Libya XIII
continued from Libya XII:
http://rabble.ca/babble/international-news-and-politics/libya-xii
Libya XIII
continued from Libya XII:
http://rabble.ca/babble/international-news-and-politics/libya-xii
Giving Frozen Assets To Rebels IS Piracy - Libya
http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE7442GP20110506
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told anti-Gaddafi countries [Canada all parties] meeting in Rome that Washington would try to pass legislation to unblock frozen Libyan assets and hand them to the rebels who have seized eastern Libya...
'Any use of the frozen assets is like piracy on the high seas,' said Liby Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim. 'They are not a legal entity. They are not a country. The country is not divided according to a referendum or to a UN resolution,' he told journalists. 'This is illegal'.."
and lest you forget, NATO's Libyan campaign of war crime is under the command of Canadian General Charles Bouchard and is supported by ALL of your elected 'representatives'.
Humanitarian Neo-Colonialism: Framing Libya and Reframing War by F William Engdahl
http://www.voltairenet.org/article169705.html
"...The most remarkable facet of NATO's war against Libya is the fact that 'world opinion', that ever so nebulous thing has accepted an act of overt aggression against a sovereign country guilty of no violation of the UN Charter in an act of defacto neo-colonialism, a 'humanitarian' war in violation of basic precepts of the laws of nations.
The world has accepted it without realizing the implications of the war against Gadhafi's Libya if allowed to succeed is forced regime change. At issue is not whether Gaddafi is good or evil. At issue is the key concept of the civilized law of nations and of just or unjust wars.
The Libya campaign represents the attempt to force application of a dangerous new concept into the norms of accepted international law. That concept is what is termed by its creators 'Responsibility to Protect'. .."
sigh sovereignty this sovereignty that, it's funny how people don't realize how fundamentally flawed that term is.
Do We Really Need An International Court - by Diana Johnstone
http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone05062011.html
"A little over 4 years ago, Counterpunch ran an article I wrote based on my presentation at an international conference held in Tripoli on the International Criminal Court. At the moment when the ICC is being used, predictably, to justify the NATO aggression against Libya, including the targeted assassination of Moammar Qaddafi, or a ground invasion ostensibly to capture him, I think it would be appropriate to rerun this article..."
sigh sovereignty this sovereignty that, it's funny how people don't realize how fundamentally flawed that term is.
Yeah, fuck sovereignty.
You think that if every other country in the world decides to get rid of sovereignty and borders, the American Empire will?
The UN Refugee Agency says it has received witness reports that a ship carrying up to 600 refugees trying to flee Libya sank off the coast of the North African country.
French Lawyer To Prosecute NATO For 'Crimes' in Libya
What Libya can expect from western democracy
excerpt:
What will be the final result for Libyans? To answer that it might be useful to ask what the ruthless Gaddafi has done in addition to being ruthless.
Libya is not Egypt, where skyrocketing food prices were at the root of popular anger. Western leaders know this but they are loath to admit it because for a dictatorship, Libya looks relatively good in terms of the material conditions of its people. According to researcher Ian Hunter of Globalresearch.ca.
"In 1969, Muammar Gaddafi led a bloodless coup to overthrow King Idris I, a monarch imposed by the British after WWII. At the time, Libya was the poorest country in the entire world; with a literacy rate below 10 per cent. Since then, the Libyan government has improved all aspects of their society.
excerpt:
Until now, whatever you might think of , his mercenaries, and his erratic behaviour, the money from the country's oil has been more equally distributed amongst the population than in any other oil-rich nation in the world with the possible exception of Norway.
If the west prevails in this phony human rights exercise, three things can be predicted with virtual certainty: the oil will end up in the hands of western oil companies, the standard of living of Libyans will drop steadily, and they won't have genuine democracy. How shall we celebrate?
On the heels of Obama's blood lust, NATO tries again to murder Gaddafi:
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/12/gaddafi-airstrike-nato-libya... air strikes hit Gaddafi compound in Tripoli again[/url]
The labyrinthine complex in the heart of the capital was struck at around 3am with five bombs and rockets that appeared to target military installations and bunkers.
A giant crater could be seen in the lawn in the middle of the complex, with one of the rockets having hit what appeared to be a bunker . Officials said six people were killed in the attack, including two Libyan reporters who had been interviewing supporters camped out at the scene. [...]
The US and Nato attacks are taking a toll on Tripoli, where queues for fuel and basic services clutter most roadways.
However, support for Gaddafi still appears to be solid. Rebel elements in the capital have not mustered any large offensive and the loyalist army appears to be in control despite nightly attacks from Nato jets.
The protection of civilians? NATO is engaged in war crimes and Canada's General is the head criminal responsible for the orders to murder innocent people in the streets of Tripoli.
Is Jack going to remain silent forever? Please Unionist tell me the folks elected from Quebec will demand the party take a stand on the side of peace and an end to NATO air strikes.
Is Jack going to remain silent forever? Please Unionist tell me the folks elected from Quebec will demand the party take a stand on the side of peace and an end to NATO air strikes.
I thought the NDP supports the new war in Libya? That is not silence. Avaaz does too. I've been awol from babble for a while and don't doubt this discussion has been had a few times.
Yes they did call for the No FLY zone and since then have said virtually nothing.
The circumstances on the ground are now different than was the intent of the No Fly Zone. Civilians are not being protected and NATO is engaged in regime change. When they called for air strikes they had the fig leaf of civilian protection. i am hoping that now that the fig leaf is gone they can begin anew on the Libya file. They have four years to develop an pro peace message that will resonate with their voters and others. It is time to start now.
Oh lighten up babblistas. US peace forces are diligently at work around the world spreading Truth, Justice and the American Way®.
If you persist in this illegal, verbal insurgency, you may expect a hellfire missile to grease your commie, Islam-loving asses.
OK, I guess the NDP must have had no inkling that a "no fly zone" just might escalate into 1,000s of offensive bombing missions including assassinations and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. Who knew?
Yes they [NDP] did call for the No FLY zone...
That was their first mistake.
What goes on in Libya is no one's business but the Libyans.
How did UNSCR 1973 (the "No-fly Zone" Resolution) come into being?
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of the U.K. and President Barack Obama (U.S.A.) at the behest of Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice and Samantha Power, hastily called together an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council to pass this No-fly Zone Resolution so they could maintain their control over strategic and oil-rich North Africa and the MidEast.
The Responsibility to Protect, this neoliberal humanitarianism (humanitarian aid delivered in the form of bombs dropped on people) was the windowdressing that was applied to sell this illegal War of Aggression war crime to the public. It was never anything else to begin with.
This occurred at the start of the Canadian election. Jack didn't want to run the risk of losing votes by being seen as supporting the 'evil' human rights abusing criminal dictator Mullah Mohammed Omar - er - Saddam Hussein - er - Moammar Gadhafi.
Hopefully with the election over and with the majority of new NDP MPs from Quebec, the NDP will now take a strong public stand against the war.
Yeah, hopefully.
Hopefully with the election over and with the majority of new NDP MPs from Quebec, the NDP will now take a strong public stand against the war.
Um, I thought Northern Shoveler was being sarcastic - or maybe just optimistic. But Frmrsldr's comment is a bit over the top.
The NDP supports the NATO deployment, and has [url=http://rabble.ca/babble/canadian-politics/hands-libya-part-iii#comment-1... it from day one[/url] - even before the election was called. I posted this on March 22:
Shame:
Commons unanimously backs Canada's deployment to Libya
Quote:
As Canadian fighter jets flew over hostile Libyan air space, all four political parties put aside pre-election posturing for a few hours Monday to support Canada’s role in the mission to contain Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
“We are compelled to intervene, both [as] a moral duty and by duty [to] NATO and the United Nations,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay told the House of Commons Monday, opening debate on a motion supporting the deployment. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois unanimously supported the Conservative motion.
While they quibble over cosmetics and payoffs in the budget, they all stand together in support of aggression, war, and western supremacy. Alexa McDonough had the courage and conscience to oppose the Liberal government's joining the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, at a time when the blood lust over 9-11 was overwhelming. Even such a mild protest is impossible in today's context.
Never forget how these so-called representatives of the Canadian people put aside their squabbles to unite in favour of imperialism.
So even though I was as excited as anyone by the orange wave in Québec, I would appreciate less creation of illusions about the NDP in matters of aggression and war. And having a bunch of Quebeckers in caucus didn't help the Bloc take a decent stand on these issues, so we have our work cut out for us.
No policy is like foreign policy for exposing the pro-imperialist "credentials" of a political party. At one time I could provide a lengthy explanation why that is the case - and I probably did in some "down the babble rabbit hole" thread - but today I will have to suffice by saying that it's so, mutter something about the solidarity of ordinary people versus the cosmpolitanism of the rich, and leave it at that for now.
Canadian war ship has now fired shots at Libyan forces on shore. "No fly zone" is a pretty ambiguous term, eh?
I hope the NDP makes a statement about Libya being a mistake and calling for a full disengagement from this disgusting act of aggression.
A Canadian ship, part of an enormous flotilla or armada of ships poised to slaughter Libyan soldiers, "returned fire" to dastardly Libyan forces that dared to open fire on them.
No word on how many refugees, fleeing across the Mediterranean recently, most of whom died of starvation after their calls for help were ignored by the "freedom loving NATO forces", were saved by the HMCS Charlettetown.
jinx
No word on how many refugees, fleeing across the Mediterranean recently, most of whom died of starvation after their calls for help were ignored by the "freedom loving NATO forces",...
Yes, it really is a shame. If only Libyans would stop shooting at us, then our freedom lovin' and democracy spreadin' forces wouldn't have to murder them in self-defense.
Hopefully with the election over and with the majority of new NDP MPs from Quebec, the NDP will now take a strong public stand against the war.Um, I thought Northern Shoveler was being sarcastic - or maybe just optimistic. But Frmrsldr's comment is a bit over the top.
It was probably confusing because I'm not sure which it was either. I'd love to be optimistic but I always fall short.
Canadian war ship has now fired shots at Libyan forces on shore. "No fly zone" is a pretty ambiguous term, eh?
That's actually not the part of the Resolution that is being violated:
UNSCR 1973 "Authorizes Member States that have notified the Secretary-General, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, and acting in cooperation with the Secretary-General, to take all necessary measures... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,..." [Italics added]
One could make the claim that it is this part that is being violated:
"... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack...",
that we are the ones who are the 'attackers.'
Libyan Opposition Waiting for NATO Arms (vid)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179321.html
"As the war in Libya drags on, revolutionary forces have repeated calls on NATO for more weapons to stand up against forces loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.."
Libyan State TV Shows Healthy Gaddafi
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179488.html
"We tell the world: 'those are the representatives of the Libyan tribes,' Gaddafi said in a meeting, as he pointed to the dignataries and then introduced some of them.."
no, what they will do is nuance the position so all the anti-war types, think they're 'anti-war' and all the pro-military types believe they 'support the troops'. Same as they have been doing. Surface without substance.
Hopefully with the election over and with the majority of new NDP MPs from Quebec, the NDP will now take a strong public stand against the war.Um, I thought Northern Shoveler was being sarcastic - or maybe just optimistic. But Frmrsldr's comment is a bit over the top.
It was probably confusing because I'm not sure which it was either. I'd love to be optimistic but I always fall short.
There are two things we can count as certain:
1. The majority of the new NDP MPs are Quebecers.
2. The majority of Quebecers are antiwar/anti-interventionist.
Here is where my optimism that the influence from the new Quebec NDP MPs may cause the New Democratic Party of Canada to rethink its policy on war and intervention (specifically Canada's wars on Afghanistan and Libya) rests.
Perhaps I am overly optimistic but I have seen early indications that the NDP is going to show Canadians what (being the 'Official) Opposition' is all about.
no, what they will do is nuance the position so all the anti-war types, think they're 'anti-war' and all the pro-military types believe they 'support the troops'. Same as they have been doing. Surface without substance.
Then it will boil down to whether enough Quebecers buy into this gambit.
Obama seeks to continue the war on Libya:
WASHINGTON - President Obama and his legal advisers are deliberating about how the United States military may lawfully continue participating in NATO's bombing campaign in Libya after next week, when the air war will reach a legal deadline for terminating combat operations that have not been authorized by Congress.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, a president must terminate such operations 60 days after he has formally notified lawmakers about the introduction of armed forces into actual or imminent hostilities. The Libya campaign will reach that mark on May 20.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13powers.html?_r=1
another problem solved:
'US Bill To Expand Pres. War Powers'
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179618.html
"The US Congress has introduced a resolution that would give the US president wide latitude of powers to wage war on other countries as part of the 'war on terror'.
Libya Newslinks 12-13 May, 2011
http://williambowles.info/2011/05/13/libya-newslinks-12-13-may-2011/
Libya Embassy Protest Turns Violent - by Scott Taylor
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/05/13/libyan-embassy-protest-turns-violent
lots of ignorant dumbass canucklhead comments too..
NATO Ground Operations?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24734
"NATO expected to begin ground operations in Libya...
NATO Ground Operations?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24734
"NATO expected to begin ground operations in Libya...
I doubt it; also one development on the ground worth noting: the rebels have taken and are still holding the Misrata airport.
'Libya Calls For Immediate Ceasefire'
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180100.html
"The Libya prime minister says the government is ready to accept a ceasefire should NATO stop its air attacks on the North African country. Baghdadi Mahmudi said on Sunday that Libya is keen for 'an immediate ceasefire to coincide with a stop to the NATO bombardment and the acceptance of international observers,' AFP reported.
NATO Jets Drop More Bombs on Libya
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179964.html
"NATO warplanes have bombed the southern Libyan capital of Tripoli as Britain calls for the destruction of the country's infrastructure..'
NATO Jets Drop More Bombs on Libya
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179964.html
"NATO warplanes have bombed the southern Libyan capital of Tripoli as Britain calls for the destruction of the country's infrastructure..'
Here are some NATO bombings the mainstream media hasn't talked about:
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/13/report-nato-air-strike-in-brega-kills...
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/13/report-nato-warships-shell-red-cresce...
Moreno-Ocampo, the Accusateur publique of the self-proclamed International Criminal Court, largely a creation of the NATO countries (but not officially the US) in 2002, has well played his role in Libya. At over $100 million a year of public money this kangaroo has little to show for its 8 years in Africa where the real criminals exploit and manipulate with impunity. Its a "feel-good" project promoted by World Federalists and other Western NGOs giving good paying jobs and all expenses paid to a bunch of judicial zealots.
Moreno-Ocampo, the Accusateur publique of the self-proclamed International Criminal Court, largely a creation of the NATO countries (but not officially the US) in 2002, has well played his role in Libya. At over $100 million a year of public money this kangaroo has little to show for its 8 years in Africa where the real criminals exploit and manipulate with impunity. Its a "feel-good" project promoted by World Federalists and other Western NGOs giving good paying jobs and all expenses paid to a bunch of judicial zealots.
The International Criminal Court's prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo today asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Gadhafi would face charges of "crimes against humanity."
The move was publicly opposed by a number of people, but the most interesting was the National Transitional Council in Benghazi, the head of the rebel effort to oust Gadhafi from power.
The group says that it opposes any effort to extradite Gadhafi and instead wants him to be captured and tried domestically.
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/16/libya-rebels-reject-gadhafi-extraditi...
Do To Libya What Was Done To Gaza And Iraq, Says Head of UK Army
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/middle-east--north-africa/497-do-to-...
"General Sir David Richards, head of the UK army, says what Libya needs is a dose of 'shock and awe'.."
And what Generals like Richards and the NATO Canadian General in charge 'Butcher' Bouchard need is a good dose of a Nuremberg war crimes prosecution - and the pols supporting them.
Do To Libya What Was Done To Gaza And Iraq, Says Head of UK Army
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/middle-east--north-africa/497-do-to-...
"General Sir David Richards, head of the UK army, says what Libya needs is a dose of 'shock and awe'.."
Oh, but we're not actually waging a war against Libya.
According to Obamaspeak, we're waging a "limited kinetic military action" against Libya, although to Gadhafi it would seem like war.
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/17/limited-kinetic-action-gates-denies-u...
About a dozen Libyan students at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton say their funding is about to be cut off because of the ongoing conflict in their homeland.
Taher El Shanta, a married father of four who's studying for his PhD in computer science, is one of those students who survive on scholarships from the Libyan government.
The scholarships are now frozen because of United Nations sanctions that prohibit financial transactions from Libya.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/05/18/nb-libyan-s...
Moreno-Ocampo, the Accusateur publique of the self-proclamed International Criminal Court, largely a creation of the NATO countries (but not officially the US) in 2002, has well played his role in Libya.
This little colonial hireling Moreno Ocampo, who never seems to notice war crimes committed by his masters, played his role very well in the Sudan also. At one time, only the U.S. screamed "genocide" about the civil war(s) in Sudan, in an attempt to justify interference. Moreno Ocampo likes to anticipate the whims of his bosses. But the initial indictment against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir didn't quite work out right. So here's what happened (from Wikipedia):
The initial ICC charges against al-Bashir, which included seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, were issued in March 2009 but did not include genocide counts. On appeal, the lower court was found by appellate judge Erkki Kourula to have erred in law and was ordered to reexamine the evidence for genocide. Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo anticipated that the reexamination could lead to charges within four to twelve months. Then, on February 3, 2010, the judges at the International Criminal Court held that the Pre-Trial Chamber had improperly dismissed the genocide charges against al-Bashir and ordered the Pre-Trial Chamber to reconsider them.
Surely it's time to indict Gaddafi for "genocide" as well - or is there something worse that could be pinned on him?
Apostasy?
Libyan Mission Could Cost Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Libyan+mission+could+cost+taxpayers+hu...
"...On military expert says Canadian spending could easily amount to millions of dollars per day. I'd be surprised if it was anything less than $100 Million (per month), said retired Col. Michel Drapeau. 'It needs to be asked: What are we getting for all that? It's not an omnipotent pool of resources. Someone's got to pay for that.."
Libya: Enough is Enough
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/18/libya-enough-afghani...
"...We are standing on the edge of an abyss. The hundreds of north African and black African refugees who have already died in attempts to reach Europe are the precursor to the chaos that may follow should western intervention lead to another Afghanistan in north Africa..
Left to Die in Mediterranean
http://socialistworker.org/2011/05/18/death-in-the-mediterranean
"...dozens of African migrants, fleeing the Libyan capital of Tripoli for the Italian island of Lampedusa, were left to drift in the Mediterranean Sea for 16 days while their pleas for help were ignored. In all some 65 of the 72 passengers on board died from thirst, and hunger - including women, young children.."
NATO-Libya - commanded by a Canadian - your tax dollars at work.
The illegal War in Libya
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/19/libya/index...
"...In his grand Middle East speech today, President Obama - who has presided over lethal actions - killing attacks in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan and Somalia -- announced 'we will not tolerate aggression across borders.' That instantly ranks among my favourite political statements ever.."
NATO Airstrikes Continue in Libya
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180778.html
"NATO has launched new airstrikes targeting the Libyan capital, Tripoli, as the UN warns about the humanitarian situation in Libya.."
Warcrimes And the Bombing of Libya - by Conn Hallinan
http://dispatchesfromtheedgeblog.wordpress.com/
"...So are we being dragged into a war whose goals violate UN Resolution 1973, and whose means violate the Geneva Conventions..? It is hard not to answer that question in anything but the affirmative."
Obama Misses Legal Deadline for US Forces in Libya
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/20/obama-misses-legal-deadline-for-us-fo...
"60 days after the March 21 informing of Congress of the attack, President Obama has missed his legal deadline to obtain Congressional approval for the Libyan War. NATO insists the war will continue, but under US law, it is now completely illegal..."
Obama Misses Legal Deadline for US Forces in Libya
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/05/20/obama-misses-legal-deadline-for-us-fo...
"60 days after the March 21 informing of Congress of the attack, President Obama has missed his legal deadline to obtain Congressional approval for the Libyan War. NATO insists the war will continue, but under US law, it is now completely illegal..."
And actually was illegal to begin with because Libya did not attack the U.S. nor U.S. possessions nor does what's happening in Libya pose any imminent threat or danger to the U.S.
Legal smegal. NATO does not follow any rule of law. There is no legal code on the globe that they believe they have to abide by. In the modern world of high finance or international relations the motto seems to be; "rules are for suckers."
Or as Winstanley said so elegantly as the same forces of greed were stealing the English commons. "they make the laws to chain us well."
Legal smegal. NATO does not follow any rule of law. There is no legal code on the globe that they believe they have to abide by. In the modern world of high finance or international relations the motto seems to be; "rules are for suckers."
Or as Winstanley said so elegantly as the same forces of greed were stealing the English commons. "they make the laws to chain us well."
It didn't stop Winstanley from going before the king and making an intellectual argument for natural rights and for English peasants to exist.
Like Gerrard Winstanley did in his time, we on the left have to strike when the iron is hot. We have to step-up legal and political challenges to the stoogeaucracy in Ottawa. If there is one thing they fear most on the right, it is a well organized political opposition on the left. Steve Harper will have his hands full with the NDP riding him over the next four years, because the NDP has a proven record for opposing these stooges.
can't wait.