The Libyan Crisis

Security Council briefed on latest events in Libya as UN envoy leaves for Tripoli

Security Council briefed on latest events in Libya as UN envoy leaves for Tripoli

"14 March 2011 – The Security Council was briefed today on the latest events in Libya by the United Nations political chief amid mounting concern over the fighting between Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s forces and opponents seeking his ouster.
Over the weekend the Arab League requested that the Council impose a no-fly zone against Mr. Qadhafi’s air force, which has been pounding cities held by his opponents, according to media reports, but today’s Council session met in closed consultations – including the briefing by Under-Secretary-General B. Lynn Pascoe – and no details were officially released."

No vote for the, UNSC backed, No-Fly-Zone then.

Will the G8 vote for one? Will France, the UK or the Arab League impose one without any legal backing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mid

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ights_in_Libya

---

Below is just the first paragraph from your source.

"Some of the numerous and serious abuses on the part of the regime include poor prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention, prisoners held incommunicado, and political prisoners held for many years without charge or trial. The judiciary is controlled by the state, and there is no right to a fair public trial. Libyans do not have the right to change their government. Fathi Eljahmi was a Libyan political prisoner who has received considerable attention in the west.
Freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion are restricted. Independent human rights organizations are prohibited.
Ethnic and tribal minorities suffer discrimination, and the state continues to restrict the labor rights of foreign workers.[2]
The government also constantly makes illegal land confiscations, taking away property from the ordinary citizen. Citizens receive little or no compensation for these land grabs which the government justifies as being road expansions and pipe space for the Great Manmade River.
Gaddafi's Revolutionary committees resemble similar systems in communist countries and reportedly 10 to 20 percent of Libyans work in surveillance for these committees, a proportion of informants on par with Saddam Hussein's Iraq or Kim Jong-il's North Korea. The surveillance takes place in government, in factories, and in the education sector.[3] Engaging in political conversations with foreigners is a crime punishable by three years of prison in most cases. In any case, Gaddafi removed foreign languages from school curriculum. One protester in 2011 described the situation as: "None of us can speak English or French. He kept us ignorant and blindfolded".[4] Gaddafi has paid for murders of his critics around the world.[3][5] As of 2004, Libya still provides bounties for critics, including 1 million dollars for Ashur Shamis, a Libyan-British journalist.[6] The regime has often executed opposition activists publicly and the executions are rebroadcast on state television channels.[3][7]"

I have coloured in yellow the portions that are applicable to the US and the EU. Similarities ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhOh

Similarities ?

---

get a grip .

Just a bit from ALJ's blog. Looks as though Gaddafi is in a hurry to end this fight....

Libya Live Blog - March 16

By Al Jazeera Staff in

• Africa

on March 16th, 2011.

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif
(All times are local in Libya GMT+2)

11:32am

The Associated Press is reporting that the government forces have been hammering Ajdabiya with nonstop shelling in a bid to rout rebels holding out in the strategic eastern city.

The city's fall would open the way for Gaddafi's forces to advance farther into the long stretch of eastern Libya that has been in the control of the opposition throughout the month long uprising.

Residents say pro-Gaddafi troops also cut off communications on Wednesday and began shelling Misurata, the last rebel-held city in the western half of the country.

Saadoun al-Misrati, a rebel spokesman from Misurata says shelling started at 7:00am.

11:06am

Ali Tarhouni, member of the Economic and Oil Committee in liberated Libya says pro-democracy Libyans want a no-fly zone.

Voice of America reports that the opposition member says Libyans will remember those who supported them in their time of need.

10:54am

The Reuters news agency is reporting that the residents of western Libyan city of Misrata say that Gaddafi forces have launched heavy bombardment on the city.

10:49am

Several Arab nations are prepared to take part in a military operation in Libya to stop the advance of Gaddafi's forces, Alain Juppe, French foreign minister, wrote on his blog on Wednesday.

^ Like I said...

AJELive AJELive

Col. #Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam says troops are near Benghazi, "all will be over within 48 hours" 3Libya -Reuters

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhOh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mid

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ights_in_Libya

---

Below is just the first paragraph from your source

....

I have coloured in yellow the portions that are applicable to the US and the EU. Similarities ?

---

You need to stop smoking the weed and yaa baa, its making you paranoid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hazz

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhOh

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mid

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ights_in_Libya

---

Below is just the first paragraph from your source

....

I have coloured in yellow the portions that are applicable to the US and the EU. Similarities ?

---

You need to stop smoking the weed and yaa baa, its making you paranoid.

---

I do feel a little peckish.

Taking the Chill pills now:)

Libya: Britain says action against Col Gaddafi is 'imperative' as US backs no-fly zone - Telegraph

"Libya: Britain says action against Col Gaddafi is 'imperative' as US backs no-fly zone
Britain has welcomed an apparent change of heart by President Barack Obama over sending warplanes to protect the Libyans from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's air force."

"The United States ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said last night that America was prepared to support the imposition of a no-fly zone as part of a ''broad range of actions'' to force the regime to stop the killing. After days of stalling by the US over backing for a no-fly zone, diplomats said they were now talking of going even further - with airstrikes and the naval bombardment of] Gaddafi's forces to help the rebels. Alistair Burt, a Foreing Office minister, said that he hoped there would now be a vote later today in the United Nations Security Council in New York authorising action.
''The urgency of the situation is clear. It is the very urgency of the situation that makes it imperative that something is done and something today,'' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."

If the vote goes ahead and they get their way, it will be a real, bloody war.

BBCBreaking BBC Breaking News

#Libya warns it will target all air and sea traffic in the Mediterranean in the event of a foreign military intervention

The European nations is as usual painfully slow to reach any consensus, and to scared to do the right thing on their own accord, Obama is a wimp playing for domestic ratings only, and Russia and China two dictatorships in their own right is obviously reluctant to make a precedence.

The UN with dictatorships and two bit third world countries in majority is no longer the place to look for justice and world consensus.

A golden opportunity for western democracy's to for once meeting the normal common population in some Arab nations with a positive contribution and possibly gaining some valuable sorely needed goodwill, not with Mullahs or Kings and Dictators but common Arab folks, is being squandered away in western internal dirty political games.

Lets hope it's all not to late to salvage a bit.

Very sad.

REUTERSFLASH ReutersBreakingNews

UNSC draft resolution authorizes no-fly zone, ”all necessary measures" to protect civilians under threat - text

Sec Council text on Libya calls for no fly zone, protection of Benghazi, sweeping authority for use of force

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by larvidchr

The European nations is as usual painfully slow to reach any consensus, and to scared to do the right thing on their own accord, Obama is a wimp playing for domestic ratings only, and Russia and China two dictatorships in their own right is obviously reluctant to make a precedence.

The UN with dictatorships and two bit third world countries in majority is no longer the place to look for justice and world consensus.

A golden opportunity for western democracy's to for once meeting the normal common population in some Arab nations with a positive contribution and possibly gaining some valuable sorely needed goodwill, not with Mullahs or Kings and Dictators but common Arab folks, is being squandered away in western internal dirty political games.

Lets hope it's all not to late to salvage a bit.

Very sad.

---

They have to take him out now before it's too late... he's made it clear he's going to do a King Herod and murder as many "traitors" as he can.

He's also (usefully) stated that he's not the president of Libya... in which case, int'l law about leader assassinations don't apply... int'l arrest warrant as an int'l terrorist/criminal should suffice... in fact... what would be a better time to carry out some extraordinary rendition?

It's extraordinary that the US would make such a fuss about the Lockerbie bomber, but be like a rabbit in the headlights when faced with such an opportunity to take out a long-standing enemy... the apparent concerns about the mood of other muslim nations seems a bit hard to take seriously.

They "need to" (in the American sense) take him out, and argue about it's "legal" status later... a tried and tested approach... what's the hold up exactly?!
He's mentally ill; he's a murderer; he's another Saddam... get on with it FFS!
He's like a classic James Bond villain with all his hired foreign henchmen.

The dictator formally known as Ghaddafi
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2011/03/3212.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2011/03/3213.jpg

You could probably cope with being held in a headlock by that blonde one:
https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ervention.html

"European diplomatic sources said that military operations could be under way "within hours" of the UN vote, using Nato and British airborne forces already in the region.
Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said a wide-range of options were being considered short of direct boots on the ground, including a no-fly zone, the deployment of drones and arming the rebels.
A UN Security Council resolution drafted by Britain, France and the United States proposed to use "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians, language that would clear the way for air attacks on any of Col Gaddafi's forces moving against non-military targets.
The resolution had the strong support of Lebanon and some other Arab nations, but as negotiations at the UN headquarters in New York extended into the evening, the positions of other key players was unresolved.
Supporters of the resolution hope that China and Russia would merely abstain rather than use their power of veto held as permanent members of the Security Council."

"Libya: 11th hour bid to stop Gaddafi as US finally backs intervention
A military intervention against Col Muammar Gaddafi's onslaught on Libyan rebels has been proposed at the UN in an eleventh-hour attempt to stop the dictator crushing opposition strongholds."

Libya resolution: UN security council air strikes vote - live | World news | guardian.co.uk

"Voting for the resolution

Permanent members: United States, Britain, France
Non-permanent members:: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa

Abstentions

Permanent members: Russia, China
Non-permanent members: Germany, Brazil, India"

"Here's the result: 10 in favour, zero against, five abstentions. So the vote went exactly as predicted. "The resolution 1973/2011 is adopted.," says the chairman."

Finally! Let's see if the west has the balls now to act or is this all just talk?

UN authorises no-fly zone over Libya - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Quote:

---

Diplomats indicated that air strikes from a coalition led by Britain, France and the United States could be imminent; however, the UN resolution rules out sending foreign ground troops.

---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtqRtmRQY9E

^ Yep, so it is a fight, at last...?

Gaddafi has said he intends to wrap things up today. Slaughter a plenty. Will the new coalition force be able to get its shit together to stop more death?

Even if they do, Gaddafi has no plans to go anywhere. So we enter stalemate.

The reaction from the Arab world was to support a no-fly zone before. I wonder who much support there's going to be now the west is involved? Should be interesting.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mobs00

Finally! Let's see if the west has the balls now to act or is this all just talk?

UN authorises no-fly zone over Libya - Africa - Al Jazeera English

Quote:

---

Diplomats indicated that air strikes from a coalition led by Britain, France and the United States could be imminent; however, the UN resolution rules out sending foreign ground troops.

---

---

Funny how the West doesn't have the balls to seek the same medecine for Bahrain. Actually, it's not so funny - rather predictable.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2...medium=twitter

UN authorizes 'all necessary measures' in Libya

Associated Press, Tobruk, Libya | Fri, 03/18/2011 9:24 AM | Headlines

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday authorized "all necessary measures" to stop Moammar Gadhafi in Libya - including strikes by sea and air - hours after he vowed in harrowing terms to launch a final assault and crush the weeks-old rebellion against him.

The resolution, approved with the backing of the United States, France and Britain, imposed a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized force short of a ground offensive to protect its people from Gadhafi's forces.

The U.N. action bans all flights in Libyan airspace in order to protect civilians. While it was unclear how the West might proceed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said earlier in the day that a no-fly zone would require bombing targets inside Libya, including some of its defense systems.

It was also unclear when any Western action would come. A British lawmaker said British forces could be mobilized as early as Thursday night. U.S. officials, speaking after a closed-door briefing in Congress, said they expected an attempt to ground Gadhafi's air force could begin by Sunday or Monday and would probably involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.

After deliberating for weeks over what to do about Gadhafi, the West acted with sudden speed as it became clear Gadhafi would attempt to finally put an end to the rebellion.

Gadhafi, calling in to Libyan television on Thursday, said his forces would "rescue" the people of Benghazi, the Mediterranean port city that has become the capital and staging ground for the opposition. For those who resist, Gadhafi said, there would be "no mercy or compassion."

"This is your happy day, we will destroy your enemies," he said, warning the people of Benghazi not to stand alongside the opposition. "Prepare for this moment to get rid of the traitors. Tomorrow we will show the world, to see if the city is one of traitors or heroes."

"Don't betray me, my beloved Benghazi," he said.

His ground forces were still about 80 miles (128 kilometers) south of the city on Thursday evening Libya time, so it was unclear whether they would move on the city as quickly as he suggested.

Speaking moments before in an interview with Portuguese television broadcast just before the vote at the U.N., Gadhafi pledged to respond harshly to U.N.-sponsored attacks. "If the world is crazy," he said, "we will be crazy, too."

At the U.N. headquarters in New York, the vote was 10-0. The United States, France and Britain had all pushed for speedy approval. "We had said all along that Gadhafi must go," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "It is necessary to take these measures to avoid greater bloodshed."

Five nations abstained, including Russia and China, which hold veto power on the council.

In Washington, officials said the Obama administration was readying plans to enforce the no-fly zone. The French prime minister said before the measure was passed that his nation would support military action within hours. Several Arab nations were expected to provide backup.

"Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan people's cry for help," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. "Colonel Gadhafi and those who still stand by him continue to grossly and systematically abuse the most fundamental of the human rights of his people."

The United States already has warships positioned near Libya. After eight hours of closed-door talks on Wednesday, Rice said a no-fly zone now was not enough, saying it has "inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk."

In Britain, a lawmaker with knowledge of defense matters confirmed that British forces were on standby for air strikes and could be mobilized as soon as Thursday night. The lawmaker declined to be named because the Defense Ministry has not issued official confirmation.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office issued a one-sentence statement at about 2 a.m. Friday Paris time (0100 GMT) saying he and Obama had spoken by phone about the resolution. Reached by The Associated Press, Sarkozy's office declined further comment.

Western countries have significant military assets nearby, including carriers in the Mediterranean, a large U.S. air base in Italy and a large British air presence on the island of Cyprus. In addition, allied Arab countries such as Jordan and Oman have planes and pilots often trained by the U.S., and American officials have made clear they want active involvement by Arab countries if any action is taken.

The U.N. resolution specifically bans a ground offensive against Libya.

A large crowd in Benghazi was watching the vote on an outdoor TV projection and burst into cheers, with green and red fireworks exploding overhead. In Tobruk, east of Benghazi, happy Libyans fired weapons in the air to celebrate the vote.

Speaking to reporters in Tripoli after the vote, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim struck a more conciliatory tone, offering to negotiate a cease-fire with the rebels. He welcomed the Security Council's concern for the people of Libya but called on the world not to allow them to receive weapons. "If any countries do that, they will be inviting Libyans to kill each other," he said.

The shift toward international action reflected dramatic change on the ground in Libya in the past week. The rebels, once confident, found themselves in danger of being crushed by an overpowering pro-Gadhafi force using rockets, artillery, tanks, warplanes. That force has advanced along the Mediterranean coast aiming to recapture the rebel-held eastern half of Libya.

Gadhafi troops encircled the city of Ajdabiya, the first in the path of their march, but also had some troops positioned beyond it toward Benghazi.

Several witnesses said rebels in Benghazi succeeded in shooting down at least two of the attacking aircraft. Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, a 42-year-old merchant who lives nearby, said he saw one of the warplanes shot down after striking Benina, the airport.

Another witness, medical official Qassem al-Shibli, told The Associated Press that he saw three planes attack the airport and nearby rebel military camps before two were shot down. A third witness saw fire trucks fighting a blaze at the airport, and black smoke billowing from the area. Another witness reported that a rebel warplane crashed north of Benghazi, apparently after running out of fuel.

At the same time, the rebels were sending their own warplanes in an attempt to break the regime's assault on Ajdabiya, a city about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Benghazi that has been under a punishing siege by Gadhafi's forces the past two days. But by Thursday afternoon, Gadhafi's army were holding the southern, eastern and western outskirts of Ajdabiya.

^^ i think now the west sees that the flow of oil may be disrupted so decided to act. As said before, is it too late?

Military strikes on Libya within hours: France: http://goo.gl/2XE9I

^
Will they then fly on over to Bahrain and bomb ol fucknuts towelhead and the foreign armies there too?

Knock out Gaddafi's air capability, heavy artillery and tanks. Arm and fund the rebels. Then sit back and let the rebels do the work on the ground. Thats the plan as I see it unfolding.
That way its the peoples revolution which topples the dictator rather than foreign powers. Maybe throw in a guarantee of safe passage for Gaddafi and family to a safe country like Venezuela and access to some of his stolen $billions. But of course we will never know of any behind the scenes deals with Gaddafi if they in fact happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

^
Will they then fly on over to Bahrain and bomb ol fucknuts towelhead and the foreign armies there too?

---

Of course not, we're too important.

:)

Intercept his flight to Venezuela, and force it to land in somewhere lawless like Western Sahara, and drown him in pigs blood, then dig a hole so deep the people can hand him over to the devil personally.

The could do with a few Egyptian land units in Cyrenaica to try and panic his merceneries. It's Egypt's chance to be taken seriously as a regional power and force for good in the world.

US, allies set for quick military action in Libya - Yahoo! News
US, allies set for quick military action in Libya

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration and America's allies have won an open-ended endorsement from the United Nations for military action in Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi's regime is pressing to eliminate any opposition to his rule. Now they'll have to move fast.
The breakthrough at the U.N. Security Council comes after days of cautious diplomacy from the administration and sets the stage for airstrikes, a no-fly zone and other military measures short of a ground invasion to halt the violence in Libya and push Gadhafi from power. It was unclear if Britain and France would lead the way militarily, but the U.S. will certainly be counted on to do a large part of the heavy lifting.
The U.S. backing for international action comes after several administration officials questioned the plan for providing aerial cover, with the Pentagon perhaps the most vociferous in its skepticism. It has described the no-fly zone as a step tantamount to war, and a number of U.S. officials have expressed fears that involvement in Libya could further strain America's already stretched military and entangle the country in an expensive and messy conflict in another Muslim country.
The details of any U.S. military action were still unclear. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told Congress it would take as much as a week to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.
"It would undoubtedly require resources in Europe as well as those that are based in the U.S.," Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Just Thursday, speaking in Tunisia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said a no-fly zone would require action to protect the planes and pilots, "including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems." But pressed on by Britain and France, and buoyed over the weekend by the surprise support of the Arab League, the no-fly option gained traction and led to a swift reversal in position from the administration.
After the resolution, President Barack Obama spoke with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders "agreed that Libya must immediately comply with all terms of the resolution and that violence against the civilian population of Libya must cease," according to a White House statement.
"The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, and to continue working with Arab and other international partners to ensure the enforcement of U.N. Security Council resolutions on Libya," it added.
Time is of the essence: Gadhafi vowed Thursday to launch a final assault on the opposition's capital Benghazi and crush the rebellion as his forces advanced toward the city and warplanes bombed its airport.
And while the U.N. resolution's authorization of a no-fly zone over the country and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians may add pressure on Gadhafi and show him that far more powerful forces are coming, the unpredictable leader has refused to heed the countless calls for him to step aside after 42 years in control of his country. And he has pledged to fight to the death.
Even before the Security Council's 10-0 vote, the Obama administration readied plans to enforce the no-fly zone, with congressional officials describing a closed-door briefing in which the administration said it could ground Gadhafi's air force by Sunday or Monday. The effort likely will involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft, officials said, and the U.S. is keen to have Arab countries such as Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates participate in the operation.
Five nations abstained on the vote, including Russia and China. But the fact that neither exercised their right to veto the resolution represented a major victory for the U.S. and its allies, who've often been stymied at the global body by countries fearful of granting powers that infringe on national sovereignty.
For Obama, the shift to international action comes as he faced increased criticism for not moving aggressively enough to help the rebels trying to topple Gadhafi, long counted as among the world's most ruthless dictators. Some U.S. lawmakers demanded the no-fly zone, while others have proposed more strident measures such as supplying the opposition with arms.
Three leading senators applauded the U.N. action.
"The administration deserves credit for getting this resolution passed with such strong support," said a joint statement from Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. "This was an important step on behalf of the people of Libya, but it will only be as effective as its implementation. With Gadhafi's forces moving towards Benghazi, we must immediately work with our friends in the Arab League and in NATO to enforce this resolution and turn the tide before it is too late."
The senators said they would also work to build bipartisan support for Obama to take "decisive measures to stop Gadhafi."
That backing was missing Thursday at a Senate hearing, as Sen. Mark Rubio, R-Fla., and others criticized Obama and his national security aides for moving too slowly to cut off the Libyan government's counteroffensive. Initially rocked by the revolt, the regime has recently regained lost territory and set its sights on Benghazi, the last rebel stronghold.
William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, said Gadhafi's forces "have made significant strides on the ground over the course of the last 24, 48 hours ... taking full advantage of their overwhelming military."
Ahead of the U.N. vote, several lawmakers hinted that a change in the U.S. approach might be coming.
"If they (the rebels) can hold out another week, that may be the time necessary for the international community to respond," Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, told reporters.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he believes President Barack Obama has authority to commit U.S. forces to participate in the no-fly zone without congressional approval, but he expressed hope that Congress would bless the move.
Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had a different view.
"If the Obama administration decides to impose a no-fly zone or take other significant military action in Libya, I believe it should first seek a congressional debate on a declaration of war."