the effects of resolve

the effects of resolve

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - Moammar Gadhafi on Sunday called for the abolition of Libya's three decade-old exceptional courts and other strict laws criticized by human rights groups.

It is no coincidence that Libya's sudden change (acceptance of responsibility for Lockerbie, renunciation of WMD programs, and now Gadhafi's urging of acceptance of Amnesty International's recommendations for legal reform) coincide with the US-led invasion of Iraq and arrest of Saddam Hussein. It is also no coincidence that Libya is on the forefront of this change; Gadhafi is short one daughter due to what Ronald Reagan did with a couple of Cruise missiles. Other middle eastern leaders have not had such direct experience with American firepower.

Had Bill Clinton (or for that matter George Bush Sr.) followed Reagan's lead and shot a few Cruise missiles at some of Saddam's palaces, then much of the unpleasantness of the last few years might have been avoided.

However, much of what has happened over the last few years has been brewing for decades. When Clinton, at the height of the Lewinsky scandal, shot a handful of cruise missiles at ineffectual targets (note: Bush Sr, Clinton, and Bush Jr could have each called for war on Iraq at any time; each would have been justified due to ceasefire violations) he merely accelerated the process. He gave those who choose terror as a political tool the impression that the USA was weak, innefectual, cowardly: vulnerable.

Had he gone after a palace and happened to kill Uday or Qusay.... well perhaps today it would be Iran that the USA-led coalition was invading, and Libya second in the capitulation line behind Iraq.