UK to offer military help to Libya

[Royal]

For those of you Yanks who think the sun shines out of Tony Blair's arse...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3563473.stm

[Geezah]

I think Tony Blair is an ARSE, it's a shame they can't clone Margaret Thatcher!

[big_les]

Yes, we could really do with a spot of chronic unemployment and civic unrest about now...

[ShadowNeo]

Although Tony Blair isn't exactly my favourite Prime Minister ever, I personally think he's doing the right thing here.

Libya has been making steps back into the international community, its biggest when they decided to stop pursuing WMD programs. This visit is only really a reward for these steps, and if this helps to encourage other states to give up on WMD programs, then i'm all for it.

Also the Tories have a slightly groundles argument, saying that the visit will distress the Lockerbie bombing victims' families - the vast majority of them were in support of the visit.

[Royal]

Also the Tories have a slightly groundles argument, saying that the visit will distress the Lockerbie bombing victims' families - the vast majority of them were in support of the visit.

What about those of us who've been on the receiving end of/dealt with the consequences of Libyan arms and explosives in the Province?

[Geezah]

1984: Libyan embassy shots kill policewoman
A police officer has been killed and ten people injured after shots were fired from the Libyan People's Bureau in central London.
WPC Yvonne Fletcher had been helping control a small demonstration outside the embassy when automatic gunfire came from outside.

She received a fatal stomach wound and some of the demonstrators were also severely injured.

WPC Fletcher, 25, died soon afterwards at Westminster Hospital.

Her fiancé, another police officer who was also at the demonstration, was at her side.

After the shooting people were cleared from surrounding offices in St James' Square.

Some had witnessed events from their workplace.

Film maker Ray Barker said people were stunned by what had happened.

"Several of my colleagues burst into tears. It was unbelievable that sort of thing could happen at such an insignificant demonstration," he said.

Marksmen

Journalist Brian Cartmell was in St James' Square just feet away from Yvonne Fletcher when she was hit.

"She crumpled to the floor clutching her lower stomach and groin and rolled on to her right-hand side with a look of total surprise on her pretty face," Mr Cartmell said.

The Libyan building is now surrounded by armed police officers including specialist marksmen.

However, Home Secretary Leon Brittan has said the police are prepared to wait and deal with the situation in a peaceful way.

Police officers are in touch with those inside the Libyan People's Bureau via a special telephone link.

The Libyans, led by Colonel Gaddafi, are blaming Britain's police and security forces for "attacking" their embassy.

Libyan soldiers have now surrounded Britain's embassy in Tripoli trapping 18 diplomats inside.



In Context
Diplomatic relations with Libya were severed on 23 April.
British diplomats in Libya who had been trapped in their embassy were allowed to leave.

The Libyans were ordered out of UK and left peacefully but due to their diplomatic immunity police were unable to question suspects before they went.

However, in 1986 a British businessman who had worked for Colonel Gaddafi's regime reported WPC Fletcher's killer had been hanged as soon as he returned to Libya.

Britain restored diplomatic relations with Libya in 1999 after the Libyan Government admitted it bore "general responsibility" for WPC Fletcher's death.

It also paid a six-figure sum in compensation to her family.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

dood, this stuff is from 1984? 1986? If they are now on "the right path", how long do we punish them for the past? Shouldn't they be rewarded for giving up WMDs, renouncing terror, etc? I'm not saying they're blameless & we shouldn't proceed cautiously, but if they're not rewarded in some way, who will see an incentive to follow in their footsteps?

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Libya has a few problems with Al-Q at the moment, so we can let them get on with it or help them and since Al-Q is everybody's problem I suppose we should help them.

[DeltaWhisky58]

ShadowNeo wrote:

Although Tony Blair isn't exactly my favourite Prime Minister ever, I personally think he's doing the right thing here.

Thank goodness you're probably still below voting age. Gaddafi has been sponsoring world terrorism since long before you were born. The sooner Blair goes, the happier and safer the free world will be.

What a shame Baroness Thatcher is now 78 - what a leader, she wouldn't have gone grovelling to a terrorist psychopath like Gaddafi.

[Geezah]

ShadowNeo wrote:

Although Tony Blair isn't exactly my favourite Prime Minister ever, I personally think he's doing the right thing here.

Thank goodness you're probably still below voting age. Gaddafi has been sponsoring world terrorism since long before you were born. The sooner Blair goes, the happier and safer the free world will be.

What a shame Baroness Thatcher is now 78 - what a leader, she wouldn't have gone grovelling to a terrorist psychopath like Gaddafi.

Hurrah....I agree 110%

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Steady on boys Milk Snatcher did cosy up to a few despots in her time and even in her dotage she still keeps in touch with one or two. I get pretty worked up about her great friendship with Ronald Reagan closest of allies and all that which is funny because Reagan did nothing to stem the flow of cash and weapons coming from the states or assist in the extradition of terrorists some even stayed on until the good friday agreement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/300000/images/_304516_pinochet_thatcher300.jpg

[Gringo]

I agree that it is the right thing to do here. The West has the chance to get a diplomatic solution to Libya, sieze it. However, giving him military support is a definate no!

[cut]

For those of you Yanks who think the sun shines out of Tony Blair's arse...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3563473.stm

He's doing this on behalf of the yanks, this is all part of rewarding the Lybians for doing what the US wanted it to, giving up its WMD program.

[ShadowNeo]

Thank goodness you're probably still below voting age. Gaddafi has been sponsoring world terrorism since long before you were born. The sooner Blair goes, the happier and safer the free world will be.

What a shame Baroness Thatcher is now 78 - what a leader, she wouldn't have gone grovelling to a terrorist psychopath like Gaddafi.

I may be young by comparisson to yourself but i'm not that young. I am not naive enough to think that Gaddafi hasn't done things wrong in the past, but from my viewpoint continuing to ignore him after he is making some positive steps would be irresponsible.

Also, I do consider myself quite able to decide who I will vote for, and I didn't say that I would vote for Blair, did I? ;)

[Flagg]

It's a shame how a bastard like Quaddafi can go from being viewed as a vilified and isolated terrorist supporting tyrant yesterday, to a publicly recognized "national leader" today.....just because he decided to "change teams".


I agree, invite a bunch of Libyan officers to study at Sandhurst....

let the spooks recruit them all....god knows they'll try

and "encourage" them to retire that thug Quaddafi...

Or if you're in a hurry to "fix" things.....invite Quaddafi on a state visit to the UK...first stop.....a "tour" of the Metropolitan Police Headquarters.

[usa320]

Libya has made progress, and this will help the UK as well...

I think its a good deal.

No different than the US helping Yemen.

[khukuri]

well its like that
when you deal with politics you have to do it with youre brain and not with youre feelings. I hate the bastard too but i think its a good step to solve things.