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Breaking: U.S. to normalize relations with Libya

posted at 11:07 am on May 15, 2006 by Allahpundit
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My, my. This is quite a news day we’re having.

Qaddafi did, of course, dismantle his nuke program after we invaded Iraq. And yet, here’s the State Department’s official list of state sponsors of terror. Has something changed in the past six weeks that I’m not aware of?

Here’s a fun conversation-starter for the new U.S. ambassador to Tripoli.

Update: The AP answers my question about the list.

Removing Libya from the list of countries the United States considers to be state sponsors of terrorism means a 45-day public comment period will begin on Monday, after which Libya would be removed from the list. The official described the plans on condition of anonymity because the official announcement was still pending.

A public comment period would be the perfect time to apply some indirect pressure over Libya’s support for Hamas. I’ll try to track down the State Dept. contact information.

The AP goes on to say it’s all about oiiiilllll, and this time, they’re probably right.

Update: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross at the Counterterrorism Blog identifies the previous obstacles to normalization and decides two out of three ain’t bad.

Update: Here’s the transcript of Condi Rice’s announcement. “We are taking these actions in recognition of Libya’s continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States and other members of the international community in response to common global threats faced by the civilized world since September 11, 2001.”

Update: In what must be a first, Debbie Schlussel agrees with the AP: it’s all about oil and not about renouncing terrorism, which Libya’s never done.


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This is why I support Bush, despite all of the other ways he has disappointed.

When it comes to foreign policy, I don’t agree with everything he does, but he has guts. And he leads. And if necessary, he fights.

BTW, as far as the list at the State Dept. not being updated? Honestly, I wouldn’t read too much into that. The Federal Government is a big mess of red tape and inefficiency. I can’t provide exact dates (sorry) but I know that well after we liberated Iraq, that same list had Iraq up as a terrorism sponser. That drove me nuts for quite a while. But after months of delay, it looks like they finally removed Iraq from the list.

So I figure after a couple of months, news of this will finally filter down to the appropriate people and the necessary studies and memos and briefings and counter-briefings and what not will be accomplished, and the list will be updated.

EFG on May 15, 2006 at 11:20 AM

If the State Department has proof that Libya is no longer a state sponsor of terror; then normalization of relations should begin. Libya should have alot of “proving” to do.

I will concede however what “EFG” wrote above about acceptable delays in the list being updated; which is most likely the case.

Cary on May 15, 2006 at 11:37 AM

It’s about oil, is it? Will there be blood for this oil? I mean I’m good either way… I’m just looking out for the protest sign makers.

Hoodlumman on May 15, 2006 at 12:08 PM

Just like A bully on the street you never ever back down, you stand up to A bully and he will fall apart, and just like A bully on the street Qaddafi fell apart. Presdident Bush must handle the leaders of Iran the same way as Reagen did with Qaddafi. Step on them, and step on them hard.

birdman on May 15, 2006 at 12:31 PM

Nixon to China, Bush to Libya. I’m inclined to trust him here.

see-dubya on May 15, 2006 at 2:01 PM

So, you can with us and with the terrorists, as well.

Bush: He was against the terrorists, before he was for them.

tommy1 on May 15, 2006 at 2:53 PM

No, boys and girls…This has NOTHING to do with the fact Saddam Hussein is watching his hair grow in the kind of cell he used to put people in.

Not much.

Maybe you CAN teach an old dog new tricks…Or at least get him to stop soiling the carpet. With Qaddafi that’s not a bad start. Even if we can’t really depend on him to pick up the vacuum and aid in cleaning up other messes, at least he won’t be adding to them. With the potential to cause chaos we’d once assigned to him, that’s better than break-even.

52Ranger on May 15, 2006 at 3:24 PM

I guess all the left wing liberals that have supported this nut will be reassured now. Do the family members of the dead that were killed over Lockerbie now feel vindicated??

gary on May 15, 2006 at 5:07 PM

45 day public comment period? Starting Monday?
I dont think this will be getting much ink or comments with what’s already on the dinner table. Why now?

shooter on May 15, 2006 at 7:40 PM

Hey, if we can turn yet another enemy into an ally in this war, and without firing a shot this time, then I’m all for it. I’d also like to see us flip Iran from within. That would just leave Syria and some fictional country called “Palistine” as our (nation-state) enemies.

When K’Daffy saw his buddy Saddam get pulled outta his rat hole he said “Ya want MY chemical weapons? Fine! Here they are! Please, take ‘em!” We sent them to an Army base in TN where they were destroyed.

It’s still kinda hard to trust him though, so let’s keep an eye on him.

Condi ‘08!

Tony737 on May 15, 2006 at 11:41 PM

If we are to never want to become friends with “bad” countries who become good, what’s the point? If Libya is no longer a bad country, hooray. I don’t expect the US and Libya to bowl together, but I’m ok with being in the same bowling alley.

As for Libya supporting Hamas, who in the Arab world doesn’t? (Jordan, maybe, and is Fatah really a better alternative?) Since everyone in the world except the US hates Israel with a passion anyway (Turkey is tepid), I fault in the general Libya supporting Hamas but do not hold it against them on this particular issue.

hadsil on May 16, 2006 at 1:57 AM

Kaddafi’s Bulgarian nurse hostages will be relieved to learn the Libyan rapists and torturers who imposed by their death sentences at least aren’t terrorists anymore.
http://beautifulatrocities.com/archives/2005/04/gaddafi_the_vas_1.html

And the hundreds of victims of IRA terror will be relieved to learn their civil cases against Libya have been predjudiced by this “rehabilation” farce.
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=690926

On the bright side, this action might qualify as a new Bush alternative energy project. Now we can hook electrical generators to the spinning coffins of the 189 Americans mass murdered at Lockerbie– and marginally reduce our energy dependence on Libyan oil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103

Take a moment to look at the sculptures of American mothers of Pan Am 103 victims capture (by Suse Lowenstein, mother of victim, Alexander) postured in that moment each mother learned of their child’s murder. Then, ask yourself if this was a proper thing to do the weekend after Mother’s Day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shortcake26/43627663/in/photostream/

Or just take a minute to read about one (1!) of the American victims: Karen Lee Hunt (20, Syracuse student)
http://dynrec.com/karenleehunt/

As long as Kaddafi rules, there will NEVER come a time when it is just to remove Libya from our terrorism list. Invocation of the Noreiga doctrine is past overdue.

I am absolutely sickened by this news.

Terp Mole on May 16, 2006 at 4:17 PM

This is the same Libya that recently plotted to assassinate the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Now that we’ve sentenced Kaddafi’s money man (Alamoudi) to 23 years in prison, his co-conspirators get a free pass?
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=13187&only

Terp Mole on May 16, 2006 at 4:22 PM

Have we forgotten?
http://web.syr.edu/~vpaf103/disaster.htm

Terp Mole on May 16, 2006 at 4:23 PM

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL has prominently displayed on today’s Editorial Page a long report by Ms. Judith Martin, formerly of THE NEW YORK TIMES, concerning the processes that induced His Supreme Daffiness Of Libya to begin to behave properly within The Concert Of Nations. Some portions of this Essay may even be factual. Certainly the TIMING of this “scoop” is fortuitous. (Mr. Robert Bartley is sorely missed.)

Waumpuscat on May 16, 2006 at 9:10 PM

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