Another view to consider...

[sad sally]

Blundering into Libya

by Nebojsa Malic, March 19, 2011 (Nebojsa Malic left his home in Bosnia after the Dayton Accords and currently resides in the United States. During the Bosnian War he had exposure to diplomatic and media affairs in Sarajevo. As a historian who specializes in international relations and the Balkans, Malic has written numerous essays on the Kosovo War, Bosnia, and Serbian politics. His exclusive column for Antiwar.com debuted in November 2000.)

In the "sandstorm" of revolts spreading through the Arab world that began in January with the ouster of Tunisia’s "president" Ben Ali, the revolt in Libya has been the stark anomaly. While there were clashes of police and the military with protesters in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen — with loss of life — the Libyan protests quickly devolved into open warfare. Unlike the other governments shaken by revolts, the regime of Colonel Gadhafi has not been anyone’s client. Last, but not least importantly, the conflict in Libya appears to have a regional and tribal background — but then, so does Bahrain. Yet the Empire’s reactions to events in Libya and that tiny Gulf kingdom could not have been more different.

Strange Bedfellows

Media coverage from Libya has been confusing at best, and often contradictory. Air attacks that never happened, heavy fighting that was nothing of the sort, rebel advances that ended up being retreats without a shot fired — all in all there has been very little "news" from the shores of Tripoli, and a whole lot of propaganda. Also suspicious is the fact that, alone in all of North Africa and Arabia, the Libyan rebels have clamored for foreign help from the start.

http://original.antiwar.com/malic/2011/03/18/to-the-shores-of-tripoli-2/?du

[gratuitous]

1. "Propaganda"?

Perish the thought! As horrible an undertaking as war is, who (oh who?) would ever dream of lying to get us into one? Well, unless they were in line to make a shitload of money, and they were in no danger of direct involvement with the killing and dying that goes on during a war. But who would be so callous to the . . .

Aw fuck it.

[tabatha]

2. This sentence is incorrect.

"Upon the news of the UN decision, Gadhafi vowed to show the rebels "no mercy" and said his government would retaliate by attacking Western civilian targets."

Gaddafi vowed to show "no mercy" before the UN decision - many days before. In fact the no mercy" is what prompted the UN decision.

How many other "facts" has he gotten wrong?

From the tanks and planes and weapons seized by the rebels there must have been battles with the Libyan forces. And why was Gaddafi importing so many mercenaries from other countries.

I call this a BS article.

[sad sally]

4. Peace

Perhaps people can draw different conclusions from the same information.

[tabatha]

5. If the information is correct - which it is not.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

3. Do they have oil ?