Bush administration opens door to full relations with Libya

[sabra]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050822-1116-us-libya.html

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration on Monday suggested Libya could expect long-sought diplomatic recognition from the United States if it cleaned up its record on human rights and terrorism.

U.S. officials gave no indication that an embassy would be opened in Tripoli within days, as Seif Al-Islam Gadhafi, son of the country's leader, Moammar Gadhafi, said in the Libyan capital.

But the trend clearly pointed in that direction. "If they continue to make progress along the pathway that we have laid out, we, again, will meet their acts of good faith in return," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

In March, the administration notified Congress it planned to establish full relations with the once outcast government by the end of the year, despite suspicions in Saudi Arabia that Libyan agents plotted to try to assassinate then-Crown Prince Abdullah in late 2003.

[TwilightZone]

1. Well, why not? We already have relations with Saudi Arabia, and they're

probably worse.

Unbelievable.

[Moderator]

2. kick n/t

[rayofreason]

3. U.S. considers full diplomatic ties with Libya

The United States could restore full diplomatic ties with Libya if Tripoli addresses concerns over democracy and human rights, the U.S. State Department said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=9429

[Drum]

4. yeah yeah

but what about the oil?? you know someone's pushing for this as a consolation prize or a leverage point. yesterday's enemies and yesterday's friends, the wheel goes round and around.

[rayofreason]

7. Oil?

Don't know about the oil. Libya sells most of its oil to Europe, with Italy the number 1 customer.

What got my attention was "In an attempt to show that Libya is improving its human rights record, Seif al-Islam, son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, said that Tripoli will release 131 political prisoners over the next few days."

If true, it is a good thing.

[Warren Stupidity]

5. sweet libyan crude

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Libyan_oil_industry

About that Pan Am flight: all is forgiven.

[Robb]

6. Robbstrodamus strikes again:

...I'm getting creepy about this stuff. Check out my hair-brained thread from December 2003.

Just a few more pieces in the puzzle ... :wow:

[NYC]

8. Yes, Robbstrodamus. You predicted the future.

December 19, 2003. Well done.

[Skink]

10. We might need allies once the credit runs out....

be wevy careful.

[CoffeeCat]

11. Can you pick some lottery numbers for me?

Do you have a crystal ball?

If so, I hope you see something positive--like maybe Fitzgerald stringing up the neocon asshats by their pitards.

Great call you had in 2003. Very insightful.

[CoffeeCat]

9. Oh great...

I smell several rats.

So, what did the US propose to Lybia, and what did Lybia agree to do, to assist the neocons?

With each new bit of news--comes one more shiver up my spine.

[Sgent]

12. The Pan-Am

flight is ancient history. Libya met the demands of the UK and the US for reparations of multiple billions, turned over the bombers for prosecution, and has cleaned up its act esp. in the last 5 years or so.

Take it one step at a time, but if we can open up relations with Vietnam, Libya is easy.