US diplomacy comes at a price

It is not cynicism but realism to say US foreign policy is driven more by economic necessity than diplomatic nicety. So when senior US administration personnel make forays into previously shunned territories, it is best to look behind the smoke and mirrors of diplomatic pretence.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is about to embark on a visit to North Africa, which will include Libya, for a meeting with Muammar Gaddafi. It is the first meeting between a senior member of the US administration and Libya in 55 years.

All this has been made possible by the nearly-resolved counter claims for restitution over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and US payments for Libyan victims of a bombing raid in 1986.

Underlying the sudden rapprochement, of course, is Libya's need to re-equip its industries, military arms and aircraft with US equipment, and US needs for another source to feed its rapacious needs for oil.