Q: What impact did Iraq war have on your decision to give up weapons of mass destructions?
Gadhafi: We made our own decision and our analysis on the current world situation, and we came to the conclusion ... that we can't forward, we can't go ahead, with having these programs.

Of course Iraq had an effect. So did having the "line of death" clobbered. So did Afghanistan being dismantled in a month. Muammar's not stupid, though he may be insane. He got on board the socialist bandwagon when it was fashionable and it crashed. Now it's time to try and join the winning side.

Q: So Iraq was no factor at all then?
A: We are part of the world. This is the reality of the world. This is the policy of the world.

That's what I said...

Q: As part of internal reforms, will Islamic organizations be permitted to operate?
A: I would say that there isn't any justification or reason for that. The people themselves actually assume power and have the power to decide for themselves. Each one who has a word or a say or an opinion is free to do so in the People's Congress. Furthermore, we don't want to involve Allah, or God, in material affairs like infrastructure and sewage. He has nothing to do with that. We are talking about material things, we need policy for that. We need technology for infrastructure. We're talking about infrastructure -- sewage, water. This is policy. God is another thing. How can we involve Allah in (such things) of daily life? We're talking about houses and electricity.

On the other hand, he's not at nutty as the current opposition, is he? It's not a very long leap from that position to one of religious freedom, the right of the individual to attend to the salvation of his own soul. I'll bet that statement sounded really unusual in Arabic...

Q: You made an incredibly courageous speech last night and talked about Libya's past involvement with liberation movements, and you said that times have changed. How have you prepared your people for this change? I imagine a lot of people were surprised last night by what you said.
A: Our people are very much enlightened and aware and practicing daily politics in the People's Congresses, and they are aware of the new reality in the world. Going back 27 years ago to the establishment of the People's Authority, the whole Libyan people starting practicing and exercising policies and authority. They are very much involved.

Muammar's been making these points for at least the past year. The oil money's been pissed away on adventures and not spent on building Libya into a prosperous country, which it was in ancient times.

Q: You just met with two delegations of U.S. members of Congress, one from the Senate, one from the House. How do you see the future of relations between Libya and the United States?
A: We are very much interested (in the fact) that we are able to understand each other. The problem before was that we were not able, we did not have a chance to sit down with each other and have a dialogue. Now we are able to understand each other.

See the first question...

Q: Your government has accepted responsibility for Pan Am 103. But in your heart, do you believe the government of Libya was responsible for this act of terror?
A: (Discussion with aides... He asks for detailed translation.) Lockerbie is buried, and we don't want to dig it out. It has a bad reputation. We don't want to dig it out when somebody is buried. It is old.

"I'm staying away from that question. We just got in hot water trying to wiggle off the hook last week. I'm not gonna do it again."

Q: But last night you said you were going to reveal things and tell Libyan people the truth, the whole truth. Were others involved besides the two people taken to the Scottish court -- other countries?
A: (Discussion with aides. Translator mistranslates question, and head of protocol steps in.) We're finished with Lockerbie. It's something of the past.

"I'm going to keep my mouth shut and save myself some money."

Q: Last night you talked about Libya rejoining the Barcelona initiative. Do you want this to have relations with Israel? Or is this not part of your plans?
A: About Israel, our opinion is very much explained in the White book, namely the establishment of "Isratine" or "Israeltine." They should let us rest and have one country that is one state together. (The "White Book" is Gadhafi 2002 plan for merging the Jewish and Arab populations into a single state.)

"It's a goofy idea, I know, but nothing else has worked, either. I can't think of anything better. Can you?"

Q: The Bush administration has praised you for cooperation on al-Qaida. Can you give us one example of what your government has done, or your intelligence agencies have done, to win a battle against al-Qaida, that led to an arrest or foil a plot?
A: Terror or terrorism is the enemy of all of us, not the enemy of America. When we fight terrorism, we do that for ourselves.

"I'm not going to give you any examples because the Medes and the Persians are already after my hide. We'll just keep the truncheon and moustachio stuff under the rug. Maybe in 20 or 30 years it can come out..."