The Search for a Safer World Caravan Rolls On but It Must Move in Right Direction

Summary

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DIPLOMACY demands many fine qualities. Sometimes it requires a strong stomach. History does not yet relate whether this was the case in Downing Street yesterday when it came to welcoming Abdul Rahman Mohammed Shalgam, the Libyan foreign minister. This being a diplomatic milestone, manners were the order of the day. "The caravan is moving on," said Mr Shalgam. So much so that the way is now open for Mr Blair to journey to Libya at some point.

Given his transgressions, the speed at which Colonel Gaddafi has been rehabilitated is astonishing. While he will never be forgiven by many of the relatives of those killed in the bombing of Pan Am 103, or by the family and former colleagues of murdered WPC Yvonne Fletcher, he has done what was asked of him, notably handing over the Lockerbie suspects for trial. Contrast his fate with that of Saddam Hussein. While one dictator heads to jail (or worse), the other becomes the prodigal son. Weapons made the difference, but in an unexpected way. Iraq said it had none (a fact proven subsequently) but was invaded. Libya admitted having a massive WMD programme but agreed to disband it, and as a result is back in the diplomatic fold. To those who supported the war, Gaddafi's "surrender" is proof the big stick worked. Yet it can also be argued it was the carrots dangled before him - the lifting of sanctions, the possibility of billions of foreign dollars investment flowing into the country - that proved more effective.

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The Search for a Safer World Caravan Rolls On but It Must Move in Right Direction

The Libyan visit continued a week in which actions have screamed loude...

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