LIBYA?

LIBYA? We approached Libya about hosting AFRICOM?

Algeria and Libya separately ruled out hosting the Defense Department's planned Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, and said they were firmly against any of their neighbors doing so either. U.S. diplomats said they were disappointed by the depth of opposition, given that the Bush administration has bolstered ties with both countries on security matters in recent years.

Wow. Maybe I'm just old, but I remember a time when the late Saddam Hussein was our friend, and when we were recovering our national prestige by shooting down Libyan MiG-23s over the Gulf of Sidra. Oh, and remember when we tried to kill Gaddafi with airstrikes, but only managed to kill his adopted daughter? Ah, memories. I know that Gaddafi has mellowed considerably since the 1980s, in a foreign policy if not a domestic repression sense, but I'm still mildly surprised that we'd so strongly consider placing the headquarters of our African military planning organization in his territory.

I'm also kind of surprised that anyone is surprised that he'd turn us down.

--Robert Farley