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U.S. Restores Full Diplomatic Relations With Libya

American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, May 15, 2006 – Three years after Libya renounced terrorism and abandoned its program to acquire weapons of mass destruction, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced today that the United States is restoring full diplomatic relations with the North African country and soon will open an embassy in Tripoli.
In a written statement, Rice added that the United States intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Libya also will be omitted from the annual certification of countries not cooperating fully with U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.

"We are taking these actions in recognition of Libya's continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States and other members of the international community in response to common global threats faced by the civilized world since September 11, 2001," Rice said in her statement. "Today's announcements are tangible results that flow from the historic decisions taken by Libya's leadership in 2003 to renounce terrorism and to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs. As a direct result of those decisions we have witnessed the beginning of that country's re-emergence into the mainstream of the international community."

Just as 2003 marked a turning point for the Libyan people, Rice noted, so too could 2006 mark turning points for the peoples of Iran and North Korea.

"Libya is an important model as nations around the world press for changes in behavior by the Iranian and North Korean regimes -- changes that could be vital to international peace and security," Rice said. "We urge the leadership of Iran and North Korea to make similar strategic decisions that would benefit their citizens."

Re-establishing diplomatic relations with Libya, Rice said, opens the door to better discussion on other issues of importance, including protection of universal human rights, promotion of freedom of speech and expression, and expansion of economic and political reform consistent with President Bush's freedom agenda.


http://www.defenselink.mil/news/May2...0515_5138.html

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To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway

Confed999

Hope it works out, personally I don't think we should even talk to these guys...

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No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry

Dee's Nuts

Strange how the US just outlawed the sale of weapons to Chavez and then normalizes relations with a country that has actually pose a legitimate threat to US civilians.

Confed999

First, what threat can one make that the other cannot? Second, in the world of realpolitik, progressives are favored and regressives are slighted...

Ray

The Mediterranean is a very vital seaway.

It is essential from the geostrategic point of view to have friendly or neutral nations on either side; more the better.

In international politics, there is no moral and ethical issues. It is solely an exercise in furthering the national interest.

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"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

HAKUNA MATATA

Maximus

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Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.

Confed999

The US does the same stuff as everyone else, don't fool yourself. Plus if there is "no", then there can't be "more so in the case of"...