Gadhafi Urges Nations to OK Inspections

The Guardian (UK) ^ | December 23, 2003 | The Associated Press

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is urging other nations to follow his lead and allow international inspections for weapons of mass destruction.

``In my opinion they should follow the steps, or take the example of Libya, so that they prevent any tragedy from being inflicted on their peoples,'' Gadhafi told CNN in an interview broadcast Monday.

The interview came after Gadhafi's government agreed Friday to dispose of its weapons of mass destruction and open the door for inspections. Libya will tell the United Nations nuclear watchdog about current nuclear programs, adhere to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and sign an additional protocol to allow wide-ranging inspections on short notice.

In the interview, Gadhafi didn't refer to any other Muslim nations but he said such openness would put pressure on Israel to reveal its nuclear capabilities. Israel is the only Mideast nation believed to posses nuclear arms.

``This would tighten the noose around the Israelis so that they would expose their programs and their weapons of mass destruction,'' he said.

Libya imported centrifuges for uranium enrichment and admitted that it was seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction, but has stopped short of an enrichment program.

Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he could make his trip Libya sometime next week. He has said that much of Libya's technology came from abroad, but declined to say whether there was a common source for Libya, Iran or prewar Iraq - or whether the three nations exchanged equipment and expertise.

On Iraq, Gadhafi objected to the way ousted leader Saddam Hussein was shown on television after his capture.

``Irrespective of who is with Saddam or who is against Saddam, the way he was shown, the way he appeared made everybody sympathize with him,'' he said. ``I said that to (British prime minister Tony) Blair.''

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Kha-daffy had a moment of clarity after seeing his idol Saddam pulled out of a hole in the ground looking like the flea-bitten skid row bum that he has become.

[RandallFlagg]

``This would tighten the noose around the Israelis so that they would expose their programs and their weapons of mass destruction,'' he said.

And the fact that Israel is surrounded by nations bent on her destruction exposes the reason WHY the need for Israel's needed ability of self-defense.

[tbpiper]

Of all the countries in the Middle East, at least the Israelis are civilized.

[drypowder]

``In my opinion they should follow the steps, or take the example of Libya, so that they prevent any tragedy from being inflicted on their peoples,''

Translates to: I like being the King and I want to keep my job.