Curt Weldon is in Libya

Former Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Curt Weldon (1987-2007) is in Tripoli, Libya, trying to persuade Colonel Qaddafi to step down.

Weldon met  Qaddafi before, in 2004, when he travelled to Tripoli as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation expressing support for the Libyan leader's decision to give up his nuclear weapons. And the former congressman had lots of experience in dealing with bad regimes:  he made repeat visits to Pyongyang trying to persuade leaders there to give up their nukes.

This time he's visiting at the invitation of Qaddafi's chief of staff, with the knowledge of the White House and congressional leaders. He's written an op-ed in today's New York Times explaining what he's up to.  Wish him luck!