IAEA stakes its claim in Libya despite US opposition

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

VIENNA : The UN atomic watchdog has staked its claim in Libya by sending inspection teams to take stock of Tripoli's nuclear sites, provoking sharp US criticism in the latest battle between the world body and Washington.

Six inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) returned to Vienna on Thursday after their first mission to Libya. A spokesman reported that they had enjoyed "active and full cooperation from Libyan authorities".
"In the past two weeks we have acquired considerable information and understanding of the history, scope, and development of Libya's nuclear programme," the IAEA's Mark Gwozdecky told AFP.

The inspectors landed in Tripoli eight days after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on December 19 renounced any quest for weapons of mass destruction after nine months of secret talks with the United States and Britain.

In a surprise move, IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei travelled with them and met with Gaddafi.

more: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/64584/1/.html

[Sterling]

1. Why are "we" opposed to this?

nt

[montanacowboy]

2. Because we aren't running the show

you know, it's all about us all the time...besides, if IAEA is in their with their teams, we can't lie about it - God we just hate those inspectors!

[jamesinca]

7. This is why

"Senior U.S. officials have said that will be carried out by a team of American and British experts and suggested the IAEA was poorly informed about the extent of Libya's nuclear activities. One diplomat said ElBaradei was infuriated by "potshots" directed at him and attributed in the U.S. media to unnamed senior administration officials.

Over the past year, the Egyptian law professor also has been the target of U.S. accusations that he minimized the nuclear weapons threats from Iraq under Saddam Hussein and from Iran. The United States maintained that both nations were trying to build atomic bombs, which the IAEA disputed. "

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-nuclear-agency-libya-us,0,2443636.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

-----------------------------------------------------------------

If the IAEA looks weak or incompetant then it is easier to justify the war in Iraq. If the IAEA gets credit for calling it right, then the U.S. administration has to admit a credibility problem with its claims about Iraq. As of now, they have yet to admit a credibility problem. The same with France, Germany, Russia, China and the U.N.
That is the game I think this current administration is playing here.

[Zhade]

11. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Who do they think they're fooling?

... and suggested the IAEA was poorly informed about the extent of Libya's nuclear activities.

So the INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY - whose job is to know this stuff - is less qualified than our own people?

Please. If it weren't for the compliant media and overall stupidity of so many Americans, these guys wouldn't be able to sell ice water in Tahiti!

[jamesinca]

13. that I think is the game they are running

This administration can not give the IAEA or anybody any credit, because they all disagree with this administration. So to give any of them any respect will possibly open the door to the lies we have been told by this administration. On 3/7/03 the Reuters news service posted a story about the WMD in Iraq, specifically nuclear ones with quotes from the IAEA and Mr. El-Baradi. They said Nuclear WMD in Iraq was a bunch of BS. The meeting in the Azores happened 5 days later and 13 days later we were at war with Iraq. The administration gave no time for the lie to be exposed by weapons inspectors or any credit to be given to the story because the country was at war. This is part of the CYA by the administration. Busier than a bunch of cats in the litter box covering up this crap.

[alcuno]

3. Remember the early spin? "Libya's nuclear program was more advanced

than had been earlier thought," so said "administration officials." Not true, said El Baradei. It is very primitive. They want to make it look like Libya had serious WMD's so they would look better for bringing them around to "our" way of thinking.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. * thought someone meant IKEA, and he was pissed that they

would sell furniture to Quadaffi

[alcuno]

8. Did you think of that by yourself?

Late Night material.

[pinto]

4. Powell / el Baradei call mentioned (AP)

Powell, U.N. Discuss Libya Nuke Program

VIENNA, Austria -- Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken with the chief U.N. nuclear inspector about resolving differences with Washington over who should lead the effort to scrap Libya's nascent atomic weapons program, diplomats said Friday.

The diplomats told The Associated Press that Powell's recent telephone conversation with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei focused on tensions over Libya between the IAEA and U.S. administration officials already unhappy with the agency's stance on Iraq and Iran.

At issue is whether the IAEA or Washington should police the destruction of Libya's nuclear arms program, which Tripoli disclosed publicly last month.

<snip>

Senior U.S. officials have said that will be carried out by a team of American and British experts and suggested the IAEA was poorly informed about the extent of Libya's nuclear activities. One diplomat said ElBaradei was infuriated by "potshots" directed at him and attributed in the U.S. media to unnamed senior administration officials.

Over the past year, the Egyptian law professor also has been the target of U.S. accusations that he minimized the nuclear weapons threats from Iraq under Saddam Hussein and from Iran. The United States maintained that both nations were trying to build atomic bombs, which the IAEA disputed.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-nuclear-agency-libya-us,0,2443636.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[MisterP]

6. lemme guess, the Chimp won't want the IAEA in until

"it gets its accuracy back." It's something he'd say!

[Zhade]

12. Remember - the IAEA blew the whistle on the forged Niger documents.

NOW who's poorly informed, BushCo? Hmmmm?

Assholes. Lying, murdering, traitorous assholes.

[uhhuh]

9. I can't believe that the U.S. Govt.

Expects the nations of the world to ask permission to do anything. The U.N. has the IAEA for this specific purpose. There is nothing that says the U.S/U.K. can't sent investigators too. THey might learn something from the IAEA on how to conduct these kind of inspections.
What arrogance!!! Again!!

[0007]

16. Who taught who how to cook the books? The U.S. got caught and are pissed!

[Zhade]

10. *Ahem* Hey, BushCo? FUCK YOU.

I love it when the traitors get fucked over. I LOVE IT.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Can't believe Bolton's grimey name surfaces here

(snip) The New York Times on Friday quoted a senior US official who called ElBaradei's visit "a 'badly advised' public relations exercise at a time when the United States Central Intelligence Agency and Britain's MI6 spy agency were developing strong bonds with Libya's military and intelligence chiefs."

He added that ElBaradei "has (only) got a minuscule percentage of the knowledge" about the full assortment of Libya's illicit weapons programs, therefore "he has a role, but only with the technical aspects" of verifying the dismantling of the Libyan nuclear programme.

According to the US state department, under secretary of state John Bolton was due to travel to London in the near future for talks on verifying Libya's claims. (snip)

BOLTON? A true monster. He only brings lies, conflict and alienation. What a bastard.

[0007]

15. The U.S. didn't like what the IAEA found, 'eh?

'Tis hard to spin junior as a hero now, is it?

Mohamed ElBaradei is on the U.S. shit list and Colin Powell's words raise high in the sky with just the U.S. cabal.

The funniest thing I ever saw, was Gaddafi's new website right after the Brits & the U.S. announced Libya was gonna go straight. It was pulled after staying up for about two days.

[0007]

17. I failed to mention in my above post about Gaddafi's website,

that I hope most of you all got the privileged to see, then you'd know what I mean when I say that it appeared that Gaddafi and Mother Teresa spent much time together and danced many dances.