SON RISE:

Blair meets Gadhafi, sees 'common cause' (MSNBC News Services, March 25, 2004)

In a state visit that marks Britain's willingness to welcome Libya back into the international community, British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Thursday, saying that the two shared a common goal in defeating the al-Qaida terrorist network.

After historic talks with the Libyan leader, Blair said Gaddafi recognized “a common cause with us in the fight against al-Qaida, extremism and terrorism, which threatens not just the Western world but the Arab world also.”

“We are showing by our engagement with Libya today that it is possible for countries in the Arab world to work with the United States and the U.K. to defeat the common enemy of extremist fanatical terrorism driven by al-Qaida", Blair said, "and to ensure we have a more secure world because of the absence of weapons of mass destruction.”

“I think it is a very, very important signal for the whole of the Arab world,” Blair added.

Ghaddafi's son: Arab leaders should embrace US reform proposals (Khaled Abu Toameh, Mar. 25, 2004, Jerusalem Post)

The son of Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, Saif al-Islam, said on Wednesday that his country would be prepared to compensate Jews who had lost their property in Libya. He also welcomed Libyan Jews to return to Libya and receive Libyan citizenship.

"In the future, we will open the file of compensation for Jews who lost their property and money," Saif al-Islam Ghaddafi said in an interview with al-Jazeera. "These people are Libyans, and therefore they will be compensated. We should call on the 30,000 Jews of Libyan origin who are living in Israel to return to Libya as citizens. This is their land and the land of their ancestors. That way, they will leave the country they took away from the Palestinians."

Ghaddafi's son said his country no longer viewed Israel as an enemy. "Until recently, Israel was an enemy," he said. "But things have changed, and the Palestinians, whom we supported with weapons, are saying that they don't want these weapons. In addition, neither Jordan nor Egypt wants a confrontation [with Israel]. We are not negotiating with Israel because it's not occupying our land; it's not a country with which we are in conflict, and we have no problems with it."

However, he stressed that Libya has no intention of recognizing Israel in the near future.

Saif al-Islam lashed out at the Arab states for failing to endorse democracy and reforms. He called on Arab leaders to agree to US demands to introduce democracy to their countries. "Instead of shouting and criticizing the American initiative, you have to bring democracy to your countries, and then there will be no need to fear America or your people," he said, addressing Arab rulers.

"The Arabs should either change or change will be imposed on them from outside," he said.

He denied reports that he is a candidate to succeed his father. "Many Arab countries are now following the policy of inherited leadership, but there are hundreds of Libyans who are better [suited] than I," Saif al-Islam said.

He even praised Israel, saying that unlike Arab countries, sons do not tend to succeed their fathers in power there.

"We don't place the appropriate person in the right place, but Israel is a democratic country," he added.

Saif al-Islam joins King Mohammed of Morocco and the sons of the Shah and Ayatollah Khomeini as a hopeful sign that there are leaders in this generation who see comprehend the End of History.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 25, 2004 4:59 PM