Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Libya on September 5, 2008 in what is considered a "history-making trip" by many. The last time a Secretary of State traveled to Libya was when John Foster Dulles visited in 1953.Guardian Unlimited: Condoleezza Rice meets Gadafy in Libya (September 5, 2008)

Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi publicly renounced terrorism in 2003. In 2006 diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Libya began slowly improving.Telegraph: Condoleezza Rice Tripoli Visit Opens New Era... (September 5, 2008) Gaddafi's reign of terrorism persisted throughout the 1980s and former President Ronald Reagan once referred to him as the "mad dog of the Middle East."PBS: Libya's Qaddafi: From 'Mad Dog' to Global Player (August 4, 2008)