Nick Smith, March 7, 2004

Last week, I went as part of a Congressional Delegation to Libya, a country in Northern Africa that extends deep into the Saharan desert. The size of Alaska, most of Libya’s 5.5 million people live on the Mediterranean coast. Its cities are not unlike our Midwestern towns, although there were no shopping malls and streets were lined with individual, one-story shops. Representing the United States, we met with legislators, Libyan leader Moammar Gaddaffi, and Libyan citizens. The people were talkative, friendly, and happy to see Americans. I met with medical students from Al Fetah University who were anxious to practice their English, and they gave me a book on the medicinal properties of plants.

On the plane, I did not know what to expect. Libya had supported terrorist regimes that killed Americans and others throughout the 1980s, including the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, killing 270 people over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. On the other hand, Libya recently renounced terrorism and admitted that it had nuclear and chemical weapons programs and invited American, British, and UN inspectors in to dismantle those programs. I wondered which was the real Libya.

I attended the opening of the 27th session of the Libya’s General People’s Congress, called the Great Jamahiriya. Gaddaffi spoke for an hour and a half, saying many encouraging things. He renounced his weapons programs. He said he recognized the dangers if terrorists got weapons of mass destruction, "For people such as the Taliban or a terrorist to come into possession of [weapons of mass destruction] would be a catastrophe for the world. If the Taliban got a bomb, they would not hesitate to use it."

Gaddaffi used to call himself the Revolutionary Leader, but now seems to understand that the revolution is over. "It used to be a serious crime just to have the Israeli flag in Egypt, and now things have changed... They have a peace with Israel," he said. "The IRA used to fight in the heart of London. This is no longer the case. Now the IRA and the Government of England have come to a resolution of their differences." And Libya is left out. Libya’s allies in terror either made peace or were defeated. Gaddaffi appears to be taking that lesson to heart.

How should the United States proceed? Ronald Reagan’s policy toward the Soviet Union was "trust but verify". That is the way forward today also. When Libya accepted responsibility and made payments to the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing, the UN lifted its sanctions. When Libya let our inspectors in to dismantle their weapons programs, we allowed American travelers and business to go to Libya. As long as Libya acts responsibly and fulfills its obligations, we will be open to improving relations. Gaddaffi also recognized that we are not colonists. He pointed out that we left our Libyan military base in 1970 without objection after they asked us to leave.

Libya’s change appears to be a great success in the War on Terror. Once it became clear that the United States intended to defeat terrorism everywhere, Libya embraced the international community. Libya can be a model for rogue states like Syria, Iran, and North Korea. They are all lead by military leaders with weapons of mass destruction. Now they can all look to Libya as a way forward. Libya’s example, if real, can be the catalyst for dramatic changes in Africa and the Middle East.

Congressman Nick Smith, a Republican, represents Michigan's 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.