Why Libya Gave Up on the Bomb - Not Iraq

NYTimes - The Iraq war, which had not yet started, was not the driving force behind Libya's move. Rather, Libya was willing to deal because of credible diplomatic representations by the United States over the years, which convinced the Libyans that doing so was critical to achieving their strategic and domestic goals. Just as with Lockerbie, an explicit quid pro quo was offered: American officials indicated that a verifiable dismantling of Libya's weapons projects would lead the removal our own sanctions, perhaps by the end of this year.

- Flynt Leverett was senior director for Middle Eastern affairs at the National Security Council from 2002 to 2003.

el - it wasn't Iraq and the administration knows it.