Libya has paid its $1.5 billion obligation to compensate American victims of Libyan terrorist attacks, according to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey). The funds were paid under terms of the Libyan Claims Resolution Act, sponsored by Lautenberg.

Compensation was paid by Libya for the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 279, including 38 Americans, the1968 bombing of the Labelle discotheque bombing in Berlin, Germany which killed two and injured approximately 90 Americans and other U.S. deaths and injuries in still pending cases.

"American victims and their families have waited decades for Libya to pay for its deadly acts of violence -- and today they have received long-overdue justice," Sen. Lautenberg said in a press release. "I am pleased that our relentless pressure and support for terror victims has led to this historic moment."

In 2004, President Bush lifted economic sanctions against Libya which had been in place since 1986, and in 2006, Bush removed Libya from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Both actions came before Libya had paid any compensation to American victims of its terror attacks.

Also See:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Defines Modern Terrorism
Origins and History of Terrorism (Terrorism)
Global Terrorism in Presidential Election Years (Terrorism)

The U.S. Congress begins a lame duck session today, with slim hopes of creating and passing another economic stimulus bill before the end of the year. High on the lawmakers’ stimulating agenda should be a proposed $25 billion bailout plan for suffering U.S. automakers, GM, Ford and Chrysler.

After President-elect Obama resigned his Senate seat on Sunday, Democrats hold a slim 50-49 edge in upper house and will need the votes of at least 10 Republicans to move an automaker bailout bill forward.

Also See: What is a Lame Duck Sessions of Congress?

To help pre-screen applicants for jobs within the new presidential administration, the Obama-Biden transition team has prepared a very revealing questionnaire of 63 questions covering virtually every aspect of the applicant's life. What does it reveal about working for a President of the United States? What is Rule No. 1? Don't embarrass the boss. [Read more...]

Also See: The Presidential Transition Process

Holy cow, Beaver! Dad’s going to croak when he finds out that the State of Georgia is recruiting citizens who speak frog.

It’s no joke. Georgia is looking for volunteers who can help biologists identify the calls of the state's 31 frog species in the annual statewide calling frog survey.

They need 75, but so far only 30 qualified frog speakers have passed the test. Guess it’s not easy speaking green.