The cable, released by WikiLeaks, disclosed the willingness of Libyan
leader Moammar Ghadafi to use his nuclear stockpile to pressure the United
States, Middle East Newsline reported. Ghadafi, violating his promise to eliminate his nuclear program,
blocked the transfer of 5.2 kilograms of highly-enriched uranium to Russia
in November 2009.
Over the last five years, the U.S. government has repeatedly asserted
that Libya was implementing its pledge to dismantle its nuclear weapons
program. The State Department has reported British and U.S. teams that
dismantled equipment in and removed nuclear material from the North African
state.
The cable reported that the spent Libyan nuclear fuel had been placed in
seven casks for a flight to Russia. The cable said the fuel, left on the
runway at Tajoura and protected by a solitary guard, could overheat in the
casks unless transferred to Russia for disposal within a month.
The cable said Ghadafi prevented the transfer of the highly-enriched
uranium after his visit to New York in September 2009. During his visit
to attend the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, Ghadafi was
prevented from pitching his tent in New York or visiting the site of the
destroyed World Trade Center.
"The Libyan government has chosen a very dangerous issue on which to
express its apparent pique about perceived problems in the bilateral
relationship," Cretz said.
The cable reported high-level U.S. engagement with Ghadafi to resolve
the crisis. This included a message from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
that Washington was committed to enhancing relations with Tripoli.
On Dec. 21 of last year, Ghadafi approved the transfer of the nuclear fuel to
Russia. This was said to have marked the final shipment of Libya's known
nuclear stockpile.
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