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A Headline I Never Thought I'd Write: Bush Calls Gaddafi to Express Gratitude
November 17, 2008 3:27 PM
Per ABC News' Kirit Radia, President George W. Bush today made the first known phone call between a sitting American President and Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, "a man responsible for hundreds of American deaths and who President Reagan once reviled as 'this Mad Dog of the Middle East.'"
The purpose was to thank Gaddafi for following through with the $1.5 billion settlement deal for the 1980s-era victims of Libyan terror acts.
"The President called Libyan leader Colonel Qadhafi to express his satisfaction that the claims settlement agreement was fully implemented on October 31. The two leaders discussed that this agreement should help to bring a painful chapter in the history between our two countries closer to closure," NSC spox Gordon Johndroe said in a paper statement. "While we will always mourn the loss of life as a result of past terrorist activities, the settlement agreement is an important step in repairing the relationship between Libya and the United States. Libya has taken important steps on the road to normalizing its relations with the international community, beginning with its renunciation in 2003 of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The United States will continue to work on the bilateral relationship with Libya, with the aim of establishing a dialogue that encompasses all subjects, including human rights, reform, and the fight against terrorism."
And believe it or not, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi -- Muammar's son -- will meet with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the State Department tomorrow, to deepen the ties between the United States and Libya.
-- jpt
November 17, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (36)
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Good step, why delayed so long? It will save troubles to the next generation BOTH must understand the peace is better than war, cold or hot. We demand peace by the reason or by the arms, so lets get ready for any option is the best for US. I was born in US
Posted by: Victor Masser | Nov 17, 2008 7:06:22 PM
I guess he also thanked him for all those oil contracts also.
Posted by: Thomas Fletcher | Nov 17, 2008 7:04:39 PM
some democrats have got to be the biggest two faced hypocritical whining asses that walk this earth. period
Posted by: frank | Nov 17, 2008 7:03:20 PM
that is the way to go Bush! why can't we all just get along?
Posted by: kasera | Nov 17, 2008 6:26:47 PM
I guess Bush has had to change his tune about fighting the world since he hasn't been able to win either war he thrust the US into. Nor has he been able to neutralize North Korea, Syria or Iran and lets remember that he's largely responsible for turning the biggest communist country in the world, and a sworn enemy of the US, China, into a massive economy that makes most of our consumer goods and has modernized it's military and spread it's influence around the world, while simultaneously turning Russia back into the arms of full blown communism. If that wasn't enough, he's given our entire economy away to Asia and oil producing countries, nearly all of which hate us.
Aaaah, Bush and Gaddafi, brothers in arms. I'm not sure who is the bigger terrorist menace to the US: Bush or the mythical Osama bin Laden.
Posted by: Vacca | Nov 17, 2008 6:04:51 PM
I notice that when Obama plans to meet with terrorist countries it's "a bold, fresh step". When Bush does the same, it's a "hypocritical piece of crap". I well understand who the hypocrites are.
Yet when Obama said that,the republicans used it as an example of another reason why he shouldnt ben president. It was wrong for America,It was foolish, He cant keep us safe.
Yet now their leader,who in some eyes can do no wrong is doing the same thing, and I dont hear the uproar from fellow republicans. I mean accordng to them, people dont change,they cant change,once an evil terrorist.always an evil terrorist. I guess when money is being exchanged there is always an exception to the republican rule.
Posted by: Obama for President. | Nov 17, 2008 5:46:33 PM
Wow, $1.5 billion for Libya to blow up Europeans/Americans but it only cost the US $61.8 million to pay for Iranians aboard the jet the Vincennes blew up in 1988. I guess Iranians come cheaper.
Posted by: JR | Nov 17, 2008 5:32:17 PM
I notice that when Obama plans to meet with terrorist countries it's "a bold, fresh step". When Bush does the same, it's a "hypocritical piece of crap". I well understand who the hypocrites are.
Posted by: Mihan | Nov 17, 2008 5:25:07 PM
Bush needs to apologize to the American people for the complete and total lack of skills and honesty necessary to be President and not for the payment of a penalty assessed for the blood of Americans.
Just when we hoped his "stupidity" was never to haunt us again.
Posted by: Yankee | Nov 17, 2008 5:19:45 PM
Well Jake, you have written a lot of headlines this year that you never thought you would be writing last year. America is changing. I just hope you turn your blog into a book that we can one day sit back and read. Anyways, I never trusted Kaddafi. I think he would betray Africans, Arabs and Americans with no qualms whatsoever, together or separately. But there is just some value in letting sleeping dogs lie (or at least pretend to do so) so Kaddafi should be a part of that strategy.
Posted by: Question | Nov 17, 2008 5:19:43 PM
Too funny. Imagine the explosion of Matt Drudge's head if pres. Obama did this.
Oh, and can we stop using the word "spox" now?
Posted by: Tungsten | Nov 17, 2008 5:16:14 PM
"WE WILL NOT TOLERATE TERRORISM OF ANYKIND!"
Isn't that what Bush said in one of his "look at me I'm tough" speeches? I'm sure Bush took his cut of the 1.5 billion. I wonder what the families of the American's lost in the "DAFFY GADAFFI" attacks are thinking.
Posted by: Independent Fighter | Nov 17, 2008 5:08:31 PM
OMG. Our president ... is someone who sees America and the republican party, as being so imperfect, imperfect enough, that he's palling around with terrorists who would target his own country. "This is not a mannor a political party who sees America as you see America and as I see America.
excerpts from this quote, come from Sarah Plain's infamous palling around with terrorist speech.
Posted by: Obama for President. | Nov 17, 2008 4:38:57 PM
Is Bush palling around with terrorists?
Posted by: Kara | Nov 17, 2008 4:19:54 PM
Ah, the power of crumbling infrastructure and the desire to improve it.
Posted by: bubba | Nov 17, 2008 4:17:37 PM
It's okay if the Bush legacy leaves some forgiveness behind, especially in an area of the world where it's so sorely needed.
Posted by: kat | Nov 17, 2008 3:47:44 PM
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