\r\n19 December 2003\r\n<\/p>
\r\nby Anai Rhoads
Veriana Media<\/i>\r\n<\/p>
\r\n<\/p>
\r\nColonel Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi has had a stranglehold on the \r\nGreat Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya) since the late 60's.\r\nCombining Islam (97% Sunni Muslim) and Socialism, better known as the Third International \r\nTheory, the leader fought to bring an end to Capitalism and Marxism. Through oil revenue, \r\nQadhafi employed people to terrorise abroad in order to fulfil his ideal government \r\nwell up until the late 80's. \r\n<\/p>
\r\nIn August of 1981 a dispute arose over whether or not the Gulf of Sidra was international \r\nwaters. Coined the \"Gulf of Sidra Incident\", two Sukoi Su-22 fighter jets engaged two United \r\nStates F-14 Tomcats from US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) operating in \r\nthe gulf near the line. The US jets shot down the Libyan fighter jets. This incident led the United \r\nStates to place an embargo on Libya's oil imports on March 10, 1982. \r\n<\/p>
\r\nIn 1986, President Ronald Reagan sent American warplanes to attack the Libyan cities of \r\nTripoli and Benghazi in retaliation for the bombing of a Berlin disco where a U.S. \r\nserviceman was killed. While the attack killed his daughter, Qadhafi's life was spared during\r\nthe bombing of his barracks.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe leader's interest in overseas terrorism diminished somewhat after the United Nations \r\nimposed sanctions upon Libya in 1992, but because of concerns over weapons programmes had the West keeping a \r\nclose eye on Libya and its revolutionary leader. UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) \r\npassed in 1992 and 1993 obliged Libya to fulfill requirements related to the Pan Am 103 \r\nbombing before sanctions could be lifted.There were less restrictions after Libya\r\nacknowledged responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am airliner 103 over Lockerbie, \r\nScotland. Qadhafi paid a sum of 2.7 billion dollars to the families of the 270 victims as \r\ncompensation for their loss. \r\n<\/p>
\r\nBritain recently claimed Libya had been co-operating with North Korea in order to \r\nmanufacture scud missiles and even said that Libya was close to making a nuclear bomb. \r\nAs Libya now volunteers to allow weapons inspectors into the country, hope is raised that\r\ntheir example will push Iran and North Korea to open their doors as well.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nLibya's missiles are thought to be Scud-B ballistic missiles which have a long range of 186\r\nmiles. According to the 2002 report[2] by the Arms Control Association, Libya has the \r\nfollowing known weapons:\r\n<\/p>
\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThe United States' domestically produced weapons which far surpass the distance of the Scud-B \r\ninclude:\r\n<\/p>
\r\n<\/p>
\r\nIntercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) are of ranges 5,500 km and higher. They are viewed as \r\na serious threat and considered weapons of mass destruction. All four domestic weapons \r\nlocated in the United States are considered WMDs. Libya's missiles are a threat due to \r\nmisuse in neighbouring areas.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nThere are well over 25 countries which have missile systems in place. Ballistic \r\nmissiles were used in the Afghan Civil war, the Gulf War and during the war between Iran \r\nand Iraq. North Korea is trying to develop the Taepo Dong-2, which is an ICBM. This missile \r\ncould reach Alaska or Hawaii if positioned and launched.[3]\r\n<\/p>
\r\nIt is now left up to Libya to disclose data on what weapons programmes they have underway \r\nto the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Atomic \r\nEnergy Agency (IAEA). \r\n<\/p>
\r\nAccording to the U.S. Energy Department, lifting sanctions on Libya will allow U.S. oil \r\ncompanies back into the country. The companies once produced more than one million barrels \r\nper day (bpd). This co-operative deal between Libya and the U.S.will increase America's hold\r\non oil resources.\r\n<\/p>
\r\nReferences:<\/i>\r\n<\/p>
\r\n[1] Wikipedia - History of Libya\r\n<\/p>
\r\n[2] Arms Control Association Fact Sheets: Worldwide Ballistic \r\nMissile Inventories\r\n<\/p>
\r\n[3] National Intelligence Center. Ballistic and \r\nCruise Missile Threat\r\n<\/p>
\r\n©2003 Veriana Media. Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the \r\nmaterial and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law. Please \r\ncontact Veriana Media for reprint and licencing \r\npermission.\r\n<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.veriana.org\/","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"It is now left up to Libya to disclose data on what weapons programmes they have underway \r\nto the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). \r\n","numcomment":3,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/12\/98822.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":108544,"heading":"bush-lover","article":"You're an idiot. You ignore the content just to point out 1 typo? HA. At least he exposed the US stockpiles. It scares you, don't it?","author":"oscar","parent_id":98822,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-04-24 18:21:00","modified":"2004-04-24 18:21:00","fileurl":""},{"id":98832,"heading":"savvy dictator finds...","article":"Savvy Dictator Find Weapons Program to be Effective Bargaining Chip Against Oil Interests\r\n\r\nDictatorships stay in power not only by abusing the people, but by providing for the people, in this case, providing money and social services, funded by oil profits.\r\n\r\nDemocracies cannot work, because they allow foriegn (American) interested easy entry into politics, allowing for a takeover of nationalized oil.\r\n\r\nThe problem, from some perspectives, is that capitalism and democracy, while sometimes in a symbiotic relationship in the US, are almost never partners in the 3rd world.\r\n\r\nAs for terrorism, yes, Lybia supports it, but not as a form of Jihad. I think of Lybian terrorism as an ongoing posturing to scare off neighboring nations a bit, and to scare the people of Lybia into submission.","author":"more rational","parent_id":98822,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-12-28 21:18:20","modified":"2003-12-28 21:18:20","fileurl":""},{"id":98833,"heading":"typo","article":"I don't know how to spell Libya.","author":"more rational","parent_id":98822,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-12-28 21:21:35","modified":"2003-12-28 21:21:35","fileurl":""}]}