Sparrowhawk
12-19-03, 05:58 PM
Its clear that the war in Afganistan, Iraq and efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear program had sent a clear message to countries in the Middle East.
Now, Libya knows that they must abandon their own weapons of mass destruction programs.
,Hr>
Libya to give up weapons programs
Bush, Blair announce Gadhafi has agreed to end all WMD programs
BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 6:30 p.m. ET Dec. 19, 2003WASHINGTON - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday.
Bush said Libya’s decision — which would open the country to international weapons inspectors — would be “of great importance” in stopping weapons of mass destruction in a global fight against terrorism.
Britain and the United States have been talking about the issue with Libya for nine months, Blair said.
“Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly cooperative manner,” Blair said in England.
At the White House, Bush said the war in Iraq and efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear program had sent a clear message to countries such as Libya that they must abandon weapons programs.
“In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries,” Bush said. That was an apparent reference to Iran and North Korea, two other countries that the United States contends are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Without naming them, Bush added: “I hope other leaders will find an example” in Libya’s action.
If Libya follows through with its commitment, Bush said, “its good faith can be returned.”
‘Close to developing’ nuclear bomb
Britain said Libya was close to making a nuclear bomb and had significant quantities of chemical agents before it reached the deal announced on Friday to abandon weapons of mass destruction.
Libya had not acquired a nuclear bomb, “though it was close to developing one,” a British official said.
The official said a British team working with the Libyans had been shown “significant quantities of chemical agent” and that Libya had acknowledged that it was developing nuclear material intended to create a weapon.
The team saw nuclear projects underway at more than 10 sites, including the enrichment of uranium. It also saw dual-use sites with the potential to support work on biological weapons.
It would be up to Libya to disclose the details of the weapons programs to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as it has now agreed to do, the official said.
Seeking longer-range missiles
According to a recent unclassified report to Congress, Libya’s longest-range missiles were thought to be Scud-B ballistic missiles. These have a range of 186 miles. U.S. intelligence reports suggest Libya has been seeking missiles with longer ranges.
Libya had relied heavily on foreign assistance for its weapons programs. It had already made overtures suggesting it would slow or halt its programs to improve its international standing.
The U.S. intelligence statements on Libya’s alleged weapons programs suggest efforts in that country were not as advanced as Iraq’s were before the U.S.-led invasion.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Now, Libya knows that they must abandon their own weapons of mass destruction programs.
,Hr>
Libya to give up weapons programs
Bush, Blair announce Gadhafi has agreed to end all WMD programs
BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 6:30 p.m. ET Dec. 19, 2003WASHINGTON - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday.
Bush said Libya’s decision — which would open the country to international weapons inspectors — would be “of great importance” in stopping weapons of mass destruction in a global fight against terrorism.
Britain and the United States have been talking about the issue with Libya for nine months, Blair said.
“Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly cooperative manner,” Blair said in England.
At the White House, Bush said the war in Iraq and efforts to stop North Korea’s nuclear program had sent a clear message to countries such as Libya that they must abandon weapons programs.
“In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries,” Bush said. That was an apparent reference to Iran and North Korea, two other countries that the United States contends are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Without naming them, Bush added: “I hope other leaders will find an example” in Libya’s action.
If Libya follows through with its commitment, Bush said, “its good faith can be returned.”
‘Close to developing’ nuclear bomb
Britain said Libya was close to making a nuclear bomb and had significant quantities of chemical agents before it reached the deal announced on Friday to abandon weapons of mass destruction.
Libya had not acquired a nuclear bomb, “though it was close to developing one,” a British official said.
The official said a British team working with the Libyans had been shown “significant quantities of chemical agent” and that Libya had acknowledged that it was developing nuclear material intended to create a weapon.
The team saw nuclear projects underway at more than 10 sites, including the enrichment of uranium. It also saw dual-use sites with the potential to support work on biological weapons.
It would be up to Libya to disclose the details of the weapons programs to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as it has now agreed to do, the official said.
Seeking longer-range missiles
According to a recent unclassified report to Congress, Libya’s longest-range missiles were thought to be Scud-B ballistic missiles. These have a range of 186 miles. U.S. intelligence reports suggest Libya has been seeking missiles with longer ranges.
Libya had relied heavily on foreign assistance for its weapons programs. It had already made overtures suggesting it would slow or halt its programs to improve its international standing.
The U.S. intelligence statements on Libya’s alleged weapons programs suggest efforts in that country were not as advanced as Iraq’s were before the U.S.-led invasion.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.