Libya

How times changes! America has restored full diplomatic ties with its former "Enemy No 1.", Libya. The Gadhaffi regime, previously believed to have sponsored terrorism (in fact, it admitted so) has bent over backward to regain the trust of the U.S., including paying reparations to familes affected by sponsored terrorism, abandoning all nuclear facilities and giving up anti-Israel stances. The White House is probably seizing on any opportunity for (relatively) stable allies in the Middle Eastern region. But the biggest reason, I believe, for the backflip by the US, is the massive untapped reserves of oil in Libya - oil that the 'States will have free market access to now. It should be noted, however, that the country is still undemocratic - it is still largely a police state. Of course, when there is Texas Tea on offer, such petty considerations do not matter.

As an aside, I was listening to "All Things Considered" - a current affair radio show on NPR (National Public Radio) in the US (re-broadcast on Radio National). Apparently, the Bush Administration is beginning to lose some of its hard-line support from the ultra-conservative right. And the Republicans will struggle unless the Evangelicans come out at vote - like that did in the last 2 elections. As a result, they are driving through a conservative agenda of Judicial appointments and laws (governing abortion, stem cell research and the like). In this haste to re-appease the ultra-right, the Administration will leave the U.S. with a regressive and even more backward (if that is possible) legacy.