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| Africa North |
| 'New chapter' of US-Libya relations opened |
| 2008-09-06 |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Libya on Friday for a landmark meeting with its leader Moamer Kadhafi as she hailed the West's reconciliation with the long-ostracized nation. Rice landed in Tripoli on the first leg of a tour of north African states, becoming the first US secretary of state to visit in more than half a century. "Quite frankly I never thought I would be visiting Libya so it is quite something," Rice told reporters travelling with her. "It is a beginning, it is an opening, it is not, I think, the end of the story." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Sometimes geography forces you to deal with nutbags. We would not deal with him, Hosni, et al, unless we have no other viable alternatives. Like we say in the logistics business in Alaska, you don't charter Hercs unless you have to, heh. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-09-06 22:20 |
| #5 I remain skeptical. You don't get to dance if you don't ask the the girl. Egypt has too much potential to fall a part when Hosni does. We need to make as many "friends" in that neighborhood as we can. Trust, but verify. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-09-06 10:36 |
| #4 Not a change of heart, but discretion is the better part of valor. Kadaffy's potential allies are far away and Uncle Sam's enforcers are very mobile and quite pissed off these past 6 years. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-09-06 10:33 |
| #3 Moamer Kadhafi is a bit of a wacko, but seems to be able to actually understand the concept of cause>effect that is so lacking in the Arab world. I think Mr. Kadhafi has grasped the idea he can live long and die peacefully in his bed many many years from now. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-09-06 09:51 |
| #2 Great assessment OS, but I remain skeptical. I hope you are correct. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-09-06 07:43 |
| #1 SHe is trying to bring Libay to link to the west and allow operatiosn against islamic radicals. Khadaffi has realized this is in his best interests, not to mention he has realized the US is far better as a friend than an enemy. The aid and such are in place to tie them to the west, mcuh like Morocco, who allows (and sometimes joint ops or assists) western special ops to operate against Islamist radicals. If this gets Libya off the WMD completely, orients them toward the west, ties their future into Italy France & Spain with US trade (and Libyan oil), and allows some ops, then this is a huge win. Wheelus may open again some day! ;-) |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-09-06 00:29 |