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Condoleezza Rice enters Gaddafi tent
Fort Worth News.Net
Friday 5th September, 2008
In an historic visit, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has met Libya's president, Muammar Gaddafi.
Ms Rice has become the first US secretary of state to visit Libya since 1953.
Mr Gaddafi raised a hand to his chest in a traditional gesture of welcome as Ms Rice entered the tent which had been bombed by US forces in 1986 under the instructions of then President Ronald Reagan.
The pair first discussed pleasantries and later shared a meal to break the fast of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Libya has agreed to pay compensation to families of the victims of the Lockerbie aircraft bombing, for which it accepted responsibility for the actions of its officials, and renounced terrorism 2003.
The deal includes compensation for Libyan victims of the United States' retaliatory bombing raid over Libya in 1986.
Libya has not yet transferred the promised hundreds of millions of dollars into a humanitarian account.
Ms Rice will press Mr Gaddafi on the issue while in Libya.
A trade and investment agreement may also be signed and the two countries have been negotiating a military memorandum to co-operate on fighting terrorism.
Ms Rice's trip to the region will also include visits to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
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Comments on this story
;) Midnight
09-05-08, 09:56 PM |
Condoleezza Rice enters Gaddafi tent
You say Ms. Rice is the first since who?
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Sammy
09-06-08, 01:54 AM |
Come to my tent said the spider to the fly
Come, come, come to my tent, said the spider to the black fly, we will talk and become good friends, all the past will be foregotten.
This could be the start of improving good relations with our Lybian friends, and at the present it seems that even the Italian Berlusconi has joined this tent hospitality and many old problems have been ironed out between the two countries.
Maybe M/S Rice should have used this diplomatic strategy much, much, much earlier in her diplomatic missions, and probably many innocent lives could have been saved in these useless illegal wars, because the most efficient arm is the use of Communications, dialogue, diplomacy, and most of all trust, and with this secret formula, enemies will surely become friends, because words are more powerful than using brutal force.
Sammy
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everest
09-06-08, 05:21 AM |
It is not cynicism but realism to say US foreign policy is driven more by economic necessity than diplomatic nicety. So when senior US administration personnel make forays into previously shunned territories, it is best to look behind the smoke and mirrors of diplomatic pretence.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is about to embark on a visit to North Africa, which will include Libya, for a meeting with Muammar Gaddafi. It is the first meeting between a senior member of the US administration and Libya in 55 years.
All this has been made possible by the nearly-resolved counter claims for restitution over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and US payments for Libyan victims of a bombing raid in 1986.
Underlying the sudden rapprochement, of course, is Libya’s need to re-equip its industries, military arms and aircraft with US equipment, and US needs for another source to feed its rapacious needs for oil.
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everest
09-06-08, 05:22 AM |
It is not cynicism but realism to say US foreign policy is driven more by economic necessity than diplomatic nicety. So when senior US administration personnel make forays into previously shunned territories, it is best to look behind the smoke and mirrors of diplomatic pretence.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is about to embark on a visit to North Africa, which will include Libya, for a meeting with Muammar Gaddafi. It is the first meeting between a senior member of the US administration and Libya in 55 years.
All this has been made possible by the nearly-resolved counter claims for restitution over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and US payments for Libyan victims of a bombing raid in 1986.
Underlying the sudden rapprochement, of course, is Libya’s need to re-equip its industries, military arms and aircraft with US equipment, and US needs for another source to feed its rapacious needs for oil.
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