quote:Libya sought on Saturday to shed its pariah status, meeting with U.N. nuclear inspectors after a surprise announcement that it was abandoning efforts to build an atomic bomb and other banned weapons.
As the United States and Britain promised rewards, Tripoli acted swiftly to prove its commitment to the world at large. A top Libyan official met the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog to discuss its proposals to eliminate weapons of mass destruction.
So, anybody wanna try and say that this breakthrough is NOT the direct result of US/UK actions in the Middle East, especially Iraq?
Ah, the law of Totally Intended Consequences, how sweet it is.
Edited by Tom because misspellings in thread titles get his goat. Library-gods really should know better.
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Well, the Democrats will surely say this is somehow a result of Bush "botching" our foerign affairs.
While I certainly have many gripes with th current administration, I doubt this would have happened under a Gore presidentcy.
This sure flies in the face of Dean's "We're no safer now than before 9/11" speach he's been ambling on with...
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Ah, but Lybia wasn't a potential threat either.
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This is like the story of two politicians who hate each other and never vote for the same piece of legislation no matter what. So, politician number one proposes a resolution in support of motherhood and apple pie just to get the other guy to either vote for something he proposed or to go on record against mothers and pie.
It�s a good thing.
Yay for Mr. Bush.
Thing is, that Lybia has wanted back into the community of nations for some time. Didn�t they, in fact, a little while ago give up the Lockerbie bombers for trial? And as I recall, they offered recompense to the families of the bombing? So, it�s probably not so much a case of �Iraq scared them,� as it is sanctions and diplomacy working.
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So, basically, this proves that the US is now officially considered "scary" and "likely to blow us up if we don't kiss their ass" by other countries.
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Well, countries that have sponsored terrorism and build WMD at least. It's not like we're monsters that our neighbors are afraid of. Terrorism could occur in either of our neighboring countries, and it's not as if they have nothing to hide:
I dont see Canada owning up to their...uh....beer?.. I'm sure they're shady somehow Fuck. I really cant say anything bad about Canada except Rush hasnt put out a decent album in a loooong time.
It's not like Mexico is terrified enough to admit that they need a entire economic reset from the world every other decade just to stay afloat.
While I'm on the soapbox: France. Fuck them. I cant say that enough. We need France in our corner in the same way the Professor needed Gilligan on that island.
Our direct neighbors could give a fuck about what goes on overseas as long as it doesnt affect their pocketbooks (oil) or stir up the international community's sabre rattling. Canada will send support if the everyone else does, Mexico...er....they'll send moral support or piniata's....something.
At least Spain's on our side! The last time I heard anything about Spain's military, it turned out I was watching Horatio Hornblower. Spain's president did, this week, visit the troops in a suprise visit to increase morale. No shit. Really.
Britan: We love Tony Blair! Stand him up next to your last three Prime Ministers and he comes across as James-fucking-Bond. CHrist, our president is a monkey in a suit nad you've got James Bond. .....and everybody likes James Bond. Except the Russians. And the French. And the Cubans. And North Korea. And China. And the Arabs. Did James Bond ever piss off Mexico? I cant be sure but I think Jaws was Mexican.... Sothat why the world is opposed to the war in Iraq: they hate James Bond.
Sometimes I just feeel like ranting. GO figure.
[ December 20, 2003, 11:46 PM: Message edited by: Jason Abbadon ]
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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quote:Originally posted by TSN: So, basically, this proves that the US is now officially considered "scary" and "likely to blow us up if we don't kiss their ass" by other countries.
You say that like it's a BAD thing.
Now, take that and add "likely to reward us with business and trade and generally raise our standard of living about 500% if we DO kiss their ass," and you'll have it.
Carrot AND stick.
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Cartman
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"This breakthrough is NOT the direct result of US/UK actions in the Middle East, especially Iraq."
There. Easy.
"Didn�t they, in fact, a little while ago give up the Lockerbie bombers for trial? And as I recall, they offered recompense to the families of the bombing? So, it�s probably not so much a case of �Iraq scared them,� as it is sanctions and diplomacy working."
Yup. Negotiations with Lybia have been going on for more than two years, in fact, and Khaddafi himself hasn't supported international terrorism since, uh, the early nineties. The war in Iraq MIGHT have acted as a catalyst, but to assert that this breakthrough was a Totally Intended Consequence� of it is just a teensy weensy bit of a stretch.
"Our direct neighbors could give a fuck about what goes on overseas as long as it doesnt affect their pocketbooks..."
But you care SO deeply, of course.
Registered: Nov 1999
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The question is, did Libya start negotiating before March 20? If not, then, it wouldn't be because of the Iraq War. Maybe the build-up to it, but not the actual war itself.
And Gaddafi/Khadafy/Ghadafi/Gadhafi/Qaddafi (Mr. Unspellable, more like it) has been trying to get on good terms with the US since Sept. 11. Probably because he thought he might be targeted again, and this time they would actually get him.
I admit that this is a good thing, because now we can start the process of opening dipolmatic realtions again and lifting that travel ban.
quote:Originally posted by Cartman: in fact, and Khaddafi himself hasn't supported international terrorism since, uh, the early nineties.
So Khaddafi has'nt been supporting terrorists for almost a whole decade?!? Wow. That's like saying, that convict has'nt raped and children in ten whole years. The fact is, he has WMD and plans in the works for more, was smart enough to see witch way the wind is blowing and used a oppurntune time to bow out. Weither that is a direct result of the current gobal view on such states, the US presence in the region or just one of many factors leading up to his decision to do it sooner rather than later is beyond our (flarite) knowing for now. It IS however a good thing and it DOES make Lybia seem more tolerable to the international community.....for now at least.
The trick will be in making sure he really does get rid of them with no allowances.
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Cartman
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quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon:
quote:Originally posted by Cartman: in fact, and Khaddafi himself hasn't supported international terrorism since, uh, the early nineties.
That's like saying, that convict has'nt raped and children in ten whole years.
No, actually that's like saying The Colonel's former activities can be dismissed as, to quote Rob, "old crap" and thus do not preclude him from becoming a respected member of the international community. B)
posted
I would imagine that the memory of the bombing last time was enough 'shock & awe' for him, especially with all the hardware in the area and floating past on it's way home now....
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