Libya Agrees to Dismantle WMD Program

PhiPsiRuss · #1 12-19-2003, 09:26 PM

Quote:

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush (news - web sites) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) said Friday.

Bush said Libya's decision — which would open the country to international weapons inspectors — would be "of great importance" in stopping weapons of mass destruction in a global fight against terrorism.

If Libya follows through, Bush said, "its good faith can be returned." He said the United States and Britain would make sure Libya kept its word, given its "troubled history," but he added, "As we have found with other nations, old hostilities do not need to go on forever."

The Libyan news agency Jana Tripoli quoted Foreign Minister Abdel-Rahman Shalqam as saying Libyan experts had shown their U.S. and British counterparts "the substances, equipment and programs that could lead to production of internationally banned weapons." These included a "centrifuging machine and equipment to carry chemical substances."

"Libya has decided, with its own free will, to get rid of these substances, equipment and programs and would be free from all internationally banned weapons," the news agency quoted the foreign minister as saying in a statement monitored by the BBC.

Blair said Britain and the United States had been talking with Libya for nine months, after negotiating a settlement in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland that killed 270 people. Libya made the overture, hoping to resolve its weapons program "in a similarly cooperative manner," Blair said in Durham, Britain.

At the White House, Bush said the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and efforts to stop North Korea (news - web sites)'s nuclear program had sent a clear message to countries such as Libya that they must abandon weapons programs.

"In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries," Bush said. That was an apparent reference to Iran and North Korea, two other countries that the United States contends are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Without naming them, Bush added: "I hope other leaders will find an example" in Libya's action.

The U.N. Security Council ended sanctions against Libya on Sept. 12 after Gadhafi's government took responsibility for the Pan Am bombing and agreed to pay $2.7 billion to the victims' families.

But the United States has kept its own 17-year embargo in place. Washington has said Libya was actively developing biological and chemical weapons, upgrading its nuclear capabilities and seeking ballistic missiles to deliver weapons of mass destruction, working with the help of countries that sponsor terrorism.

U.S. intelligence agencies, in unclassified publications, have said Libya has developed a nuclear infrastructure, but officials have stopped short of saying the country was definitely trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

Libya was probably seeking chemical weapons and dual-use items that could be used in a biological weapons program, intelligence reports have said.

According to a recent, unclassified report to Congress, Libya's longest-range missiles were thought to be Scud-B ballistic missiles. These have a range of 186 miles. U.S. intelligence reports suggest Libya has been seeking missiles with longer ranges.

Besides dismantlement of its weapons of mass destruction, Libya stated that it wanted to limit the range of its missiles to the 186 miles, Blair said.

Libya had relied heavily on foreign assistance for its weapons programs. It had already made overtures suggesting it would slow or halt its programs to improve its international standing.

The U.S. intelligence statements on Libya's alleged weapons programs suggest efforts in that country were not as advanced as Iraq's were before the U.S.-led invasion.

Very nice. Look for Syria to do the same in the next 2 years.

Kevin · #2 12-19-2003, 10:43 PM

Bush and company are getting it done

Maybe Omar didn't like what happened to his boy Saddam?

The Democrats are running out of issues every day.

bethany1982 · #3 12-19-2003, 10:46 PM

Of course, this had nothing to do with any other current event.... LOL!

The1calledTKE · #4 12-19-2003, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
The Democrats are running out of issues every day.

That must be your favorite phrase. I must be behind the times I didn't know Libya dis-arming was an issue in the presidential election. Libya must have been mentioned in the fine print in Bush's axis of evil speech. I need to read up on the issues more I guess.

Kevin · #5 12-19-2003, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
That must be your favorite phrase. I must be behind the times I didn't know Libya dis-arming was an issue in the presidential election. Libya must have been mentioned in the fine print in Bush's axis of evil speech. I need to read up on the issues more I guess.

It was mentioned.

Yet another victory in the war on terrorism.

Libya has been on the radar for a long time.

The1calledTKE · #6 12-19-2003, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
It was mentioned.

Yet another victory in the war on terrorism.

Libya has been on the radar for a long time.

Wow I need to research where the Democrats mentioned Libya as an issue.

So Democrats are against fighting terrorism? I didn't know that either. I am suprized there hasn't been an public uprising against the Democrats since they don't support fighting terrorism.

PhiPsiRuss · #7 12-19-2003, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
Libya has been on the radar for a long time.

Since before most GC members were born.

Kevin · #8 12-19-2003, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
Wow I need to research where the Democrats mentioned Libya as an issue.

So Democrats are against fighting terrorism? I didn't know that either. I am suprized there hasn't been an public uprising against the Democrats since they don't support fighting terrorism.

Well you know.. the quagmire thing? The constant isolationist argument? The constant complaining about the Bush doctrine?

Seems pretty effective to me.

The1calledTKE · #9 12-19-2003, 11:12 PM

If I remember right the democrats were all for the fight agaisnt osama. The only thing they had a problem with was the reasons for going into Iraq and not getting world approval. But if you say because Democrats don't want to fight terrorism you can believe that if you like.

Kevin · #10 12-20-2003, 12:14 AM

Ask Howard Dean. He's ready to pack it up and go home. He's the Dem's apparent annointed one.

Let's hope that happens

McGovern Part II.

The1calledTKE · #11 12-20-2003, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ktsnake
Ask Howard Dean. He's ready to pack it up and go home. He's the Dem's apparent annointed one.

Let's hope that happens

McGovern Part II.

Actually I have watched some Dean speaches on c-span. He didn't agree with the war but since we took over the country he thinks we should stay, help rebuild but make the Iraqi's pay for most of the cost. He probably wouldn't stay there as long as Bush plans but would wait til the situation was some what stable.

Kevin · #12 12-20-2003, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The1calledTKE
Actually I have watched some Dean speaches on c-span. He didn't agree with the war but since we took over the country he thinks we should stay, help rebuild but make the Iraqi's pay for most of the cost. He probably wouldn't stay there as long as Bush plans but would wait til the situation was some what stable.

That's a 180 from the last time I paid him any attention. Originally, he was campaigning for us to leave immediately.

Okay, he has some credability now

moe.ron · #13 12-20-2003, 05:03 AM

Good job Libya. Now, I believed the US sanctions against Libya will be lifted very soon. If not lifted, then not enforced.

Rudey · #14 12-20-2003, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moe.ron
Good job Libya. Now, I believed the US sanctions against Libya will be lifted very soon. If not lifted, then not enforced.

The sanctions against Libya have been a joke for the last few years - including by the US. Only this year did they get together to discuss the formality of removing them.

-Rudey
--Funny how people forget that this man's hands are the color of blood.

moe.ron · #15 12-20-2003, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey

--Funny how people forget that this man's hands are the color of blood.

Kinda like the Shah?