OIL - vs - NO OIL ( So let's not kid ourselves about what this is about)

[kpete]

A ThinkProgress analysis utilizing the media search service Critical Mention of press coverage by the three major U.S. cable news networks — CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News — from March 14 to March 18 finds that Bahrain received only slightly more than ten percent as many mentions as Libya and that Yemen received only six percent as many mentions as Libya:

- Libya: Libya was mentioned 9,524 times by the major cable news networks.

- Bahrain: Bahrain was mentioned 1,587 times by the major cable news networks.

- Yemen: Yemen was only mentioned 599 times by the major cable news networks.

The lack of coverage of the situation in Bahrain and Yemen isn’t disturbing just because of the widespread atrocities being committed against demonstrators there by governments. It’s especially alarming because, unlike Libya, both are close U.S. allies and recipients of major U.S. military and economic assistance — meaning that the U.S. actually bears a responsibility to make sure its assistance is not being used in ways that are contrary to American values.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/03/19/no-coverage-yemen-bahrain/

..........................

This is not a war to save people. If we cared about that we would be intervening in Cote D'Ivoire, where there has been horrible violence on the same level as that in Libya. There is human misery all over the planet that we can't even be bothered to look at, much less intervene.

So let's not kid ourselves about what this is about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Libya

Oil reserves in Libya are the largest in Africa and the ninth largest in the world with 41.5 billion barrels (6.60×10^9 m3) as of 2007. Oil production was 1.8 million barrels per day (290×10^3 m3/d) as of 2006, giving Libya 63 years of reserves at current production rates if no new reserves were to be found. Libya is considered a highly attractive oil area due to its low cost of oil production (as low as $1 per barrel at some fields), and proximity to European markets. Libya would like to increase production from 1.8 Mbbl/d (290×10^3 m3/d) in 2006 to 3 Mbbl/d (480×10^3 m3/d) by 2010–13 but with existing oil fields undergoing a 7–8% decline rate, Libya's challenge is maintaining production at mature fields, while finding and developing new oil fields. Most of Libya remains unexplored as a result of past sanctions and disagreements with foreign oil companies.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/that-whiff-o-freedom-smells-like.html

[obxhead]

1. K&R.

[meow mix]

2. Chevron Libya Ltd. announces an open position of Senior Accountant to work in our office in Tripoli

we already have sweet and cozy deals with ghadafi,
we would be supporting him if all we wanted was the oil.

but then that wouldnt paint america, obama, and the entire west... as the evil in the world.

its much more "fun" to make up wild conspiracys (at the cost of protestors lives, limbs and freedom)

[EFerrari]

3. The idea that DU discussions cost lives and limbs is a pretty wild conspiracy.

LOL

[meow mix]

4. and turning our backs on the protestors/rebels will achieve what other result?

people here seem to think gadaffi just wants to give them some candy. or else they just dont care (isolationism)

[chill_wind]

5. Your schtick is getting stale, to say nothing of offensive

in reducing criticism, political critique or questions of "people here" to gadaffi candy lovers.

Even the inside circles were torn and divided on the wisdom of intervention and what kind.

Brush up on it.

Inside the administration, senior officials were lined up on both sides. Pushing for military intervention was a group of NSC staffers including Samantha Power, NSC senior director for multilateral engagement; Gayle Smith, NSC senior director for global development; and Mike McFaul, NSC senior director for Russia. .

On the other side of the ledger were some Obama administration officials who were reportedly wary of the second- and third-degree effects of committing to a lengthy military mission in Libya. These officials included National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was also opposed to attacking Libya and had said as much in several public statements.

Not all of these officials were in Tuesday night's meeting.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war

Gates: He didn't say we didn't have the capacity. He just wasn't sure he was sold.
No doubt he's not going to undermine the policy decision that has been made, at this point

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hg189TIuN1vUltBOhUpMW74yA3LA?docId=CNG.169f36d31634e648d6dcacdc2a3042c3.521

People have a right to be ambivalent, even (surprise!) skeptical about motives and/or outcomes when it comes to matters of the war machine.

[EFerrari]

6. There are a lot of choices between bombing Libya and turning anything. n/t

[meow mix]

11. "stop slaughtering protestors and we'll give you marshmellow peeps"

who could pass that up? :shrug:

[Aerows]

9. You work for Chevron?

That explains a lot. No offense, but if you work for an oil company, I'd hardly expect you to be unbiased with respect to that oil company.

[AntiFascist]

7. K&R....

if this were not about oil, then why not just target Ghadafi and his cohorts directly and get this over with?

[chill_wind]

8. Digby is always a good provocative read. She has a couple links

previous items (Spencer Ackerman) at her piece that are also worth reading:

United Nations Approves War on Gadhafi

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/united-nations-approves-war-on-gadhafi/

You Know Who’s Not Hot on Military Action in Libya? The Pentagon

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/you-know-whos-not-hot-on-military-action-in-libya-the-pentagon/

And I'm going to throw this one in for folks to chew on regarding bad optics:

Young Leaders of Egypt's Revolt Snub Clinton in Cairo
March 15, 2011 1:17 PM

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/03/young-leaders-of-egypts-revolt-snub-clinton-in-cairo.html

And this:
James Clapper says Libya's Muammar Gaddafi will prevail
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12707276

It might explain why the internal deliberations sounded anything but unanimous, possibly with politicians and intel not all quite completely on the same page.

(piece I linked above ) http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/18/how_obama_turned_on_a_dime_toward_war

While not a fan, I imagine James Clapper's days are numbered.

[lib2DaBone]

10. You mean O peration I raqui L iberation?

How did our oil get under their sand? We must liberate the Mid East and spread Democracy... one drone at a time.