Arab League criticizes allied airstrikes on Libya

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

CAIRO (AP) — The head of the Arab League has criticized international strikes on Libya, saying they caused civilian deaths.

The Arab League's support for a no-fly zone last week helped overcome reluctance in the West for action in Libya. The U.N. authorized not only a no-fly zone but also "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRRC-Ij_xoxpHpSxJd-LVDd1JHXQ?docId=999067b967b7412c83d7cce7921da560

[Teaser]

1. Dear Stupid Fuckers

You ASKED us to do this. Yes, dumbfucks, you did. I remember. Teh Google never forgets.

[faz]

3. I agree

This Arab League is foolish and stupid beyond imagination.

[backtomn]

33. I thought that we had their support

Obama and Hillary have both said that the delay occurred because we were getting Arab League support. I guess it had a very short expiration date. Why bother?

[VermeerLives]

35. So the glowing support didn't even last 24 hours

Predictable, since instead of enforcing a no-fly zone we are fighting the civil war on the rebels' behalf. While 0bama insists we are in it to protect Libyan civilians, he goes out and bombs the same. If we were fighting a war to protect U.S. interests, civilians and troops; so be it: there is collateral damage. But there is no U.S. interest involved here; just 0bama's big head and him trying to establish some electoral credence as a military commander.

[nyy1998]

8. +1 nt

[wordpix]

2. this is just one reason why we should stop intervening in ME affairs & MOOB

mind our own business

Only one reason. The other is this appears to be an oil intervention, once again.

[dkf]

4. Why am I not surprised.

Figures.

[Synicus Maximus]

5. I don't understand what they want. Last week they asked for a

no-fly zone and now they criticize the establishment of a no fly zone. These people are not stupid. They had to know that in order to establish a no-fly zone Libya's air defenses had to be taken out.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

22. Well, this is way beyond a no-fly zone

No Quaddafi aircraft, of course. But also no tanks, no trucks, no marching boots. We're creating a DMZ, far beyond the concept of a no-fly zone, which is already too invasive and expensive.

Obama should be getting high praise from the Republicans for this Bush-like adventure.

[NoTimeToulouse]

27. Perhaps they only wanted the airforce of the western powers

to sacrifice their pilots?

[faz]

6. Unfortunately

Obama is not wise here.

Big mistake!

[wordpix]

7. he fell into the "do it for the sake of the oil corpos" trap: articles

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M2AD7O0 ....

The Associated Press March 19, 2011, 8:50AM ET

Libya oil chief says country still honoring deals

TRIPOLI, Libya

The head of Libya's national oil company says the country is honoring all its commitments and trying to recover from a huge drop in production due to a rebel uprising against ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

Shukri Ghanim told a press conference in Tripoli Saturday that production had dropped because foreign experts had left oil fields, which were then looted.

He said most of the oil fields had been "restored," but asked foreign companies to send their laborers back to Libya. Thousands fled the country following the outbreak of the uprising last month.

Gadhafi has violently repressed all signs of dissent and sent forces to capture rebel-held towns and oil fields. Regime forces were striking the rebel stronghold of Benghazi Saturday.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/indus ... /

Oil companies turn off taps in Libya

SHAWN McCARTHY — GLOBAL ENERGY REPORTER

Published Monday, Mar. 07, 2011 7:26PM EST
Last updated Monday, Mar. 14, 2011 6:43PM EDT

Global energy markets are facing the lengthy shutdown of Libya’s oil exports as international companies retreat under the weight of sanctions and political chaos.

The violence in Libya comes amid escalating concerns about the political turmoil spreading to the oil-rich Persian Gulf region.

Crude prices climbed further Monday as forces loyal to PresidentMoammar Gadhafi attacked rebel positions at the Ras Lanouf oil port, and companies such as Morgan Stanley, Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips Co. have halted trading with the country.

As much as two-thirds of Libya’s 1.6-million-barrel-a-day capacity had already been shut down, and analysts said it will be difficult to maintain any export capacity as political and security conditions deteriorate.

“You have an uncertain physical capacity because even you if can export 750,000 barrels today, the situation remains so chaotic that you’re not really sure what you’re going to get tomorrow,” said David Kirsch, an analyst with PFC Energy, a Washington-based political risk firm.

more-snip

:puke:

Summary, putting this together: the uprising in Libya caused laborers and experts to leave the oil fields, and production plummeted. Corporations mentioned above have supplies disrupted and are losing oil money. They want this uprising ended to get back to business and have called in the cops to get rid of Ghaddafi. Obama says we won't be the only cop on this beat so they get the UN to agree to be the collective cops but the US will lead the way. Another oil war, again.

[daleo]

30. A nicely reasoned summation. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

9. Sounds like a public/private position.

Privately, they want Gaddahfi out, publicly, they're against the strikes. Or maybe they didn't know that to create an effective no-fly zone, you have to take out ground based radar/missile installations.

[wordpix]

10. they don't know what's needed to create a no-fly zone? I think Gates made that very clear

:crazy: No way the Arab League doesn't know what it takes.

[riverwalker]

11. He is running for president of Egypt

and trying to appeal to certain groups. Sounds like the majority of Egyptians think he is an idiot with these statements. He is campaigning.

[Azathoth]

12. These fucks pleaded with us to enter this conflict; now they're spouting Gaddafi state propaganda

Took them all of a day to stab us in the back. They get what they wanted while we end up footing the bill, and as a nice bonus, they can rack up political chits with their people by railing against the depredations of the "evil colonialist West." :mad:

[wordpix]

14. and the O admin swallowed their bait, hook, line and sinker

:grr:

[Azathoth]

15. The O administration, the British, the French, and most of the Security Council nt

[wordpix]

18. not an expert by methinks these countries could not do a no fly zone without US air power

we are leading the charge. Unfortunately.

[razorman]

23. As usual. Anytime we are dealing with the UN, or the "international community",

the U.S. always carries the load.

[BenzoDia]

28. Yep, and if this escalates beyond the current level of action, they'll be looking more and more at

us to do the work.

Kinda looks like international media is already positioning this as "US-led"

[daleo]

31. I don't know who suckered who

But this whole thing is not what it seems.

[VermeerLives]

37. Agree

Being involved in Libya in this fashion does not tactically benefit the U.S. It will, however, probably do wonders for oil deals between France and Britain with Libya.

[Violet_Crumble]

38. They're not doing that at all. It does help to read the OP...

This is what was said. How on earth is that 'spouting Gaddafi state propaganda'?

'Amr Moussa says the military operations have gone beyond what the Arab League backed.

Moussa has told reporters Sunday that "what happened differs from the no-fly zone objectives." He says "what we want is civilians' protection not shelling more civilians."'

Do you understand that support for a no-fly zone doesn't make anyone some Gaddafi supporter if they object to civilians being killed. He's objecting to the killing of civilians, not the no-fly zone...

[faz]

13. It's a show put on by Arab League

They are already bought and sold to the biggest bidder, but on surface do some lip service maintaining they are on Arabs side.

Pure propaganda from them.

[tabasco]

16. Fuck em.

Nuff said.

[Tatiana]

17. It's called a set-up and like idiots, we fell for it. n/t

[hollowdweller]

19. Arab league should be the ones doing it.

Not us.

Also I agree 100% this is all about business

[CJvR]

20. Bottom line.

The Arab regimes would prefer for Gaddafi to win.
Russia would prefer Gaddafi to win so they can sell him more weapons.
The African regimes would prefer for Gaddafi to win.
The Chinese probably don't care who wins as long as the US power is diminished.

Anyone who didn't think all the assholes of the world would be rallying to Gaddafi's aid the moment they think they can get away with it is delusional. Al-Jaz english at least is doing a remarkable job of torpedoing both Gaddafi propaganda and Arab League hypocrisy, hopefully it's arab speaking program is doing the same - which have not always been the case...

[CJCRANE]

24. Exactly. It's a minor miracle

that they agreed to support a NFZ in the first place.

[CJvR]

32. Not really.

While they might prefer Gaddafi to win they also don't want to be seen in public as his supporters and be guilty by association if Gaddafi were to level Bengazi with 6 figure casualties. So it is much better to step aside and let NATO try to prevent that while complaining and protesting everything NATO does, it is hypocrisy on a massive scale - it is called diplomacy.

[ProSense]

21. This is media driven

Here is a video (Second clip is Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa)

The quote in the article and video do not match.

Reuters: Arabs say Gaddafi must go, wary of Western action

Sounds like a meme being pushed by the media: Gaddafi must go.

[CJCRANE]

26. They're right, Gadaffi should step aside. That's the simplest solution. nt

[SnakeEyes]

25. This is why

We shouldn't get involved.

[daleo]

29. They asked for a no-fly zone

They got a missile and bombing campaign. They were either:

- naive and got suckered by our military industrial complex.
or
- pretending for the sake of public opinion that this comes as a surprise to them.

I wonder whether Obama has been suckered too, the way Kennedy got suckered with the Bay of Pigs operation. Military operations have a way of escalating and escalating. After a while, quagmire.

[MikeW]

36. you cant have a no fly zone without taking out anti air assets

I dont think anyone at that table could have denied not knowing that or how the NFZ would be set up.

[VermeerLives]

34. Why is it being done?

If the U.S., France, and Britain proceed to support an advance of rebel forces towards Tripoli, the diminishing support of the Arab League will be totally dropped like a hot rock because they see themselves as the next targets. And say that under the French and British the rebels do push out Qaddafi. After that some new oil deals will have to be made, and what will that look like? It will look like exactly what it is. Or do you think that this is being done out of humanitarian concerns from the EU?

[VermeerLives]

39. Curse the infidels -- er, uh, wait: help us out, infidels!

Better yet, how about you do it! And then tomorrow, or soon, they will pillory us again as the "world's policeman."