Looking Out for Western Business and Investor Rights: Why the West Approves Military Interventions to Topple One Arab Government and Prop Up Another
In a previous article I pointed to three factors to explain the West's decision to intervene militarily in Libya to prevent the government there from putting down an armed rebellion while it tacitly approves the Gulf Cooperation Council's military intervention in Bahrain to put down a peaceful rebellion there. The double-standard, I argued, reflects dramatic differences between Libya and Bahrain in their relationship with the United States and its dominant investor and corporate class.
Goodies and Baddies: A History of 'Humanitarian Intervention'
The idea of "humanitarian intervention" which is behind the decision to attack in Libya is one of the central beliefs of our age. It divides people. Some see it as a noble, disinterested use of Western power. Others see it as a smokescreen for a latter-day liberal imperialism. I want to tell the story of how this idea originated and how it has grown up to possess the minds of a generation of liberal men and women in Europe and America.
Obama: "America Has Played Unique Role As An Anchor Of Global Security"
"For generations, the United States of America has played a unique role as an anchor of global security and as an advocate for human freedom. Mindful of the risks and costs of military action, we are naturally reluctant to use force to solve the world's many challenges. But when our interests and values are at stake, we have a responsibility to act," President Obama said in his address on Libya on Monday night.
Yemen: Forty killed in clashes in northern governorate of Al-Jawf
The anti-government uprising, backed by opposition parties, has sparked clashes between pro- and anti-government tribesmen in the northern Yemeni governorate of Al-Jawf where at least 40 people have been killed in the past few days, said Sheikh Abdulhamid Amer, chairman of local NGO Social Development and Peace Association.
A CIA commander for the Libyan rebels
The Libyan National Council, the Benghazi-based group that speaks for the rebel forces fighting the Gaddafi regime, has appointed a long-time CIA collaborator to head its military operations. The selection of Khalifa Hifter, a former colonel in the Libyan army, was reported by McClatchy Newspapers Thursday and the new military chief was interviewed by a correspondent for ABC News on Sunday night.
Who are the Libyan Freedom Fighters and Their Patrons?
The world is facing a very unpredictable and potentially dangerous situation in North Africa and the Middle East. What began as a memorable, promising, relatively nonviolent achievement of New Politics — the Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt — has morphed very swiftly into a recrudescence of old habits: America, already mired in two decade-long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sporadic air attacks in Yemen and Somalia, now bombing yet another Third World Country, in this case Libya.
"Bait and Switch" Libya and The Holy Triumvirate
Libya is engaged in a civil war. The United States and the European Union and NATO — The Holy Triumvirate — are intervening, bloodily, in a civil war. To overthrow Moammar Gaddafi. First The Holy Triumvirate spoke only of imposing a no-fly zone. After getting support from international bodies on that understanding they immediately began to wage war against Libyan military forces, and whoever was nearby, on a daily basis. In the world of commerce this is called "bait and switch".
France, UK urge Gaddafi supporters to drop him now
France and Britain called on Monday for supporters of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to drop him before it was "too late" and asked Libyans opposing him to join a political process to pave the way for his departure.
Libyan Rebels Seize Oil Complexes Amid Reports Opposition Captures Gadhafi's Hometown
Libyan opposition forces are making major advances, recapturing two key oil facilities amid reports that Moammar Gadhafi's key stronghold of Sirte has fallen to the rebels. In the last 48 hours, rebels have blown through 300 miles of Gadhafi-held territory.
No U.N. mandate to attack Gaddafi forces: Russia
Russia said on Monday attacks on forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi amounted to intervention in a civil war and were not backed by the U.N. resolution authorizing no-fly zones. In the latest Russian criticism of military action by the Western-led coalition, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the resolution passed by the U.N. Security Council on March 17 had the sole aim of protecting Libyan civilians.
Obama Gears Up for Hard Sell on Libya
US President Barack Obama prepared Monday to give a prime-time address to the nation aimed at winning the support of a war-weary American public for the military intervention in Libya.
Obama's Monday Mission: Sell Americans on Libyan War
President Obama plans a Monday evening address with an increasingly common goal, to sell the American public on an increasingly unpopular war. But while those previous speeches were about the decade-long Afghan War, the Monday speech will be about the new war in Libya.
March 27, 2011
Depleted uranium: a strange way to protect Libyan civilians
In the first 24 hours of the Libyan attack, US B-2s dropped forty-five 2,000-pound bombs. These massive bombs, along with the Cruise missiles launched from British and French planes and ships, all contained depleted uranium (DU) warheads.
U.S. Won't Intervene in Syria as Assad Differs From Qaddafi, Clinton Says
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. won't enter into the internal conflict in Syria the way it has in Libya. "No," Clinton said, when asked on the CBS "Face the Nation" program if the U.S. would intervene in Syria's unrest. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's security forces clashed with protesters in several cities yesterday after his promises of freedoms and pay increases failed to prevent dissent from spreading across the country.
US officials: Libyan operation could last months
U.S.-led military action in Libya has bolstered rebels fighting Moammar Gadhafi's forces, but the international operation could continue for months, the Obama administration says.
NATO decision body to consider Libya air strikes
NATO's top decision-making body is likely to expand its air mission over Libya on Sunday to take over command of U.S.-led air strikes against Moammar Gadhafi's military.
March 26, 2011
US using Depleted Uranium in 'Humanitarian Intervention'
Only a few days into the U.S.-led attacks on Libya, there have been reports of forty-five 2,000 pound bombs containing depleted uranium being dropped down on Libya by the U.S. B-2s in the first 24 hours of the attack. stopwar.org
The Least Reported Unarmed Revolution in the Middle East
Since February 17, 2011, military forces have fired indiscriminately into crowds of unarmed demonstrators. There have been hundreds of arrests, torture and disappearances of protest organizers, and empty promises made by government leaders. Amnesty International and Human Rights have intervened and word came from a reliable source that a phone call from US Vice President Joe Biden was able to pull government military troops off the streets and away from unarmed demonstrators.
'Al-Qaeda snatched missiles' in Libya
Al-Qaeda's offshoot in North Africa has snatched surface-to-air missiles from an arsenal in Libya during the civil strife there, Chad's President says. Idriss Deby Itno did not say how many surface-to-air missiles were stolen, but told the African weekly Jeune Afrique that he was "100 per cent sure" of his assertion.
Libyan rebels recapture Ajdabiya
Anti-government fighters, backed by allied air strikes, push Muammar Gaddafi's forces out of strategic eastern town.
Libya bombing: Deja vu?
The no-fly zone imposed over Libya by the United Nations Security Council is the result of international efforts to quell the violence and end the humanitarian crisis in the North African country. However, after days of cruise missile attacks and air bombardments by the West-led coalition forces, purportedly to reduce the Libyan government's military capabilities, there is evidence humanitarian disasters there are getting worse and may trigger further escalation of armed conflicts. Is the bombing justified or is it yet another case of "might makes right"?
Thousands in Yemen March Against Saleh
Crowds on the streets for protests dubbed a "day of departure" but president delivers a defiant speech to supporters.
Obama briefs lawmakers on Libya, says mission is going well
The president said that the U.S. military activity would be ratcheting down as other members of the coalition take an expanded role, according to a House GOP aide briefed on the call. Obama told lawmakers that the process of removing Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi begins with the international criminal court at the Hague and is not part of the U.S. military mission.
Libya, Oh What a Stupid War; Fukushima, Cover-Up Amid Catastrophe
The war on Libya now being waged by the US, Britain and France must surely rank as one of the stupidest martial enterprises, smaller in scale to be sure, since Napoleon took it into his head to invade Russia in 1812.
Libyan Rebel Leader Admits Links To "Al Qaeda" Fighters
The commander of anti Gaddafi rebels forces in Libya has admitted that among the ranks of those fighting against the government are islamic militants who have fought and killed US troops in Iraq, otherwise known as "al qaeda" fighters.
Scores injured as govt supporters clash with reformers in Amman
One person was killed and more than 100 injured on Friday when government supporters and pro-reform protesters clashed in Amman, prompting a heavy-handed response from police using batons and water canons to disperse the crowd.
Yemeni leader says he wants to go - but can't
Facing growing calls for his resignation, Yemen's longtime ruler told tens of thousands of supporters Friday that he's ready to leave power but he doesn't trust his opposition, whom he called "drug dealers."
Protesting Jordanian youths attacked, injured: witnesses
A group of nearly 50 loyalists hurled stones at Jordanian students in a protest camp set up in Amman Thursday night, leaving several injured, as security forces stood by, witnesses told AFP.
Leaders slam Libyan attacks
Namibian president and SADC chairman Hifikepunye Pohamba and the West's arch foe Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe led condemnation of the west this week over the aerial bombardment of Libya. Mugabe on Monday rapped the attacks by the United States, Britain and France on Libya and accused the West of twisting the meaning of a UN resolution imposing a no-fly zone. 'The West has been (acting) in the same hypocritical way as before,' Mugabe told journalists.
NATO deal leaves U.S. still commanding Libya strikes
A NATO decision to take charge of a no-fly zone over Libya does not include conducting air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi's ground forces, a mission that will remain in U.S. hands until a new command deal is reached, Vice Admiral Bill Gortney said on Friday.
March 24, 2011
Keith Harmon Snow on Libya - RT
Nato to take full control of Libya mission
Nato is poised to take full control of all aspects of the international operation over Libya next week, in a move that will see a Canadian general becoming the overall commander of the mission to protect civilians, the no-fly zone and the Libyan arms embargo.
Conflicting Reports Whether Yemeni President Will Step Down
AFP is reporting that President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Thursday vowed to defend himself by "all possible means" against an escalating anti-regime campaign seeking to unseat him. The Wall Street Journal is reporting, though, that the Yemeni president is nearing a deal to resign from his position.
Syria: Protesters Killed and Scores Detained Including Children
Over the past few weeks in the Middle East, we have seen firsthand the importance of the right to protest peacefully and freely. Since March 16, protesters in Syria have stood up for this right, taking to the streets and demanding the release of political prisoners.
Syria: more protests in Deraa as number of dead rises
Around 20,000 people have lined the streets of Deraa for the funerals of protesters killed in clashes with security forces. A Syrian journalist tells Channel 4 News the situation "is out of control".
Libyan rebels appear to take leaf from Kadafi's playbook
Opposition officials in Benghazi, whose wide sweeps to detain alleged Kadafi supporters have drawn criticism, take journalists on a tightly controlled tour of detention centers. Many detainees say they're immigrant workers and deny fighting for Kadafi.
Obama and Libya
Why are thoughtful people so perplexed over Obama's unilateral decision to go to war against Libya without seeking congressional approval, while opting for UN authorization? Has the possibility not entered anyone's mind that Obama — put into office by the corporate-establishment — might be in the process of generating a world base for the political structuring of his masters' interests, as a replacement for the national system of coercive authority?
Libya rebels: Gaddafi could be right about al-Qaeda
The war on Libya now being waged by the US, Britain and France must surely rank as one of the stupidest martial enterprises, smaller in scale to be sure, since Napoleon took it into his head to invade Russia in 1812. Let's start with the fierce hand-to-hand combat between members of the coalition, arguing about the basic aims of the operation. How does "take all necessary measures" square with the ban on any "foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory". Can the coalition kill Gaddafi and recognise a provisional government in Benghazi? Who exactly are the revolutionaries and national liberators in eastern Libya?
Libya rebels coordinating with West on air assault
Leaders of the opposition national council, in Benghazi and in Europe, are helping allied commanders identify targets for strikes. Allied officials walk a fine line as the U.N. mandate bars them from actively helping the rebels in their goal to oust Moammar Kadafi.
Libya, Obama and the Five-Second Rule
Mr. President. We are not clear why we are fighting, who exactly we are fighting with, who the 'rebels' are that we're fighting for, what a No-Fly Zone accomplishes with a dictator who has ground troops, how long we are to be there, to whom we are to "hand-off," and why, Sir, if we are intervening on behalf of civilians at risk, why we did not do so in Egypt, why we are not doing so in places like Bahrain, and — if the local government were to somehow screw-up the containment at the Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, if this new doctrine would somehow permit us to go in and try to take over Japan.
March 23, 2011
Obama's Imperial Twist: "Humanitarian" Regime Change in Libya
President Obama demanded regime change in Libya more than three weeks ago, but now acts as if that's not his policy. He will use the assault on Muamar Khadafi's forces to introduce so-called "humanitarian intervention" as an anchor of the Obama Doctrine. Regime change will remain a basic tool, while the "humanitarian" ruse expands imperial options. Obama may well opt to turn Libya into a kind of protectorate, as Haiti has become. Meanwhile, France interprets the UN mandate in Libya as allowing the Euro-Americans to act as air support for the rebel armed forces, as the French did at Benghazi.
Russia against Western-led military action in Libya
Russia has said it is opposed to any Western-led military action in Libya and that country's Parliament is expected to make a formal call for an end to American-led hostilities before the week is out, international media say.
There's nothing moral about Nato's intervention in Libya
It's as if it's a habit they can't kick. Once again US, British and other Nato forces are bombarding an Arab country with cruise missiles and bunker-busting bombs. Both David Cameron and Barack Obama insist this is nothing like Iraq. There will be no occupation. The attack is solely to protect civilians.
Saudi Arabia Abandons Yemen's Saleh, Calls for Transition
US media, which filters everything through US interests, has been writing a variation on the story that Ali Abdullah Saleh's ouster in Yemen would cause national security problems. That may be true, but the possibilities it describes are already on display throughout the Arab world. Libya, where we did attack, could become a haven for terrorists in a chaotic post-Gadhafi aftermath; we know almost nothing about the rebels we're supporting. And Bahrain is already a proxy battle between the Saudis and the Iranians, so any hope of avoiding that is done.
How the War on Libya was Sold
Has there ever been a war justified more glibly? One supposes so but it's hard to recall when. Even the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, as disastrous as they proved, involved the public articulation of a more-or-less coherent plan, something that's patently lacking from the adventure unfolding in Libya.
Romania joins NATO naval blockade of Libya
Bucharest - Romania will send a frigate and two naval officers to help NATO enforce the weapons embargo against Libya, President Traian Basescu said Tuesday.
Fidel Castro: Partnership of Equals
Saturday evening, the 19th, after a sumptuous banquet, NATO leaders ordered the attack on Libya. Of course, nothing could occur without the United States claiming its irrefutable role as supreme leader. From its command post of that institution in Europe, a senior official declared that "Odyssey Dawn" was about to begin.
Note To Progressives Who Back a No Fly Zone on Libya
Iraq alone should have made any progressive support for Western military intervention in Libya negligible. It is very sad to see that didn't happen. The corporate media has, again, succeeded in getting many well intentioned progressives to think within its box.
Libya: Murder and Plunder Masquerading as "Humanitarian Intervention"
What is obvious to all but the most duped and apathetic is that once again we have another war launched by the imperialist powers thinly veiled as a "humanitarian intervention", dressed up as a mission of peace driven by the use of heavy bombardment and murder, where the truth lies diametrically opposed to the propaganda being pushed by the mainstream media.
African leaders condemn Libya's war
The leaders of South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe have condemned airstrikes carried out on Libya by the United States and its European allies. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, whose country supported UN resolution 1973, said the West has sought a "regime-change doctrine" under the pretext of the no-fly zone, state-run BBC reported on Tuesday. Zuma rejected "any foreign intervention, whatever its form," calling for an immediate ceasefire in Libya.
Gaddafi's forces: Bombed but not broken
The Western allies yesterday struggled to find a coherent strategy in Libya as Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces renewed attacks on rebel strongholds despite a no-fly zone and a fourth day of allied strikes against government military targets. In Washington, top officials insisted the US intended to hand over command of the operation to its allies within days, but wrangling within Nato continued yesterday along with confusion over what the mission was increasingly clear that despite the scale of the damage inflicted on Colonel Gaddafi's forces, the rebels were highly unlikely to achieve a military victory.
Who's in charge? Germans pull forces out of NATO as Libyan coalition falls apart
Deep divisions between allied forces currently bombing Libya worsened today as the German military announced it was pulling forces out of NATO over continued disagreement on who will lead the campaign. A German military spokesman said it was recalling two frigates and AWACS surveillance plane crews from the Mediterranean, after fears they would be drawn into the conflict if NATO takes over control from the U.S.
Nato to take control in Libya after US, UK and France reach agreement
Britain, France and the US have agreed that Nato will take over the military command of the no-fly zone over Libya in a move that represents a setback for Nicolas Sarkozy, who had hoped to diminish the role of the alliance.
U.S. Says Libyan Campaign to Ease as No-Fly Zone Is Secured
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the intensity of the military campaign in Libya will ease soon after allied forces imposed a no-fly zone on Muammar Qaddafi's regime, enabling rebels to push out of their eastern Benghazi stronghold.
Channel 4: After hosting a party for a stricken US pilot, Libyan civilians are fired upon and injured by US rescue team
March 22, 2011
Africa raises voice against Libya raids, to no effect
Moamer Gaddafi has had his share of run-ins with African presidents. Nonetheless, a growing number of the continent's most-prominent nations are speaking out against the US- led airstrikes against the Libyan leader's forces.
Allies Move from Defense to Offense in Libya
By one understanding of the war against Moammar Gadhafi, it's practically time to unfurl the Mission Accomplished banner. But the U.S.-led coalition's attacks against the Libyan dictator's forces are only increasing.
Be Consistent—Invade Saudi Arabia
It's the black gold that drives nations mad and inevitably raises the question of whether America and the former European colonial powers give a damn about human rights as the basis for military intervention. If Libya didn't have more oil than any other nation in Africa, would the West be unleashing high-tech military mayhem to contain what is essentially a tribal-based civil war?
Libyan Rebel Stronghold: Frustration Mounts on the Streets of Benghazi
In the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi, tensions are mounting between conservative reformers, trigger-happy youths and Gadhafi loyalists. There is growing frustration at the lack of jobs as companies pulled out of the city. The absence of progress is putting the revolution at risk.
Museveni slams West's action on Libya
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday denounced the West's military action against the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, terming it hypocritical and urged negotiations to end the turmoil.
Namibia: President Pohamba slams Libya strikes
Speaking at the 21st Independence celebrations at Otjiwarongo, Pohamba said: "We deplore and regret the latest invasion led by some European countries and the United States [of America] and Canada." Pohamba said Namibia stood by the resolution of the African Union's Peace Council that "any foreign invasion in the internal affairs of any African state [should be] condemned and rejected in the strongest terms".
China slams coalition attacks on Libya and says it stems from narrow political or economic interest
China on Tuesday accused the West of causing civilian casualties in Libya through UN-authorised air strikes and called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn North African nation. "The purpose of the UN Security Council resolution is to protect the safety of civilians, but the military actions taken by certain relevant countries are causing civilian casualties," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. "We oppose the use of force that could result in more civilian casualties and a greater humanitarian crisis," she told a news briefing.
Stop Bombing Libya
Since Saturday night, the United States, France, and Britain have been bombing Libya with cruise missiles, B-2 stealth bombers, F-16 and F-15 fighter jets, and Harrier attack jets. There is no reliable estimate of the number of civilians killed. The U.S. has taken the lead in the punishing bombing campaign to carry out United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.
Russia, China call for immediate ceasefire in Libya
China and Russia have called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya expressing concern over civilian casualties in the military strikes by allied forces in areas controlled by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. (Turkey slams Libya strikes)
Russia's Zhirinovsky calls to revoke Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
Russia's head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, has appealed to the Nobel Prize Committee to revoke U.S. President Barack Obama's Nobel Prize, the party's press service said in a statement on Monday.
Take Obama's Peace Prize
Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for US President Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize to be revoked following his decision to attack Libya.
Putin urges all responsible for Libya deaths to pray
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that all those responsible for civilian casualties in Libya should pray for the salvation of their own souls.
France Says New Non-Nato Body To Lead Action
France has proposed that a new political steering committee outside Nato be responsible for overseeing military operations over Libya.
Libya — Another War We Shouldn't Believe In
U.S. forces fired 110 cruise missiles at Libya on the first day of the war. Each one cost $755,000 to build; $2.8 million to transport, maintain and shoot. Austerity and budget cuts abound; there's no money for NPR or teachers or firefighters. Note to union negotiators: the government has lots of money. They're spending it on war.
Libya Reminds Us Almost No One in Washington Cares About Deficits
The Hill is reporting that the cost of our latest war military action in Libya could effectively wipe out all the deficit reduction House Republicans are trying to squeeze of out of cuts to domestic programs.
March 21, 2011
Museveni blasts West over Libya attack
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has attacked the Western countries for their military action in Libya and accused them of double standards. Over the weekend, France, UK, Canada, US and Denmark launched aerial attacks on military targets and bases in Libya, arguing that they are intended to halt Col. Muammar Gadaffi loyalists from killing civilians.
The Libyan war: Unconstitutional and illegitimate
There is no doubt that U.S. participation in the Anglo-French-American attack on Libya is completely unconstitutional. As Glenn Greenwald has pointed out, before becoming president Barack Obama, a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former law professor, accurately described the limits of a president's authority to initiate a war in cases where the U.S. has neither been attacked nor is in imminent danger of attack...
Obama claims Gadhafi is a danger to U.S.
So here it is: Two days after the U.S. launched cruise missiles at targets in Libya, President Obama is making the case for the war in an open letter to the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate. In the letter, Obama makes the case that Moammar Gadhafi actually threatens the national security interests of the U.S. The argument feels perfunctory -- especially given the previous emphasis on protecting Libyan civilians -- but he makes it nonetheless...
Tripoli says coalition, rebels breaking ceasefire
LIBYA on Monday accused coalition forces and rebels of violating a new ceasefire declared late on Sunday by Muammar Gaddafi's military, JANA news agency quoted defence ministry sources as saying.
Cindy Sheehan: 'Barack-A-lujah! I Have Seen The Light!' — OpEd
I used to be against ALL wars and the use of violence, but (and I must admit a little confusion on this one, at first) now it seems that I am against wars, acts of war, and violence ONLY if a Republican is president. Now I understand with perfect clarity that it was good to protest Bush—and if the US-UN resolution against Libya was done when Bush was president, it would have been wrong—but now it's "compassionate." I must admit, I was a little shocked to find out that the US actually commits compassionate acts and, again, silly me—I thought most acts of war and war were for profit. I realize that only a jerk (or racist) would think that now. I have repented.
Costs of Libya Operation Already Piling Up
With U.N. coalition forces bombarding Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi from the sea and air, the United States' part in the operation could ultimately hit several billion dollars -- and require the Pentagon to request emergency funding from Congress to pay for it.
Dem Congressman: "We're In Libya Because Of Oil"
"Well, we're in Libya because of oil. And I think both Japan and the nuclear technology and Libya and this dependence that we have upon imported oil have both once again highlighted the need for the United States to have a renewable energy agenda going forward," Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) said on MSNBC.
Backtracking on Libya: the Arab world breaks ranks
Over the weekend, Arab League chief Amr Moussa slammed the international air strikes on Libya only to backtrack a day later in what is widely being seen as a sign of the legendary Arab League disunity.
First cracks emerge in military coalition on Libya
While the US-French-British core stayed solid, cracks started to show Monday in the military coalition hastily assembled to take action on Libya as the Arab League and some EU countries wavered.
Putin likens U.N. Libya resolution to crusade calls
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Monday likened the U.N. Security Council resolution supporting military action in Libya to medieval calls for crusades.
First cracks emerge in military coalition on Libya
While the US-French-British core stayed solid, cracks started to show Monday in the military coalition hastily assembled to take action on Libya as the Arab League and some EU countries wavered.
Targeting Gaddafi not part of mission - US general
The Army general leading the U.S. forces enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya said on Monday it would not be ideal for Muammar Gaddafi to remain in power but attacking the Libyan leader was not part of his mission.
Forces not providing air support for rebels: general
U.S. and coalition military forces enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya are there to protect civilians and not to provide close-air support for opposition forces fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the head of U.S. Africa Command said on Monday.
Medvedev, Putin clash over Libya in rare moment of public discord
The president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev criticized his boss, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, for comparing the air strikes by Western militaries on Libya to a "medieval crusade." Medvedev lambasted the comment as "unacceptable," in the most public clash yet between the two Russian leaders.
March 20, 2011
Obama's Serbia-Solution for Libya; "Split the country and steal the oil"
The Obama administration never would have launched a war on Libya if they didn't have a puppet-in-waiting ready to take power as soon as the fighting ended. That puppet appears to be Mustafa Abdul Jalil, Gaddafi's former justice minister. Jalil is presently the opposition leader of the Libyan National Transitional Council which oversees the insurgents from Al Bayda. This is not a grassroots movement that embraces the fundamental precepts of democratic government. It's a clatter of rebels armed by the Egyptian military (with US approval) to topple the Gaddafi regime. Jalil has garnered the military support of the so-called "international community" despite the fact that peaceful protesters in Bahrain, Yemen and Saudi Arabia have been kicked to the curb. It's just another example of the UN's selective support for pro-democracy movements.
Libya says 64 killed in military strikes
At least 64 people have died in military strikes by European and US forces, a government official said Sunday. Broadcaster Al Arabiya quoted the health official as saying that the death toll had increased from the 48 deaths cited by the Libyan armed forces. An estimated 150 people have been injured in the strikes.
Arab League condemns broad Western bombing campaign in Libya
Moussa said the Arab League's approval of a no-fly zone on March 12 was based on a desire to prevent Moammar Gaddafi's air force from attacking civilians and was not designed to endorse the intense bombing and missile attacks – including on Tripoli, the capital, and on Libyan ground forces – whose images have filled Arab television screens for two days.
Gadhafi vows 'long war' after US, allies strike
A defiant Moammar Gadhafi vowed a "long war" after the U.S. and European militaries blasted his forces with airstrikes and over 100 cruise missiles, hitting air defenses and at least two major air bases early Sunday, shaking the Libyan capital with explosions and anti-aircraft fire.
John Boehner to President Obama: Define the mission
House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday that President Barack Obama must "better explain what America's role" is in the Libya offensive before further military action is taken. It was the speaker's first public remarks since the U.S. and allies launched an air and sea attack on Col. Moammar Qadhafi on Saturday.
Liberal Democrats in uproar over Libya action
A hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus conference call on Saturday.
Libya bombing called successful; endgame unclear
The U.S. on Sunday claimed initial success two days into an assault on Libya that included some of the heaviest firepower in the American arsenal – long-range bombers designed for the Cold War – but American officials said Sunday it was too early to define the international military campaign's endgame.
March 19, 2011
Gaddafi says will arm civilians to defend Libya
A defiant Muammar Gaddafi said on Saturday he will arm civilians to defend Libya from what he called "colonial, crusader" aggression by Western forces that have launched air strikes against him.
Washington and the Civilians of Libya
Whether you believe that the United Nations resolution authorizing extensive intervention in the Libyan civil war is justified or not, and whether you believe that the admittedly eccentric forty two year rule of Muammar Gaddafi over a complex and fractious tribal society has been cruel or not, there is one thing that all objective observers should be able to agree on. All should agree that the rationale put forth by the United States government for supporting the impending NATO intervention, that this action is to be taken to bring about an immediate end to attacks on civilians, is one of the biggest acts of hypocrisy in a modern era ridden with hypocrisy.
Selective nature of UN intervention
When Israel bombed Gaza at the end of 2008 in a brutal action which killed 1,300 people and destroyed 20,000 buildings, there was no question of the US allowing the UN to impose a no-fly zone over Gaza to protect its people, 50% of which are children. Those who support the UN security council's authorisation of a no-fly zone over Libya (Britain, France and US line up for air strikes against Gaddafi, 18 March) need to reflect on the selective nature of UN intervention throughout the world and in the Middle East in particular.
Military action launched against Libyan forces
The first shots were fired today by military forces imposing a no-fly zone over Libya as the international community swung into action against Muammar Gaddafi. The show of strength against the Libyan leader began when a French jet attacked and destroyed a military vehicle belonging to his army.
U.S. Tomahawk Cruise Missiles Hit Targets in Libya
More than 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles struck over 20 targets inside Libya today in the opening phase of an international military operation the Pentagon said was aimed at stopping attacks led by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and enforcing a U.N.-backed no-fly zone.
Allies launch Libya force as Gadhafi hits rebels
French fighter jets fired the first shots at Moammar Gadhafi's troops on Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat.
Allies launch Libya force as Gadhafi hits rebels
French fighter jets fired the first shots at Moammar Gadhafi's troops on Saturday, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat.
U.S. stresses supporting role as air strikes start in Libya
U.S. forces joined those of four other countries in launching military action against Libya on Saturday, and President Barack Obama said U.S. involvement was limited and only in support of an international effort.
European governments "completely puzzled" about U.S. position on Libya
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's meetings in Paris with the G8 foreign ministers on Monday left her European interlocutors with more questions than answers about the Obama administration's stance on intervention in Libya.
Robert Fisk: First it was Saddam. Then Gaddafi. Now there's a vacancy for the West's favourite crackpot tyrant
So we are going to take "all necessary measures" to protect the civilians of Libya, are we? Pity we didn't think of that 42 years ago. Or 41 years ago. Or... well, you know the rest. And let's not be fooled by what the UN resolution really means. Yet again, it's going to be regime-change. And just as in Iraq – to use one of Tom Friedman's only memorable phrases of the time – when the latest dictator goes, who knows what kind of bats will come flying out of the box?
March 18, 2011
Libya, Hypocrisy and Betrayal by the United Nations
The bombing of Libya will begin on or nearly to the day, of the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the destruction of Iraq, 19th March, in Europe. Libya too will be destroyed - its schools, education system, water, infrastructure, hospitals, municipal buildings. There will be numerous "tragic mistakes", "collateral damage", mothers, fathers, children, babies, grandparents, blind and deaf schools and on and on. And the wonders of the Roman remains and earlier, largely enduring and revered in all history's turmoils as Iraq, the nation's history - and humanity's, again as Iraq and Afghanistan, will be gone, for ever.
Several injured in Saudi Arabia protest
Several people have been injured after police fired rubber bullets at anti-government protesters in Saudi Arabia's eastern region of Qatif as Friday's million-man-march looms.
UN warns Bahrain over crackdown
Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon calls King Hamad to express his "deepest concern" about use of force against protesters.
50 protesters killed in Yemen police firing
Police opened fire on hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters Friday killing at least 50 people and wounding 240 in the capital, Sana'a.
Shame, Shame, Shame Once Again on the US and the UN
Just hours ago, the UN Security Council led by the US has backed the use of "all necessary measures" against the oil rich country of Libya--including no fly zones.
Qatar, Emirates to join Libya air strikes
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will join international forces set to bomb Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya after the UN votes to authorize air strikes, a UN diplomat said this evening. "There will be participation by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. That has been confirmed at the Security Council," the diplomat, who asked not to be identified, said just ahead of the council's vote on authorizing force.
Large Opposition to Military Intervention in Libya
As President Obama prepares to speak this afternoon on the situation in Libya, a quick look at recent polls show Americans overwhelmingly do not support military intervention.
Libya shuts airspace as Nato strikes are imminent
Military action to protect civilians from Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's forces will come within "hours" and France will participate in the strikes, government spokesman Francois Baroin said on Friday.
Full text of UN Security Council Resolution on Libya
The following is the full final text of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1971 which was adopted by the United Nations Security Council on Thursday evening, March 17, 2011. It authorizes a no-fly zone on Libya and "all necessary measures" to protect its citizens.
Obama Warns Libya, but Attacks Go On
President Obama told Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi on Friday to carry out an immediate cease-fire and stop all attacks on Libyan civilians or face military action from the United States and its allies in Europe and the Arab world.
U.S. accuses Gaddafi of violating U.N. resolution
The United States accused Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Friday of defying international demands for an immediate ceasefire, hours after President Barack Obama said he faced military action if he did not comply.
In his first interview since the successful Nation of Islam Saviours' Day 2011 convention, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan sat down in the studio with popular radio host and long-time friend Cliff Kelley on WVON-AM 1690 for a two and a half hour conversation. FARRAKHAN: "I warn my brother do you let these wicked demons move you in a direction that will absolutely ruin your future with your people in Africa and throughout the world...Why don't you organize a group of respected Americans and ask for a meeting with Qaddafi, you can't order him to step down and get out, who the hell do you think you are?
Biggest Iraqi Shi'ite rally against Saudis in Bahrain
Thousands of Iraqi Shi'ites rallied on Friday in the country's biggest demonstration yet to support fellow Shi'ite protesters confronting troops from Sunni Arab states in Bahrain.
Saudi-backed crackdown in Bahrain exposes more U.S. hypocrisy
Although U.S. officials condemned Bahrain's use of deadly force against unarmed protestors on Wednesday, experts say the Obama administration is reticent to support the people because the Bahraini monarchy best serves U.S. regional interests. Critics accuse the U.S. of employing a double-standard – reluctant to oust the monarchy in Bahrain but more than willing to encourage Libyans to topple Moammar Gaddafi.
US Fleet Commander Met Head of Bahrain Defense Forces Before Crackdown
After the Bahraini attack on the Pearl Roundabout and residents of local villages, and the siege of the Salmaniya Hospital, the next phase of the crackdown took place overnight with a roundup of leading activists and opposition leaders.
US and Germany Offer 'Feeble Opposition' to Bahrain Crackdown
A government-led crackdown in Bahrain led to three protester deaths on Wednesday. Though the situation appeared calmer on Thursday, German editorialists criticize Saudi Arabia's decision to send troops in to help suppress the demonstrations and urge Western nations to not abandon the protestors.
At least 84 wounded in new Yemen clashes
Yemeni security forces used live fire and tear gas on Thursday on protesters demanding an end to the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, wounding at least 84, activists said.
Egypt says won't intervene militarily in Libya
Egypt said on Thursday it would not be involved in any military intervention in its neighbor Libya after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said discussions were under way about possible Arab involvement, as aid agencies on Egypt's border with Libya were preparing to face a refugee exodus from Libya.
Crowds of Benghazi protesters cheer UN resolution
Protesters against Moammar Gaddafi in the eastern city of Benghazi cheered and let off fireworks on Friday after a UN Security Council vote authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya, live footage showed.
UN OKs 'all necessary measures,' no-fly zone to protect Libyans
The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized "all necessary measures" including strikes by air and sea to protect civilians from attacks by Moammar Gadhafi's forces. The no-fly zone resolution passed 10-0 with five abstentions, including Russia and China, which have veto power, and Germany, India and Brazil.
Britain, France and US prepare for air strikes against Gaddafi
British, French and US military aircraft are preparing to defend the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi after Washington said it was ready to support a no-fly zone and air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
UN warns of 'shocking' abuses in Bahrain
The United Nations warned on Thursday of "shocking and illegal" abuses in Bahrain after a bloody crackdown on Shiite-led protesters which has alarmed the United States and infuriated the Shiite world.
Bahrain upheaval tests Obama backing for democracy
President Barack Obama, struggling to find his footing in the upheaval shaking Bahrain, has urged the kings of that island nation and its ally, Saudi Arabia, to show restraint in dealing with protesters.
Bahrain figures seized for foreign contacts,murder—TV
The Gulf Arab state of Bahrain has arrested opposition figures for communicating with foreign countries and inciting murder and destruction of property, state television said on Thursday.
Bahrain detains 7 opposition figures
Bahrain's Sunni monarchy detained at least seven prominent opposition activists Thursday, and Iran recalled its ambassador to protest the Gulf troops backing the government against the Shiite protests that forced martial law-style rule in the island nation.
Libya and the World Left
There is so much hypocrisy and so much confused analysis about what is going on in Libya that one hardly knows where to begin. The most neglected aspect of the situation is the deep division in the world left. Several left Latin American states, and most notably Venezuela, are fulsome in their support of Colonel Qaddafi. But the spokespersons of the world left in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and indeed North America, decidedly don't agree.
Libya Threatens Retaliation as U.S. Seeks UN Resolution Authorizing Strikes
Libya's defense ministry warned Thursday that any military action against the African nation resulting from a possible U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing airstrikes and other measures will be met with retaliatory strikes on air and sea traffic in the Mediterranean region.
Libya says any attack would threaten Mediterranean
Any foreign attack on Libya will endanger air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean basin and expose the area to both short and long term risks, the Defence Ministry said in a statement broadcast on Libyan television.
France pushes for U.N. council vote on Libya
France wants the U.N. Security Council to vote no later than Thursday evening on a resolution authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya and stepped-up sanctions, French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said.
Hundreds shot in Bahrain protest: reports
At least 200 people have been shot and wounded in a Shi'ite village south of the Bahraini capital, a medic says, as the king imposed a state of emergency after bringing in Saudi and Emirati troops to help quell anti-regime protests.
Bahrain forces overrun protest camp, six dead
Backed by tanks and helicopter gunships, army and riot police today cracked down on anti-government protesters driving them out from a landmark square in the heart of Bahrain Capital leaving six people dead in firing and clashes, witnesses and officials said.
Gaddafi forces tell Benghazi residents to lay down arms
The Libyan army told people in Benghazi to lay down their arms on Wednesday as its troops advanced closer to the rebel stronghold for what could be the decisive battle in the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
Two Benghazi tribes support Gaddafi-Libyan TV
Two major tribes in the rebel-held city of Benghazi told Libyan state television they supported Muammar Gaddafi, the television said on Wednesday.
Libyan government forces overwhelm rebels in Ajdabiya
Libyan troops loyal to Moammar Kadafi mount a punishing assault to capture the last obstacle on the coastal highway to Benghazi, sending opposition fighters who had vowed to fight to the death fleeing.
March 15, 2011
Germany stalls Libya no-fly zone plans
The opposition in Libya is on the run. The military forces of Muammar Qaddafi owe their success in no small part to the fact that they have an air force and the rebels do not.
Libya rebels face last stand as Gaddafi forces zero in on Benghazi
Libya's revolution was facing collapse as Muammar Gaddafi's forces broke through the last major line of resistance before Benghazi, the heart of the uprising and the seat of the rebel administration.
Iran: Saudi troops in Bahrain unacceptable
The Iranian government Tuesday called the presence of Saudi troops in Bahrain "unacceptable," saying the move "will further complicate the issue."
Saudi soldier gunned down in Bahrain
A Saudi soldier has been killed in Bahrain clashes following an incursion by Arab armies to quell popular protests in the Persian Gulf state, sources say.
Bahrain unleashes forces on protesters' camp
Military troops and security forces opened a large-scale assault Wednesday against hundreds of anti-government protesters occupying a landmark square in Bahrain's capital, a day after emergency rule was imposed and clashes erupted in the violence-wracked Gulf kingdom.
Saudi sends troops, Bahrain Shi'ites call it "war"
Saudi Arabia sent troops into Bahrain on Monday to help calm weeks of protests by the Shi'ite Muslim majority, a move opponents of the Sunni ruling family on the island called a declaration of war.
Saudi Arabian troops sent to Bahrain as protests escalate
More than 1,000 Saudi Arabian troops have been deployed in Bahrain, following fresh protests over the weekend that pitted protesters from the tiny Gulf monarchy's Shia majority against riot police.
Pentagon not warned of Saudi move in Bahrain: official
The Pentagon received no warning that Saudi troops and others were being deployed to keep a lid on violent protests in the Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, the US defense department said Monday.
10 Reasons To Say NO To Western Intervention In Libya
The political campaign to launch a military intervention in Libya – ostensibly on humanitarian grounds but with patently political ends in sight – is gathering steam among the NATO powers. A "no-fly zone" has now been urged by the Arab League – for the most part a collection of frightened despots desperate to get the US military still more deeply involved in the region. That would be the start of a journey down slippery slope.
David Cameron warns time is running out to stop Gaddafi
Time is running out for the international community to intervene in Libya, according to David Cameron, who warned that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was seeking new arms to crush the popular uprising against his regime.
Gadhafi forces drive rebels from key oil town
Moammar Gadhafi's forces swept rebels from a key oil town Sunday with waves of strikes from warships, tanks and warplanes, closing on the opposition-held eastern half of Libya as insurgents pleaded for a U.N.-imposed no-fly zone.
March 12, 2011
Robert Fisk: Palestinians understand Gaddafi better than we do
A meeting with a close friend of a son of Gaddafi. "He wants a battle, habibi, he wants a battle. He wants to be the big guerrilla hero, the big man who fights the Americans. He wants to be the Libyan hero who takes on the colonialists. Mr Cameron, Mr Obama, they will do it for him. They will give him the hero title. They will do what he wants."
Arab League backs Libya no-fly zone
The Arab League has backed the idea of a no-fly zone over Libya, as rebels continue to be pushed back by Colonel Gaddafi's forces.
No-fly zone on Libya might not be 'wise' move: Gates
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Saturday the US military and other allies could impose a no-fly zone on Libya but it remains unclear if it would be a "wise" move.
Gadhafi solidifies control over one-third of Libya
Muammar Gadhafi's regime drove out pockets of rebel fighters who were keeping a tenuous hold around oil facilities in a key port city on Saturday after days of relentless shelling against protesters-turned-rebels. It was the latest setback for opposition forces who just a week ago held the entire eastern half of the country and were charging toward the capital.
March 11, 2011
Saudi protests 'tempest in teacup': Prince Alwaleed
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Friday called the protests in the oil giant a "tempest in a teacup," saying instead of it being a "day of rage" people were demonstrating their love for the king.
As Libya's civil war peaks, the US is weighing the role it could play in the chaos. But, many Americans think another intervention would be the worst option for both the US and Libya.
How The Shock Doctrine Set The Middle East Ablaze
The focus on the economic driving forces makes clear that genuine democracy will not be achieved by changing the faces of the old regime or even by introducing a parliamentary form of rule and elections. Real democracy can only come through the taking of political power by the working class and the establishment of a socialist economy, based on meeting social needs not the dictates of the profit system.
Tripoli protest stamped out before it starts: report
Libyan security forces used tear gas and fired in the air on Friday to disperse worshippers near a mosque in the capital before they could protest against Muammar Gaddafi, a Libyan man said, citing two witnesses.
Obama says US is tightening noose on Libyan leader
President Barack Obama said Friday that a no-fly zone over Libya to keep Col. Moammar Gadhafi from attacking rebels remains a possibility as "we are slowly tightening the noose" around the Libyan leader. But he stopped short of moving toward military action.
Heavy police turnout deters Gulf protests
Rallies after Friday prayers have proved decisive in popular uprisings that have overthrown the rulers of Tunisia and Egypt. But the heavy police turnout in some major Gulf cities managed to put a lid on discontent that has surfaced in the region.
March 10, 2011
US abashed over Saudi catch-22
The protesters gathered in the eastern city of Qatif to demand the release of prisoners they say are held without trial. Saudi Arabia, a US ally, has escaped protests like those in Egypt, Tunisia and now in Libya, but dissent is building up as unrest has spread in neighboring Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan and Oman.
Saudi police open fire during protest
Saudi police opened fire Thursday to disperse a protest in the section where minority Shiites live, leaving at least one man injured, as the government toughened its efforts to prevent a wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world from reaching the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia: Interior Ministry Reiterates Ban on All Protests, Arrests Protesters
Saudi Arabia is one of only two countries in the Middle East and North Africa that ban protests as a matter of principle; Oman is the other. Saudi Arabia is not party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protect the right to peaceful assembly, but in 2009 the country acceded to the Arab Charter for Human Rights, which also guarantees this right.
How the so-called guardians of free speech are silencing the messenger
As the United States and Britain look for an excuse to invade another oil-rich Arab country, the hypocrisy is familiar. Colonel Gaddafi is "delusional" and "blood-drenched" while the authors of an invasion that killed a million Iraqis, who have kidnapped and tortured in our name, are entirely sane, never blood-drenched and once again the arbiters of "stability".
Pack Journalism Promotes War on Libya
America's major media never met an imperial war it didn't love and promote, never mind how lawless, mindless, destructive and counterproductive. Despite Washington already bogged down in two losing ones, Obama's heading for another...
Kicking the intervention habit
Should talks of intervention in Libya turn into action, it would be illegal, immoral and hypocritical.
Ron Paul says no-fly zone over Libya is an 'act of war,' needs approval from Congress
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) argued Thursday that establishing a no-fly zone over Libya would be an act of war that should require congressional approval. He said he will introduce a sense-of-Congress resolution saying the administration should seek input from the branch before imposing a no-fly policy.
Chomsky Warns Over Libya Conflict
Linguist and philosopher Professor Noam Chomsky talks to Jeremy Paxman about the impact of uprisings in the Middle East and Africa.
Rebel forces retreat from Ras Lanuf
Rebel fighters fall back from oil town under rocket fire and aerial assault as Gaddafi loyalists launch major offensive.
NATO to move warships into Mediterranean over Libya unrest
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is to move warships to the central Mediterranean to monitor the situation in Libya, but not to take military action there, the alliance's secretary general said Thursday.
'We have to take sides': European Parliament urges EU to recognise Libyan rebel Council
The European Parliament today called on EU High Representative Catherine Ashton to recognise the Interim National Council as officially representing the Libyan opposition. The resolution, by all political groups, also calls on EU Member States to "stand ready" for a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya, to prevent the Gaddafi regime targeting the population, and to help repatriate or resettle migrants fleeing the growing violence there.
Clinton to meet Libyan rebels
US secretary of state says she will meet representatives of opposition council, as France, UK call for Gaddafi exit.
Libya: WikiLeaks cables warn of extremist beliefs
Leaked diplomatic cables obtained by the WikiLeaks website and passed to The Daily Telegraph disclose fears that eastern Libya is being overrun by extremists intent on overthrowing Colonel Gaddafi's regime.
Kuwaiti protests on Tuesday aim to remove PM
Kuwaiti youth groups will take to the streets on Tuesday to demand the removal of the prime minister and for more political freedom in the Gulf Arab state, the world's fourth largest oil exporter.
UK: Misunderstanding stymied SAS mission to Libya
Britain is blaming a misunderstanding for a bungled mission to contact Libya's opposition that ended with eight people detained and the U.K. ambassador's humbling apology broadcast on Libyan state television.
America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels
Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.
Saudi Arabia's 'Day of Rage' Lures Record Bets on $200 Oil: Chart of Day
Options traders are betting more than ever that crude oil is heading to $200 a barrel as some websites call for a "Day of Rage" in Saudi Arabia and anti-government protests spread in the Middle East and North Africa.
March 06, 2011
Knives and petrol bombs return to Cairo streets
Men in plain clothes armed with swords and petrol bombs attacked protesters in Cairo on Sunday night during a demonstration demanding reform of security services with a reputation for brutality, witnesses said.
Saudi Arabia detains Shi'ites as clerics ban protests
Saudi security forces have detained at least 22 minority Shi'ites who protested last week against discrimination, activists said on Sunday, as the kingdom tried to keep the wave of Arab unrest outside its borders.
2011 is 1848 Redux. But Worse
In 1848, a series of revolutions convulsed Europe. From Berlin to Budapest, Venice to Vienna, Paris to Prague, people rose up and overthrew the authoritarian monarchies that Metternich had installed in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. It was these revolutions that prompted Karl Marx's opening words of The Communist Manifesto: "A specter is haunting Europe. It is the specter of communism."
A delegation of mostly Latin countries has given their backing to a plan for an international peace mission in Libya. The ALBA group, which is made up of several left-leaning South American nations and founded by Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, support the leader's proposal on Libya, though there is no concrete plan.
Black Watch 'on 24-hour standby' to intervene if Libyan crisis worsens
The soldiers of the Black Watch are on standby for deployment to Libya at 24 hours' notice if the crisis escalates, it emerged last night. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, is on "notice to move" as part of the military build-up in the southern Mediterranean.
Britain seizes Libya-bound ship carrying £100m cash
A cargo ship carrying £100m worth of Libyan currency destined for Colonel Gaddafi's regime was escorted into a British port and the money seized after officials warned the vessel's owners that the cash was the subject of United Nations sanctions.
Saudis mobilise thousands of troops to quell growing revolt
Saudi Arabia was yesterday drafting up to 10,000 security personnel into its north-eastern Shia Muslim provinces, clogging the highways into Dammam and other cities with busloads of troops in fear of next week's "day of rage" by what is now called the "Hunayn Revolution".
Gadhafi Forces Seek to Widen Grip
Forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi put down protests in Tripoli and fought deadly battles for control of rebel territory, as opposition forces sought to advance toward the capital in their efforts to take down the Libyan leader.
Major Libyan oil plant ablaze as rebellions erupt in Tripoli after Friday prayers
A major Libyan oil plant was ablaze last night as fresh fighting raged across the country leaving at least 50 dead – including 30 civilians and two rebel commanders. It is unclear whether the facility in the port area of Zueitina, south of the rebel-held city of Benghazi, was deliberately set on fire or whether the blaze was triggered in battles.
March 04, 2011
Where were the calls for a no-fly zone when Israel attacked Gaza, asks George Galloway
As Western powers look for an excuse to intervene in Libya, George Galloway, interviewed by the BBC, asks where were the calls for a no-fly zone when Israel attacked Gaza. Would the West call for a no-fly zone to support the rebels if there was a revolution in Saudi Arabia?
Palestine accuses UNSC of double standard as its people's right to freedom being ignored
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour on Friday accused the Security Council of double standard as it seeks to protect the rights of people in the Middle East, especially in Libya these days, and turns a blind eye to the Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.
Jordan rejects constitutional monarchy
Thousands of Jordanians have taken to the streets of the capital, Amman, after Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit rejected calls for a constitutional monarchy.
Bahrain sees first sectarian violence
Several people were hurt in fighting between Sunni and majority Shi'ite Muslims in a town in central Bahrain today, the first sectarian violence since protests erupted in the Sunni-ruled kingdom two weeks ago.
As the situation in Libya deteriorates, the speculations about foreign intervention in the country are growing. It is speculated that the US and UK, who have already advocated for military a solution in Libya, might come in force under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
US - NATO Threats to Libyan Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
The present situation in Libya is grave, with Philippine attention focused on the thousands of Filipino workers there who are fleeing the turmoil and are in need of immediate repatriation. Almost half of the 26,000 Filipino workers in Libya are in conflict areas, and many of them are technical and construction workers in the industry and infrastructure sectors.
Taking the Cake: The Creeping Militarization of the Libyan Crisis
The howling hypocrisy of the American response to the uprising in Libya has been so jaw-dropping and nauseating that I've hardly been able to address it. Fortunately, Seamus Milne is on the case, and voices much of my thinking about the matter...
The Monitor Group: Gaddafi's PR firm used academics
Revelations about a campaign launched by a consultancy firm in Massachusetts to improve the public image of Muammar Gaddafi around the world have highlighted the ethical problems that arise when the distinction between lobbying and academia becomes blurred.
Distorting the Essence of the Great Arab Revolutions of 2011
Regarding these media outlets- as supposed to independent ones- he argues that "their role is quite different, it's diversion." He describes those who distort facts to suit the interests of the powerful as living "in a world of comforting illusion." They present a narrative that is more fiction than fact, one of fantasy rather than analysis.
Gadhafi troops attack rebel city, lockdown capital
Moammar Gadhafi's forces launched a powerful attack trying to take back the closest opposition-held city to the Libyan capital on Friday, in fierce fighting that killed at least 18, including the city's top rebel commander — an army colonel who defected. In Tripoli, Gadhafi loyalists fired tear gas and live ammunition to smother a new outbreak of protests.
Yemeni army 'fires on protesters'
Yemeni soldiers opened fire on an anti-government protest in the country's north, killing at least two people and wounding around seven others, as demonstrations against president Ali Abdullah Saleh continued.
Iraqi forces use water cannon to disperse protests
Iraqi security forces used water cannon and batons to disperse protesters in the southern oil hub of Basra on Friday as thousands of Iraqis rallied around the nation against corrupt officials and poor basic services.
Protesters converge on Iraq capital
Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets across the country to protest against corruption and unemployment.
Sunnis and Shi'ites clash in Bahrain, several hurt
Fighting between Sunni and majority Shi'ite Muslims in central Bahrain injured several people overnight in the first sectarian violence since protests erupted in the Sunni-ruled kingdom two weeks ago.
Anti-government protest in Bahrain
Thousands of people converge on head office of state television, a day after clashes between Sunni and Shia communities.
Cameron's no-fly plan is 'shambolic', says US
David Cameron's handling of the Libya crisis was denounced as "shambolic" as tensions grew between London and Washington over the Prime Minister's suggestion that a no-fly zone could be imposed over the north African state.
