly performed by spreading the fingers of one hand, touching the tip of your nose with your thumb while sighting your opponent along the tips of your other fingers (what the British sometimes call a "Queen Anne's Fan," but what we more commonly call a "five-finger salute"), and waggling your fingers in the most annoying way possible. As a gesture, it doesn't really mean anything, but it does convey utter contempt rather well. Like all fine insulting gestures, cocking a snook always goes well with a Bronx Cheer, or raspberry, as an accompaniment. Crossing your eyes while doing all this is optional but definitely enhances the overall effect. And remember, kids, practice makes perfect


... and who says the British ( besides Benny Hill ) can't be funny ?

[KriegerGeist]

"Remember when Gaddafi said earlier this year that Muslims don't need to take over by force, they can take over by massive population increases"

And it's working... in Palestine, in the U.K. and France and also in the U.S. They may even beat the Blacks and Latinos soon.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Meanwhile, my daughter is going to London to visit her boyfriend. I am cocking a snook over the exchange rate. (Cooking a sock?) I went to the bank and converted some dollars into pounds for her--it cost me a bloody fortune. Meanwhile, your countrymen are coming here to Bloomin' Bloomingdale's. Your British pounds are worth nearly twice what our dollar is, so you guys are having a 50%-off buying frenzy.

[BushisTheMan]

So if Kadafi admits he has WMD and "programs", then Blix or the U.N. wasn't aware of either, right? So, Mr. Magoo Blix and the U.N. look their usual stupid again.

[Guillermo]

Yes, I remember seeing that when I was a little kid, and dying of laughter...the last few ones were the killers...I wish I could remember what they were.

[prairiebreeze]

I suppose we call that thumbing one's nose. Cocking a snook sounds like more fun though.....sorta like "gobsmacked".

Prairie

[AmericanInTokyo]

Excellent article out today in English. I'll try to find it. It was in (South) Korea and written in English.

The (South) Korean news article basically said it is a no-brainer that KIM JONG IL,

the North Korean Chia Pet, is without a doubt shaking in his boots these days!

Because the psywar value of the images of Saddam, the fact that North Korea is one of three nations specifically mentioned by Bush (and the other Axis country just said they will have nuke inspections), Kim Jong-il's sudden/nervous visiting of various KPA units around the country, etc, show that a steady, stressful stream of urine is probably flowing down his pant legs about what President Bush and our US military may do to him.

I swear, these pathetic dictators, both present or past, Kim or Khaddafy, Mussolini or Ceaucescu, are all PAPER TIGERS.

[cars for sale]

speaking of the DU, just heard Suzanne Malveau of CNN
say she only knew five minutes prior and only an announcement from Blair And then Dubya,she asked
is is Osumma.Was told nope.

one can only guess what is next and when

don't mess with Texas and don't make a man have to
visit a boy's mom. There is hell to pay for that.

God bless Dubya and God bless America.

[KantianBurke]

Under NO circumstances should the UN or Blix be involved in these types of missions. Put Rummy in charge! :>

[TheDon]

I heard President Bush, he kept repeating that he hoped Libya would follow through on the promises made today.

[Finalapproach29er]

How about his (all)women bodyguards. I don't think that is for the femenist vote.

[Frank_Discussion]

Roger that.

[cars for sale]

not only that but with the hammer of Thor , Dubya warned again the "others" and waved Saddam's lice to prove it.

a John Wayne moment..............

[fhayek]

9 months of negotiation... the iraq war as a backdrop... Bush's posturing re 'you're all next'... i think Bush is in the process of making a case that his 'pre-emptive' stance can have positive effects with regards to using his aggressive fp to squeeze some of the iffy states around the world. It may work poorly in places like NK, but it seems to have worked well in Libya.

I take this as a DU quote. Sounds like the writer just had an epiphany. Maybe there is hope yet.