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.

[Grampa Dave]

This a great example of how to use the word, "flummox"

Strategery: The science and art of using all the forces of a nation to execute approved plans as effectively as possible during peace or war while simultaneously allowing the enemy to "flummox" himself.

[Miss Marple]

You know, it occurs to me that no one has been paying attention to Venezuela, either. I wonder what's going on there.

[jackbill]

Believe me it is a Southwest Thing. I have been kidded about that until GW pronounced it the same way.

But how do you explain Carter, whose closest approach to the southwest was walking the southwest 40 acres of his peanut farm in Plains, GA?

[NutCrackerBoy]

As this plays out, the contrast between Momar Qaddafi's cooperative destruction and Saddam Hussein's deceptions will be there for all to see.

But will Momar play shortstop for the Red Sox next season?

[petercooper]

kadafi is a scaredy cat

[Catalonia]

Speaking of Baghdad Bob, what's he up to these days? I was really hoping he would do a commercial spot in the Super Bowl.

Yeah, I wish somebody would post a list of Baghdad Bobisms. Those were a kick!

[Grampa Dave]

The ChiComs may announce that Chia Head had a severe health problem and is no longer with us. Then, they will introduce to the world a new leader.

[proud American in Canada]

"Good on W to let Tony take the first bow."

Yep... Tony probably needs that, at home. I don't know about the recent polls but he did take some heat recently for his position on Iraq.

Thank you, Tony Blair!

(btw I sent him a thank you email last spring. I wonder if his office got flooded with people thanking him for his steadfast support. I sure hope so.)

[Da_Shrimp]

kadafi is a scaredy cat

Oh, I dunno. He's been making concillatory noises for a while now. He is by no means a fundmental Muslim and I think what he's seen of it scares him.

[proud American in Canada]

"Not bad for a stupid, dumb COWBOY!! GIV'EM HELL W!!!"

LOL! So very true... That comment deserves a bump! :)

not that this thread needs a bump, btw... ;)

[lepton]

Sandy Berger says Libya has more chemical and biological weapons than nuclear.

Libya has used chem weapons before too. Though the ones they used against Chad in 1986 were likely supplied by Iran, they subsequently built their own production facilities.

[sarasmom]

"True enough, but as a proud Brit, I'd like to think we helped! The Libyans came to us, too, in connection with Lockerbie"

Ya'll did.Help, I mean.
Thank you.
Its just that EU thingy - bastardised French/German version of the USA- that causes some concern and confusion here.But hey, do whatever you want to over there,you are all semi-free nations.
But as long as the rabid, vicsious anti USA/Bush bashing continues at current levels, I will view your country with rather cynical eyes. Much as I view liberal Democrats in my own country.(but not quite as bad as the French)
Perhaps not a declared enemy, but certainly not trustworthy, and never turn your back to them.
Exceptions tend to prove the rule, like Zell Miller.

[Grampa Dave]

You are welcome, as our friend and ally!

[Callahan]

The DUers, via the BBC, are saying thta Nelson Mandela deserves all the credit here. I guess that's gonna be Dean's line. Too funny.

[chiller]

from DU;...couldn't we have done the same with Saddam, and let the inspector continue. This is not good news for Bush. JMO...

This is already some of the spin. I heard it from one of the net radio reporters...not sure which. The logic is full of holes. For starter it completely ignores the pressure applied by capturing Saddam.

[The Electrician]

The point of my post was that a LOT of folks DON'T pronounce it right.

According to the online Merriam Webster Dictionary, both your pronounciation and President Bush's pronounciation are acceptable. They even have a little speaker icon that you can click on and hear it pronounced each way.

[wizardoz]

imagine how they will act if GWB secretly has Kim on ice somewhere.

Dictators On Ice! I LOVE that show!

[Grampa Dave]

Krazy Kaddaffi says, "I'm krazy, but not stupid like the $oddomite and the long gone Benny Laden!"

[TheConservator]

My two cents worth of speculation:

Looking on the dark side, this could be a preemptive announcement. Consider the following scenario:

1. Khaddafi has, in the past, supplied WMD to Al Qaeda;

2. Khaddafi knows or strongly suspects an attack using said WMD is planned (see related threads on that issue);

3. Khaddafi, having seen recent events in Iraq, now realizes what we will do in the event such an attack occurs and the WMD are traced back to him;

4. Khaddafi has now declared that he will "give up" all WMD in an effort to preempt any American response directed at him if/when the Al Qaeda attack occurs.

A pessimist's scenario, to be sure. But it is the only one I have thought of that is consistent with what historically has been Khaddifi's character and modus operandi.

[proud American in Canada]

"He's been making concillatory noises for a while now. "

That's what my husband said--he wants to be leader of some pan-African free trade organization?

Let me do some research on this.

Anyway, thanks to Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush for this... Men who mean what they say when it comes to protecting the interests/security of America.