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On Death Row in Tripoli

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 09:20:07 AM EST
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This injustice needs further dissemination:

Six innocent people facing execution by firing squad. Six medical workers - five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor - were found guilty last year of "deliberately" infecting over 400 children with HIV at a hospital in Libya. They are currently on death row in Tripoli.

In effect, these people are hostages of the Libyan government, who wish to trade them for billions of dollars in "compensation", or even for the release of the so-called Lockerbie bomber imprisoned in Scotland. The "Benghazi Six" are, of course, wholly innocent. This was proven by the most important HIV researcher in the world, Dr Luc Montagnier, co-discoverer of the virus.

More details are available here and here. The BMSP has written an open letter to the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, appealing for him to release the six medics. They have secured the signatures of Noam Chomsky, Sir Ian McKellen, and many others .

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    On Death Row in Tripoli | 34 comments (34 topical)
    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 09:58:14 AM EST
    Colonel Gaddafi - once a blackmailer... always a blackmailer.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 10:13:44 AM EST
    Didn't bush make friends with old Gaddafi some times back? and as far as getting billions from Bulgarians it is not going to happen, but i see a little bush doing business here. And as far as kids and HIV Go its normal in that part of the world. Its a political thing to do state murder and the Doctor is a palestinian right? the nurses are all muslim right? and yes business of that part of the world is terror, and the six are hostages so what is new? Free the six bomb Gaddafi rat.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 10:41:55 AM EST
    Fred - No, Bush didn't becomes friends with Gaddafi renounced WMD's due to watching his bud Saddam get wipped, so why do you think there is love involved? Oh, I know! BHAW. et al - Sounds like the Colonel needs another midnight visit from the USAF.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#4)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:02:45 AM EST
    Why a midnight visit? Why not a full scale ground war? Whats the foreign oil development look like in Libya? What does this have to do with the US anyways? Don't we have our hands full policing Afghanistan and Iraq right now? Let the Bulgarians mount an offensive, this is not for us to worry about.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:14:17 AM EST
    Johnny - Ah, come on. Don't be cheap. All we need is one little B52...

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:15:50 AM EST
    I say we invade Libya. Kill a hundred thousand civilians and countless combatants. Send the ones who are fortunate to live through the invasion to Saudi Arabia so we can torture the truth out of them. Set up a puppet US regime. Make enemies out of all european nations. Then call G.W. a cowboy. Oh, thats right, I almost forgot. The oil there doesn't make it worth Haliburton's time or money. Oh well, I guess die.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#7)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:55:10 AM EST
    Bush on Libya/Ghadafi, 12-2003: Colonel Ghadafi's commitment, once it is fulfilled, will make our country more safe and the world more peaceful. Libya should also fully engage in the war against terror. Its government, in response to the United Nations Security Council Lockerbie demands, has already renounced all acts of terrorism and pledged cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. We expect Libya to meet these commitments, as well. As the Libyan government takes these essential steps and demonstrates its seriousness, its good faith will be returned. As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation, it can be a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East. The world especially Libya, is not a safer place......

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:55:10 AM EST
    Dagma, Your vitriolic sarcasm, usually very offensive, is very appropriate and on target here. Good point. I'm thinking... why the F**k is this guy still around. Haven't we been trying to assasinate him as long as we've been trying to kill Castro? And, if we can't get rid of a clown like this hiding in plain sight, how the hell are we thinking we're going to catch Osama and Zarquawi? I think Kaddafi is like the BTK killer, who missed the excitement he generated in the community and started sending the police clues after twenty years off. Kadaffi misses his fix of international attention when targeted by the U.S. and, not caring one whit about his people, happily provokes us and relishes the negative attention. Maybe we should hire BTK as a civilian interrogator? Despite my beliefs, this is a guy I'd relish seeing a pic of with underwear on his head.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 12:56:41 PM EST
    mfox - We haven't been trying to assisanate anyone for years and years. I think it was an off shoot of the Church Committee, which BTW, destroyed our human intelligence capabilities, that made it illegal. But, of course, having made the world we live in, no good Leftie would admit to grievous errors in judgement. Heck, if they did, then they'd have to accept responsbility.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#10)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 04:59:09 PM EST
    Come on Jim, I am a leftie and I readily admit to greivous errors-witness the entire decade of the 80's!

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#11)
    by scarshapedstar on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 06:23:23 PM EST
    You know, Clinton probably shouldn't have let Monica under the desk. Oh no, mistake admitted, brain melting.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 06:46:31 PM EST
    I am deeply touched. Yes touched, by your deep and well thought out responses.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#13)
    by Johnny on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:14:38 PM EST
    LOL Jim

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#14)
    by chupetin on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:39:26 PM EST
    Why dont you find out the truth about Libya's about face re weapons of mass destruction or is right-wing propaganda the only thing you know Jim? Dont ask for link either, the info is right there if you care to look.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:46:47 PM EST
    I'm pretty new to this site, but I think I have the World according to a good chunk of the left: George W. Bush is responsible for militant Islam, 9/11, the war, poverty, global warming, the tsunami, Saddam, Qaddafi, Kim Jong Il, the Chinese military buildup, expensive cable, and Madonna's career tanking. Bush was no doubt on the grassy knoll in Dallas, and his true Vietnam records show he led he My Lai massacre right before he created AIDS in his secret lab underneath Southfork. He flew the lead plane at Pearl Harbor. In a single day, Bush invented roller disco and the CB radio craze. He was the creative genius behind "The Dukes of Hazzard." He fired the gun and pushed John Wilkes Booth over the balcony. He destroyed the environment and killed off the Wooly Mammoth. He's Monica Lewinsky's father. He's the guy behind telemarketers and spam. He burned off Mars' atmosphere when he robbed it of all of its oil atmosphere from his Halliburton's secret base on the dark side of the moon. Eventually he's going to cause our sun to turn into a red giant and burn our planet to a cinder. Come on, people. Surely the Left is more intelligent than to be led around by the nose by fear of the Bush Boogeyman? Broaden the view and consider that there are other actors affecting our world. Pinning everything on a scapegoat keeps you on the fringes and out of the real debate.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#16)
    by soccerdad on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 02:15:23 AM EST
    true blue - you're a troll

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 02:44:40 AM EST
    I'm hurt, Soc. Nah, not really. I'm realizing that namecalling is a favored pastime of a lot of people here. I think it's unfortunate because it's juvenile and interferes with the message, but I'm realizing that that is how some people communicate. I'm here for discussion, and if you'd check my other posts you'd see that. I'm right-wing conservative, although somebody just called me a centrist Democrat and I just referred to Manzanar on the ankle bracelet thread. I come here because I enjoy lively political discussion and the interchange of ideas. I could hang out on the conservative sites, but who wants to hear people agreeing with each other all day? I can only hope that there's others on this site that feel the same way and appreciate somebody voicing a dissenting view -- even if it irritates them to hear it. I don't call names, don't apply labels, and if I get sarcastic at times, it's because there's a point. I'm not a troll, because if you look you'll find that I might agree with someone on one thread and disagree with them on another. The point of my post above was that I started reading a thread about Qaddafi putting innocent people at the point of a gun for extortion purposes. Instead, it appeared to be devolving to some extent into the same tired mantra blaming Bush. I realize that some weren't doing that, but others were. In my opinion, the Left needs to stop playing "six degrees of separation" connecting Bush to every evil in the world and start defining things in its own terms. Rather than crying about Bush, how about taking the high road and condemning Qaddafi for his actions and recommending diplomatic, information, economic, or (gasp) military actions to take to bring him into the standards expected of civilized society? It's easy to sit back and say "Bush is doing it wrong." It's harder, but more effective, to show a better way and let people fill in the gaps for themselves.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#18)
    by soccerdad on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 03:20:36 AM EST
    trueblue - thanks for propping up another strawman.
    I don't call names, don't apply labels,
    yet you wrote this
    I'm pretty new to this site, but I think I have the World according to a good chunk of the left: George W. Bush is responsible for militant Islam, 9/11, the war, poverty, global warming, the tsunami, Saddam, Qaddafi, Kim Jong Il, the Chinese military buildup, expensive cable, and Madonna's career tanking.
    Your not interested in discussion, you are interested only in try to show us how wrong we all are. Pot meet kettle. What a joke

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 03:55:39 AM EST
    Soc: Did you read my post at all? The quote you provided doesn't support the point you're trying to make. I said I don't apply labels or call names. Where did I do that in the quote you provided? Did I say "So and so is an idiot, extremist, moron, troll, or any of the other invective some people spew? Nope. Read my other posts. You'll see agreement with some of the more left-leaning members of these forums on some topics. Trying to show flaws in another's logic is what opposition does. You evaluate my arguments, and I evaluate yours. If you think you have a right to live in a world where no one disagrees with your opinion, what does that imply? I value the opinions expressed on these posts, and that includes yours. But that doesn't mean I have to agree with them. That'd be pretty boring, wouldn't it? You'll also note on the Byrd thread that I'll admit an error if facts prove me wrong. I'm not threatened by the presence of an opposing viewpoint. Are you?

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#20)
    by soccerdad on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 04:15:50 AM EST
    Grow up and stop parsing tell us we all believe x and y etc etc is just another form of labeling and dismissing our views as meaningless. So thats what you call discussion? You're another PPJ but with better writing skills.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 05:28:09 AM EST
    Whatever, Soc. FWIW I said "a good chunk" of the Left. I could just as easily say "a good chunk" of the Right is too worried about security to worry about civil liberties. That doesn't mean it's a personal dig at an individual, nor do I think most people on this forum would object to that statement. Am I labeling? BTW, thanks for the compliment on the writing skills. In return, I'll say that I admire your dedication to your beliefs.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#22)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 07:12:13 AM EST
    Trueblue, Nice that you came in with an open mind. Maybe you would feel more at home at LGF or The Drudge Report (Sorry but Talon folded, NOW I'm shedding crocodile tears). This site is called TalkLEFT, so don't get all indignant when your right wing trolling (yes that's exactly what it is) elicits a negative response. Just what are your"centrist views anyway. And may I remind you that there are Libertatians, socialists and independents commenting here also. When you lump everyone together like that it only shows your immature political view.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 08:17:42 AM EST
    PPJ.... - Sounds like the Colonel needs another midnight visit from the USAF. Ah, come on. Don't be cheap. All we need is one little B52...> Took the words right out of my mouth!

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 08:30:42 AM EST
    true blue.... soc sez...- you're a troll Ha...welcome to the jungle! As you can see, any disagreement here gets you that immediate (& very juvenile) moniker. Keep plugging. There are many of us here looking for a good debate & an education on what the 'other' side thinks. And you will find some on here actually will engage you and not call you names...good luck. By the way… I really enjoyed your post about all the evils Bush has been blamed for ...LOL...

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 08:34:24 AM EST
    oops...above was me

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#26)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 08:38:44 AM EST
    "In my opinion, the Left needs to stop playing "six degrees of separation" connecting Bush to every evil in the world" When you chastise someone for name calling and immature behavior and in the same post accuse an entire population of peoples defined herein as "left" of "connecting bus to all evil", your post loses all of its credibility. Here is the problem and perhaps you can satisfy the argument as I see it. Relative to the story on this thread, Bush has been outspoken on Libya's transformation as a direct result of the actions the US has taken in Afghanistan and Iraq. I would argue differently but that is not an issue. It would seem to me that the story reflects Ghadafis lack of humanity and the thought of killing health care professionals trying to help his people demonstrates a serious disregard for human life. It would also seem to me that this situation is an international concern as the medical personnel are foreign nationals ergo international intervention is required. I would argue that the President of the US should not make a statement regarding these victims of Gadhafi however, I think that it is imperative that an Ambassador or someone from the state department should go on record condemning the sentences and challenge Gadhafi's government to re-examine its decision. The 6 degrees of separation is a valid argument however, there is a perception that Bush and this administration does not admit mistakes or failures and is quick to claim responsibility for progress that may or may not be a direct result of their policies. Bush has taken full credit for Libyas decision to disarm. I believe that if he is correct that his policy is completely responsible for their transformation as he indicated in 2003, his administration has an obligation to denounce this obvious violation of human rights. If we are going to "talk tough", let's be consistent. Let's demonstrate a legitimate concern for globale human rights, not just the safety of the American people. The rhetoric coming out of the administration is that the world is a safer place and we are quick to criticize North Korea, Iran etc. This is an easy one as I see it. A state department official makes a statement that tells Libya to "get in line" with the rest of the "free nations" and condemns the gross violation of human rights. I don't think any of us think Bush is responsible for the situation in Libya, but I would argue that many would be in favor and applaud a message from our government (esp the state dept) that made it clear to Libya in no certain terms that this was unacceptable.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 10:36:23 AM EST
    Trueblue, you are officially outed as a liar and a hypocrite. Posted by trueblue at March 3, 2005 03:44 AM
    The point of my post above was that I started reading a thread about Qaddafi putting innocent people at the point of a gun for extortion purposes. Instead, it appeared to be devolving to some extent into the same tired mantra blaming Bush. I realize that some weren't doing that, but others were.
    As I didn't recall Bush being the main point of discussion I went above your post and found TWO, (Count them, one, two) references to Bush the first was the statement:
    Didn't bush make friends with old Gaddafi some times back?
    The implication is that now that Libya is Kowtowing instead of posturing, we don't care about their human rights abuses and they are offically "exempt" from the Axis of Evil. The second reference to GW is actually a direct QUOTE of his concerning LIBYA, which speaks to his perceived hypocricy re: taking action in Libya to "spread democracy" Libya should also fully engage in the war against terror. Its government, in response to the United Nations Security Council Lockerbie demands, has already renounced all acts of terrorism and pledged cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. We expect Libya to meet these commitments, as well. [my emph.] You say:
    It's easy to sit back and say "Bush is doing it wrong."
    Can you show me where anyone on this thread says anything like that? In addition, you state: Trying to show flaws in another's logic is what opposition does. You evaluate my arguments, and I evaluate yours

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 10:41:51 AM EST
    Oops, s/been quote button I pressed, not post. Trueblue, no body hear rejects logic. But if you want namecalling, I could, in about three minutes, pull up and post way more name-calling and insults generated by your threadbuddies PPJ and Burgerboy towards me and others in response to logic than you could find among all the left wing commenters. Except for troll, which I don't see as an insult as much as a blog moniker of sorts. I'm sure the right would consider me a troll on their sights. Some are actually proud to be called this. So, I hope in the name of fairness, you divest from your wingnut friends when their trueblue colors show.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#29)
    by cp on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 12:24:55 PM EST
    trueblue, reading anything you wrote, after your first post, would be a waste of time, that i wouldn't be able to recover. btw, if bush really is responsible for both "roller disco" and "the dukes of hazzard", that alone is reason enough to get rid of him. everything else pales besides the cultural havoc he wreaked with those two items!

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 05:59:24 PM EST
    OK, let me take another tack here. Suppose you're in the market for a new car, and you have your eye on a Ford. But you want to keep your options open so you walk into a Chevy dealer. Mind you, this is academic -- I don't mean anything against Ford or Chevy. "Tell me why I should buy a Chevy," you ask. The dealer then goes into a diatribe of everything that's wrong with Fords, and how Ford has wrecked the automobile industry. You feel like he didn't answer your question. So you try to engage him and sit in the car. "It looks to me like the Ford has more legroom," you say. "You're lying." The dealer responds. Most people would walk at this point, because they wouldn't appreciate being insulted by someone who claims to want their business. But you point out that your impression of a legroom difference appeared to be backed by the brochures. "Look," the dealer replies. "You're obviously not in here to buy a car, and a person like you can't appreciate how much better the Chevy is." Contrast that scenario with the Chevy dealer that says, "Look, don't get me wrong. Ford makes a decent vehicle. They've got more legroom. But if you buy a Chevy you'll get 15% more horsepower, a better braking system, more overall interior space, more comfortable seats, OnStar, and it'll cost you $2,500 less." All I'm saying is that the Democratic Party needs to realize that it's in the minority and the key to regaining the majority is to sell the product to the voters. The US auto industry made a big mistake in the 70s when they ignored the Japanese threat because they assumed Japanese cars were inferior and that consumers felt the same way. It took them awhile to listen to their customers instead of their executives and start working to compete for the business. The Democratic Party, IMO, needs to recover the lost art of salesmanship and demonstrate to voters the superiority of the product, rather than just bashing the competition.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 06:18:45 PM EST
    Trueblue, demonstrating the superiority of the product is exactly what the Dems cannot do right now. I say let 'em go down. They deserve it. They don't even see the irony of their own comments. Conservatives deserve a better, more intelligent opposition.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 06:25:58 PM EST
    Here here, let 'em implode. They don't want constructive criticsm anyway.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#33)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 06:55:22 PM EST
    Nice avoidance of the topic which of course was Libya. You verify the complaints that the administration has a problem admitting wrongdoing or its shortcomings by not acknowledging them. The dems are suffering from a lack of a different platform as Kerry did not present himself as any stronger or different than Bush. 49% of this country did not vote for Bush as is typical with most recent elections. There was no overwhelming victory so I am hard pressed to believe that the dems are in deep trouble...... Being that I am a libertarian that prefers most left programs opposed to right, I would hope the left would get a plan together next election that is communicated better than Kerrys was.

    Re: On Death Row in Tripoli (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 03, 2005 at 07:56:16 PM EST
    I suppose people could look at the 49% and sit back and think that they're actually in pretty good shape. Or they can look at the fact that they've lost the House, Senate, and Presidency, and the GOP's margin grew in this election. Now their power position is pretty weak in the face of potential SOCUS nominations. But I've taken us way off the topic and I apologize for that. In an attempt to get us back on, I'll say that we need to remind Moammar that we made some progress based on his cessation of WMD programs, and he's on the cusp of getting out from under the sanctions he's been dealing with. It'd be a grave mistake for him to go the other way and jeopardize it all. He's a hard man -- if you don't play hardball with him he'll roll you.

    On Death Row in Tripoli | 34 comments (34 topical)