The United States was certainly never very friendly with Libya, but relations had seemingly  turned the corner after the lows following Libyan terrorist bombing of a TWA flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. After stonewalling for many years, Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffi formally accepted responsibility, apologized and paid restitution to the victims’ families. In response, the United States lifted many of the trade sanctions and took Libya off the list of state sponsors of terrorism, in addition to lifting travel bans.

On this day, February 26, in 2004, the United States formally ended its restrictions on flights to Libya, in place since the Lockerbie incident.

Both sides had good incentive to normalize relations. For the United States, after September 11 any ally in the Middle East was desperately welcomed. For its part, Libya’s pariah status created a backwards economy and closed off an oil market potentially worth billions.