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Muammar al-Gaddafi, that the US is serious under a Bush adminstration about its Joost invites. Border Security. Money race is in full swing. June (5)
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 Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, keen to improve relations with the West, invited President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. US and Libyan officials are working toward opening an American Embassy in Tripoli and ending Libyas designation as a terrorist-sponsoring country, which is good news for the Muslim world. In June 2004, the United States opened a liaison office in Tripoli, 24 years after Washington closed its embassy in Libya, took steps toward normalising trade and investment with Libya especially in oil industry, the countrys main source of revenue and allowing the import of Libyan oil.
The moves followed Gaddafis decision to pay compensation for the bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, which killed 270 people. Libya also agreed to dismantle its programmes for weapons of mass destruction and now wants Washington to abolish US sanctions, in place since 1986 that are estimated to have cost the country more than $30 billion in lost business.
Gaddafi was born in 1942 in a tent in the Libyan desert to a Bedouin family. Graduated from the University of Libya and the Libyan Military Academy with high grades, and started on a highly successful military career. In 1969 at the age of 27 he was, as a colonel, the instigator of the coup removing the distant King Idris. The coup was quickly conducted, bloodless and it left the king alive but exiled. He is the leader of Libya since 1969. He had been supporting for liberation movements wherever they were, but in most cases Muslim groups. In several instances Libya was directly or indirectly involved in terror campaigns and crude acts towards westerners.
In 1970 he removed the US and British military bases and most members of the native Italian and Jewish communities were also expelled from Libya. In 1986 April 15 US airforce attacked Tripoli and Benghazi where around 20 people had been killed, among them Gaddafis own adopted infant daughter. In 1990, Gulf War, Gaddafi neither gave in for Iraq nor for the USA. He is no longer the enfant terrible as in the past, and is best compared to other moderate non-democratic rulers.
Libya was cut off from the rest of the world for decades. Because of the changing circumstances in the world, where former enemies have become partners, there are many explanations to the change of Gaddafis politics. His son Saif-u-Islam has played a key role in this concern. But more important is that he has changed because realpolitik changed him. In a turnabout from 35 years of hostility to the West, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi told delegates at the opening of the Libyan Peoples National Congress that his government had renounced and declared that a new era had started of openness and cooperation with the United States, Europe and the other world.
He spent close to 90 minutes speaking to the Peoples Congress. In a brutally self-critical account of Libyas past support for radical movements worldwide, Col. Gaddafi concluded that the country had paid a high price for its adventures and that no one separated Libya from the world community. He said Libya voluntarily separated itself from others by its actions. No one imposed sanctions on or punished them. But, they had punished themselves and made other countries view Libya as an enemy. He narrated, Libya helped the Palestinians, and now the Palestinian president enters the White House and did we not improve our relations with the United States, if the Palestinians can recognise Israel, how can we not recognise that country? The liberation struggles that Libya had supported are finished, the battle is finished. Now people are shaking hands. So should only we stay enemies? Because now there are new realities. We are adapting to the new realities. It was a waste of time; it cost too much money. We can be friends because we are not enemies anymore.
If we see the past it reveals that in the last ten years Gaddafi has managed to improve his connections over the Arab world and is today considered as a moderate and responsible leader. And, through his strict line towards USA, he has grown into being one of the most popular leaders among ordinary people all over the Arab world. For the future, one should expect that Gaddafis position in world politics would gradually improve.
In recent years, tensions between Libya and the US have dissipated. There is good reason to expect Gaddafi to follow the same moderate line as UK Prime Minister Tony Blair held high-profile talks with him in a Bedouin tent on the outskirts of Tripoly in March 2004. The Libyan authorities decided to review their decisions and concluded that they had isolated themselves from the rest of the world. The Libyan leader has shown political courage so the Muslim world should have lots of respect for Mr Gaddafis decisions, especially.
The moderate people of the whole world applauded Col. Gaddafi when he spoke of his desire to build a strong new relationship with the United States and Europe. He is now running a reality check. Lest anyone doubt Gaddafis sudden conversion, there have been the promising interviews given to the press by Gaddafis son and heir-apparent, Seif Gaddafi, who announced to the leaders of Arab nations, You have to bring democracy to your countries, and then there will be no need to fear America or your people.
Gaddafis politics has also been one of conservative morals, where alcohol and gambling has been outlawed. Today his position is strong despite several attempts at his life, principally from certain groups within the military. He has emphasises welfare, liberation, education and now Tripoli is trying to improve its human rights record and image abroad, also. Libya will benefit from full diplomatic relations with the United States and Europe. Some in Libya want to make their country like the United Arab Emirates - a place open, prosperous and attracts energy and technology investments.
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Gaddafi Invites Bush