Bush Deal Prevented Gadhafi From Using Nukes

The 2004 deal that ended Libya’s nuclear weapons program could also hasten Moammar Gadhafi's removal as the country’s ruler,The New York Times reports.

 One weapons expert voiced relief that Gadhafi—isolated, desperate and seemingly delusional—lacks a nuclear option to put down the revolt that is encircling him.

“Imagine the possible nightmare if we had failed to remove the Libyan nuclear weapons program and their longer range missile force,” said Robert Joseph, a leader of the Bush administration team that negotiated Libya’s disarmament.

Libya bought its nuclear stores from A.Q. Khan, the Pakistani scientist who ran a nuclear weapons black market. The cache that Gadhafi turned over in exchange for diplomatic recognition and other considerations was larger than U.S. intelligence experts had realized. It included more than 4,000 centrifuges for producing enriched uranium as well as bomb-making blueprints.