Tim Blair

Yes but Bush had a plastic Turkey.

And what about the unripe dates?

Personally, I think sanctions against Libya should have been given another 20-30 years to work before we took the extreme step of deposing Saddam and thus scaring poor Muammar out of his leopard-print briefs.

But, but, what about that Arab street we hear so much about?

I hear they're enraged. And humiliated. Oh wait -- that's the anti-Bush contingent.

Heh. I keep reading about how we "humiliated" Saddam. Such a horrible thing, the moonbats say.

Yesterday I heard a news report on how Iraqis feel about it. They agree it was humiliating, and they're pretty damn happy about how humiliating it was to poor ol' Sammy.

Aah, the moral clarity of an administration that wants to bring democracy to the middle east. Yet a dictator is free to re-enter the global community if he makes a gesture following two years of attempts to get back in the US's good graces.

I guess the Libyan people are just going to have to wait for liberation.

Aah, the moral confusion of the left. They want dictators dealt with peacefully, and when they are, they complain about it.

Yeah, Tim, it reminds me of Lileks on point, as usual, comment from awhile back:

"The same people who accuse America of coddling dictators are sputtering with bilious fury because we actually deposed one."

Gaddafi's a nasty nutball but, give him this: he responds well to incentives, and he learns lessons. Like the 1986 bombing of Tripoli. That dog's been in the cage since (Lockerbie aside, but can you imagine Kim II handing over anyone, even an underling scapegoat, for a terrorist act?)

"a sweep against insurgents using intelligence obtained following the capture of Saddam Hussein..."

Now this has me intrigued. The wording is coy, but it seems to suggest only 2 alternatives:

(1) Saddam had a big (and not-in-code) Rolodex on him, which the Americans are now poring through; and/or

(2) Saddam is singing like a canary. Heartening, although the downside may be that he ends his days like Pinochet/ Idi instead of like Eichmann, if there's been a bargain struck.

Noami,
Word is he had a lot of documents with him that were quickly perused by the intel types and led to quick raids all over the place. He may also be singing, but I doubt it will buy him a cozy retirement, or even a warm cell like Manuel Noriega has. Bush will, sooner or later, hand him over to the Iraqis for trial and punishment.

Meanwhile, France and friends are saying the Libya outcome is proof that peaceful negotiation 'works'.

However, don't expect France and friends to admit that 'peaceful negotiation' with rogues works only when there's an iron fist inside the velvet glove.

Randolph,

Earlier this year, they discussed Lockerbie, now it's WMDs, who knows? Maybe next year democratic reforms.

May be time for a new domino theory. Despots falling into line (or falling) like dominos.

Putting the bell on the dictator might become a trend. Will we be stuck with a troop of benign Dictatorships in the ME? We already have Mubarrak, and Qadaffy. I think of Egypt as the worst case senario. A propaganda mill paid for with american money. We have been down this road before.

Mubarrak at 75 looks wobbly. May be a transition opportunity fairly soon. Yes, the U.S. pays Egypt to act like a democracy and they put up a pretty good act.

>I guess the Libyan people are just going to have
>to wait for liberation.

The cardinal rules of the Childish Carping Leftist:

1) Everything must be absolutely perfect.
2) It must be absolutely perfect RIGHT NOW.
3) Absolute perfection now will not in any way ameliorate past imperfection.

4) I have to have the last word. Even if I'm wrong. But I'm not. I never am. But if I were, that's not what I said in the first place. Plus I've changed the subject. So there.

6) If President Bush is responsible for it, it must be bad. (I am sorry but I believe this should be number 1)

I guess Colonel Gadaffi can now finally promote himself to the rank of General.

Does anyone mind if I sit here and have a quiet gloat.
Must suck being a lefty right now, all you hold dear is dissolving before your eyes with more to follow.

Oh the lefty backpeddling.

US should have worked to towards a diplomatic solution with Saddam! (Now they've done it w/ Colonel G., or is it Q. How dare they.)

But, the US goal is to bring democracy to the middle east. Hypocrits. (Therfore one must work to depose every dictator simultaneously? Or, god forbid you encourage them w/ "soft" diplomace to reform. And, god forbid you get them to give up their WMD and give you lots of intelligence on A.Q. in the process.) Oh the multilateralism of it!

This just proves that the UN could have done the same thing in Libya if it had been given 12 years of sanctions followed by a massive US buildup on Libya's border.

Seriously, it must be very, very hard to be a Bush-basher now. You never know what idiot thing you say today is going to blow up in your goddamn face three, six, or twelve months hence.

Approximate timeline of the Libya thing...

1) Military action starts in Iraq...Libya starts negotiating

2) Saddam is found...Libya agrees to get rid of WMD

Score one for diplomacy.

Yet another home run for the Bush/Blair/Howard team. Congratulations to all involved - and keep up the good work!

A quick read of some comments from the left shows how desperate they've become. I think they've actually convinced themselves that Libya's sudden change of heart has nothing to do with Iraq. It's all just an amazing and unfortunate coincidence that the news comes out now, and Bush and Blair should be condemned for stealing credit from the UN and other real diplomats for an achievment that's so clearly beyond their own crude, unilateral bullying tactics. This success is a sure sign that things will only get worse as the US and it's allies veer further into unilateral isolationist democratic expansionism and arrogant cowboy diplomacy.

In fact, Libya would have undoubtedly rejoined the Community of Nations(tm) even sooner had US aggression not forced them to preserve their secret WMD programs for self defense, thereby thwarting the UN's own vital efforts and prolonging the unjust sanctions against an already ravaged country. Fortunately for the world we still have brave and kind leaders like Col. Gadaffi to show our facist unelected "President" and his craven toady Blair the true, nonviolent path to peaceful coexistence. If only the world can forgive us.

Oh, and have you heard about that idiot and his Thanksgiving turkey? It was made of plastic!

Bryan, it's even more than that. Someone (didn't hear who, turned on the radio just a bit late) is claiming credit on behalf of the Clinton administration.

But of course...it couldn't possibly have anything to do with Reagan bombing Libya, or crushing Saddam's regime. It was all Clinton, who did...nothing.