Gaddafi Son Says No US, UK Bases in Libya-Paper

Reuters | 1/05/04

[kattracks]

Jan. 5 — DUBAI (Reuters) - The son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Monday denied reports his country would allow U.S. and British troops to be based on its territory after Tripoli agreed to give up its weapons of mass destruction programs. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi told the Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that Libya welcomed British and American "experts in various fields, but not forces in the military sense."

Britain's Sunday Times newspaper had quoted Saif al-Islam as saying there would be "no problem" with British or U.S. troops being stationed in Libya.

"We are giving up our weapons, so we need an international umbrella for protection," he was quoted as saying.

He also told the newspaper Libya had paid Pakistani scientists "millions of pounds" for plans to make a nuclear bomb. He said Libya had spent $40 million in total on its efforts to acquire a nuclear capability.

Libya, long on a U.S. list of sponsors of terrorism, said last month it was abandoning plans to build an atomic bomb and other weapons of mass destruction. It now wants trading benefits, including an end to U.S. sanctions.

Analysts say Gaddafi is grooming Saif al-Islam to succeed him. The son was quoted in Asharq al-Awsat recently saying British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush would visit Libya early next year.

[mylife]

Why would we want to station troops in Libya?

We have troops right across the puddle in germany.

Britain controls gibralter. Spain is on our side.

Saif Al Islam is just as goofy as his daddy.

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[leadpenny]

Before we establish full diplomatic, trade and cultural relations it is probably too soon to talk boots on the ground, but what's-his-name is just attempting to appease radical factions in Libya and elsewhere.

[new cruelty]

Gaddafi Son Says No US, UK Bases in Libya-Paper

Why would we want to station troops in Libya?

More to the point, why would we want to station troops in a paper? ; )

[Eric in the Ozarks]

My uncle flew out of Libya in WW II. Guess we've been there, done that.

[af_vet_rr]

Libya wouldn't hold much strategic value to us these days, although if Al-Q keeps trying to move against Ghadafi/Kadafi I wouldn't be surprised if he asked for US/UK "assistance".

[AdmSmith]

Libya welcomed British and American "experts in various fields, but not forces in the military sense."

this means all gear except A1M1 Abrams tank