Libya and WMD? What could possibly go wrong?

From Homeland Security NewsWire

U.S. looks to keep Libyan WMD scientists away from terrorists

Published 23 September 2011

With Libyan rebels consolidating their hold over the country, the United States is looking to restart a State Department program designed to keep top Libyan biological and nuclear scientists from working for terrorist organizations or hostile nations; Libya's new leaders have expressed their interest in working with the United States to keep track of Libyan WMD scientists and on other counter-proliferation programs, but the interim government has yet formally to respond to U.S. requests

Suspected Libyan WMD sites // Source: globalsecurity.org

With Libyan rebels consolidating their hold over the country, the United States is looking to restart a State Department program designed to keep top Libyan biological and nuclear scientists from working for terrorist organizations or hostile nations

For decades, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had hundreds of experts working under him as he actively pursued nuclear and biological weapons. In 2003, Gaddafi agreed to stop building weapons of mass destruction and dismantle his research programs. Consequently, the United States launched a program to encourage Libyan weapons researchers into civilian research projects like water desalination, oil and gas production, and nuclear medicine.

According to an anonymous State Department official who spoke to the Associated Press, due to the instability of the country during the civil war, the United States was forced to suspend the program but is now looking to re-establish contact with the scientists.

The official said that Libya’s new leaders have expressed their interest in working with the United States to keep track of Libyan WMD scientists and on other counter-proliferation programs, but the interim government has yet to formally respond to U.S. requests....

Much more here.