Woohoo! We're OFFICIALLY best friends with LIBYA!

[ShaneGR]

Nothing like having Qhadafi in your corner. Woot for totalinarianism!

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/09/20/libya.sanctions/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Monday signed an executive order lifting the remaining U.S. commercial sanctions against Libya after determining the African nation has met all of the U.S. requirements for eliminating its programs on weapons of mass destruction, CNN has learned.

The order goes into effect Tuesday.

In December Bush announced an agreement between the United States, Britain and Libya for Libya to give up its WMD programs in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and better relations with the international community.

Bush had promised that Libya's actions would be responded to in "good faith" by the United States.

Since then, Libya has declared all of its nuclear and chemical weapons programs and embarked on a three-phase disarmament program in which the United States and Britain removed the majority of WMD material, about 1,032 metric tons, from the country.

[Renew Deal]

1. This is a farce.

This was a setup to make Bushco look moderate. They have benn using Libya as a talking point for a while.

[Dangeresque]

2. This is a success.

We shouldn't badmouth it. Talking point or no, this is the way these problems *should* be resolved. It's along the lines of how Kerry has said he would approach these problems - why knock it?

[Renew Deal]

6. Bribing a guy who wanted to come clean?

Isn't it ironic how Libya was allowed to repent, but Iraq wasn't under Bushco?

[ohio_dem_52186]

3. Maybe Bush is Right....

Maybe Bush's strategy is do make Libya think he is unstable and will invade any country he thinks has WMD on a whim. Oh wait, that isn't his strategy, that is what he does...

This is what the State Dept. said in 2003:

"The suspension of UN sanctions provided Libya the means to enhance its nuclear infrastructure through foreign cooperation and procurement efforts."

"The suspension of UN sanctions in 1999 allowed Libya to expand its efforts to obtain ballistic missile–related equipment, materials, technology, and expertise from foreign sources."

"Following the suspension of UN sanctions, Tripoli reestablished contacts with sources of expertise, parts, and precursor chemicals abroad, primarily in Western Europe."

Maybe Libya has turned over a new leaf... This is just an example of a the President's superior diplomatic skills at work. (Well timed for the elections as well.)

[ohio_dem_52186]

4. Maybe Bush is Right....

Maybe Bush's strategy is do make Libya think he is unstable and will invade any country he thinks has WMD on a whim. Oh wait, that isn't his strategy, that is what he does...

This is what the State Dept. said in 2003:

"The suspension of UN sanctions provided Libya the means to enhance its nuclear infrastructure through foreign cooperation and procurement efforts."

"The suspension of UN sanctions in 1999 allowed Libya to expand its efforts to obtain ballistic missile–related equipment, materials, technology, and expertise from foreign sources."

"Following the suspension of UN sanctions, Tripoli reestablished contacts with sources of expertise, parts, and precursor chemicals abroad, primarily in Western Europe."

Maybe Libya has turned over a new leaf... This is just an example of a the President's superior diplomatic skills at work. (Well timed for the elections as well.)

[soothsayer]

5. Yes indeed. Yet hubris keeps us from doing same with Iraq, Cuba

The gods hate that kind of thing...!