US condemns 'appalling' violence in Libya

[steve2470]

The Obama administration on Tuesday condemned the "appalling" violence in Libya, where security forces are unleashing a bloody crackdown on protesters demanding the ouster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. A top lawmaker said the U.S. should consider imposing new sanctions on the regime and called for foreign energy companies to immediately shut down operations in the oil-rich North African nation.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called on Gadhafi's regime to respect the universal rights of its citizens and allow peaceful protests to take place. Echoing earlier White House statements about anti-government protests in Egypt, he said the future of Libya needs to be decided by the Libyan people.

"We offer our condolences to families of the victims in Libya of this appalling violence," Carney told reporters traveling with President Barack Obama to Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the violent crackdown was "cowardly" and "beyond despicable." He urged U.S. and international oil companies to immediately suspend their Libyan operations until attacks on civilians stop.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_MIDEAST?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[Hubert Flottz]

1. They'd better keep an eye on Scabby Scottie!

[karynnj]

2. What is happening there is awful - glad that the administartion is speaking out

I hope they amplify Senator Kerry's call for the US and international oil companies to suspend their operations.

The US government has little or no leverage with Libya - this is not like Egypt. If the international companies can be pushed to object, that might have some influence. Likely not on Gadhafi, who sounded delusional, but maybe on the people surrounding him.

Here is a link to a fuller account of Senator Kerry's commen

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/02/22/kerry-gadhafi-is-irredeemable/

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

3. What I want to know is how my condems I discard are ending up in Libya... ?

just kidding, :)

I hope we don't have to send troops to another African/Mideast country.