U.S. defense firms in secret talks with Libya

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The Bush administration has approved secret talks between U.S. defense contractors and Libya.

Industry sources said the talks involve at least one U.S. defense company in a possible effort to supply Libya with unspecified airborne dual-use platforms. The sources said the contacts began in mid-2003 and are in their preliminary stage.

A U.S. official confirmed the contacts and said the administration has been mulling the sale of military platforms to Libya following its decision to dismantle weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile program.

The official said Libya wants Western systems to bolster its defense and eventually replace many of its aging Soviet-origin platforms.

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Over the past weekend, Libya acknowledged that it has been pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program and stockpiled chemical weapons and medium-range missiles.

Tripoli said it would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise the destruction of its WMD and missile arsenal.

Among the discussions between U.S. companies and Libya was the modernization of aging U.S.-origin military platforms. One proposal was the upgrade or replacement of U.S. artillery systems, transport aircraft and helicopters procured in the 1970s.

Libya has sold its fleet of CH-47 heavy transport helicopters to the United Arab Emirates. Boeing has been negotiating with Abu Dhabi to upgrade these helicopters.

Over the last decade, Iran has been a leading military supplier to Libya. Arab diplomatic sources said Iran sold a number of short- and medium-range missiles, including the Silkworm cruise missile, to Libya in the 1990s.

On Dec. 22, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily reported that Libyan military delegations toured Iranian nuclear facilities, including those in Isfahan and Kashan.

The newspaper said Libyan experts were briefed on Iran's uranium enrichment program and production of heavy water required for nuclear weapons.

U.S. officials said over the weekend that a British-U.S. team found a series of centrifuges for uranium enrichment in Libyan facilities. They said at least one of the centrifuges was made in Iran.

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