Thanks to Donald Trump, Libya's Kadafi pitches a tent in upstate New York. Neighbors pitch a fit

Libya's Moammar Kadafi likes to sleep in a Bedouin tent. In the past, he has pitched his tent in New York during the U.N. General Assembly.

But last month, Kadafi permitted a large welcome home for Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the man  convicted of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, killing all 259 aboard plus 11 on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland. Ever since, the Libyan dictator's been running into a wall of outrage.

First, when he tried to put his tent in New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine put up a no-vacancy sign.

Then he applied for a permit to pitch his tent in Central Park. No, came a remarkably quick response form the New York bureaucracy.

Now, he appears to be setting up his bed in Bedford, N.Y., a tony suburb in Westchester County. Neighbors and officials don't know whom to be more angry at -- Kadafi and the "Mideast partners" who fronted for him or Donald Trump, who agreed to rent the Seven Springs land to them.

The Trump company told the Associated Press that Kadafi would not be coming to the property about 40 miles north of New York City. Trump said the land "was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners, "who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Kadafi."

The city of Bedford is trying to stop construction of the tent. Town attorney Joel Sachs said a building inspector for Bedford tried to deliver a "stop work" order to workers at the scene, but they did not speak English, so he gave the order to a property caretaker.

Maybe the nomad who fears elevators could just get a ground-floor hotel room.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Seth Harrison / The Journal News

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Comments

[Lori]

I think trump should get fired and sent to Libya.

[Publius II]

Aren't we better than this? I don't like Qadafi either, and the release of the Lockerbie killer really ticked me off, but as a member of "The Land of the Free", I think we should set a better example to the rest of the world. Let Qadafi set up his tent wherever he can afford to do it, and then let's all go to the location and protest - peacefully.

[William A Jeffries]

Kadafi got in everyone faces today and is least likely to be talking to others about what is right and what isn't. But if one listens to his complaints, he is not far off the mark about U.S. behavoir over the years. Example, the U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan were ruses to cover up for the Bush administration's desire to control the oil flow to the sea in both areas and the job appeared simple; blow them both to Kingdom Come and tell the people, "God willed it," like Bush did, and religious fanatics everywhere fall into line.

So leaders on both sides are guilty in their own ways, and one is not in a position to lay blame on the other. What Americans now must do to sort out their trouble, is to swallow their pride, study carefully what the other side is saying, and react, not according to how to best cover up, but to accept blame equally. If you can do that, there may be some hope of peace going forward.

[Arturo Toscanninni]

Umm, sorry ed., but Westchester County is not in upstate New York ! That's a bit like saying that Northridge is a suburb of Santa Barbara.

[We59]

Why was Kadafi allowed to come to America on President Obama's watch? Could Obama have stopped this known terrorist that went to war with everyone from coming here? Why are so many political bad things happening in America that never happened before?

[Don Azpiazu]

Totally misleading headline. This is what yellow journalism is all about. If you have nothing to say, say anything that draws attention. No need to check the facts, just make them up as you go along.

[J6P_is_Clueless]

Kadafi is now a Retarded Goat Herder.
Borderline Insane ??
How about "all the way around the bend" !
Why do we contribute & participate in the UN ?
Tin Horn Dictators, Despots.
Most all who would like to destroy our country.
Get out of the UN, WTO & IMF.