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Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 02:55
by Neshant
Theo_Fidel wrote:IMO Gaddafi threatened Europe, esp. w/ illegal immigrants. Hence being taken down.

He threatens Europe violently again and France arms the rebels. He was useful as long as he kept the peace and kept the Africans out. Since he can't do that now he is expendable.
You're spinning yarn here my man.

The excuse given at the UN for invading Libya was to establish a no-fly zone to protect civilians remember. Nothing about illegal immigrants, threatning Europe violently..etc. All that is stuff made out of whole cloth designed to deliver (the resources of) Libya into the hands of thieving colonialists.

To state the obvious once again, looting Libya of its resources is the agenda and no amount of con artistry & yarn spinning is going to cover that up.

Now I've got a question. The US Congress is required to declare war on a country being invaded no later than 90 days after the fact. 90 days are up. US Congress voted NOT TO AUTHORIZE war against Libya. Reason : Libya had not attacked the US nor its allies. But the USAF and USN report their planes continue to run hundreds of bombing sorties against Libya.

Question : How is this war legally progressing even without approval from Congress?

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 03:00
by Theo_Fidel
Where do you think Gaddafi's oil was going previously?

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 03:05
by Neshant
Apparently even asking about why Libya is being invaded is a danger.

All kinds of lies & excuses are concocted to justify the racket of invasion for profit motives. This is very bad.

-------

Graham urges Congress to 'shut up' on Libya

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that Congress should not interfere with U.S. operations in Libya.

"Congress should sort of shut up and not empower [Libyan leader Muammar] Qadhafi," Graham said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Congressional critics of the Libya action have been floating the possibility of defunding military operations there, or invoking the War Powers Act to force an end to the military operation.

"I would take the course that conservatives have been taking for the last 30 years -- The War Powers Act is unconstitutional, not worth the paper its written on," Graham declared. "It's an infringement on the power of the commander in chief."

"The president's done a lousy job of communicating and managing our involvement in Libya - but I will be no part of an effort to defund Libya or cut off our effort to bring Qadhafi down," Graham said.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicol ... Libya.html

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 09:23
by UBanerjee
devesh wrote:guys, you are all getting emotional about Libya. there are some simple conclusions to draw here:

1. the "promises" that West makes are useless. even after Libya gave up nukes and became "friends" suddenly they got invaded.
2. A country without nukes and a formidable military, if it has valuable resources, it a ripe target for West.
3. the "sudden" attack on Qadhafi suggests that something changed or new event(s) has happened which changed the West's objectives in North Africa.
Absolutely.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 09:34
by Neshant
Resources aside (which i'm sure the euro thieves are after in Libya), I wonder if the gold dinar was one of many reasons for the invasion. Gadaffi was promoting intra-African trade with a gold dinar rather than euro-dollar fiat.

The Libyan central bank had an unusually large amount of gold relative to its population size. It makes me wonder if Libya might have been preparing to reduce its dependance on foreign fiat and transition at least partly to a gold backed something.

If there's one thing that euro/US do not like, its countries not accepting their fiat paper in exchange for goods & services. Good numbers of suckers are going to be needed from the third world to offload fiat paper on in the years ahead if western countries are to recover their finances.


Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 04 Jul 2011 10:37
by Neshant
RT reports that Europe may send upto 1000 extra ground troops to Libya under the guise of protecting aid convoys or civilian protection or what have you. Apparently some ground troops are already in operation in Libya - who knew.

If they do indeed plan on sending that many ground combat troops, it will be for one purpose only.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:03
by Klaus
Shelling by Gaddafi's forces kills 11 in Misrata.
The news came as Paris said the rebels, increasingly confident on the ground, no longer need weapons drops from France, and as a senior Russian official reported that Gaddafi is conditionally ready to step down.

Meanwhile, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance would like to see to see the United Nations assume the leading role in Libya's transition to democracy in the event Gaddafi leaves power.

"There is emerging a political order distinct from that of Tripoli," French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said. "The (rebel) territories are organising their autonomy... That is why the parachute drops are no longer necessary."

Last week, France said it supplied light arms including rifles and rocket launchers to the rebels for "self-defence" in line with a UN resolution and that it informed NATO and the Security Council of its plan to do so.

Russia criticised the arms drops, and France's NATO ally Britain expressed reservations.

UN Security Council Resolution 1970, passed in February, prohibited states from providing any kind of arms to Libya. Resolution 1973 in March authorised nations "to take all necessary measures" to help protect civilians.

Longuet was cautious about the rebels' chances of defeating Gaddafi in a major offensive they have said they are preparing on Tripoli.

They have a "growing capacity to organise politically and militarily" but are "currently not in a stabilised, centralised system," he said.

On the diplomatic front, an unnamedsenior Russian official was quoted on Tuesday as saying Gaddafi is ready to cede power in exchange for security guarantees.

"The Colonel is sending signals that he is ready to cede power in exchange for security guarantees," the respected business daily Kommersant quoted the official as saying.

The Russian source added that France appeared the country most willing to play a part by unfreezing some of the Gaddafi family's accounts and promising to help him avoid trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.


On Monday, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim had said contacts between Tripoli and rebel-stronghold Benghazi were continuing across several cities in Europe in order to seek a reconciliation and avoid bloodshed.

The Kommersant report came a day after NATO's Rasmussen discussed Libya in Russia with President Dmitry Medvedev and South African President Jacob Zuma, fresh from an African Union (AU) summit that tried to forge a regional peace plan.

Russia has advocated the AU taking a leading role in negotiations to end the conflict, and Zuma, highly critical of NATO air raids, told Medvedev he hoped the alliance would better appreciate the AU's concerns.

One of the new elements in the road map agreed by the AU on Friday included provisions for a multinational peacekeeping force organised by the United Nations.
Wonder if the Russians are unofficially speaking for the entire BRICS + Germany here.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:07
by devesh
is it possible that we might be seeing NATO style bodies popping up in Africa and non-EU countries??? all of Africa is watching NATO's neo-colonialism. it is likely that we will see some kind of a political+military grouping in Africa that seeks to enhance African security and make it difficult for foreign intruders to come in. this would be a very good and necessary move for Africa. I suspect that BRICS+Germany will approve of such moves. and in return AU will assure the G+BRICS of some share in Africa's economic development.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:25
by UBanerjee
An African military alliance presumes a common security interest against NATO intervention. There would have to be a sea change for this to happen. For example, the Libyan intervention occurred at the same time as the French-led UN intervention in Ivory Coast- something no one here has remarked on (whether supposedly neo-colonial, or otherwise). How come?

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:35
by Neshant
Klaus wrote:Wonder if the Russians are unofficially speaking for the entire BRICS + Germany here.
Germany is playing a double game according to RT news.

Behind the scenes going along with the invasion yet publically being ambiguous ?

btw why is your name Klaus or are you a german or an Indian living in germany?



Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:03
by UBanerjee
Neshant wrote:
Klaus wrote:Wonder if the Russians are unofficially speaking for the entire BRICS + Germany here.
Germany is playing a double game according to RT news.
Interesting. For that matter, what is Russia's interest in this affair?

Russian arms sales to the Middle East and North Africa
The New York Times reported a couple of days ago that lost opportunity costs from unfulfilled arms contracts with Libya amount to $4 billion, while total losses in the region if other regimes fall could add up to $10 billion, which is equivalent to the total value of Russia’s military exports in 2010.
Known contracts with Libya include (prices listed where available):

*modernization of Libyan S-125 Pechora-2 SAMs (SA-3 in NATO parlance) to the Pechora-2M level
*modernization of 145 T-72 tanks
*purchase of BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles ($300 million)
*purchase of 6 Yak-130 training aircraft ($90 million)
*building a factory in Libya to produce AK-103 machine guns under license ($600 million)
*purchase of 9M123 Chrystanthemum self-propelled anti-tank missile systems
*purchase of Molnia missile boat
But perhaps Russia has sensed the winds have changed; for one, despite the vocal rhetoric, they did not veto the UN resolution (which they are now criticizing as overly vague, which of course it is; so why no veto?). And secondly, we have these developments:

Russia to present Libya roadmap after Tripoli visit
In Russia's strongest warning yet to the Gaddafi regime, Margelov said the 69-year-old "has very little time" left before a formal indictment by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges.
Echoing his president, Margelov said Gaddafi had "lost the legitimacy and moral right" to be the Libyan leader. Medvedev used similar language at the G8 summit in France two weeks ago, when world leaders asked Russia to play a mediatory role in the conflict.
All military contracts with Libya suspended: Rosoboronexport
"There is a corresponding UN Security Council resolution, and the decision made by the country's leadership. Therefore, all contracts for military-technical cooperation with Libya have been suspended," Sergei Kornev said at the ongoing Paris Air Show 2011 yesterday.
Probably they feel the end is nigh, and they can resume these contracts with a rebel-led govt:
"If the UN Security Council lifts sanctions, we shall be ready to get back to acting on these contracts," he said.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 14:14
by Neshant
As per the US constitution, Congress is the only body that can authorize war against a foreign country.

Congress has rejected declaration of war against Libya.

Now some thieving shysters are trying to get war approved through a body which has no legal authority to approve it - the senate.

You just know this whole war is crooked business from start to finish when they cannot even get corruptable politicians to vote in favor of it.

----

US Senate drops Libya measure

The largely symbolic Libya resolution, the fate of which was unclear, would allow limited US strikes on Libyan targets for one year or for as long as the NATO-led campaign against strongman Moamer Kadhafi's forces lasts.

The Libya measure would carry little weight even if it passed because the House of Representatives has already rejected a similar resolution.

Other lawmakers charged that giving Obama what amounted to retroactive permission to launch attacks on another country would set a bad precedent.

"I fear that we are setting the stage for presidents to undertake other humanitarian interventions without congressional approval," said Senator Richard Lugar, the top Republican the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Presidents should not be able to avoid constitutional responsibilities merely because engaging the people's representatives is inconvenient or uncertain," said Lugar, Obama's erstwhile foreign policy mentor.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/us-senate-drop ... 07797.html

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 08 Jul 2011 11:37
by Neshant
nothing says 'indegenous' uprising any better than when Columbian mercenaries start showing up dead. :lol:

--------------

Libya: NATO Intensifying Bombing to Aid Rebel Push
AP

July 6: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim told The Associated Press in an early morning interview that the increased bombings represent the "final phase" of the alliance's air campaign. But he said the push will fail and that civilians will be the ones to pay the price.

Kaim said NATO targeted police checkpoints in the Nafusa mountains southwest of Tripoli ahead of a rebel advance toward the village of Qawalish, which rebel fighters claimed they seized Wednesday. They were later pushed back by government troops, he said.

A fuel depot in the key eastern oil town of Brega was also destroyed, Kaim said. NATO said it hit equipment used to refuel government military vehicles.

The intensified campaign, he said, is focused on targeting civilian infrastructure and police checkpoints, and providing additional weapons to rebel fighters.

"The aim of these attacks is to help the rebels to advance. But I assure you, it will be another failure for them," he said.

NATO began airstrikes against Libya in March. It is joined by a number of Arab allies and is operating under a U.N. mandate to protect civilians.

Some countries in the coalition have interpreted that mandate broadly, with France acknowledging it has provided weapons to rebels operating in the mountains and other countries providing non-lethal aid to rebel-held areas.

Libyan officials earlier this week showed journalists assault rifles and ammunition they claimed had been shipped to rebels by the wealthy Gulf Arab state of Qatar.

In the interview, Kaim also said Libyan forces have evidence that Colombian mercenaries funded by the west and its Arab allies have joined the rebel fighters trying to advance toward the capital Tripoli from the western rebel-held city of Misrata.

Some of the Colombian fighters had been killed in clashes near Misrata on Wednesday, he said. While he was not immediately able to provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, Kaim said it would soon be shown to journalists based in Tripoli.

Rebel forces took heavy losses in the fighting near Misrata. Dr. Ayman Abu Shahma, a physician in the city, said 18 fighters had been killed along with two civilians. Thirty other people were wounded.

NATO late last week announced it had begun ramping up its airstrikes on military targets in the western part of Libya. It said it is targeting government forces in cities and along "major lines of communication."

On Wednesday, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's secretary-general, said the alliance had damaged or destroyed more than 2,700 military targets since its campaign began.

"The momentum is against Qaddafi, his economic strength to sustain war is declining, his generals and ministers are deserting, the international community has turned against him," he told reporters in Brussels. "For Qaddafi, the game is over."

Fighting between rebels and government troops began in February when a popular movement against Qaddafi quickly escalated into armed conflict.

The civil war has been largely deadlocked, with the rebels controlling the east and Qaddafi clinging to large parts of western Libya, but unable to retake rebel bridgeheads there. The rebels made some gains Wednesday, taking two more towns in the western Nafusa mountains and pushing further from the port city of Misrata, their main stronghold in the west, toward the town of Zlitan, 12 kilometers to the west

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 08 Jul 2011 19:56
by ramana
NPR had a segment which claimed that Gaddafi was using innocent sub_Saharan people as mercenaries. And the rebels claim these are very fierce combatants. The mercs claim they are press ganged. Who knows who is doing propaganda?

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 08 Jul 2011 20:10
by Virupaksha
ramana wrote:NPR had a segment which claimed that Gaddafi was using innocent sub_Saharan people as mercenaries. And the rebels claim these are very fierce combatants. The mercs claim they are press ganged. Who knows who is doing propaganda?
1) Unless the NPR says that Gaddafi is bad and is using those inno-saints, public in US will not accept Obama doing stuff against Gaddafi.
2) Unless the rebels say that Gaddafi is BIG, BIG and STRONGER and TFTA, they wont get money from these western nations.

All in all, we will only get to here no 1's concerns, because media is owned by them, with some spinning for rebels.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 14:43
by Neshant
Looks like NATO is trying to starve Libya into submission.
I feel sorry for the babies and children who have to endure this.
European thieves are good at one thing and one thing only.

-----------

Libyan government warns of food shortages

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya could face a shortage of food because a lack of fuel has prevented it from bringing in most of this season's grain harvest, Muammar Gaddafi's agriculture minister said on Tuesday.

Libya has struggled to maintain supplies of motor fuel and some foodstuffs since a rebellion against Gaddafi's rule in February escalated into a civil war.

"It is harvest time and we just harvested 20 percent (of the crop) because we do not have means of transport because of the fuel shortage," Agriculture Minister Abdul Almajeed Elgowood told reporters.

"We used to import 1 million tonnes (of grain) per year, but with the embargo and United Nations bureaucracy we are afraid that we could face a shortage," the minister said. He said the grain crop this season is estimated at 300,000 tonnes.

Food and fuel for civilian use are not among the items covered by United Nations and European Union sanctions on Libya. But the sanctions bar traders from dealing with many Libyan firms and individuals linked to Gaddafi, and this has disrupted supplies.

The minister also warned of a water shortage because the government lacked fuel and spare parts to run pumps which extract the water from underground aquifers.

"In three to four months, the situation will deteriorate if the United Nations and NATO continue to prevent us from getting our needs for our people," the minister said.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 13 Jul 2011 14:56
by shyamd
Its game over. He is doing a fire sale of his stuff to generate cash in Tunisia. Qatar has dropped by and opened up its cashbook if Tunisia recognise NTC and drop support to Gaddafi.

Tunis badly needs jobs which Qatar can provide via investments.

Meanwhile French army are conducting covert ops in Mauritania and Mali against AQIM. Hasn't been reported to parliamment.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 17 Jul 2011 02:44
by Philip
Despite western propaganda,the Libyan rebels are in chaos according to this report from the Telegraph UK.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -west.html

Libya: Confusion in the mountains, mixed messages from the west
Special report. Libya's rebels are enjoying only limited military success, while Nato allies are increasingly divided and fearful that the campaign could end in humiliation.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 20:39
by Theo_Fidel
The Benghazi crowd has a proper army now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14180293
"The bulk of Gaddafi's forces have retreated to Ras Lanuf," rebel spokesman Shamsiddin Abdulmolah told AFP news agency.

He said streets were littered with "an extraordinary number of anti-personnel mines", making it hard to fully secure the area.

The remnants of Col Gaddafi's troops in the town - believed to number about 150 to 200 - are holed up in industrial buildings with dwindling supplies, he added.

"Their food and water supplies are cut and they now will not be able to sleep. It is a matter of time before they come to their senses, we hope to prevent some bloodshed," he said.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 21 Jul 2011 18:11
by Philip
Libyan rebels' war crimes? They are the foot soldiers of certain malicious western interests who want to grab Libya's vast oil rserves.As in Iraq,this war is "all about oil".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -army.html

The headless corpse, the mass grave and worrying questions about Libya's rebel army
The five corpses floated disfigured and bloating in the murky bottom of the water tank. Wearing green soldiers' uniforms, the men lay belly down, decomposing in the putrid water.
By Ruth Sherlock, Al-Qawalish
7:00PM BST 20 Jul 2011
69 Comments
The streaks of blood, smeared along the sides of this impromptu mass grave suggested a rushed operation, a hurried attempt to dispose of the victims.

Who the men were and what happened to them, close to the Libyan rebels' western front line town of Al-Qawalish in the Nafusa Mountains, remains unknown.

But the evidence of a brutal end were clear. One of the corpses had been cleanly decapitated, while the trousers of another had been ripped down to his ankles, a way of humiliating a dead enemy.

The green uniforms were the same as those worn by loyalists fighting for Col. Muammer Gaddafi in Libya's civil war. No one from the rebel side claimed the corpses, or declared their loved ones missing.

There was no funeral, or call to the media by the rebels to see the 'atrocities committed by the regime'.
The UN has already found reports of "mass rape" by Libyan forces as totally false and a rebel/rebel patron's propaganda exercise.

As for France's great "humanitarian" role in supporting the Libyan war with bombings and babykilling,here is a great expose of its other secret war in Africa and the misery it is inflicting upon millions.Read the report in detail to see how Libya will become with French "humanitarian intervention" to save civilians another genocidal exercise and another apalling exercise western global hypocrisy.
(Cross posted in the geopolitical thread.)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 96062.html

Inside France's secret war

For 40 years, the French government has been fighting a secret war in Africa, hidden not only from its people, but from the world. It has led the French to slaughter democrats, install dictator after dictator – and to fund and fuel the most vicious genocide since the Nazis. Today, this war is so violent that thousands are fleeing across the border from the Central African Republic into Darfur – seeking sanctuary in the world's most notorious killing fields

By Johann Hari in Birao, Central African Republic
Friday, 5 October 2007

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 16:54
by Neshant
Nothing more than blood money from one goonda (European) to another ('rebels') to continue their war.

Loan repayment will be extracted many times over as soon as European companies can get their hands on Libya's resources.
Germany loaning $144 million to Libyan rebels

BERLIN (AP) — Germany said Sunday that it is loaning Libya's rebel leadership €100 million ($144 million) to help with the country's rebuilding and humanitarian needs.

The Foreign Ministry said it is granting urgently needed funding as a loan because frozen assets related to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi cannot yet be released.

The situation in Libya is difficult because of a lack of funding "to build up the necessary structures and overcome supply shortages — from medical care to food," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said. "Particularly in eastern Libya, people are suffering more and more from this."

The money will be paid back from frozen Gadhafi assets once the U.N. Security Council has released them to Libya's new government, Westerwelle added. Germany has said it froze "several billion" euros (dollars).

Germany is not participating in NATO airstrikes on Libyan government military targets and abstained in the U.N. vote authorizing a no-fly zone.

However, it has called for Gadhafi to go, and Westerwelle announced during a visit last month to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi that Germany was recognizing the rebels' National Transitional Council as Libya's legitimate representative.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 27 Jul 2011 23:22
by shyamd
French intel says the Gaddafi regime is almost at the end. NATO are going to double up efforts during Ramadan which starts on Aug 1st. So far the heli's have fired 700 rockets and 250 mijjiles.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 12:21
by Neshant
UK releases 150 million pounds to rebels, expels Libyan diplomats

A good amount, if not all of it, will land up in their own pockets. Never ever keep your money in a country which goes around robbing others.
Around 2 billion pounds of assets belonging to Libyan interests are believed to have been frozen in Britain...

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 28 Jul 2011 14:47
by Neshant
looks like NATO is not only trying to starve these Africans, its trying to kill them from thirst too to break their will to resist.

---------

NATO war crime: Libya water supply

July 22 2011. A date for humanity to remember. NATO hit the Libyan water supply pipeline. It will take months to repair. Then on Saturday they hit the pipeline factory producing pipes to repair it.

The Libyan's water pipeline, a real engineering feat accomplished under Gaddafi, which collects water from more than 270 wells and is sent 2,000 kilometers across the desert to provide 70% of Libya's civilian water supply...

http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/23- ... _crimes-0/

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 09:49
by Philip
All that NATO and its allies seem to be doing is to inflict more human misery upon a proud independent Libyan people,just as the US and co. did with the Iraqis,bombing it into the ste whewre even after years under US occuaption,the very basic neccessities of life are denied to the suffering Iraqis like water,electricity,etc.They were far better off under Saddam in retrospect.

Here is the latest news from the front,where the puppet regime of the so-called rebel front,recognised by the UK,France and certain western entities,are slitting each others throats!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -side.html

Libyan rebel leader shot dead 'by own side’
The military commander of the Libyan rebels fighting to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi was killed on Thursday night, reportedly by his own side, just hours after his arrest.
Libyan rebel leader shot dead 'by own side’
The military commander of the Libyan rebels fighting to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi was killed on Thursday night, reportedly by his own side, just hours after his arrest.

Head of the rebel forces Abdel Fattah Younes Photo: REUTERSBy Damien McElroy, and Barney Henderson

28 Jul 2011
Gen Abdel Fattah Younes was shot dead along with two of his aides, said Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the leader of the Transitional National Council [TNC], although he did not blame the rebels and said the circumstances were unclear.

Gen Younes had been questioned by rebels earlier in the day, reportedly for having suspected links to the regime. Rebel sources said that there were many in their ranks who had not been comfortable with an army leader who had, until recently, been close to Col Gaddafi.

Gen Younes had reportedly been involved in a dispute over the leadership of the rebel forces and there were fears that his death could lead to major divisions and infighting.
Even the US now seems to have doubts ...thanks to rebels' human rights abuses.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/

Top Libyan rebel commander shot dead
Kim Sengupta: Murder of Major-General Abdel Fatah Younes throws leadership of opposition into disarray.

McCain tells Libyan rebels: end abuses or risk US support
Leading article: Libya - the mission that crept

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 15:15
by shyamd
NTC hardliners are blocking a deal for Gaddafi to remain in Libya without power or something along these lines. London and Paris might be backing this deal. Lets see how this goes.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 15:46
by JE Menon
:rotfl:

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 18:52
by shyamd
yeah there is a split between rebels in the east and west. But they are talking. Some want to see the back of gaddafi, some want a negotiated settlement. All the companies are running to benghazi to sign oil deals. Shell is in advanced stage of negotiations - news imminent.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 29 Jul 2011 19:59
by habal
this may be the Berber-Arab animosity showing up amongst rebels. Western rebels may be predominantly berber, while the Benghazi rebels are arab sanusists.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 11:41
by Philip
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 28626.html

Rebel feud puts UK's Libya policy in jeopardy
Government demands answers after assassination of general

By Kim Sengupta, Defence Correspondent
The credibility of the British-backed rebel forces in Libya has been thrown into doubt after the shock assassination of a top military commander led to claims that the movement is enmeshed in a bloody internal feud.


Increasing evidence has begun to emerge that the savage killings of General Abdel Fatah Younes and two other senior officers – who were shot and whose bodies were burnt – may have been carried out by their own side.

The news of the deaths led to outbreaks of violence in the opposition capital, Benghazi, yesterday, with troops loyal to the General and members of the large and powerful tribe to which he belonged, the Obeidis, vowing retribution.

Analysts said that it was likely that whoever carried out the assassination was on the rebel side. Fawaz Gerges, director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, said that "given the infighting among the rebels, probably some elements that are opposed to him did it". He added that whoever was responsible, it was "a major blow to the credibility of the rebels... Paris or London or Washington are probably extremely anxious about this turn of events."

Meanwhile Mr Jalil's version of events was contradicted by the TNC's military spokesman, Mohammed al-Rijali, who stated that Gen Younes had been detained at the oil port of Brega and brought to Benghazi for interrogation prior to his death. A third rebel official, a senior security officer, Fadlallah Haroun, maintained that three corpses had already been found before Mr Jalil had made his announcement. He could not explain why the TNC leader had failed to mention this at the press conference.
The Gaddafi cronies who changed sides

Mustafa Abdul Jalil

The former justice minister was one of the first defectors from the Gaddafi regime. He was previously a judge with a reputation for ruling against the government. He was made justice minister in 2007 in order to give the regime a more reform-minded hue. Secret US cables revealed by WikiLeaks showed that he received favourable reviews from the US ambassador to the country. He switched sides after seeing regime forces kill protesters when he was sent to Benghazi to try to end the unrest.

Mahmoud Jibril

The head of foreign affairs for the Transitional National Council. He was the former head of the National Economic Development Board founded to encourage investment and growth in Libya, and reporting directly to the leadership. He was seen as someone with whom the United States could do business, and was the recipient of a letter, revealed yesterday by The Independent, from the US Senator John McCain urging him to halt human rights abuses by rebel fighters or risk losing international support.

Khalifa Heftar

A former regime general who symbolised the dysfunctional relationships within the rebel leadership. Mr Heftar was a fierce rival of General Abdel Fatah Younes, who appointed himself head of revolutionary forces after the uprising. Mr Heftar had quit the regime earlier and returned from exile in the United States to appoint himself as rebel field commander. After military setbacks marred early gains for the rebels, the feuding leaders were summoned for a meeting and Mr Heftar was sidelined.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 12:12
by Theo_Fidel
It now appears Fatteh Younis was killed by a Islamist faction of the Rebels. The rumor is that Younis was accused of putting several groups in harms way. Esp. those situations earlier where several Gaddafi soldiers pretended to surrender then killed about 30 Rebels and the recent incident with enemy infiltration. Apparently the Islamic brigade took the brunt of both actions. One must remember that Younis was sent to Benghazi to put down the revolt. He underestimated the situation and was captured upon which he switched sides. The soldiers have always suspected him.

In the mean time the Rebels have quietly swept down from the mountains and cleared the plains for about 20 kms North. Their next objective appears to be Zuara 30 kms away, which is Amazigh populated. They have about 2000 rebels trained for this purpose. It is on the Road to Tunisia and would essentially cut off Gaddafi from the outside world.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 23:34
by joshvajohn
Nato bombs Libyan TV transmitters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ju ... ansmitters

the Rebels need to be organised properly. It is time to focus on Tripoli and enter there and finish Gaddafi soon. Nato's airpower and rebels gun army with some supplied Tanks should finish the job in Tripoli soon. All the rebel forces should be brought together to enter into Tripoli and the Tanks within and surrounding areas should be targetted clearly so that rebels can enter quickly and capture Tripoli.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 06:22
by Airavat
Libya has religious links with West Asia, but geographically it is part of the continent of Africa. Here are some voices from Kenya and South Africa on the current conflict.

SA culpable in Libyan bloodshed
It's a tragedy that the African Union, like its predecessor the OAU, cossets dictators in the name of African pride. The bloodshed in Libya could have been avoided. It should have been avoided. South African leaders are culpable because they sought to benefit from Gaddafi's (stolen) wealth by playing along with his megalomania, even allowing him to become chairman of the African Union.

Most South Africans have no idea of Libyan life beyond the myths Gaddafi has put about. People disappearing in the night or arriving at work to find security police waiting because they failed to attend a rally. Gaddafi investing in magnificent hotels like the Michelangelo in Johannesburg, when his own infrastructure is medieval, except for the military infrastructure Nato has been destroying. So many living in dire poverty and neglect atop a sea of oil. And minorities fiercely suppressed, forbidden to speak or write their own languages.

the "rebel" National Transitional Council has more international recognition than Gaddafi, and will free Libya from the colonel's stranglehold whether the ANC and Mbeki like it or not. Libyans themselves will do it, under Nato's protection.
Kenya must dump Gaddafi and recognise Libyan rebels
Kenya has been prevaricating on how to deal with this endgame. Our Constitution, local law and international obligations demand we expel the Libyan embassy staff in Nairobi, and that we expropriate Oil Libya and Laico Regency for the people of Libya. Article 2 of our Constitution states that international customary law, and ratified treaties and conventions form part of our law. Kenya is a member of the United Nations and its resolutions are binding on us. How we try to wriggle out of our international obligations under the guise of ‘African Union’ rhetoric is an additional example of how low we have sunk.

Our relationship with Gaddafi Libya was national prostitution by any other name. We gained nothing from them other than bribes. Libya exports nothing, but oil and destabilisation; both of which we don’t need. We import our oil from the Middle East. Our trading relationship at both national and personal level is zero. Oil Libya and Laico Regency do not show in our economic radar. That we got excited that Libya "invested" in Kenya is one of the mysteries of our country. Libya has sovereign wealth estimated at minimum US$150Billion. Its so-called investment in Kenya didn’t even show on its investment portfolio. The Libyan investment in Kenya is breadcrumbs.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:19
by Philip
"Ming" Campbell's take on Britain's Libyan gambit.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... pbell.html

Britain needs wholesale rethink of Libya war says Sir Menzies Campbell
Britain must undertake a "wholesale re-examination" of its involvement in the Nato conflict in Libya after the murder of the leader of the anti-Gaddafi forces, former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has said.
The call came as Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, appeared to admit Nato forces were powerless to depose Col Muammar Gaddafi until the Libyan leader's own henchmen turned on him.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 14:10
by Neshant
Rival rebel factions clash in Libya :rotfl:

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Clashes between rival factions of the Libyan rebels killed four people Sunday in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, deepening the worst crisis so far for the movement after its chief military commander was killed, possibly by fighters from his own side.

One rebel group overran the base of another faction because they suspected that faction had freed some supporters of Moammar Gadhafi from an opposition prison, Rebel Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam said.

He said the clashes between rebel security forces and members of the al-Nidaa Brigade broke out around 3 a.m. on the western outskirts of Benghazi and left four rebels dead and six wounded. The main rebel force took control of al-Nidaa's base after five hours of fighting, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/rival-rebel-facti ... 09065.html

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 17:09
by joshvajohn
The Western countries engagement with Libya has increased credibility of their international role among Arab muslims. It is time now to call Syrian president to go. I hope Muslim and Arab countries will support this. Though Saudi is a kingdom and Western supporter, they should also bring more propeople and democratic reforms.

Pressure Grows For UN Security Council Meeting On Syria Violence
http://www.rferl.org/content/germany_un ... 83290.html

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 20:25
by ramana
X-Posted....

Going by the recent extensive NATO intervention in North Africa, if it weren't for Islam taking over that area, North Africa bordering the Mediterranaean Sea, would have been part of modern greater Europe.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 00:59
by svinayak
ramana wrote:X-Posted....

Going by the recent extensive NATO intervention in North Africa, if it weren't for Islam taking over that area, North Africa bordering the Mediterranaean Sea, would have been part of modern greater Europe.
The NATO expansion to the north Africa is the re conquest of the christian land back to the roman empire. This is the continuation of the post 911 project which includes Iraq (Great Israel - Jordan and Tigris/Euphrates). AfPak is still unknown but needs to be sorted out to take care of Iran and KSA. KSA land will be broken into smaller land only for the holy purpose and most of the popu;ation will be de islamacized in 100 years.

The population in north Africa will be changed to 10% non muslims and later will be made more than 50% non muslims. Same with Iraq population and arabaian lands over time.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 01:59
by RamaY
Neshant wrote:UK releases 150 million pounds to rebels, expels Libyan diplomats
A good amount, if not all of it, will land up in their own pockets. Never ever keep your money in a country which goes around robbing others.
Around 2 billion pounds of assets belonging to Libyan interests are believed to have been frozen in Britain...
Basically UK stole 2billion pounds from Libya and shared 150 million with the rebels so the whole transaction becomes kosher.

Re: Libyan War : Political and strategic aspects

Posted: 02 Aug 2011 02:09
by devesh
Acharya wrote:
ramana wrote:X-Posted....

Going by the recent extensive NATO intervention in North Africa, if it weren't for Islam taking over that area, North Africa bordering the Mediterranaean Sea, would have been part of modern greater Europe.
The NATO expansion to the north Africa is the re conquest of the christian land back to the roman empire. This is the continuation of the post 911 project which includes Iraq (Great Israel - Jordan and Tigris/Euphrates). AfPak is still unknown but needs to be sorted out to take care of Iran and KSA. KSA land will be broken into smaller land only for the holy purpose and most of the popu;ation will be de islamacized in 100 years.

The population in north Africa will be changed to 10% non muslims and later will be made more than 50% non muslims. Same with Iraq population and arabaian lands over time.

that is scary. if Christianity has control of all the lands from France to the MENA in a continuous stretch, we are talking about a Kartaviryarjuna with the stature of Bali chakravarthy and Ravana combined.