Posted on 01/28/2009 1:09:15 PM PST by forkinsocket
In recent days, Washington has experienced a media blitz by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, including an op-ed in the New York Times and his first US videoconference in months. In the wake of the Obama transition, the "Guide of the Revolution" is reaching out to the new administration, using his stance towards Israel as the bait. Libyan, Israeli and American relations form a fateful mix, with Libyan-Israeli relations seeing an improvement as a result of US-Libyan rapprochement. Despite some positive developments, the nature of Libya's moves towards Israel suggests the limits of the transformative power of engagement.
Libyan-Israeli relations have clearly seen a shift. Under Gaddafi, Libya has been among the staunchest enemies of Israel – in action and in rhetoric. Inspired by Nasser, Gaddafi long viewed Israel as an imperialist implant in the Arab world that must be destroyed through collective Arab action. According to the Libyan leader, the objective would be "the return of the Jews of Europe to the countries whence they came". Yet now, the man who once sponsored the Munich massacres, provided shelter to terrorists such as Abu Nidal and broke off relations with Arafat because the latter was too moderate, has jettisoned his commitment to armed struggle.
These days, Gaddafi is promoting a grand vision that no longer focuses on an armed struggle. This plan, first revealed in his 2002 White Book, proposes the integration of the two entities into one state, a solution he pithily dubs "Isratine". This, according to the Colonel, is necessitated by Israel's size, security needs and the demands of the Palestinian refugees. In his editorial, seemingly oblivious to the connotations, he described Isratine as the "final solution" for the region.
That this apparent change in emphasis coincided with Libya's attempts to reconcile with the US is no coincidence.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
FReepMail to be added or removed from this pro-Israel/Judaic/Russian Jewry ping list.
Ahhh, Gaddafi just needs another Reagan “bomb-a-gram” again to shut him up.
Drop them on Qaddifi by parachute.
BTW, despite its vast supply of the highest quality sweet crude in the world, and the consequent billions in foreign exchange, Libya remains an absolute flyhole that makes even it's shabby neighbors look like Monaco and Beverly Hills in comparison.
The only civilized amenities and handy infrastructure seem left over from the Italian Colonial period. Apparently, even with unlimited funds, Libyans cannot accomplish much without European supervision, except of course, terror.
These days, Gaddafi is promoting a grand vision that no longer focuses on an armed struggle. This plan, first revealed in his 2002 White Book, proposes the integration of the two entities into one state, a solution he pithily dubs "Isratine". This, according to the Colonel, is necessitated by Israel's size, security needs and the demands of the Palestinian refugees. In his editorial, seemingly oblivious to the connotations, he described Isratine as the "final solution" for the region.
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