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libya zero hour

Qaddafi Left Behind His Condoleezza Rice Photo Album

Lovebirds, 2008.

When Libyan rebels found themselves in Muammar Qaddafi's room, they discovered standard dictator collectibles — a gold chain, a gold scepter, a fancy hat — but they also ended up with a more offbeat keepsake. In the retreating Libyan leader's Bab al-Aziziya compound was a photo album "filled with page after page of pictures of Condoleezza Rice." The former U.S. Secretary of State was long a favorite of Qaddafi, who called her his "darling black African woman" and cooed "Leezza, Leezza, Leezza. ... I love her very much." The pair shared a dinner to break the Ramadan fast as late as 2008.

The bound book of Condi-worship features full-page glossy photos and smaller snapshots; pictures of confused-looking Libyan rebels flipping through it bring a unique sense of joy. But do you think John McCain is jealous?

In the ruins of Gadhafi's lair, rebels find album filled with photos of his 'darling' Condoleezza Rice [MSNBC]

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Photo: Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images