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January 31, 2005

GADDAFI REPORT: THE LATEST ON LIBYA'S ANSWER TO THE OSBOURNES

Gaddafi on allegations of complicity in plot to assassinate Crown Prince Abdullah: "Accusing Libya of being a country that sponsors terrorism is a very dangerous thing. That has psychological repercussions. Libya could argue, 'Since I am still on the terrorist list, why not commit terrorism, which I am accused of anyway. Why should I pay the price without getting something in return?'"

On the possibility of Iraqi-style elections in Libya: "What for? We have surpassed that stage you are presently in. All the people are in power now. Do you want them to regress & elect somebody to replace them? Libyans are in paradise."

On Libya's glorious history:  "The Libyans helped liberate Italy from fascism. The Italians don't like to remember this—the black side of the story. But the Libyans suffered as much as the Italians from fascism."

On the Axis of Evil: “The North Korean nuclear problem is a serious &  dangerous issue, &  North Korea & Iran should take some measures Libya took."

Libya awarded its first contracts to U.S. companies in 18 years.15 licenses offered for onshore & offshore oil & gas exploration & will offer 40 more next month. Libya produces 1.6m barrels per day & hopes to raise this to 2.1m  by 2010. French financier: "Libya is very strange - people do not want to make decisions, & everything seems to go to the very top, to Gaddafi."

Son Seif al-Islam: "My father has been promoting the idea of direct democracy in Libya for almost 26 years now."

Unidentified Western consultant on the Colonel: "He's just like George Bush. He's a conviction politician. Sometimes he's fanatical, but he really believes what he believes."

Seif on Libyan politics: "We don't have an opposition - there is no opposition."

On succeeding his father:  "My father does not have any official position in the Libyan state. He is not a king or a president or a prime minister & thus does not have a job to transfer to anyone. He is the Guide of the Revolution. And that is something unique to him, something that cannot be transmitted to any heir by an act of will. In any case my father does not believe in hereditary rule."

Seif on Arab denial of the Holocaust: "It is incorrect to deny the Holocaust because I think the Holocaust is a fact." (Flashback - the Colonel on Israel: "Israel is nothing but a mirage, something that does not exist.")

Seif on insurgent killers in Iraq: "The result is clear, that it's an illegal occupation & therefore people should resist it."

Oakland's own Heavenly States first rock band to play Libya, & first Westerners since Anita Bryant c. 1963. Lead singer Ted Nesseth: "I'm going to be the new Elvis in Arabic lands." (Nesseth in 2004: "If I were John Kerry, I would go up to Dave Matthews & say, Dude, please don't tour the swing states. You're crampin' our f*ckin' style.")

See also Libya's Modern-Sounding Son; Anita Bryant Fact Page

Posted by Jeff at January 31, 2005 06:46 AM

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