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.

[Finalapproach29er]

Some dictionary guy was asked about this and said either pronunciation (nuclear) is acceptable.

[ChadGore]

According to Coward Dean, soialist dictators with WMDs aren't a threat to anyone . . . right ? ROFL !!

[deport]

Excellent news. The Stealth President strikes again!!

---

The B/B Effect

B/B = Bush/Blair

[jackbill]

becasue it validates Bush's strategery and makes the Rats look like idiots.

Everything that happens makes the RATs look like idiots. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Makes no difference.

[chiller]

I've got to know you've got a stick and will use it before I decide on the carrott.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Perhaps they should stop "making noises" and start making tracks over there.

[NYC Republican]

On the bright side, Dean will need a relatively small spider hole.

LOL!

[CasearianDaoist]

Without a doubt! The US will never forget the British courage in our hour of need.

[GraniteStateConservative]

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

I think that is very much English!!!! Check his home page!

I had. My tongue was firmly in my cheek.

[FreedomPoster]

Nice. A good link:

NATIONAL DEFENSE - LIBYA
http://www.ronaldreagan.com/libya.html

[mylife]

Maybe we could sit back and take a breather while we let our friends in Israel take care of these 2 pests. :)

Isreal is making noises that they will take care of Iran.

Also We have many countries monitoring shpping raffict on the high seas to try to contain Kimmy shipping weapons to terrorists.

[livius]

I think probably other Coalition members were involved, too. Aznar of Spain has spent considerable time visiting Khadaffi and chatting him up in the last month or so. Everybody in Spain wondered why he was doing this...I guess now we have our answer.

[little jeremiah]

I heard he's 5'6".

[July 4th]

Oh, DAMN! Does today get any better? The DOJ just confirmed that the new redistricting lines in Texas do not violate the Voting Rights Act! Potentially 7 more Republican seats in the House!

[BJClinton]

No kidding. And your post on Kim Il Jong is spot on and hilarious.

Since nobody has posted the BBC article:

Libya to give up WMD

Tony Blair applauded the move

Libya's leader Colonel Gaddafi has said his country sought to develop weapons of mass destruction capabilities but will dismantle this programme completely.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the decision and called it "an historic one and a courageous one and I applaud it".

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.

The US and its allies have long suspected that Libya had secret chemical and bio-weapons programmes, however Libya always denied such allegations saying it had only facilities for pharmaceutical or agricultural research.

Gaddafi's government took responsibility for the Lockerbie bomb

In 1995 the country reportedly reopened its Rabta phramaceutical plant, at Qabilat az Zaribah, which prior to its 1990 closure had produced up to 100 tons of chemical weapons.

But chemical weapon production at Libya's undergorund Tarhuna facility is thought to have been suspended following intense public scrutiny.

US President George Bush said Colonel Gaddafi had agreed "immediately and unconditionally" that international weapons inspectors could enter Libya.

"Colonel Gaddafi's's commitment, once fulfiled, will make our country more safe and our world more peaceful," President Bush said.

"Leaders who abandon the pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the US and other nations."

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.

The decision entitled Libya to rejoin the international community, Mr Blair said.

Colonel Gadaffi's decision would "make the region and the world more secure", Mr Blair said.

"It shows that problems of proliferation can, with good will, be tackled through discussion and engagement, to be followed up by the responsible international agencies.

"It demonstrates that countries can abandon programmes voluntarily and peacefully.

BBC world affairs editor John Simpson said Libya had not been at the centre of the war on terror.

But it had always been regarded as a "friend of terrorists" and had, for example, helped the IRA in the 1970s.

Simpson suggested that Colonel Gaddafi had been heavily influenced by a visit from Nelson Mandela, at a time when he was shunned by the rest of the world.

[cajungirl]

I love the Brits!! You guys are our best friends and I appreciate you more than you know!!!!!! And Aussies too. Those Canadiens, well, I don't know about them anymore.

[NYC GOP Chick]

But, but...the 'rats say that Bush isn't doing anything to protect us!

[ChadGore]

[prairiebreeze]

Britain most CERTAINLY helped. In many many ways. And America is grateful for such good friends. I've changed my tagline, just for you.

Prairie