Libya and the world we live in
The Holy Triumvirate — The United States, NATO and the European Union — recognizes no higher power and believes, literally, that it can do whatever it wants in the world, to whomever it wants, for as long as it wants, and call it whatever it wants, like "humanitarian".
Libyan rebels round up black Africans
Rebel forces and armed civilians are rounding up thousands of black Libyans and migrants from sub-Sahara Africa, accusing them of fighting for ousted strongman Moammar Gadhafi and holding them in makeshift jails across the capital. Virtually all of the detainees say they are innocent migrant workers, and in most cases there is no evidence that they are lying.
Gaddafi vows to continue fight
Deposed leader accuses foreign powers in new audio message of eyeing Libya's oil and natural resources.
Gaddafi vows 'long fight,' defying rebels' surrender demand
Fugitive Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi vowed Thursday to wage a "long fight" to regain the power he seized 42 years ago to the day, calling on his supporters to set the country ablaze.
Analysis: Libya's new leaders divided, untested
Libya's new rulers have been united by little more than wanting to get rid of Muammar Gaddafi and so, as they met world leaders on Thursday following his sudden downfall, the spotlight is now falling on their own divisions.
Russia, in swift about-face, recognizes Libyan rebels
The Kremlin opposed NATO's air war and called for negotiations between the rebels and Qaddafi. But its concern about keeping billion-dollar contracts with Libya seems to have caused the switch.
EU 'to adopt Syria oil embargo on Friday'
The European Union will formally adopt a ban on Syrian oil imports Friday, but the embargo will take effect on November 15 for existing contracts after Italy insisted on a delay, according to diplomats.
Sarkozy Warns Iran of Potential Pre-Emptive Attack
French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned on Wednesday that Iran's attempts to build long-range missiles and nuclear weapons could lead unnamed countries to launch what he called a pre-emptive attack.
August 31, 2011
The Top Ten Myths in the War Against Libya
Since Colonel Gaddafi has lost his military hold in the war against NATO and the insurgents/rebels/new regime, numerous talking heads have taken to celebrating this war as a "success". They believe this is a "victory of the Libyan people" and that we should all be celebrating. Others proclaim victory for the "responsibility to protect," for "humanitarian interventionism," and condemn the "anti-imperialist left".
Security threat called AFRICOM
You might not know or heard about AFRICOM. If you saw the name once, you might have dismissed it thinking AFRICOM is a new company to sell cement like Afrisam. Some might conclude that since it has a 'com' at the end, maybe it is something online. These are wrong conclusions. At the end of this column, you will know what AFRICOM is, its activities and why it is a security threat.
The Untold Story in Libya: How the West Cooked Up the "People's Uprising"
As I write this, a new day is dawning in Libya. The "people's revolt" against yet another tyrant is unquestionably exciting, and the demise (political and/or otherwise) of Muammar Qaddafi will, of course, be widely hailed. But barely below the surface something else is going on, and it concerns not the Libyan "people", but an elite. In reality, a narrowly-based Libyan elite is being supplanted by a much older, more enduring one of an international variety.
Libya and the shameless rewriting of history
Not since Winston Smith found himself in the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's 1984, rewriting old newspaper articles on behalf of Big Brother, has there been such an overnight perversion of history as there has been in relation to NATO's intervention in Libya. Now that the rebels have taken Tripoli, NATO's bombing campaign is being presented to us as an adroit intervention, which was designed to achieve precisely the glorious scenes we're watching on our TV screens. In truth, it was an incoherent act of clueless militarism, which is only now being repackaged, in true Minitrue fashion, as an initiative that 'played an indispensable role in the liberation of Tripoli'.
NATO keeps bombing pro-Gadhafi forces in Libya
With Moammar Gadhafi's forces on the run, NATO air crews have continued to pound remaining loyalist troops outside Tripoli in such enclaves as Sirte, the longtime dictator's tribal stronghold 225 miles east of the capital.
Islamists' role evolving in Libya
Radical Islamists are among the leaders of rebels who have toppled Tripoli and are hunting down Moammar Gadhafi but their influence can be blunted by the West before they gain power and pose a threat to Libyan democracy and to U.S. allies, foreign policy experts say.
Italy unblocks $680 million for Libya
ITALY has unblocked $680 million in Libyan assets for the North African country's new leadership, Italian news agency ANSA quoted Foreign Minister Franco Frattini as saying during a visit to Hungary.
CIA recruits 1,500 from Mazar-e-Sharif to fight in Libya
The Central Intelligence Agency of the United States recruited over 1,500 men from Mazar-e-Sharif for fighting against the Qaddafi forces in Libya. Sources told TheNation: "Most of the men have been recruited from Afghanistan. They are Uzbeks, Persians and Hazaras. According to the footage, these men attired in Uzbek-style of shalwar and Hazara-Uzbek Kurta were found fighting in Libyan cities."
In Libya, a Bloodbath Looms
NATO's war in Libya, which began with high-minded declarations about "protecting civilians," now appears likely to end with a bloodbath that will claim the lives of many civilians, albeit pro-Gaddafi civilians, not the earlier threatened anti-Gaddafi civilians.
Venezuelan ambassador to Libya flees Tripoli
Venezuelan ambassador to Libya Afif Tajeldine has fled Libya and is at an unknown location in Magreb, said his son Basem Tajeldine.
NATO's dirty plan in Libya
The question arises what should be our attitudes towards these foreign puppets' victory. I had no doubt at any stage in the past what would be the end result of this conflict. The power equations of Ghaddafi supporters and the rebels/traitors, mask of NATO, was not too difficult to understand and the end result of the NATO/Western surrogates was but expected. That Ghaddafi stood the NATO's filthy war so long should be an indication that Ghaddafi had support of Libyan nationalists till the hilt and is sticking to the war because he has that even now small as it may be which is causinfg Ghaddafi's heroic stand. Let no one glorify this Western proxy war. Sarkozy has bagged one of the richest oil fields of the world and that was what was western game plan in Libya.
Leaked: UN's Plan for Post-Gadhafi Libya
A new leaked document today reveals the United Nations' vision for and preparations toward the inevitable post-Gadhafi Libya, complete with plans for foreign "military observers" and UN-run elections.
Libyan rebel leader sets ultimatum for Gadhafi forces
Libya's interim leader gave forces loyal to deposed ruler Moammar Gadhafi a four-day deadline on Tuesday to surrender towns they still control or face a bloody end to a war that the new leadership said has so far killed 50,000 people.
Anger simmers among pro-Qaddafi Libyans in Tripoli
In a part of Tripoli known for its loyalty to Muammar Qaddafi, two men vented their fury over the fall of the Libyan leader, shouting abuse at the media and calling journalists liars, traitors and spies.
August 29, 2011
Libyan power vacuum could lead to nightmare scenarios
Libya faces a number of nightmare scenarios, from a new civil war between rival factions to the rise of al Qaeda-affiliated Islamists, should a power vacuum plunge the country into a new phase of lawlessness and chaos.
Welcome to Colonialism 2.0
The assault on Libya by a coalition of mostly Western nations begs the question: Is colonialism making some sort of a comeback? While their economies are collapsing in slow motion, it is hard to picture Western countries prospecting for real estate across the globe, as they did 300 years ago. But as unreal as it seems, it is happening.
NTC Admits That the Fall of Tripoli Video Was A Fake?
M Abdeljalil admits that they NTC lied and with the support of international media CNN, Al jazeera, Al Arabya, etc with the aim acquiring more support from other countries.
Leaked: UN's Plan for Post-Gadhafi Libya
A new leaked document today reveals the United Nations' vision for and preparations toward the inevitable post-Gadhafi Libya, complete with plans for foreign "military observers" and UN-run elections.
Rebels fight to keep Islamic militants under tight control
Rebels are scrutinising dozens, and possibly hundreds, of fighters within their ranks as part of a crackdown to deny Islamic extremists a toehold within the anti-Gaddafi revolution.
McCain: I didn't want arms for Qadhafi
Sen. John McCain on Monday strongly disputed a U.S. diplomatic cable that said he pushed to help Muammar Qadhafi's regime obtain military hardware two years ago, calling the notion "outrageous."
Libya will reassess currency: rebel central bank governor
Libya, which is nearly under the control of rebels seeking to oust Muammar Gaddafi, will take a close look at its currency to determine whether it should be kept and exchange rates maintained, the central bank governor told Arabiya television.
Gaddafi and family are in Algeria, says ministry
Muammar Gaddafi's wife Safia, his daughter Aisha and his sons Hannibal and Mohammed entered Algeria on Monday morning, Algeria's foreign ministry said.
Death of Gaddafi's son announced - again
Libyan rebels said one of Muammar Gaddafi's sons, Khamis, whose death has been announced several times since the conflict erupted, may have been killed a day ago in a clash with rebels.
Russia disagrees with western resolution on Syria
The draft resolution of the UN Security Council on Syria submitted by the USA and the EU lacks objectivity, declared Russia's permanent representative in the UN Vitaly Churkin in his interview for the Russia Today TV channel.
August 28, 2011
Now fears of disease rise as bodies pile up on the streets
The shots came from two of the high-rise buildings, long bursts of Kalashnikov fire which made the rebel fighters on the ground scatter in alarm. The stubborn resistance at Abu Salim hospital, the last redoubt of the Gaddafi loyalists in Tripoli, was not yet over.
Rebels wreak revenge on dictator's men
The rotting bodies of 30 men, almost all black and many handcuffed, slaughtered as they lay on stretchers and even in an ambulance in central Tripoli, are an ominous foretaste of what might be Libya's future. The incoming regime makes pious statements about taking no revenge on pro-Gaddafi forces, but this stops short of protecting those who can be labelled mercenaries. Any Libyan with a black skin accused of fighting for the old regime may have a poor chance of survival.
How Libya was won, by NATO and special forces
Last week NATO shamelessly weighed-in on the side of the rebels with the help of special forces on the ground. Without it, the rebels would never have won. There is now talk that NATO has broken international law. So what role did they really play?
Al Qaeda's Libyan leader killed in drone attack, claims US
Al Qaeda's Libyan leader Atiyah abd al-Rahman has been killed in Pakistan, the United States said Saturday, claiming another "tremendous" blow to the group following the death of Osama bin Laden.
August 27, 2011
Gaddafi: AU predictably scrambles to save face
The past week has seen the African Union re-enact its best parody of a headless chicken as the 42-year old regime of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi crumbled with barely a whimper as rebels swept into Tripoli. Reactions at the 53-nation bloc were confused as members squabbled over adopting a common position on Libya, which under the "Brother Leader" had towered over the organisation in a manner unlikely to be achieved by any other country.
Rebels settle scores in Libyan capital
The killings were pitiless. They had taken place at a makeshift hospital, in a tent marked clearly with the symbols of the Islamic Crescent. Some of the dead were on stretchers, attached to intravenous drips. Some were on the back of an ambulance that had been shot at. A few were on the ground, seemingly attempting to crawl to safety when the bullets came. Around 30 men lay decomposing in the heat. Many of them had their hands tied behind their back, either with plastic handcuffs or ropes. One had a scarf stuffed into his mouth. Almost all of the victims were black men. Their bodies had been dumped near the scene of two of the fierce battles between rebel and regime forces in Tripoli.
Some fear post-revolution Libya may look like Iraq
Amid the euphoria of having forced Moammar Kadafi to flee, some Tripoli residents decry the lack of basic services and say they fear that chaos is imminent, like that in Baghdad after Saddam Hussein.
10 Myths About Libya? Rejoinder
In his essay, "Top Ten Myths about the Libyan War," Juan Cole argues that U.S. interests in the conflict consisted of stopping "massacres of people," a "lawful world order," "the NATO alliance," and oddly, "the fate of Egypt." It is worth taking a moment to look at each of these arguments, as well as his dismissal of the idea that the U.S./NATO intervention had anything to do with oil as "daft."
Rumors and Violence: The Hunt for Gaddafi
Rumors and repeated rumors ricochet like shell casings off concrete walls this morning and depending on what one is inclined to believe, Libya's former leader Colonel Gaddafi is safely in Algeria, his hometown of Sirte, Libya's vast southern desert, in one of the labyrinthine tunnels very deep below his Bab al Azzia (splendid gate) barracks or in a south Tripoli flat with his sons.
Rebels say no firm information on Gaddafi location
Libya's rebels have no concrete information on the location of Muammar Gaddafi or his sons, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC), said on Saturday.
August 26, 2011
No, we still won't recognise Libya's rebels, says Zuma
"If there is fighting, there is fighting. So we can't stand here and say this is the legitimate [government] now. The process is fluid. That's part of what we inform countries -- whether there is an authority to recognise," Zuma told reporters after the meeting of the AU's emergency Peace and Security Council meeting on Friday in Addis Ababa.
AU won't recognise Libyan rebel council: diplomats
The African Union will not explicitly recognize Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), diplomats said on Friday, in a setback for Libyan rebels who have already been recognized by more than 40 countries as the legitimate government.
Libya: dozens found dead at abandoned Tripoli hospital
The hospital had been cut off from health care workers for five days as rebel fighters sought to dislodge Gaddafi loyalists in the surrounding area of Abu Salim. Rescuers finally reached the hospital late on Thursday, finding 21 surviving patients among a macabre scene of dead bodies.
Nations sanitize Libya lingo for the war weary
On March 19, a coalition of nations allied with rebel fighters in Libya to help drive Muammar Gaddafi from power. NATO forces, including Britain, France, Canada and the United States began with sorties, a naval blockade and the firing of deadly Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Libyan rebel leader spent much of past 20 years in suburban Virginia
The new leader of Libya's opposition military spent the past two decades in suburban Virginia but felt compelled — even in his late-60s — to return to the battlefield in his homeland, according to people who know him.
US crucial role in hunt for Kadhafi
US intelligence agencies have a crucial role to play in tracking down Libya's Moamer Kadhafi but are anxious to keep a low profile, current and former officials said Thursday.
Special operations clear paths for rebel forces
BRITISH AND French special forces are on the ground in eastern Libya, calling in air strikes and helping co-ordinate rebel units as they prepare to assault Sirte, the last coastal town still in the hands of pro-Muammar Gadafy forces, according to a rebel officer.
Libyan conflict far from being over
Libya's National Transitional Council has moved from Benghazi to Tripoli. Opposition members say that from now on, all political guidance will be provided from the official capital, which the rebel army would never be able to occupy without NATO assistance. This sensational statement may expose the alliance's reputation to risk and is fraught with major political complications within the coalition, experts claim.
NATO destroys yet another country
Some years ago, in the Indian site bharat-rakshak.com, this columnist had written of the NATO militaries as resembling an army of simians. Such a force - if let loose within a confined space - can create immense damage, but are unable to clean up the resultant mess. This is precisely what the world has witnessed in Iraq.
Libya conflict: Nato jets hit Gaddafi Sirte bunker
British Tornado jets fired precision-guided missiles at a large bunker in Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, officials have said.
What Really Happened in the Bin Laden Raid?
You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to be still scratching your head about the end of Osama bin Laden. Between the Obama administration and major media reports, there have been multiple divergent accounts of the Navy SEALs' mission in Abbottabad, Pakistan, with the story seeming to be colored by politics, sensationalism, and outright fantasy.
A spokesman for Colonel Gaddafi's regime has promised Libya will become a "volcano of fire". Loyalist forces have continually vowed to keep fighting, pointing to a prolonged civil war. RT gets more analysis from author and journalist Afshin Rattansi.
Probe Nato commanders, Motlanthe urges court
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has urged the International Criminal Court to investigate Nato commanders for possible crimes against humanity during the organisation's bombing operations in Libya.
'Gaddafi switching to guerrilla mode'
Gaddafi has told the Libyan people that his retreat from his compound in Tripoli, which was seized by rebels on Tuesday, is a tactical move. Michael Maloof, an ex-Pentagon official, explains to RT why the war in Libya is far from at an end.
Libya is the new Afghanistan
So the worst-kept secret of the Libyan campaign is out — the SAS are busily hunting down Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, having orchestrated the rebels' stunning advance on Tripoli. So much for David Cameron's insistence that there would be no British boots on the ground in this conflict.
U.S. diplomats try to work around South Africa to unfreeze funds for Libya rebels
The United States will press the U.N. Security Council in a meeting this afternoon to permit the unfreezing of $1.5 billion in Libyan assets to pay for humanitarian aid, fuel and salaries for international aid agencies, as well as for a post-Gaddafi interim government, according to Security Council diplomats. The U.S. proposal to release a portion of Moammar Gaddafi's billions faced opposition this week from South Africa in a U.N. committee on Libyan sanctions.
Arab League recognizes Libyan rebels
The League of Arab States recognized Libya's Transitional Council on Thursday and is ready to grant it membership of the organization, regional media quoted Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby as saying.
Thirty Gaddafi fighters found dead at Tripoli camp
More than 30 men believed to be fighters loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have been killed at a military encampment in central Tripoli and at least two were bound with plastic handcuffs, indicating they had been executed.
Algeria wants Libya rebels to curb al Qaeda-source
Algeria will not yet recognise Libyan rebels as the new leadership of its neighbour state and wants them to make a strong commitment to fighting al Qaeda in North Africa, an Algerian government source told Reuters.
Libyan bombing illegal says concerned group
A group of concerned African leaders have issued a statement warning about Africa being re-colonised as Nato continues its support of the Libyan rebels. Speaking to media in Johannesburg today, leaders released a letter lamenting "misuse of the United Nations Security Council to engage in militarised diplomacy to effect regime change in Libya" and the "marginalisation of the African Union".
Disaster capitalism swoops over Libya
Think of the new Libya as the latest spectacular chapter in the Disaster Capitalism series. Instead of weapons of mass destruction, we had R2P ("responsibility to protect"). Instead of neo-conservatives, we had humanitarian imperialists.
'Libya rebels to divide in victory vacuum'
Libyan rebels are united by hatred towards the current leader. Once Colonel Gaddafi is out of the game, they will turn on each other and NATO, predicts Abdel Bari Atwan, editor of London-based pan-Arabic newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
NATO, sleeper cells drove rebels' Tripoli push
They called it Operation Mermaid Dawn, a stealth plan coordinated by sleeper cells, Libyan rebels, and NATO to snatch the capital from the Moammar Gadhafi's regime's hands. It began three months ago when groups of young men left their homes in Tripoli and traveled to train in Benghazi with ex-military soldiers.
Four Italian journalists kidnapped in Libya
Four Italian journalists were abducted by gunmen near Zawiyah in western Libya as they traveled toward Tripoli on Wednesday, Italian officials said.
Gadhafi son offers to broker Libya cease-fire
The businessman son of embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi appears to be out of rebel hands and says he wants to negotiate a cease-fire to save Tripoli from "a sea of blood."
More than 400 killed, 2,000 injured in Tripoli battle: Libya rebel leader
More than 400 people were killed and at least 2,000 injured in the three-day fight to seize control of the Libyan capital Tripoli from Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's forces, Chairman of the Libyan National Transitional Council told Al Arabiya on Wednesday.
Libya's Post Gadhaffi Future - Who gets the Oil?
The glittering prize is Libya's 1.6 million barrels per day output of high quality crude, which accounted for about 2 percent of global oil output drawn from Africa's largest oil reserves, whose exports have been stymied since the NATO-led campaign began six months ago.
Libya's deadliest weapons not yet corralled
No one can be sure who controls the Libyan government's weapons stockpiles, a stew of deadly chemicals, raw nuclear material and some 30,000 shoulder-fired rockets that officials fear could fall into terrorists' hands in the chaos of Moammar Gadhafi's downfall or afterward.
Russia's foreign policy priorities regarding Libya
Russia has refrained from taking any hasty steps. We are following the events, and our basic position is full compliance with the two United Nations Security Council resolutions — resolutions 1970 and 1973. We think that peace in Libya will be possible only if these resolutions are observed. That is the first point. Second, we hope that the Libyans manage to come to an agreement among themselves. Libya is a very complex country made up of a large number of different tribes and clans, and the fact that Gadhafi was able to maintain a certain balance between them gave the country the opportunity to develop as a united whole.
Kadhafi forces fight back, reward offered
Fighting raged Wednesday as Mohammed Kahdafi's troops fought back near his Tripoli compound a day after it was captured, while rebels offered a $1.7 million reward for the elusive strongman, dead or alive.
West pushes opposition to topple Assad
The Syrian opposition has set up its own National Council with the headquarters in Istanbul and the declared aim of coordinating the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, the opposition said in a statement.
Western diplomats hope to impose UN sanctions on Syria
Western diplomats were hoping Wednesday to push through United Nations sanctions against the Syrian regime, a day after the UN Human Rights Council strongly condemned Damascus for the violent repression of pro-democracy protesters, DPA reported.
August 23, 2011
FBI organizes almost all terror plots in the US
The Federal Bureau of Investigation employs upwards of 15,000 undercover agents today, ten times what they had on the roster back in 1975. If you think that's a few spies too many — spies earning as much as $100,000 per assignment — one doesn't have to go too deep into their track record to see their accomplishments. Those agents are responsible for an overwhelming amount of terrorist stings that have stopped major domestic catastrophes in the vein of 9/11 from happening on American soil. Another thing those agents are responsible for, however, is plotting those very schemes.
The Truth About the Situation in Libya
Libya is a small country of just over 6 million people but it possesses the largest oil reserves in all of Africa. The oil produced there is especially coveted because of its particularly high quality. The Air Force of the United States along with Britain and France has carried out 7,459 bombing attacks since March 19. Britain, France and the United States sent special operation ground forces and commando units to direct the military operations of the so-called rebel fighters — it is a NATO- led army in the field.
British brains, brawn and bombs bolster Libyan rebels
Britain's MI6 officers have been engaged in drilling Libyan rebels, helping them to establish a proper military plan for an assault on the capitol Tripoli. On Tuesday, British newspapers revealed that the UK not only detached spies and former SAS gurus to train militants, but was also providing them with ammunition for the operation, including night-vision goggles, advanced communication equipment and no less than 1,000 sets of body armor.
Libya: new outburst of information war
A flow of rather controversial information is coming from the Libyan capital city of Tripoli. Foreign media reports insist the city is almost completely in the hands of Muammar Gaddafi's opponents, whereas the Colonel's officials say the opposition only controls a fifth part. The more often rebels claim to have reached another success, the less credible their information appears.
Robert Fisk: How long before the dominoes fall?
The remaining Arab potentates and tyrants have spent a second sleepless night. How soon will the liberators of Tripoli metamorphose into the liberators of Damascus and Aleppo and Homs? Or of Amman? Or Jerusalem? Or of Bahrain or Riyadh? It's not the same, of course.
US lawmaker: NATO must account for Libyan deaths
A US lawmaker fiercely opposed to NATO's role in the Libya conflict called Tuesday for the alliance's military chiefs to be held to account under international law for the deaths of Libyan civilians.
NATO Partnership in Libya Serves as Model, Panetta Says
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today called U.S. support for the NATO mission that's helping opposition forces make progress against Moammar Gadhafi's regime Libya an example of the international cooperation that will be critical in the future.
How high-tech Canadian drones gave Libyan rebels a boost
Nearly a month ago, while Colonel Moammar Gadhafi's artillery pounded Misrata in central Libya, a fishing boat brought a former Canadian soldier to the besieged rebels stronghold carrying with him two small cases packed with high-tech gear.
Turkey gives Libya NATO's vow
Turkey will side with Libya's National Transitional Council completely, says Turkey's foreign minister, adding that NATO will remain in the country for its safety
Airstrikes More Difficult as War Moves to Tripoli
The NATO air campaign that was instrumental in helping the rebels advance into Tripoli is hamstrung in many ways now that the fighting has turned into complex house-to-house urban warfare, American military and allied officials said Tuesday.
Rogozin calls on UN to draw conclusions from NATO's Libya campaign
The recent events in Libya have shown that NATO has appropriated the right to tackle issues of war and peace that lie within the jurisdiction of the UN Security Council, Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin told Interfax.
Street battles continue in Tripoli
NATO aircraft are dropping bombs and shooting missiles at government troops in Tripoli, first of all, at the Bab al-Azizia district with a complex of government buildings, the British Sky News TV channel reports.
Libyan rebels seize Gaddafi compound
Muammar Gaddafi's whereabouts unknown as hundreds of rebels fight their way into his fortified Bab al-Azizya compound.
Turkey says NATO to maintain Libya operation
NATO will continue its military campaign in Libya until full security is established in the nation, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday.
U.S. has nearly doubled air attacks on Libya in past 12 days
As the rebels in Libya push closer to ending the regime of embattled Col. Moammar Gadhafi, U.S. warplanes have been increasing their attacks on government positions as part of the NATO campaign.
US seeks to boost aid to Libya rebel council
The United States and its global partners are trying to accelerate releasing frozen Libyan assets to help rebels meet Libya's security and humanitarian needs, a top US official said Monday.
Contact Group diplomats to meet on Libya Thursday: US
Diplomats from the Contact Group on Libya will meet Thursday "to coordinate next steps," the State Department said Monday following the collapse of the regime of Moamer Kadhafi.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's shock return rocks confidence in Libyan rebels. They said he was under arrest. But then Muammar Gaddafi's son reappeared vowing to chase the 'rats' out of Tripoli.
Russian U.N. envoy says not time for Syria sanctions
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said on Tuesday Moscow did not think it was time to impose sanctions that Western countries are seeking on Syria over its five-month crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.
U.S. ambassador defies Syrian travel restrictions
The United States' top envoy in Damascus defied the Syrian government Tuesday by making an unannounced visit to the restive town of Jassem, where he met with members of the opposition movement, State Department officials confirmed.
Europeans and US seek sanctions against Syria
European nations and the United States circulated a draft U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday seeking an arms embargo and other sanctions aimed at stopping the Syrian government's ongoing crackdown on opposition protesters.
The Libya War argument
As I've emphasized from the very first time I wrote about a possible war in Libya, there are real and important differences between the attack on Iraq and NATO's war in Libya, ones that make the former unjustifiable in ways the latter is not (beginning with at least some form of U.N. approval). But what they do have in common -- what virtually all wars have in common -- is the rhetorical manipulation used to justify them and demonize critics.
New Libyan authorities will thank NATO during contracts distribution: Kosachyov
Russia will no longer be able to compete with the NATO countries on equal terms in the distribution of Libyan oil projects, said Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee. "I am absolutely certain that the economic reasons - particularly those which concern energy resources — played a crucial role in forming the position of the Western countries and NATO on Libya," he said in an interview with the Russia Today television channel.
EU, NATO Set for Major Libya Role
In Brussels, diplomats and analysts said Monday that the overthrow of Col. Moammar Gadhafi offers, with the U.S. taking a back seat, a new place at the top for the EU and NATO.
Surveillance and Coordination With NATO Aided Rebels
As rebel forces in Libya converged on Tripoli on Sunday, American and NATO officials cited an intensification of American aerial surveillance in and around the capital city as a major factor in helping to tilt the balance after months of steady erosion of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's military.
Libya: 'At least 1,300 people killed in past 24 hours of combat'
At least 1,300 people have been killed in the past 24 hours of fighting in Libya between rebels and forces loyal to embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told journalists in the capital, Tripoli.
Rebels rename Green Square into Martyrs' Square
Rebels in Tripoli have restored to Green Square the name it had before Gaddafi took power in Libya over four decades ago. The rebels' movement is gaining wider international support each hour, while Tripoli is plunging deeper into combat.
Hamid Dabashi: Neo-liberalism a greater threat to Libya than tribalism or extreme Islam
UK urges Libyan rebels to keep order in Tripoli
Britain urged the rebel Libyan National Transitional Council on Monday to maintain order and not pursue reprisals after rebel fighters swept into the heart of the capital Tripoli.
Battle for Tripoli not yet over as Gaddafi loyalists strike back
Forces loyal to the fugitive Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi struck back Monday against the rebel fighters who had swept euphorically into the capital the night before, forcing them to retreat from several strategic locations and tempering hopes that the battle for Tripoli was all but over.
Qaddafi's Son Taunts Rebels in Tripoli
The euphoria that followed the rebels' triumphant march in Tripoli gave way to confusion and wariness on Monday, as Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi remained at large, his son Seif al-Islam made a surprise appearance at a hotel with foreign journalists, and pockets of loyalist forces stubbornly resisted rebel efforts to take control of the capital.
Gaddafi son appears at Tripoli hotel
One of the most widely-recognised members of the tottering Libyan regime, Saif said his embattled father was still in the Libyan capital and his forces "were winning" the battle against the rebels, who surged into the centre of the city 24 hours earlier, FOX News Channel reported.
Wisconsin Guard Unit Helping Libyan Rebels
As Moammar Gadhafi's 40 year rule in Libya looked all but over Sunday night, members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing realize they are part of history.
Opposition forces take control of most parts of Tripoli
Libyan opposition forces yesterday took control of most of Tripoli, as jubilant fighters streamed into the capital to join battles near Muammar Gaddafi's compound.
"The Gaddafi era is over," dissident chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil told a news conference in Benghazi, eastern Libya.
Libyan Draft Constitution: Sharia is 'Principal Source of Legislation'
The dust has not yet settled over the Libyan capital of Tripoli since rebels took control over the weekend. But already, a draft constitutional charter for the transitional state has appeared online (embedded below). It is just a draft, mind you, and gauging its authenticity at this point is difficult. There is also no way to know whether this draft or something similar will emerge as the final governing document for a new Libyan regime.
Report: Gaddafi son under house arrest escapes rebel captors
Reuters is reporting two bodies have been found that may be that of Gaddaf's son Kamis and the Libyan dictator's intelligence chief Abdallah Senussi. According to a Deutsche Press account, one of Gaddafi's son's managed to escape from Rebel captors in Libya...
The Strange Calm Over Tripoli?
The large gold framed portrait of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi that adorned the wall behind the reception desk of my hotel since it opened many years ago has vanished. Also gone are the 72 green flags that flew on the white poles which have also been removed. It's not polite to inquire of the skeleton staff about who removed these items because the act of removal could become very serious offenses depending on the final outcome here. But, my friend Ismail, manning the front desk, just grinned at me when I commented on the hotel's fine new mirror that hangs in the leader's space.
ICC: Gaddafi's son Saif arrested in Libya
The International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Sunday Saif al-Islam, the son of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, had been detained in Libya.
August 21, 2011
President Assad warns of military action against Syria
Cairo- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Sunday of the consequences of any military action against his country, dismissing calls for him to step down as 'worthless.'
Gadhafi regime appears on verge of collapse as fighters reach Tripoli
But in a possible indication that the fight is not over, celebrations in Tripoli's Green Square gave way to tension Monday morning after rebels told CNN that they'd heard Gadhafi army forces were heading their way.
Gunfire near foreign media hotel in Tripoli
Fierce gunfire broke out near the hotel used by the foreign media in the centre of the Libyan capital late on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said.
Gunfire near foreign media hotel in Tripoli
Fierce gunfire broke out near the hotel used by the foreign media in the centre of the Libyan capital late on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said.
Al-Jazeera: NATO Bombing Gadaffi's "Bunker"
Al-Jazeera has reported that NATO planes are bombing Muammar Gaddafi's residence-bunker in Tripoli's southern suburbs. The compound is situated on the road leading to the city's international airport where heavy fighting between insurgents and loyalist troops took place last night.
Time to end Nato's war in Libya
In March of this year, the US, France, Britain and their North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) allies launched military operations in Libya under the guise of a "humanitarian intervention". US diplomats and world leaders carelessly voiced unsubstantiated claims of an impending massacre in Benghazi. You hear no such appeals to humanity while Nato, in the name of the rebels (whoever they are), prepares to lay siege to Tripoli, a city of nearly 2 million people.
Libya Lies: 'False claims of Gaddafi crimes make war worse'
Libyan rebels say they're pushing on towards Tripoli and claim they're now around 30 kilometers from the capital. There have also been reports of sporadic violence within Tripoli itself - but many people on the ground there say the situation is much calmer than those reports suggest.
Gaddafi's capital rocked by gunfire, blasts and rumour
The Libyan capital Tripoli was awash last night with gunfire, explosions, and persistent but totally unsubstantiated rumours that Colonel Gaddafi had fled with two of his sons across the border into Tunisia.
Gaddafi troops fight back after rebel push
LIBYAN rebels have been forced to withdraw to the eastern edge of Brega under heavy shelling by Muammar Gaddafi's forces after initially taking control of the strategically important town.
Eyewitnesses Dismiss Rebel Advances On Tripoli As Misinformation
Heavy gunfire and explosions have been reported in the Libyan capital, and according to rebel commanders, the firing signals the start of a final onslaught on Muammar Gadaffi's stronghold. But eyewitnesses say the gunfire is sporadic and the explosions heard are victory celebrations of Gaddafi loyalists.
Syria's Assad: 'I am not worried' about security
Syria's president said Sunday he was "not worried" about security in his country and warned against any foreign military intervention in a speech designed to portray confidence as the regime comes under blistering international condemnation for its crackdown on dissent.
Syria: UN — first 'predictable' steps
The steps being taken in the UN and ICC to take international legal measures against Syria were predictable. Syria was warned that the recent outbreaks of violence would be an opportunity for those opposed to its government to make moves to destabilise its regime and prosecute its leadership.
August 20, 2011
Libyan rebels say they are attacking Tripoli
Libyan rebels said they launched their first attack on Tripoli in coordination with NATO late Saturday, and Associated Press reporters heard unusually heavy gunfire and explosions in the capital. The fighting erupted just hours after opposition fighters captured the key city of Zawiya nearby.
Next stop Tripoli — Libya's rebels sense victory is within reach
Another town falls. Another hook of the trap around Tripoli locks into place. More die, more homes burn, the hatred deepens. But after months of savage strife, there is now a sense that the endgame is at last approaching in Libya's bloody civil war.
Libya conflict: Rebels claim Zawiya and Zlitan
Libyan rebels fighting to overthrow Col Muammar Gaddafi are claiming to have captured two strategic coastal cities as they close in on Tripoli.
August 19, 2011
Libya And The End Of Western Illusions
Five months into the bombing campaign, it is no longer possible to believe the initial official version of the events and the massacres attributed to the "Gaddafi regime". Moreover, it is now essential to take into account Libya's legal and diplomatic rebuttal, highlighting the crimes against peace committed by television propaganda, the war crimes perpetrated by NATO military forces, and the crimes against humanity sponsored by political leaders of the Atlantic Alliance.
Are German Soldiers Secretly Helping Fight Gadhafi?
Germany shocked the world in March went it opposed NATO action against Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi. But recently released documents show that German soldiers serving in NATO units in Italy are helping to select targets for alliance airstrikes.
Libyan rebels say 32 fighters killed in Zlitan
Thirty-two Libyan rebel fighters were killed on Friday during clashes with soldiers loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in Zlitan, east of the capital Tripoli, a rebel spokesman told Reuters.
Libyan rebels: Eastern oil terminal Brega seized
Libyan rebels battling Moammar Gadhafi's troops along the country's Mediterranean coast said they have captured all of the strategic eastern port city of Brega, which has repeatedly changed hands in the 6-month-old civil war.
Gaza group denies deadly shooting attacks
Gaza militants blamed for shooting attacks near the Egyptian border that killed eight Israelis, denied Friday that they were involved, as the hunt for the killers moved to Egypt.
Israeli airstrikes kill 7 across Gaza
Renewed airstrikes across the Gaza Strip late Thursday killed a Palestinian teenager and injured more than a dozen others amid an escalation in violence that left some 20 people dead throughout the day.
Netanyahu: Gaza Strikes 'Only the Beginning' of Retaliation
Speaking today at Soroka Hospital, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the PRC leaders slain in yesterday's bombing attack on the Gaza city of Rafah were responsible for the Thursday attacks inside southern Israel. He also said they were "only the beginning."
Egypt protests at deaths, demands Israeli probe
Egypt lodged a formal protest with Israel on Friday over the killings of three members of its security forces during an Israeli border raid against Palestinians.
Syria Said to Fire on Protest in Defiance of Global Rebuke
Thousands of Syrians took to the streets on Friday to call for the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad, keeping up the pressure in the five-month uprising a day after an alliance led by the United States toughened sanctions against his government and publicly called on him for the first time to step down.
World crossing 'red line' with Syria
Violating the sovereignty of Syria at the U.N. Security Council is a red line that shouldn't be crossed, the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations said.
Robert Fisk: It's his fast-disappearing billions that will worry Assad, not words from Washington
Obama roars. World trembles. If only. Obama says Assad must "step aside". Do we really think Damascus trembles? Or is going to? Indeed, the titan of the White House only dared to go this far after condemnation of Bashar al-Assad by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, the EU and Uncle Tom Cobley and all (except, of course, Israel — another story). The terrible triplets — Cameron, Sarkozy and Merkel — did their mimicking act a few minutes later.
Dispatch From Libya: Tripoli on the Cusp
Truth be told, some foreign observers, and certainly this one, having been based in Tripoli the past nearly eight weeks, have not taken very seriously occasional media predictions that Tripoli might soon be invaded by "NATO rebels" -- though not by NATO country forces putting their boots on the ground.
No, you will NOT re-arm the Libyan rebels
It has been brought to my attention that certain EU countries are desperate because they have backed the wrong side in the Libyan conflict, because they instigated a revolt in a country to topple a government to steal its resources and it has backfired...and no, you will NOT ship weapons to Libya, nor will you put boots on the ground.
Libyan Deaths, Media Silence
Allegations of Libyan civilian deaths as a result of NATO bombing have often been covered in the corporate media as an opportunity to scoff at the Gadhafi regime's unconvincing propaganda (FAIR Blog, 6/9/11). But dramatic new allegations that dozens of civilians were killed in Majer after NATO airstrikes on August 8 have been met with near-total media silence.
Israel Strikes Gaza After Eilat Attack
Armed infiltrators described by Israel as Gaza militants who had sneaked into the country through the porous Sinai border with Egypt attacked multiple targets near the popular Red Sea resort of Eilat on Thursday, killing at least seven Israelis and wounding 40 in the most serious assault on Israeli territory in more than two years.
Six dead as Israel hits southern Gaza
AN Israeli air strike on the southern Gaza town of Rafah has killed six people, Palestinian medics say, just hours after a string of deadly attacks in southern Israel.
US, EU say Assad must go; Syria faces curbs
The US and European Union called on Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to step down on Thursday after a five-month crackdown on protests in which UN
investigators said troops used an apparent "shoot-to-kill policy" and widespread torture.
Syria Regime Holds Hundreds Prisoner in Latakia Soccer Stadium
Syrian troops continue to attack civilian areas across the northern port city of Latakia today, and reports are growing that the soccer stadium which they ordered civilians into earlier this week has become a makeshift prison camp.
Israel PM snubs Clinton over Turkey apology
Israel has rejected a US request to apologise to Turkey over its 2010 commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that killed nine Turkish activists, local media reported on Wednesday.
August 17, 2011
U.S. sends two more Predator drones to Libya
The United States has deployed two more Predator drones for surveillance operations over Libya, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday, as Muammar Gaddafi's forces face unprecedented pressure.
Fighting Continues in Libyan Town of Zawiya
Days after having claimed control over the town of Zawiya, Libyan rebels are continuing to engage in battles across the strategically important area, with new reports that they continue to unsuccessfully try to occupy the oil refinery.
U.S. puts curbs on Syrian diplomats
Weeks after Syria clamped restrictions on the movement of American diplomats there, the State Department has returned the favor, requiring Syrian officials to obtain permission before traveling outside Washington, U.S. officials confirmed Wednesday.
August 16, 2011
Libyan Forces Liberate Misratah Clearing up the latest media rubbish on Libya
While the journalists suffering from cabin fever in Tripoli's Rixos hotel, publish their dreams that imperialism's lackies (the rebels/rats) have taken Zawiya, Ghuriyan and Sorman, they are ignoring a decisive moment in the crisis. That is the liberation of the hitherto rebel-held area of Misratah. Last night the Libyan army moved into the centre of the city and now the rebels are trapped between Misratah and Tawergha. 75 per cent of the city has been secured including the port, which was a lifeline for the rebels to receive shipments of arms and other supplies, as well as being a key transport route for them.
Libya: NATO is getting desperate, Misratah liberated from NATO/terrorists
For some time now it has become apparent that NATO was getting desperate. First, the persistent loss of territory by the criminal gangs of foreign terrorists they back, then the disarray within the TNC (a gang of opportunists), then the flagrant breach of international law, the war crimes, targeting the Libyan water supply and electricity grid...
Who Will Save Libya From Its Western Saviours? Not the Left
Five months later, all the assumptions on which the war was based have proved to be more or less false. Human rights organizations have failed to find evidence of the "crimes against humanity" allegedly ordered by Gaddafi against "his own people". The recognition of the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the "sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people" by Western governments has gone from premature to grotesque. NATO has entered and exacerbated a civil war that looks like a stalemate.
In Benghazi, a Nostalgia for Gaddafi as Libya's Rebels Fail to Keep the Peace
The killing of a senior rebel military commander who was spearheading the campaign to topple Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has exposed latent security fears in eastern Libya — particularly about the proliferation of militias and gangs who do not seem to answer to any authority.
Libya War not a War? Putin: UN Libya resolution defective, reminds of Medieval call for Crusade
Vladimir Putin has called the UN resolution authorising action in Libya "flawed", saying it resembles medieval calls for a Crusade. Russia's Prime Minister says foreign forces should not protect one side in what he described as a political conflict.
Iran warns against Syria intervention
Iran has warned against Western intervention in the "internal affair" of its regional Arab ally Syria, foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday.
Why the Afghanistan war won't end soon
Ever since the United States endured defeat in the Vietnam War the American political establishment has tried hard to restore national and international confidence in the role of military power in favourably resolving conflicts. America has continued to invest more than the next ten countries combined in constructing the most deadly and versatile war machine that has ever existed, and yet it has never in all its history felt as insecure. Something is fundamentally wrong, perhaps several things.
August 15, 2011
Gadhafi support soars amid NATO bombing
The rebellion in Libya has been more of a media war than a full-scale armed clash. Sure, the rebels seized tanks and weapons from government troops in the early stages. This led to some skirmishes between rebels and Gadhafi loyalists in seesaw battles along Libya's coastal highway.
Libyan Rebels Again Fall Victims to 'Frendly Fire' from NATO
The rebel fighters in their new conquest city of Az-Zawiyah were at the wrong end of yet another mistaken identity, by the NATO warplanes. They once again fell victim of the alliance's 'friendly fire' fand four of their men were killed by NATO warplanes who misakenly destroyed a tank they had captured from the regime forces in the western port town of Zawiyah.
U.N. cites reports of Syrian forces shooting defectors
A senior U.N. official earlier this month briefed the Security Council on reports that Syrian security forces had opened fire on defectors within their ranks and executed troops who refused orders to kill civilians, according to a copy of the notes used to give the confidential briefing.
More than 70 killed in attacks across Iraq
More than 70 people were killed and dozens more were wounded Monday in a string of violent attacks around Iraq, one of the deadliest days in the country so far this year, police and government officials said.
August 14, 2011
Report: Libya Regime, Rebels in Tunisia Talks
According to reports from Reuters, the Libyan government is involved in direct talks with the East Libyan rebel movement, with both sides sending diplomats to neighboring Tunisia for serious talks.
Libyan rebels, government hold talks in Tunisia: source
Libyan rebels and representatives of Muammar Gaddafi's government held negotiations late on Sunday in a hotel in southern Tunisia, a source with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters.
Libya Rebels Tout Capture of Zawiya: Is This Rebels' Latest Failed Offensive?
Libyan rebels today raised the flag over the strategically important town of Zawiya, not far from Tripoli. The move has some rebels insisting that they will soon be attacking the capital city of Tripoli, and ousting the Gadhafi regime.
Libyan rebels fly flag over key town near Tripoli
Libyan rebels raised their flag over a strategic town near Tripoli on Sunday after their most dramatic advance in months cut off Muammar Gaddafi's capital from its main link to the outside world.
Iran, Turkey discuss Syria developments
Iran and Turkey have discussed the recent developments in the Middle East particularly the unrest in Syria as the Turkish military moves to deploy its retired officers to cities along the Syrian border.
Turkish Diplomacy discuss Syria with Saudi & Iran
Turkish President Abdullah Gül is expected to meet King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on late Sunday as part of his visit to the desert kingdom, according to Daily News at Turkish Hurriyet media agency.
Syria navy shells port city of Latakia; at least 26 dead
United Nations official says Assad's forces have killed 2,000 civilians since uprising began in March; Organization of Islamic Cooperation calls for immediate halt to military campaign against protesters.
NATO plans to arm Syria criminal gangs
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Turkey are preparing the ground for military intervention in Syria especially through providing criminal Syrian armed gangs with weaponry.
Iraq VP says US pullout will improve security
The year-end pullout of US forces will improve security in Iraq, Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi claimed Sunday, days after Iraqi leaders agreed to talk with Washington over a post-2011 training mission.
NATO's puppet regime in Libya falls apart
The sacking of the entire Benghazi-based Libyan opposition cabinet this week has exposed the anti-democratic, faction-riven character of the regime that the US and its European allies are seeking to impose on Libya. The self-proclaimed Transitional National Council (TNC)—facing a military stalemate in efforts to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi due to its lack of popular support—is being consumed by violent internal conflicts.
Why the Syrian regime won't fall
Yes, once again this is all about that fiction, the "Shi'ite crescent", about isolating Iran and about Sunni prejudice against Shi'ites.
'Hamas, U.S. reach agreement on Gaza humanitarian aid'
AFP quotes Hamas official as saying deal has been agreed upon to permit for continuation of USAID activities in Gaza; on Friday, U.S. official said operations had been suspended.
US censures report on drone casualties
Officials reject independent UK study's finding that up to 168 children have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan.
August 12, 2011
Captured intel officer says Gaddafi still strong
About 70 percent of Libyans in Muammar Gaddafi's main stronghold Tripoli still support him and he is in no danger of falling anytime soon, a captured Libyan intelligence officer said on Friday.
U.N. Condemns Mounting Civilian Deaths In Libya
The United Nations is growing increasingly vocal in its concerns about civilian casualties and other collateral damage in the ongoing conflict in Libya.
NATO's "Qana Massacre" at Majer, Libya
Every Muslim & Christian Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, and every Lebanese citizen whose family members or loved ones were slaughtered during Israel's two massacres at Qana, Lebanon, is reminded today of the indescribable loss suffered yesterday by their Libyan sisters and brothers at Majer, Libya. The massacres perpetrated with American weapons on April 18, 1996 (106 killed including 33 children, 116 wounded) and July 30, 2006 (28 killed, 18 children, 13 missing, 43 injured) bear a strong resemblance to what NATO did this week here in Libya.
Isolation along with air strikes take toll in Gaddafi's Libya
The impact of the West's two-pronged effort to oust Muammar Gaddafi was apparent this week in Tripoli, where doctors struggled to treat Libyans injured in recent NATO air strikes amid a deepening shortage of electricity and medical supplies.
Sarkozy: France to stay to the end in Libya
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says his country will stick with the international campaign against Libya's longtime leader until the end.
Libya rebels take casualties in fight for Brega
Rebels on the eastern front of Libya's civil war lost 11 men in the past 24 hours fighting to capture the strategic oil terminal and refinery at Brega on the Mediterranean coast, hospital sources said.
The real question on Syria: Why no war crimes indictments yet?
Crackdowns on the scale of Syria's have prompted action by the International Criminal Court elsewhere. The ICC opened an investigation against Qaddafi just three weeks into Libya's uprising.
Syrian protesters call for Assad's death
Tens of thousands of Syrian protesters shouted for President Bashar Assad's death Friday in a dramatic escalation of their rage and frustration, defying bullets and rooftop snipers after more than a week of intensified military assaults on rebellious cities, activists and witnesses said.
At Least 20 Killed as Syria Crackdown Continues
The massive protests continued apace this Friday in Syria, where despite Ramadan fasting tens of thousands took to the street nationwide condemning the regime and urging the execution of President Bashar Assad.
Zvi Bar'el: Syria uprising may lead to regional war
The brutal crackdown in Syria continues unabated, and is likely to become the stage for a regional conflict involving Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Gulf.
Clinton calls on world to cut business ties with Syria
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday called on countries still doing business with Syria to cut ties with Damascus and 'get on the right side of history.'
Franklin says the Leadership of the rebels in Benghazi knows where the missing children have gone.
Zuma hits out at Nato over Libya
Nato allies could be seeking a regime change in Libya in a manner that is "unacceptable", President Jacob Zuma told the Parliament of Burundi on Thursday. "We have found ourselves in a situation where the developed world has decided to intervene in Africa in a manner that was not agreed to when the UN resolution 1973...was passed," he said in a speech prepared for delivery.
Former 'rebel' says terrorists and NATO lost war
Frankly, the revolt was inspired by some Western countries that now have to show the map and their fight against Libya now is in the open. This war is unjust and illogical.
Patrick Cockburn: Libya's ragtag rebels are dubious allies
Rebels, from the Wars of the Roses up to the present civil war in Libya, usually try to postpone splitting into factions and murdering each other until after they have seized power and are in full control. However deep their divisions, they keep them secret from the outside world.
Weapons Transfers to Libya: the French and Qatar Connections
Arms controls continue to be flouted in the context of the Libyan armed conflict. Both France and Qatar have openly admitted to supplying arms to the rebels as a complementary strategy to the NATO-led air strikes. Such actions not only undermine the United Nations arms embargo regime, but may also violate contractual obligations between arms-exporting and arms-importing states.
Waging a Savage War on Libyan People
More bombs drop on Tripoli and across Libya tonight. Theses bombs dropped by the British government whose own youth are setting that country on fire in protest at their abandonment.
Libya: The massacre, the cover-up. What is going on?
The mainstream western media are curiously silent about Libya. Why could this be? We reveal some shocking facts, telling you where NATO's money is being spent. While community programmes and being cut back in Europe, did our readers know that up to 100.000 USD per aircraft per hour is being wasted massacring children in Libya?
Does the international community exist?
NATO is committing war crimes daily in Libya, the latest massacre of children and civilians in Zliten demonstrating its cold-blooded and reptilian callous disregard for human life as it proceeds to bomb indiscriminately in a desperate attempt to aid the terrorists it supports, knowing full well the TNC has the support of some 2% of Libyans.
Obama, Erdogan agree need for Syria 'transition': White House
US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed during a phone call Thursday on the need for a "transition to democracy" in Syria, the White House said.
An Explosive New 9/11 Charge
In a new documentary, former national-security aide Richard Clarke suggests the CIA tried to recruit 9/11 hijackers—then covered it up. Philip Shenon on George Tenet's denial.
Bomb kills five NATO troops in southern Afghanistan
Five NATO soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, less than a week after 38 U.S. and Afghan troops died when the Taliban shot down a helicopter.
Two warring ideologies and U.S. hypocrisy
Some countries depict themselves as committed to the universal human values, but when those values come into conflict with their national interests, they demonstrate hypocritical behavior.
Nato air strikes killed 85 villagers near the city of Zliten in western Libya, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, in what he branded a "massacre" of civilians.
Amnesty Urges NATO to Investigate Civilian Killings in Libya
In a statement issued today, Amnesty International urged NATO to conduct a full investigation of a recent attack near Zlitan, which the Libyan government reported killed 85 civilians. NATO denied seeing any evidence of civilian casualties.
US launches anti-Qaddafi offensive in Africa
The United States has launched a diplomatic offensive against Libya among African nations as Tripoli accused NATO of a "massacre" of 85 villagers in air strikes in support of rebels.
Gaddafi's "dead" son shows up on TV...again
Libyan state TV has broadcast what it said was footage of Colonel Gaddafi's son Khamis visiting people wounded in an air attack. Earlier rebels claimed he had been killed in a NATO air strike last week.
Arab Revolution Caught Between Euphoria and Despair
More than half a year after the beginning of the Arab Revolution, pro-democracy movements in several countries appear to have stalled. The despots in Syria and Libya are fiercely opposing rebellions in their countries, while Yemen threatens to slide into chaos. Will the trial of Hosni Mubarak in Cairo give a new impetus to the protests?
