Get It While It's Hot, I Don't Do This Often- A Political Rant!

• The visit by Muammar Gaddafi to New York to speak at the UN has people in New Jersey in an uproar over his intention to stay in a tent on property owned by his country. They are concerned about his culpability in the Lockerbie bombing among other problems. And their own governor is leading the way in opposition. The first things that come to my mind?


• Libyas entire WMD program has been suspended- yes sanctions factored but, he could have been recalcitrant and obnoxious to the point of starting a war.


• Has paid restitution to Lockerbie victims families.


• Has turned over information to the west regarding nuclear materials black markets.


• That property is owned by his country.


• A "hero's welcome" for the guy released from the Scottish prison? Oh, come on- in a country where for the 40th anniversary of his rule the fest included 1000 camels, 40 hot air balloons, the largest tent in the entire world, thousands of tons of materials flown in from around the world, entertainers from around the world, and on and on, how many people where there to greet that plane- 200?


• Incidentally- that guy wouldn't have served a day in prison if Libya hadn't turned him over for trial.


• Ostensibly the sanctions we imposed on Libya in the past were to "end their isolation and bring them into modern civilizations fold". my paraphrase- take your pick of source


• Yes, I know it was to make sure they didn't do bad things to westerners but, the end goal was suppose to be something like I said above.


• Most of these thoughts are off the top of my head things and also what is public knowledge- before we even start talking about oil and political realities where a relationship with Libya would help us and things that may not be public knowledge.
• Don't think Bin Laden on this issue and don't focus on today. Think some years in the future. Think about Germany and Japan- although a good relationship with Libya may prove even more important than ours with them at a tiny fraction of cost in dollars and lives.


• Why would any pariah-esqe leader anywhere in the world do anything to alter any of their policies or practices at our behest after seeing the way he's being treated?


• Why would we be surprised if he says (said by the time this publishes) something provocative during that speech?
• What grounds do we have to stand on to respond if he does? Oh,"We demand absolutely, demand an apology and won't rule out miltary action if we don't get one- this man was rude to us after: we embrarrased him, killed his daughter, shot down one of his nations airliners in their airspace killing 290 people, he made very sweet deals with us for his countries oil, gave us information regarding nuclear black markets..."


• Why would we be surprised if his country was responsible in the future for ______ (name your own atrocity).


• We are our own worst enemies.