Bush's Newest Lap-Dog trades with state sponsor of terror. Hang onto your breakfast:
Sarkozy Welcomes Libya's Kadhafi To Paris
The United States gave its blessing Monday to a civilian nuclear energy deal between France and Libya, saying it expected its former foe to respect its decision to renounce weapons of mass destruction.
"In light of Libya's historic decision in 2003 to rid itself of its WMD programs, we expect any cooperation with Libya on a peaceful secure and responsible use of nuclear power to be consistent with the highest standard of non-proliferation," said Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman.
France announced plans to sell nuclear reactors to Libya as well as 10 billion euros of trade deals, as President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on Monday for a five-day visit.
A Pay-Off For Playing Poodle?. Money makes the world go round straight into the toilet. From the BBC:
The deals include Libya's purchase of 21 Airbus aircraft and a nuclear co-operation accord. Their total value was not made public but earlier President Sarkozy said they would be worth 10bn euros (£7.2bn). Mr Sarkozy has defended the welcome granted to Col Gaddafi in the face of domestic criticism over the visit. Opponents of Col Gaddafi's first visit since 1973 include France's opposition Socialists, as well as Mr Sarkozy's own human rights minister.
Plotting to Kill the Saudi Royal Family? Not a problem, it seems, for Sarkozy or Bush. The Saudis won't be happy to see Bush and Sarkozy snuggle up to Libya. From this 2004 NYT account:
By PATRICK E. TYLER
Published: June 10, 2004
While the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, was renouncing terrorism and negotiating the lifting of sanctions last year, his intelligence chiefs ordered a covert operation to assassinate the ruler of Saudi Arabia and destabilize the oil-rich kingdom, according to statements by two participants in the conspiracy.
Those participants, Abdurahman Alamoudi, an American Muslim leader now in jail in Alexandria, Va., and Col. Mohamed Ismael, a Libyan intelligence officer in Saudi custody, have given separate statements to American and Saudi officials outlining the plot.
Republicans love selling guns to terrorists Remember?
Nukes R' Us! Global Security Places Libya and Gaddafi at the center of the AQ Khan nuclear terror network. Three years later? Forgive and forget.
After two months of investigations, in late January 2004 Pakistani officials concluded that two of the country's most senior nuclear scientists had black market contacts that supplied sensitive technology to Iran and Libya. Pakistani intelligence officials said the scientists - A.Q. Khan and Mohammed Farooq - provided the help both directly and through a black market based in the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai. Dr. Khan and Dr. Farooq were longtime colleagues at A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories.
Cash or Security? When Republicans and their pals are in charge, there's never any doubt. Whether it's giving billions to terrorists like Gaddafi or 'losing' a billion dollars worth of weapons, we know that Republicans will be there shilling for the Military-Industrial complex. 340 tonnes of high explosives were put on the shelf to be used against US servicemen while Iraq's Oil Ministry was secure and safe.
My only question: when do all the Anbar thugs currently being bribed to temporarily stop killing US troops ask for a bigger pay-off, a Gaddafi size slice.