US 'to build Libyan nuclear plant'

I'm not even sure what to say about this, so I'll let the story tell itself.

According to Al-Jazeera:

The US is to help Libya build its first-ever nuclear power plant according to the African nation's official news agency, Jana.

...snip...

There was no immediate confirmation of the deal from the US, but any such agreement would continue a considerable thawing of relations between the two countries.

Well I guess Gaddafi is a Good Ol' Boy now.

Guma El-Gamaty, a researcher on Libyan affairs, told Al Jazeera: "It is a significant reward for Gaddafi and a sign of how far relations between America and Libya have come.

"Gaddafi's regime has become strong ally of America in its 'war on terror' ... supplying information about Islamic groups around the world that may prove a threat to the US."

He said: "This will send a diplomatic signal to other more crucial countries, like Iran and North Korea, that if they follow Libya's example and completely capitulate and give up to American pressure and toe the American line ... they will be rewarded."

I am personally in favor of nuclear energy. But I'd like to know a lot more about this alleged deal before I'll feel comfortable with it.

The deal to be signed shortly with the US would include building a nuclear power plant, helping develop water desalination capacity, joint research and technical projects and training Libyan technicians in the US.

[Update]
Here's some background info, via BBC:

Sanctions were lifted after Libya ended its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, and the US and UK have resumed diplomatic ties.

Libya was also removed from the US list of state sponsors of terror, a major step towards international rehabilitation.

Last year, Libya and France signed an accord for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Sorry for the lack of insight here, but I'm speechless. I'll update if I can find out more info. Talk amongst yourselves.

[Update]
The BBC reports that the deal is not what Libya is reporting:

But a US official told Reuters news agency that the Jana report "vastly overstates things".

•  tips/flames/recs?

  I'm off to dig up more info.

  by rioduran on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 07:43:36 AM PDT

•  Sorry

  eh...I must have been sleeping...when did we get cozy with Qadhafi? I seem to remember he was demonized in the same vein as Castro, Saddam, Milosevic, and Kim.

  by Nathaniel Ament Stone on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 07:51:06 AM PDT

•  Is there a Halliburton contract involved?

  Why did Halliburton announce they are moving to Dubai?

  General Electric manufactures nuclear plant components.

  Are any of these, so called, American companies loyal to America?

  I'm asking, does anyone have any answers?

  by paul2port on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 07:52:14 AM PDT

•  If confirmed this has got to be a plus for Iran.

  Why would Iran give nuclear material to terrorists and not Gaddafi? Iraq and Iran are more and more sounding like a Halburton contrivance to increase profits through their man in the Whitehouse, the CEO who was never anything but the CEO of Haliburton, on loan to the government.

  Learning a lot around here about realities.

  by makemyday9 on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 07:58:32 AM PDT

  •  well ya know...

    they create their own reality.

    I tend to agree with you on the Halliburton contrivance. And to think, I actually had people tell me in 2000 that they were voting for Bush/Cheney because they thought by doing so they'd get cheaper gas prices.

    by rioduran on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 08:19:09 AM PDT

•  I'll tell you why you are speechless:

  That quote that you had:

     Sanctions were lifted after Libya ended its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, and the US and UK have resumed diplomatic ties.

     Libya was also removed from the US list of state sponsors of terror, a major step towards international rehabilitation.

     Last year, Libya and France signed an accord for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

  We apparently had sanctions on Libya because they had a nuclear weapons program.  In other words, they had a nuclear weapons program just FOUR years ago, and we thought they could not be trusted with nuclear weapons.  If we thought they could be trusted, we would not have had sanctions against them.

  Now, four years later, we are helping them get nuclear power.  Of course, the problem with this is, once they have nuclear power, they will then be very close to having the technologoy with which to make a bomb.

  So the question is this:  how is it that just four years ago, we had sanctions on them for going after nuclear weapons, and now we are HELPING them get nuclear power, which would advance any nuclear weapons plan they have in the future?  In addition, the nuclear plants could be used as a cover for the acquring of nuclear materials.  Libya could say, "We are acquiring these materials for our nuclear program," while they are actually using the materials for a nuclear program.

  Has the U.S. forgotten all the harsh talk we used to have against Libiya?  This is nuts.  Bush acts like he is ready to go to war with Iran because they are going for nuclear power and possibly nuclear weapons, but Libya, who we had sanctions against four years ago for tying for nuclear weapons is now our friend and we help them get nuclear power?  Geez.  The Bush Administration is the most screwed up administration in history.

  Steven Joseph :)

  by StevenJoseph on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 09:27:54 AM PDT

  •  thank you

    I knew there was something I wanted to say about it but having posted the diary after reading the story after only 1.5 hours of sleep, the most my brain could do was think to copy and paste.
    Thank you for pulling it all together. It IS nuts. They were considered a rogue nation not too long ago.

    by rioduran on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:18:41 PM PDT

•  Add two more links to stories

  in the media:
  Forbes-'US set to help Libya build first nuclear power plant
  03.12.07'
  and
  Ynet-'Libya says will sign nuclear power deal with US'
   The money quote was from Forbes (heh):

  The draft agreement approved by MPs on Sunday provides for Libyan students to receive training in nuclear technology in the United States and for the establishment in Libya of a regional centre for nuclear medicine, the news agency said.

  The proposed agreement between the United States and its longtime enemy Libya comes as Washington intensifies its campaign against the nuclear programme of its arch-foe Iran.

     Embarrassment or carrot to Iran?

    Thanks to Tom Hartmann for alerting me to this, and to the diarist.

  by KenBee on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 03:00:29 PM PDT