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Col. Moammar Gadhafi, the man who has ruled Libya for more than three decades and was once labeled the most dangerous man in the world, agreed to a rare television interview with Michele Gillen at his Tripoli compound. Surprising even his closest advisors, the Libyan leader spent 1 1/2 hours candidly answering questions on topics including his announcement to give up weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein's capture, and his children. |
From
The Miami Herald Published January 19, 2004 |
Gadhafi: New era means new ways LIBYA Col. Moammar Gadhafi, the man who has ruled Libya for more than three decades and was once labeled the most dangerous man in the world, agreed to a rare television interview last week at his compound in Tripoli. The interview was granted to WFOR-CBS4 chief investigative reporter Michele Gillen and will be aired tonight. Surprising even his closest advisors, the Libyan leader spent 1 ½ hours candidly answering questions on topics ranging from his decision to give up weapons of mass destruction, to the capture of Saddam Hussein, to his children. The following are excerpts from the interview: Q: Is this a new chapter being written in your country? A: I believe the whole world is entering a new chapter, not only my country. Q: How so? A: It is the era of masses, the era of globalization. It is different from the past. All the world now is entering into a new stage, an historical stage. All the old measures are not suitable, useful now for this era. Q: Your recent decision to allow U.N. weapons inspectors in and to disband your weapons of mass destruction program -- what led you to make this decision? A: Among the changes and new realities of the world, means of struggle should change. Q: Why make this decision at this time? A: What is important is that we have taken the decision, even just for argument's sake that we did have nuclear weapons, hypothetically speaking. Now we are ready to put them on the table. We are convinced that such a road, such a path is not fruitful or useful to defend our country. In the end, the aim is to protect or defend your country by any program of armament. Since such weapons would constitute danger upon the security of your own country then it's no use. It's not a matter of defensive weapons or protecting your country. Actually it will cause trouble and it will destroy your country. Q: Given the decision and the announcement that you've made, do you think it might send a message to other countries that have not given up their weapons of mass destruction programs? Do you want to send a message, for example, to North Korea, to Iran? A: Libya is not an example to one country or to various countries but is an example to all. |
From
Television Week Published January 26, 2004 |
| WFOR
Nabs Gadhafi Interview CBS-owned WFOR-TV in Miami scored an interview with Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi last week. The station's chief investigative reporter, Michele Gillen, interviewed him for more than an hour for a nine-minute package that ran on the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. news Jan. 19. The story covered Libya's disclosure that it was abandoning its nuclear weapon development program and submitting to international inspections, as well as Mr. Gadhafi's views on Iraq, the Middle East conflict, 9/11, Israel and the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, for which Libya has claimed responsibility. The 5 p.m. news generated a 5.9/11, second in the time period, while the 11 p.m. news finished with a 4.5/8, tied for first in share. The interview came about after Ms. Gillen inquired about speaking with Mr. Gadhafi and was referred to his son, Saadi. She interviewed Saadi, who opened the door for her to speak with his father. She then traveled to Tripoli, Libya, on Gadhafi's presidential plane, though she paid her own way, WFOR said. After waiting 48 hours, she was summoned at midnight to conduct the interview. Ms. Gillen has been with WFOR for at least eight years. She previously worked at Viacom's Los Angeles CBS station KCBS-TV. While at KCBS, her investigative work included a series called "Mammography-Too Young to Die" that exposed a flawed government policy on mammography. |