The missing context in Obama’s speech on Libya

[alp227]

by Glenn Kessler, "The Fact Checker" blog at washingtonpost.com

In terms of fact-checking the president’s speech, we did not find any major errors. But some elements of the speech require some further context.

“ For more than four decades, the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant, Moammar Gaddafi. He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, and terrorized innocent people around the world, including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents.”

This is all true, but Obama neglected to say that in recent years, Gaddafi had been rehabilitated. In a deal with the Bush administration, he gave up his nascent weapons of mass destruction and paid $2.7 billion to settle claims relating to the Libyan-directed bombing of Pan Am 103.

Libya won a seat on the U.N. Security Council and then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2008 traveled to Tripoli to meet with Gaddafi. In 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warmly greeted national security adviser Mutassim Gaddafi—fourth son of the leader-- at the State Department, saying, “We deeply value the relationship between the United States and Libya. We have many opportunities to deepen and broaden our cooperation.” And Obama himself shook hands with the “tyrant” at an international summit.

Full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/the_missing_context_in_obamas_speech_on_libya/2011/03/29/AF0MkIxB_blog.html

[Lithos]

1. Do we need context for the context-checker?

I see more of an attempt to attack Obama than to correct any the factual statements of Gaddafi's exploitation of Libyans.

L-

[JuniperLea]

3. Ah yes, there's the point...

I wanted someone else to say it... so thanks!

[gateley]

5. And no acknowledgment that this was all part of a deal to rescind sanctions

so more Western companies could get in there and get their hands on the oil biz -- not only oil, but rebuilding the infrastructure. In return, Bush welcomes Qaddafi to his bosom and all is forgiven.

The "giving up" of the Lockerbie guy was just show to allow us to go "see? he's seen the light". And there are questions as to whether or not Qaddafi actually had the nuclear stuff or if that was part of the deal to make it more palatable to the World.

[JuniperLea]

2. While all that is true...

All bets are off when you threaten to turn whatever weapons you have on your own people... there's no instant rehabilitation for that... and it's no bad on Hillary or Condi for trying to get Qaddafi to keep playing by the rules.

That said, I'm not sure what your point is.

[tabatha]

4. Btw, Gaddafi strong-armed oil companies

to pay part of the $2.7 billion (don't know what %).

There are a number of reports of this on the web, including some companies, one or so (?), who would not be bullied.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Rehabilitated by the Bush Admin - like having Richard Burton as your AA sponsor