Libya, oh Libya

Oh have you seen Libya - Libya the ta-a-tooed lady. Okay, now you know - I'm a hard core Marx Brothers fan. It's Sunday, and the world is absurd. I am resigned. Join 'em.

In return for the promise to end its illegal weapons programme, the US will gradually lift its sanctions, freeing up Libya's oil industry. At present there are no economic relations between the two countries and Washington has a ban on US passport-holders visiting Libya without official permission. That could now end if sanctions are lifted and, judging by Bush's enthusiastic welcome of this about-turn, it cannot come soon enough.

"As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation it can become a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East. Should Libya pursue internal reform, America will be ready to help its people to build a more free and prosperous country. Another message should be equally clear: leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations."

Bush's words were warm and effusive, as indeed they should have been given the rewards that await the US oil industry if sanctions are lifted. During the 1980s , US firms were producing one million barrels of Libyan oil per day and, according to a recent report, new technology could see this double. One firm which would benefit from this is the Halliburton Corporation, whose chief executive until recently was the US vice-president, Dick Cheney.  article

Gasp.

And, hey, tucked at the bottom of this article, is this bit.

No sooner had the arrest been announced than his popularity rating soared to a new high of 63% and those who thought he was pursuing the correct policy in Iraq increased from 42% to 65%.

Now, you know I don't put any real stock in polls, but if this is actually what's happening, it confirms my worst fears about Americans - stupid. Let's see, the Oaf was not pursuing the correct policy, but now that he got Saddam, he is. How does that work? The policy being pursued didn't change. What it would seem to be saying is that a large percentage of Americans think that Double-face's policy in Iraq should have been to get rid of Saddam Hussein. Or perhaps that before Hussein was "captured", they didn't think that's what the policy was, but now they do. Maybe they need to get a little clearer picture of just exactly what the Oaf's policy in Iraq is.

Of course, that could prove very difficult to get.

I know. Stop insisting things make sense.

Bush is adamant Saddam's trial will be fair and transparent, but one thing seems to have escaped the planners. Power will transfer to a new administration in July and then, as Mouwafak al-Rabii of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council points out, the Iraqis will be on their own to deal with Saddam: "We will get sovereignty on June 30 – he could be executed on July 1."

Whoops.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.