Garvey's Ghost: Black Talk

Libya

I told people earlier that when the Bush Administration claimed that the invasion or Iraq was what motivated Ghadafi to surrender "Weapons of Mass Destruction" that the claim was completely false.Ghadafi, by my estimates was at a point where the economic sanctions from both Europe and the United States was putting a stranglehold on Libya's economy. furthermore, with an aging military and the death of his daughter. Ghadaffi realized that military confrontation with both Europe and the United States was impossible, especially with the utter lack of support from the oft loud mouthed but rarely active Arab leaders to his east. Thus Libya had moved into modernization and economics big time while pushing for a more unified Africa (past issues with African states aside). Indeed his involvement with the OAU was probably as much of a wake up call. To watch 'leaders" to the south all under the economic stranglehold of the World Bank and the IMF must have been equally alarming. Surely then, given the prospect of being raped by those institutions or giving up some outdated Chemical agents and a couple of Libyan citizens was an easy choice. Such a move would also put Ghadafi on the side of World opinion regearding US global action. Once Libya resolved it's outstanding issues with Europe and the US these nations and organizations would either have to make good on thier promises or risk being seen as hypocrites. USA Today has a nice article that proves my position that Ghadafi was in fact attempting to change its global situation long before the Iraq war.

quote:
But the story of Gadhafi's long road to rehabilitation is more complex. Interviews with a half-dozen current and former U.S. officials, Libya experts and a Libyan-American close to Gadhafi's family show that Libya began discussing giving up weapons of mass destruction in 1992, when its arsenal was rudimentary. And it may have bought nuclear technology just to have something to give up in final negotiations.


"Gadhafi felt that the Americans wanted some more to get them interested, so he put some more on the table," says Mohammed Bukhres, a Libyan-American with close ties to Gadhafi's sons. "We tried for a long time to get relations with the United States. Don't let anyone tell you it's because of the invasion of Iraq."

Another article demostrates how now Europe is trying to not live up to their obligations to libya by introducing new conditions;

quote:
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer welcomed Libya's rapprochement Monday but noted "obstacles" remained, including his government's demand for compensation from Libya for victims of the 1986 bombing at a West Berlin disco that was a hangout for American troops.


Two U.S. soldiers and a Turkish woman were killed and 229 people injured in the attack allegedly ordered by Gadhafi.


EU officials said they also would raise the case of six Bulgarian medics detained in Tripoli since 1999 on charges that they deliberately infected hundreds of children with the AIDS virus."

EU and Belgian officials said human rights would be raised in the context of Libya's aspiration to join the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The application will have to be approved by EU governments.

One should note that China has been reported to have numerous Human Rights violations and yet enjoy "normal" relations with both Europe and America. Furthermore; Libya has the right to try anyone of any nationality that is accused of a crime in it's jurisdiction. Let Europe suspend ties to the US over the persons now locked up on Guantanamo with no legal rights whatsoever. Of course such a thing will not happen because, as libya knows and is trying to remedy: Cash and/or Arms rule.

Links:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-27-libya_x.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-26-libya_x.htm