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Bush's Second Coup Aids Election Race (Libya)
Independent (UK) ^ | 12-21-2003 | Andrew Buncombe

Posted on 12/20/2003 4:02:49 PM PST by blam

Bush's second coup aids election race

By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
21 December 2003

The announcement by Libya has given President Bush his second coup in a week and delivered a resounding blow against Howard Dean, the man most likely to be his challenger in next year's presidential race.

When Saddam Hussein was dragged from a hole near Tikrit last weekend, Mr Dean pointed out that his capture had done nothing to make America safer - an analysis shared by many observers. Just six days later, however, the White House has been able to respond with what was presented as the scalp of a second dictator, purportedly brought into line by the Bush doctrine.

This time Mr Dean will find it much more difficult to counter. No matter that Libya's announcement was fuelled largely by simple economics, in the American heartlands where next year's presidential election will be fought, Tripoli's decision will be spun as another capitulation by a dangerous "madman" to the "tough" stance of Mr Bush and his ally Tony Blair, whose threats are backed up, of course, by their own vast arsenals of conventional and non-conventional weapons. It has also conveniently distracted attention from the failure to find any WMD in Iraq.

In reality, Libya has been making extensive efforts in recent years to return to the international fold and reopen the lucrative trade it once enjoyed with the West. Libya has the world's seventh largest oil reserves and Western oil companies have been lobbying Washington to lift the sanctions that were imposed in 1986 in response to Libyan terror attacks. Last year, the head of Libya's National Oil Corporation held meetings with representatives from Conoco, Marathon, Amerada Hess and Occidental to discuss deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

"What forced Gaddafi to act was a combination of things," Ray Takeyh, a Libya expert at the National Defence University, said. "UN sanctions after Lockerbie, international isolation after the Soviet Union's collapse, and internal problems that led to domestic unrest by Islamists and forces within the military."

UN sanctions were formally lifted in September after Tripoli accepted responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and agreed to pay $10m (£5.6m) in instalments to the relatives of each of the 270 victims. Under the deal Libya paid an initial $4m but said the remaining $6m would only be paid once America lifted its own, separate sanctions and removed Tripoli from the State Department lists of countries that support terrorism.

None the less, Mr Bush may find it difficult in an election year to normalise relations with a leader who Ronald Reagan said should be "a pariah in the world community". Susan Cohen, whose only child, Theodora, was among the Lockerbie victims, signalled the views of many when she said: "I am in a state of sickened shock. This was strictly a political, commercial decision. I'm not a fool. I know it's oil and money interests


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004; aids; axisofweasels; bush43; bushs; coup; election; howarddean; libya; lockerbie; race; second; tonyblair; wmd

1 posted on 12/20/2003 4:02:50 PM PST by blam
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To: blam
Helps his election...Gee, it doesn't hurt the free world, either.
2 posted on 12/20/2003 4:03:52 PM PST by mewzilla
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To: blam
Libya really got dem panties in a wad.
3 posted on 12/20/2003 4:05:50 PM PST by cynicom
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To: cynicom
How so, I have not heard a peep out of them, I think that they are still in shock. What have you heard?
4 posted on 12/20/2003 4:09:09 PM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: CasearianDaoist
Not heard a peep, with panties in such a twist they can't talk.
5 posted on 12/20/2003 4:10:33 PM PST by cynicom
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To: blam
Susan Cohen, whose only child, Theodora, was among the Lockerbie victims, signalled the views of many when she said: "I am in a state of sickened shock. This was strictly a political, commercial decision. I'm not a fool. I know it's oil and money interests

So, what should we do, Susan? Tell Khadaffi "Nah, giving up your WMDs ain't enough; Lockerbie families won't let go, so we've got to treat you like Cuba."

I saw a couple of these whiny family members on CNN this morning, and they were disgusting. Obviously Democrats, they couldn't resist taking shots at Bush.

It's time to get over it, Susan. The world doesn't revolve around you.

6 posted on 12/20/2003 4:11:30 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: CasearianDaoist
You should've heard Dem shill Ellen Ratner on FNC this morning. Yup, you'd think this was no big deal, but if it is 43 had nothing to do with it. It's a big fat coinkydink that it happened on his watch. Bwah hah hah hah...
7 posted on 12/20/2003 4:13:16 PM PST by mewzilla
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To: blam
Libya has the world's seventh largest oil reserves and Western oil companies have been lobbying Washington to lift the sanctions that were imposed in 1986

Look to hear this ad nauseam

8 posted on 12/20/2003 4:14:18 PM PST by byteback
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To: cynicom
Not heard a peep, with panties in such a twist they can't talk.

-----
YET ANOTHER sleepless night for DemocRATS!!! Can I stand the strain. Right on the heels of Saddams surrender, they must spin again. He really will be "Dizzy Dean" by November at this rate. HA-HA-HA-HA.....
9 posted on 12/20/2003 4:17:33 PM PST by gooleyman
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To: cynicom
Oh yes, I quite agree. I live in an ultra-liberal area of NYC, and I am getting no small amusement out of all of this. Alot of the libs around here are not ideologues, more just unthinking conformists - they are reacting like addicts in the early state of withdrawal. I wonder if some of them might actually vote for Bush. Just a thought.
10 posted on 12/20/2003 4:18:31 PM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: CasearianDaoist; cynicom
I'm heading to Northern California for New Years. Should be a blast toasting Bush and Rumsfeld in front of all the local libs! Yahooo!
11 posted on 12/20/2003 4:28:53 PM PST by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: sam_paine
hehehe...Wish I was there.
12 posted on 12/20/2003 4:36:19 PM PST by CasearianDaoist
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To: blam
"Tripoli's decision will be spun as another capitulation by a dangerous 'madman' to the 'tough' stance of Mr Bush and his ally Tony Blair"

No need for "spin", Andrew. The facts speak for themselves.

The wishful thinking of these klunks at the Independent notwithstanding, President Bush is a great leader and a brilliant man, and he is just getting warmed up.

13 posted on 12/20/2003 4:59:11 PM PST by Savage Beast (Merry Christmas!)
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To: blam
LET'EM talk all they want! DENIAL is a river after all! hehehe....Let'em stick their ROTTEN rodent heads in the sand all they want! CONGRATS Presidnet Bush you have just been elected to a second term!!
14 posted on 12/20/2003 6:02:09 PM PST by RoseofTexas (r)
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To: RoseofTexas
I've had the TV on in the background all day...news channels. I haven't heard a PEEP out of any of the Dem dwarfs about the Libya deal.

Anyone heard what the Deany Boppers are saying now?
15 posted on 12/20/2003 6:45:02 PM PST by Timeout ("President Bush sends his regards"...U.S. soldier as Saddam rose from a hole)
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To: sinkspur
Susan Cohen, whose only child, Theodora, was among the Lockerbie victims, signalled the views of many when she said: "I am in a state of sickened shock. This was strictly a political, commercial decision. I'm not a fool. I know it's oil and money interests

For Susan, it's not about whether Americans are safe. It's about how many millions she can collect. She's put a price on her daughter's head, and it isn't a philanthropic one.
I'd have more sympathy for her if she talked about how to prevent more deaths instead of how much money she thinks she should get.

16 posted on 12/20/2003 8:27:02 PM PST by speekinout
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To: sinkspur
Susan Cohen, whose only child, Theodora, was among the Lockerbie victims, signalled the views of many when she said: "I am in a state of sickened shock. This was strictly a political, commercial decision. I'm not a fool. I know it's oil and money interests

For Susan, it's not about whether Americans are safe. It's about how many millions she can collect. She's put a price on her daughter's head, and it isn't a philanthropic one.
I'd have more sympathy for her if she talked about how to prevent more deaths instead of how much money she thinks she should get.

17 posted on 12/20/2003 8:27:08 PM PST by speekinout
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To: mewzilla
coup my rosy red American butt.

read this :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/21/wgad21.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/21/ixportaltop.html

notice the key words WMD ( ok initials but.....)

and this is from Nine months ago. Gravitas ?
This is where Bush gets the ass for his britches.
18 posted on 12/20/2003 8:30:04 PM PST by cars for sale
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