President Obama Shakes Hands with Qadaffi
EmailAt the dinner hosted by the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, President Obama this evening shook hands with Libyan dictator Moammar Qadaffi, here representing African nations. As the leaders filed into a room at around 9 pm local time, President Obama and Qadaffi briefly greeted each other. Conservatives have criticized President Obama for shaking hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a summit earlier this year. Libya and the US have enjoyed an improvement in relations in recent years, as initiated by President Bush, though obviously the dictator's support of terrorism against the US in the past makes him a most distasteful character in the eyes of many Americans. Last November, then-President Bush called Qaddafi to tell him how pleased he was about a $1.5 billion payment by Libya for previous terrorist attacks, including the bombing a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland. Then-President Bush and Qaddafi, said then-White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe, "discussed that this agreement should help to bring a painful chapter in the history between our two countries closer to closure…While we will always mourn the loss of life as a result of past terrorist activities, the settlement agreement is an important step in repairing the relationship between Libya and the United States." Johndroe said that "Libya has taken important steps on the road to normalizing its relations with the international community, beginning with its renunciation in 2003 of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The United States will continue to work on the bilateral relationship with Libya, with the aim of establishing a dialogue that encompasses all subjects, including human rights reform and the fight against terrorism." Interestingly, when then-Sen. Obama was last in Russia before this trip, with Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., inspecting former nuclear weapons sites in the former USSR in 2005, Lugar had just come from Libya, where he'd been laying the groundwork for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Libya. Qadaffi remains quite eccentric, earlier today making an impromptu stop on his drive from Rome to L'Aquila. At the town of Arsoli, just on the border of the region of Lazion, the Libyan leader made his white limo stop and got out to walk along the A24 highway for about 15 minutes. ABC News' Dana Hughes reminds us that Qadaffi considers himself the "king of all kings" in Africa, and launched a forum last year with traditional rulers to make it "official." As head of the Africa Union he has been pushing hard for a "United States of Africa" with a single currency and army but without the democracy (which he says is un-African), and with him at the helm. — jpt Image courtesy: The Associated Press
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At least this time he didn’t bow.
Posted by: bubbles | July 9, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Yeah bubbles, that is something, but he still has just given Qadaffi a P.R. coup. You would have thought he would have learned from the back slap and grin he gave Chavez, but I guess not. America is not becoming more respected in the world, it is becoming seen as a cowardly appeaser to dictators the world over. Obama is Carter on steroids, and I sure as heck hate to repeat the 70′s, only worse this time.
Posted by: Jason | July 9, 2009, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
President Hussein – maybe while you are over there chumming around with terrorists like Quadaffi – give him everybody’s best regards from the Big J, Iowa-class Battleship USS New Jersey
#62
it was real nice what he did to that plane – give him a big hug and one of your big smiles, President Hussein; that man killed a lot of innocent people; probably got a gold star from your pal Reverend Wright
he knows #62
Mr. Quadaffi ………….. you know #62
Posted by: Matt Lechner | July 9, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Supercritics need to remember that Qadaffi will take heat at home for this as well. The terrorist acts he was behind years ago resulted in Reagan ordering a devastating attack on Tripoli that killed many people, including members of Qadaffi’s family. I think this is a brave move on both sides.
Posted by: matchew | July 9, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Oh great — Foxnation is going to freak out – again! Those people just don’t get it.
Posted by: hang | July 9, 2009, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
Two losers shacking hands… Go figure…
Posted by: no1really knows | July 9, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
My sister was a flight attendant on Pan AM flt 103 that was destroyed in-flight by a bomb planted by Quaddafi’s agent, Ali Megrahi. Megrahi is in a Scottish prison, but Quaddafi ordered the bomb to be planted.
To see my President shake hands with the man who ordered 270 Americans to death in December 1988 is an insult to not only myself, and my family, but to all Americans.
What is it going to take to wake this man wake up to the threat these terrorists pose to America?
Posted by: John Reina | July 9, 2009, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
matchew says: “I think this is a brave move on both sides.”
What planet are you on? Qadaffi sponsored terrorism and if he was at this meeting, Obama should not have been, much less be seen shaking his hand.
Posted by: Jason | July 9, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
@matchew:
How about the time when Mr. Bush called him personally and thanked him. As soon as he paid $1.5 billion for the bombing he was a good guy on “our side”. So Mr. cowboy essentially sold the memory of those dead for billion and a half.
Posted by: DG | July 9, 2009, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
@matchew:
I hope you’re not serious about your statement…Libya under Quaddafi has been a terrorist state, sponsoring terrorism for over 20 years.
When terrorism from a source like Quaddafi finally hits you personally, you won’t worry any longer about him “Taking heat” at home.
Posted by: John Reina | July 9, 2009, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
Ya gotta love the conservatives when they try to make stuff like this into a GOTCHA! moment of embarrassment for Democrats. It gives us the opportunity to, once again, show lovely pictures of Nixon shaking Kruschev’s hand, or Rumsfield shaking Saddam Hussein’s hand, of Georg Bush holding hands, like a little girl, with the Saudi Prince (didn’t he fund bin Laden?). I know desperate times call for desperate measures but the Rightwing loonies are outdoing themselves these days. They should just stick to betraying their own values and then blaming everyone else.
Posted by: theWalrus | July 9, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Yeah, the Right is correct. We should just be mad at everyone forever and bomb the crap out of them. Sure has worked well in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By the way, no one except the Right cares that he talked to Chavez. And if I recall, your President Bush kissed the Saudi’s and held their hands, but Obama can’t seem to bow without you guys having a freak-out (BTW: bowing is used like shaking hands in some countries, it is not a sign of submission, it is a sign of respect).
It is amazing how concerned the Right is suddenly about shaking hands with dictators and terrorists, when they never seem to have a problem with it when it is their side doing it.
Posted by: Brad | July 9, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
John Reina..I am truly sorry for your family’s loss…I just don’t get the reasoning behind this move???????
Posted by: Parallex View | July 9, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
@Brad,
This is not about the Right, or the Democratic Party in the U.S. It is about the President of the United States making nice with a man who sponsored the bombing of a nightclub in Rome, sent jet fighters to intercept our Mediterranean fleet in international waters in 1986, has contributed money, and his territory to sponsoring PLO training camps in Libya, and finally sponsored the attack on Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.
Once a terrorist, always a terrorist.
My political party affiliation has nothing to do with my beliefs that this man is an enemy(self-avowed) of our nation.
Posted by: John Reina | July 9, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
No bow this time? Or is this because Kaddaffi is just a dictator and not actually Islamic royalty. Fun to have as a friend or even mentor, sure, but not really to be much admired. And why no gifts from Kaddaffi? I realize that Libya has suffered some economic downturns due to sanctions but not even a book for Obama? Even Obama’s leftist dictators in poor South and Central American can afford to exchange propaganda books!
Posted by: Ed | July 9, 2009, 7:23 pm 7:23 pm
Did he apologize to Qadaffi yet?
Posted by: drjohn | July 9, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
John Reina ———— I completely agree. Obama has apologized and shook enough hands. Even some of his supporters have to be sick at the sight of this. I was hoping good from him even though I didn’t vote for him. Now, my support is gone and he is endangering our security.
Posted by: leefrjr | July 9, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
As we all learned from Reagan, it’s all about appearances. Doesn’t matter if you’re illegally selling missiles to known enemies, so long as you look like a tough cowboy on the evening news.
Posted by: Adam | July 9, 2009, 8:53 pm 8:53 pm
If I were a dictator, I would dress like Qadaffi. What’s the point of having absolute control of your country if you’re just going to dress like Kim Jong Il?
Posted by: MayBee | July 9, 2009, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
I’m sure the people in Syracuse are pleased, particularly the people who lost loved ones in the Pan Am Flight over Scotland. So are all of the former employees of Pan Am, whose company ultimately went bankrupt because of that crash. Maybe Obama should find a way to tax him….
Posted by: 4boatn | July 9, 2009, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
What is wrong with u conservative people? mere hand shaking does not mean anything more than policy that will favor or empower this dictator? President Obama did the right thing for diplomatic sake. It just a hand shake so take it easy.
Posted by: Paul juny | July 9, 2009, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
“On Monday, Gaddafi accomplished one of history’s great diplomatic turnarounds when Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice announced that the U.S. was restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya and held up the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as “a model” for others to follow.”
May 2006.
Can you say Bush administration boys and girls?
Posted by: danita | July 10, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am
John Reina, I am so sorry for your loss.
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 10, 2009, 2:04 am 2:04 am
KUDO’S to Jake Tapper for putting this into a bit of historical perspective!
That is sorely lacking from many MSM articles these days, and it does a huge disservice to the readers.
Keep up the good work Jake!
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 10, 2009, 2:06 am 2:06 am
You conservatives need to chill about Obama shaking hands with, well, anyone. Remember the wise words of Don Vito Corleone: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
Posted by: Gondo | July 10, 2009, 2:09 am 2:09 am
There are these little things called ‘protocol’ and ‘customs.’ As best I can tell, Bush used completely proper protocol, in accordance with and as a simple courtesy to the leader of another nation.
It appears, however, that Obama boffed this one — and that only subjects bow to the Saudi rulers, and its NOT appropriate coming from the leader of another nation. A rather embarrassing gaffe all the way around.
Its a shame that some slam Bush for him extending a simple courtesy – one that takes a bit of courage here in America no less – and following proper protocol.
Its worse that some try to use an example of proper protocol as a justification for why its somehow fine for Obama to screw up on protocol. A gaffe is a gaffe, no matter how ya spin it.
from just a quick google, from General Norman Schwarzkopf’s Arabic interpreter:
http://francona.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-saudi-customs-bowing-kissing-and.html
….In other situations in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, greetings between men are often accompanied by kisses and hand-holding. At first it is uncomfortable for Americans, but it is the local custom. Adapting to these customs goes a long way to building trust and rapport.
In all my dealings in the region, I was never pressured to pay any particular homage other than the normal respects and courtesies shown for our own senior leadership. The Saudi king did not expect a bow from the American president, and in my opinion, he should not have received it.
I assume Mr. Obama was attempting to show respect, as he should, but he needs to hire some better advisors on things Middle Eastern.
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 10, 2009, 2:23 am 2:23 am
I wonder if Qadaffi’s hand is still shaking from when Reagan nearly took out his sorry behind?
Posted by: Carlisle | July 10, 2009, 2:32 am 2:32 am
this is what our President thinks is foreign policy. shaking hands with murderers. sorry but i call that appeasement and i do not care what past president’s did or didnt do. this is not right.
Posted by: KurtTheInfidel | July 10, 2009, 8:48 am 8:48 am
i can not beleive that you would shake the hand of a man your country once tried to kill ???? maybe we are even going to give him a settlement. what a bunch of crap…..
Posted by: barny | July 10, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
Another picture for the scrapbook. But where to file it alphabetically. After Castro and Chavez and before Zalaya but do you spell it Qaddafi, Kadafi, Gadhafi, Qatafi, or Gaddafi?
“(O)bviously the dictator’s support of terrorism against the US in the past makes him a most distasteful character in the eyes of many Americans.”
Obviously, but we are getting used to seeing him hugging it out with nefarious world leaders.
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | July 10, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am
If only Obama’s eyes had slyly checked out Qaddaffi’s butt, there would be more interest in this story.
Actually shaking hands with the man who has ordered the deaths of many Americans gets way less attention than Barack checking out the trunk of a young woman.
Focus!
Posted by: NotTouching | July 10, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Can you say Bush administration boys and girls?
May 2006.
“On Monday, Gaddafi accomplished one of history’s great diplomatic turnarounds when Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice announced that the U.S. was restoring full diplomatic relations with Libya and held up the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as “a model” for others to follow.”
Posted by: danita | July 10, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
danita..By your quote regarding Bush and Libya, I am assuming that you are saying Bush was correct in his actions toward Libya as you are using this to defend any criticism against Obama and his handshake with Quaddafi…
Posted by: Parallex View | July 10, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
If people are going to hurl accusations at President Obama for shaking hands with Qadaffi, they should understand it was the Bush administration that first accepted Qadaffi and his government and the Bush administration that cited Qadaffi’s Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as “a model” for others to follow.
Posted by: danita | July 10, 2009, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
if there ever was any president who has done so much and so quickly please name him since there is no women president in american history i guess america is not ready as yet obama is MR PRESIDENT RESPECT HIM FOR THAT THE WORLD LOVES HIM TREMENDOUSLY HE CAN SHAKE HANDS WITH WHO EVER HE PLEASES TALK ABOUT SMARTS HAVE YOU NOT NOTICED HOW PEACEFUL THE WORLD IIS AT THE MOMENT INSTEAD YOU RIDICULE HIM COME ON BE REAL
Posted by: yakub mohamed | July 11, 2009, 1:35 am 1:35 am
and while we are still at it dont forget that libya has indeed learnt a very harsh lesson and also paid dearly we should let go
Posted by: yakub mohamed | July 11, 2009, 1:47 am 1:47 am