[jessefan]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ss_031221211124

Invasion of Iraq bore fruit in Libya: US press
Sun Dec 21, 4:11 PM ET Add Politics - AFP to My Yahoo!



WASHINGTON (AFP) - In a rare nod to President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s policy of pre-emptive force, major US dailies said that the invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) played a key role in Libya's decision to renounce illicit weapons of mass destruction.


AFP/File Photo



Papers that had been reporting US setbacks in Iraq for weeks and regularly criticized US unilateralism on their editorial pages credited Bush with a broad range of foreign policy advances over the week, capped by Libya's announcement Friday that it was abandoning its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.


Editorials in both The Washington Post and The New York Times said the invasion of Iraq certainly influenced Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, who contacted US and British officials to negotiate as the invasion was getting underway.


"Mr Kadhafi's timing, just as the invasion of Iraq was beginning, speaks for itself: the Libyan dictator chose to comply as it became clear that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s pursuit of illegal weapons would no longer be tolerated," a Washington Post editorial said.


"The fate of Saddam Hussein, who was ousted from power by the American military with British backing after endless prevaricating about Iraqi weapons programs, must have been an important consideration in Libya's decision," the Times concurred.


An analysis in the Post noted a string of positive developments over the week, from Saddam Hussein's capture to Kadhafi's announcement, and summed it up in a headline: "The 'Bush Doctrine' experiences shining moments."


They included decisions by France and Germany to forgive a portion of Iraqi debt, Iran's agreement to allow surprise inspections of nuclear facilities, and Syria's seizure of 23.5 million dollars in funds thought to be destined for al-Qaeda, the Post said.


"To foreign policy hard-liners inside and outside the administration, the gestures by Libya, Iran and Syria, and the softening by France and Germany, all have the same cause: a show of American might," the paper said.


"Those who developed the Bush Doctrine -- a policy of taking preemptive, unprovoked action against emerging threats -- predicted that an impressive US victory in Iraq would intimidate allies and foes alike, making them yield to US interests in other areas," it said.


Sanctions and international pressure played a role in Libya's about-face but the breakthrough came "only when the United States and Britain demonstrated in Iraq that evasion and defiance of a demand for disarmament would invite armed intervention," the Post editorial said.