Libya's Qaddafi Gave Condi Rice $212,000 In Gifts, Including A Diamond Ring

Scroll down for the State Department report

In its final months in office, the Bush administration made out pretty well in odd and exotic gifts from foreign leaders - including diamond jewelery, a taxidermied lion, and Israeli bike shorts.

One of the most generous gift-givers was Libya's Moamar Qaddafi, who seemed particularly grateful for former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to Tripoli last year, giving her gifts with a total value of $212,225, including a diamond ring and a locket with his own picture inside, according to a newly-released State Department report.

The gifts sometimes show familiarity with the interests of the receiver. President George W. Bush, for example, a known biker, received mountain bikes from two leaders (Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia) while Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave Bush the aforementioned shorts, decorated with Bush's name and Israeli flags.

Often, however, the gifts were symbolic, if opulent, of the donor nation. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, of Thailand gave the President a series of books, including the title, "Glorious Celebrations of the Reign: Celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne." The lion came from Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

There are strict rules about the acceptance of gifts by public officials but when it comes to foreign leaders, diplomatic concerns take priority. For each of the gifts, the reasons cited for the acceptance of the gift was listed as "non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government." By law, officials are required to turn such gifts over to the U.S. government, even the brown leather Hermes saddle given to President Bush by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

You can read the entire report here:

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Comments

[terramartom]

It is just nice to know that she is out of office, along with the rest of the past regime.

[bikerdude]

I would hope that they would form a lasting bond with each other...provided they both stay in Lybia.

[NoblesseOblige]

I don't believe she can keep any of these "gifts". What I do want to know is whatever happened to Saddam's g.un that W had kept in the oval office. Did the sob keep that thing?

[RofWH]

So did she say yes? When is the big day?

[lmab]

She gave him a pair of her red panties.

[weatherwaxx]

Here's hoping she marries the sob... they deserve each other!

[TXfemmom]

Condi probably modeled her high-heeled leather boots and whip she modeled for Bush.

[Forester]

must be true love.

[Wiseronenow]

So, did Condi keep the ring or did she turn it over before leaving? Don't believe that was ever answered.

[poster1122]

It was. All foreign gifts above a minimum valuation are the property of the United States, not the property of the official that was the intended recipient.

[AbstractImp]

Well. . .
has she said yes?

[stanschurman]

Not to mention her connections to Chevron. She is just a walking, talking conflict of interests.

[newyorkid]

"non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government." means that the protocol purposely lacks mandatory limitations of gift acceptance.

[poster1122]

As a rule, everything is accepted because it would be awkward to turn down a gesture of friendship/reconciliation. All gifts above a certain minimum valuation are the property of the United States, under the care of the White House Gift Unit.

The recipient has the right to buy the gift from the US, though, at fair market value.

[newyorkid]

Estimated values of most items are completely underestimated.

[DrToketee]

A very appropriate soul-mate for Condi, indeed.

[Dubois651]

Wow, and this whole time I thought Condi was a cold fish.

You learn something new everyday. ;P