FYI: 219 Arab Organizations Called For Libya No-fly Zone & A U.N. Investigation Into Atrocities

[Turborama]

Posted By Josh Rogin | Friday, February 25, 2011 - 7:18 PM

Arab organizations from 18 countries, coordinating their effort with 30 Arab intellectuals, called on world leaders to impose an U.N.-sponsored and Arab-led no-fly zone in Libya to protect innocent civilians there.

The call for civilian protection was aimed to influence the U.N. Security Council, the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League. It was timed to influence discussions at the Security Council and the U.N. Human Rights Council over the coming days. The organizations hail from countries including Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Morocco, Yemen, Syria, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia.

The open letter to world leaders, set to be released on Saturday but obtained by The Cable, calls on the international community and regional leaders to develop "immediate contingency plans for international intervention, under regional Arab leadership, to provide protection for civilians on the ground and to enable the rapid imposition of a UN Mandated No Fly Zone over Libya should such steps be necessary to protect civilians from further atrocities."

The groups also called for a U.N. investigation into atrocities conducted by the regime of Muammar al-Qaddafi, as well as punitive measures against the Libyan government, including sanctions, asset freezes, and an arms embargo.

Full article: http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/25/over_200_arab_groups_call_for_libya_no_fly_zone

Looking at the full text of the resolution: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397

And the ICC announcing their investigation shortly after these letters were released: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/02/28/139608.html

....it seems like they got exactly what they called for.

Full text of the letters and lists of signatories:

PUBLIC STATEMENT BY PROMINENT ARAB INDIVIDUALS: CONDEMNATION IS NOT ENOUGH!

To Heads of State of Members of the United Nations Security Council, European Union, African Union and League of Arab States,

We, experts, intellectuals and citizens from the Arab world, write to call on you to turn hollow condemnation into real action that can protect the people of Libya from further slaughter.

We cannot and will not stand by and witness a brutal dictator exterminate his own people. Your words alone will not stop Gaddafi committing war crimes against civilians. Your expressions of disgust will not stop him contracting mercenaries to kill and maim those brave enough to challenge his tyranny. We appeal to you as leaders who have the power to bring an end to this horror. Your failure to do so would be a lasting stain on the concept of the responsibility of world leadership and on humanity itself.

The Libyan people are living through a defining moment in their history. Their demands for basic human rights and an end to 42 years of cruel oppression are legitimate. We shall not stand silent and watch them pay the price of this demand with their blood. Without urgent action from the UN Security Council supported by the EU, African Union and Arab League, the window of opportunity to protect civilians from the threat of further atrocities will close.

We believe it is the personal and moral responsibility of each and every one of you to ensure immediate action is taken to stop the bloodshed in line with Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

The Libyan people have had the courage to defy a dictator and face down his barbarism and brutality. Now their blood fills the streets of Benghazi, Beida and Tripoli and many other cities. This is partly the result of the absence of effective international pressure to rein in a killer who does not balk at using lethal force against his own people.

We urge the UN Security Council, the Arab League, the African Union and the European Union to protect civilians in Libya NOW. We urge leaders to live up to their obligations and expedite the following actions immediately:

*Agree immediate contingency plans for international intervention, under Arab regional leadership, to provide protection for civilians on the ground and to enable the rapid imposition of a UN Mandated No Fly Zone over Libya should such steps be necessary to protect civilians from further atrocities.

*Ensure accountability and justice for the victims of the attacks since the 17th of Feb 2011 by supporting the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' call for an independent investigation into the use of systematic violence against civilians.

*Ensure an asset freeze on Gaddafi, his family and his generals and impose immediate targeted sanctions on the regime.

*Impose an immediate arms embargo.

Only action of this kind can help protect the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians currently at risk. Gaddafi and his henchmen will not flinch at your condemnation. Instead, they blackmail you into paralysis by threatening to withhold lucrative trade or open the floodgates of immigration. Time is running out. We urge you to demonstrate courageous and decisive leadership to avert what could be one of the worst atrocities of our time.

Sincerely,

1.Nabil El Arabi - Former Judge in the International Court of Justice - Egypt
2.Gamil Mattar - Writer - Egypt
3.Taher Kanaan - Former Minister of Planning and Development Affairs- Jordan
4.Laila Sharaf - First Lady Senator - Jordan
5.Moataz Abdel Fattah - Professor of Political Science University of Michigan - USA
6.Gennaro Gervasio - Professor of Political Science, University of Sydney - Australia
7. Bassma Kodmani - Executive director, Arab Reform Initiative - France
8. Chérif Ferjani - Director, Group of Research and Studies on Mediterranean and Middle East (GREMMO) at la Maison de l'Orient Méditerranéen, CNRS-Université Lyon2 (National Center for Scientific Research)
9. Hani Shukrallah - Journalist - Egypt
10. Barah Mikail - Research Director, FRIDE (Fundacion para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Dialogo Exterior) - Spain
11. Larbi Chouikha - Academic - Tunisia
12. Charif RIFAI - Architect - France
13. Yassin Swehat - blogger - Syria
14.Paul Salem - Director, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Beirut - Lebanon
15.Salam Kawakibi - Senior researcher - Arab Reform Initiative
16.Nahla Chahal - political sociologist - Syria
17.Ibrahim Al Ariss - Historian and Journalist - Lebanon
18.Alaa Abdel Aziz - Academic - Egypt
19.Mohamed Ali Farhat - Poet and Journalist - Lebanon
20.Vicky Habib - journalist and film critic - Lebanon
21.Saad Mehio - Writer - Lebanon
22.Ahdaf Soweif - Novelist and Writer - Egypt
23.Bahgat Korani - Academic - Egypt
24.Abdel Rahman Ayyas - journalist - Lebanon
25.Ali El Ghatit - International Attorney of Law - Egypt
26.Ali Fakhro - Former Minister of Culture - Bahrain
27.Fouad Riad - Former Judge in the International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia - Egypt
28.Nagib Sawiris - Egyptian Prominent Business and President of Orascom Telecom - Egypt.
29.Dr. Gala Amin - Egyptian Scholar - Egypt
30.Ms Hala Alabdalla, Syrian filmmaker - France
31.Dr. Amr Hamzawy , Research Director and Senior Associate - Carnegie Middle East Center
32.Omar Al Qattan, Filmmaker & Philanthropist - Palestine.
33.Hisham Mattar, Libyan Novelist Author
34.Basma Al Husseiny , Managing Director - AL Mawred AL Thaqafi

Open Letter by Arab Organisations to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union (EU) and the League of Arab States (LAS) | 28/02/2011

As leaders of over 200 organisations across the Middle East and North Africa, we urge the United Nations Security Council, the EU and the Arab League to take immediate action in response to the violent repression of demonstrations and the bloodshed of innocent civilians in Libya. The international community must not be passive bystanders to such brutality. Words of outrage are not enough; they will do nothing to protect civilians in the face of such slaughter.

We fear we may be witnessing the calm before the storm. The window of opportunity to prevent further atrocities from occurring is closing fast. The people of Libya need you to act quickly and decisively.

Since 17th February 2011, hundreds of peaceful demonstrators in Libya have been killed, arrested and detained at the orders of Gadaffi. Reports of the use of lethal force and military artillery against civilians demand immediate investigation by a UN mandated team on the ground.

Condemnation of such acts is not enough - world leaders must live up to their responsibilities to protect civilians from systematic slaughter.

We call on you to agree contingency plans for international intervention in line with Chapter VII of the UN charter, and under Arab regional leadership to provide protection for civilians on the ground and to enable the rapid imposition of a UN Mandated No Fly Zone over Libya should such steps be necessary to protect civilians from further atrocities.

The coalition also urges the UN Security Council, the European Union and League of Arab States to call for and support the expedition of the following actions immediately to protect civilians in Libya:

Implement an immediate freeze on the assets of Gaddafi and his generals and subject them to a travel ban

Impose an embargo on all exports of arms and security equipment to Libya;

Call for and support an immediate UN investigation mission to Libya to identify the exact nature of events and the scale of the crimes committed since February 17th.

Time is running out. The bloodshed cannot continue. The people of Libya need you to act quickly and decisively. As civil society leaders from the region, we implore you not to desert them and to demonstrate that you are prepared to take the meaningful action required to back up your words of condemnation.


Signatories:

Algeria: The Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights, The Algerian Coordination Organisation for the Families of the Missing.

Bahrain: Al Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Bahraini Association for Human Rights, Association of Bahraini Youth for Human Rights.

Iraq: The Iraqi Human Rights Association inDenmark, Iraqi Network for Human Rights.

Egypt: Arab Programme for Human Rights Activists (APHR), Arab Organization for Civil Society and Human Rights Support, Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, Civil Observatory for Human Rights, Citizenship Human Rights Organisation, Shomoaa for the Care of Humanitarian Rights, Egyptian Organisation for Scientific and Technological Development, Egyptian Foundation for Refugee Rights, The Arab Network for Human Rights Information-Egypt, The Arab Centre for Development and Human Rights, South Centre for Human Rights, Arab Network for Crisis Reporting, Centre for the Study of Alternative Development, Taha Hussein Foundation for Civic Education, Egyptian Centre for Human Development, Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights, Al-Badr Foundation for Social Development and Peace, Maan Foundation, Arab Centre for Legal and Judicial Independence, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Ani for Development and Human Rights, Al Nadim Center for Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation for Victims of Violence, Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression, Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-Violence Studies, Egyptian Centre for Property Rights, One World Centre for Development and Protection of Human Rights, Human Rights Association for Protection of Prisoners, Centre for Legal Study and Information for Human Rights, Centre for Human Rights and Fighting Landmines, National Association for the Defence of Rights and Liberties, Arab Legal Desk- Egypt, Group for Human Rights Legal Aid, Supporters of Justice for Human Rights Association. Egyptian Womens’ Issues, Al-Safwa Centre for Human Rights in Mansoura, Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi Forum, Human Development Centre, Al-Haqq Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, Al Shihab Foundation for Complete Development, Al- Kilma Centre for Human Rights, Egyptian Association for Economic and Social Rights, Habi Centre for Environmental Rights, Egyptian Association for Civic Education and Human Rights, Egyptian Civil Group, Women’s Group for Human Rights, Equality Center for Human Rights (Port Said), Egyptian Center for Rights of the Child, Egyptian Foundation for Family Development, The Egyptian Centre for Defence and Legal Protection, Solidarity Association for Development and Human Rights, Foundation for Human Rights Training and Sustainable Development (Equity), Madar Foundation for Development and Environmental Protection, Dawn Centre for Human Rights Advocacy, Him and Her Development Foundation, Egyptian Center for Development and Human Rights, Egyptian Association against Medical Negligence and Human Rights, Civil Coalition for Democratic Reform,

Jordan: Observatory Centre for Environment and Human Rights, Equality Centre for Democratic Studies and Research, Cooperation Centre for Civil Society Organisations. Kuwait: The Kuwaiti Association for Human Rights.

Lebanon: The Lebanese Association for Transparency , (PPM) Permanent Peace Movement (includes 20 organizations), Social Developmental Initiative- Volunteers without Boundaries, Development for People and Nature Association- Lebanon, Lebanese Labour Watch- Lebanon, Common Effort- Lebanon, Cultural Tyre Forum, Civil Society Forum , Middle East and North Africa Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict, Arab Network for Tolerance, Peace Building Academy, Arab Human Rights Fund. Libya: The Arab Libyan Association for Human Rights, Secretary General of the Association for Human Rights.

Mauritania: National Committee for Human Rights , Network for Protection of Democracy, Mauritanian Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (AMAPROD) , Northern League for Democracy, Development and Human Rights , Women Democratic Society, The Arab Organisation for Human Rights – Mauritania .

Morocco: Moroccan Bada’il Forum, The Democratic Centre for Work, National Organisation for Suspended Certificates Campaign, Badai’l Forum- Gosoor Site- Development Organisation, Future Youth Union, Centre for Education on Human Rights, Nabras Youth Site, People’s Rights Centre- Morocco, Leid Foundation, Moroccan Organisation for Human Rights.

Palestine: Al Dameer Organisation for the Political Prisoners Welfare, The Palestinian Society for Human Rights, The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Media- Palestinian Human Rights Organization.
Qatar: National Council for Human Rights. Saudi Arabia: Human Rights First Society(HRFS).

Sudan: Al Kahtim Centre for Enlightenment & Human Development (KACE), Sudanese Children Society, Sudan Development Association SDA , Civil and Human Rights Centre, Darfur Democratic Forum, Al-Amal Rehabilitation Centre, Subat Centre for Peace and Capacity Building, Union Solidarity, Centre for Human Development Studies, Global Centre for the Culture of Peace, African Centre for Human Rights, Darfur Lawyers Association, Darfur Centre for Consolidation of Peace, Darfur Journalists and Media Network, Secretary General of Dwana Organization for Human Development, Community Development Association CDA, Niswa Organisation for Cultural and Social Development, Sarah Al Fadil Centre for Peace and Development, Arab Cultural Centre, Journalists for Human Rights – JHR.

Syria: National Organization for Human Rights, Damascus Centre for Human Rights Studies, Committees for the Defence of Democracy Freedom and Human Rights Kurdish Committee for Human Rights, The Arab Organization for Human Rights, Kurdish organization for the defence of human rights and public freedoms in Syria–DAD, Human Rights Organization in Syria – MAF.

Tunisia: The Tunisian Observatory for Union Rights and Freedoms, The National Council for Liberties, Committee for the Respect of Liberties and Human Rights in Tunisia, Observatory for Freedom of Press, Publishing and Creation, Tunisia
UAE: The Emirates Association for Human Rights.

Yemen: Democratic Social Forum , Sisterhood Forum for Human Rights , The Information and Rehabilitation Centre for Human Rights, Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights, Yemeni Organisation for the Defence of Rights and Democratic Freedoms, Yemeni Broadcasters Forum, Foundation for Local Community Development, Political Development Forum, National Association for the Defence of Freedoms, The Democratic School, National Centre for Community Development, Yemeni Doctors and Pharmacists Syndicate, Educational Syndicate, Partners for the Future Association.

Regional Coalitions: Non Violence Network in the Arab Countries (20 organisations), MENA Coalition to stop use of Child Soldiers (20 organisations)

MENA Action Network on Small Arms (20 organisations)

Europe: Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and the Arab Reform Initiative (France).

Total Number of organisations (accounting for coalitions): 219

http://www.cihrs.org/English/NewsSystem/Articles/2768.aspx

[joshcryer]

1. Turborama, very interesting find, don't recall it posted before.

Thanks, will probably grab it for the other Libya thread.

[jaxx]

2. A must read for those who are pushing the US is the instigator.

Thanks for this and K&R

[Turborama]

8. This will probably be largely ignored as conspiracy theories are so much more fun

And facts are boring.

[highplainsdem]

31. +1

[Waiting For Everyman]

3. Oh, snap! Pure gold.

Yah, this NFZ is such a half-baked idea alright. No support or anything. How dare we invade a sovereign nation. Nah, no-can-do, sorry. But we'll watch you die on tv.

:sarcasm:

I'm glad it didn't go that way. Lots of folks in Libya are alive because that convoy that was hit didn't make it to Benghazi.

And until Gaddafi takes the international journalists in Tripoli to see evidence of civilian casualties there... it's bullshit. If there was any truth at all to his claims, he could easily prove it by doing so. It would be all over international tv, so why doesn't he do it?

[highplainsdem]

37. +1

[Iterate]

4. Whoa, this is going to confuse some people.

I suspect the fans of US media and overwrought historical metaphor will have a problem fitting this into their worldview. Good find!

[Turborama]

12. It's actually starting to be embarrassing

This place is turning into the September 11 forum.

Ugh.

[Iterate]

13. I think it interesting as well

that, very, very generally speaking, those most vocal in support of the protecting the revolution are internationalists, wayward expats, and those who have cut themselves off from US media, whether by choice or accident.

I think I'm going to catch shit for this post, and maybe I should.

[Turborama]

18. I hadn't thought about it like that

I reckon that in and of itself would make for a very interesting poll. I'm not going to be the one who starts it though... :yoiks:

[joshcryer]

36. Al Jazeera shows though that while expats are in support of the revolutionaries...

...in general the entire east of Libya and a good chunk of the west is anti-Gaddafi. When they protested in Tripoli a seriously unknown amount of people were disappeared or killed. It's not like the expats are expressing a wrong opinion about the matter.

[Turborama]

41. I could be wrong

But I have a feeling Iterate was talking about posters like him/herself, not expat Libyans. (Check out their location, and mine)

[joshcryer]

47. Doh, that certainly makes more sense, I get you.

It's basically people who aren't subjugated to the talking heads all day. :hi:

[pinboy3niner]

5. McClatchy: Libya intervention draws mixed feelings in Arab world

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Libya intervention draws mixed feelings in Arab world

By Hannah Allam and Shashank Bengali
McClatchy Newspapers


CAIRO — The U.S. and allied bombing raid that began this weekend opened a floodgate of competing emotions across the Arab world, which supports the Libyan rebels but is wary of more Western intervention in the region.

Arabs are watching the strikes against Moammar Gadhafi's regime with a blend of relief for the help to outgunned rebels, trepidation about ulterior motives of Western intervention, and envy in volatile countries where calls for international backup have gone unheeded.

...


"My whole generation grew up with Desert Fox in '98 all the way up to the Iraq war, and then the Israeli occupation as well, so that tends to feed into a desire not to see Western political or military intervention," said Heba Morayef, of the Cairo office of Human Rights Watch. "In the case of Libya, however, it's more complicated."

...


"Usually, Arab rulers tolerate each other, no matter how idiotic they are, in order to survive," said Mohamed Qahtani, a Saudi human rights activist. "But the guy is insane, there's no question about it. He's unacceptable in every way."


http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/20/2125396/libya-intervention-draws-mixed.html

[highplainsdem]

34. Thanks for the link!

[pinboy3niner]

35. Kick

[chill_wind]

6. LA`Times

"Concerns over Western involvement and possible reigniting of Islamic radicalism complicate the situation, which is also coated with hypocrisy.


Arab leaders don't relish attacking one of their own. But bloodshed across Libya and Western pressure have forced them into supporting international airstrikes against Col. Moammar Kadafi, who in many ways is merely a caricature of monarchies and autocrats throughout the Middle East.

The Arab League urged the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. Now, with French warplanes and U.S. Tomahawk missiles streaking across the North African sky, the league is criticizing the air assault as Arab kings and presidents confront decades-old ironies, religious animosities and fears they will be blamed for siding with Western imperialism."


more:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-arabs-20110321,0,4707165.story

[Turborama]

7. Arab League chief says respects U.N. resolution (that authorized military action on Libya)

Source: Reuters

CAIRO | Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:33am EDT

- Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Monday that he respected a U.N. resolution that authorized military action on Libya, after earlier comments suggested he was concerned by actions taken by Western powers.

"The Arab League position on Libya was decisive and from first moment we froze membership of Libya ... Then we asked the United Nations to implement a no-fly zone and we respect the U.N. resolution and there is no conflict with it," he said.

"It is for protecting civilians and that is what we care about," he told a joint news conference with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Cairo. "We will continue to work on the protection of civilians. We urge everybody to take this into consideration in any military action," Moussa said.

Moussa had said on Sunday that Arabs did not want military strikes by Western powers that hit civilians when the League called for a no-fly zone over Libya.

(Reporting by Yasmine Saleh; Writing by Edmund Blair)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/us-libya-arabs-moussa-idUSTRE72K1JB20110321

[chill_wind]

9. So he is back on board

after his statements ricocheted around the world in multiple press quotes earlier today? Maybe he was just misquoted.


"After statements from Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, saying that the coalition attacks had gone too far richocheted around the world, British and American leaders, as well as members of the Arab League insisted that Moussa was misquoted."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/03/20/2011-03-20_action_in_libya_has_gone_too_far_arab_league_and_russia_complain_as_civilian_cas.html#ixzz1HETygKzY

[Turborama]

10. Arab League 'united' over Libya action (Video of him saying this)

March 21 2011 Last updated at 10:21 GMT

The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, has said he respects a United Nations resolution authorising attacks on Libyan air defences, after earlier comments suggested there was waning support from his organisation for the American-led action.

On Sunday, Mr Moussa said that Arabs did not want military strikes by Western powers that hit civilians, when the League called for a no-fly zone over Libya.

But the following day, he reiterated concerns about the safety of civilians and dismissed suggestions of disunity.

Watch and listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12803222



Apparently, his flip flopping was to try and cover his ass in case it all goes pear shaped by the time the election in Egypt comes up.

He needn't have worried, though. As can be seen in the OP, the intervention in Libya has very strong support in Egypt.

[joshcryer]

11. Yep, Egypt is arming the revolutionaries.

[pinboy3niner]

14. Human Rights Watch also supports international intervention in Libya

From The Guardian:

Human Rights Watch has shown support for UN-sanctioned intervention, citing a notorious incident during Gaddafi's decades-long rule in Libya:

Since the Libyan uprising began on 17 February <HRW has> documented cases in which government forces opened fire on peaceful protesters and the arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of scores of people.

Gaddafi's deplorable human rights record over 41 years in power enhances the deep anxiety for the safety of the civilian population. Since he assumed power in 1969, Gaddafi has repeatedly used arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and political killings to maintain control.

The most notorious incident occurred in 1996 after a failed prisoners' revolt at Tripoli's Abu Salim prison. Security forces later killed an estimated 1,200 prisoners. The government recently started a process to compensate the families of some of those killed, but it has failed to punish any of the responsible security forces.

"The world should not ignore the serious abuses by Libyan security forces over the past month, as well as Gaddafi's demonstrated disregard for human rights over four decades," says Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East and North Africa director.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/19/libya-no-fly-zone-live-updates?commentpage=13#block-34

I posted an OP on this in GD a few days ago:

Libya: Benghazi Civilians Face Grave Risk--Human Rights Watch
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x674189

[Turborama]

15. I'd like to see someone try and argue against HRW.

I've even seen it happen to Medicins sans Frontiers, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone gave it a go.

Here's their Libya page with a large amount of articles: http://www.hrw.org/middle-eastn-africa/libya

Thanks for posting, man. Bummer I missed that OP, please could you PM me if you post something like that again?

[pinboy3niner]

16. I'm sorry it didn't occur to me at the time to let you know

That thread could be kicked, I think, as it's only a few days old, but feel free to do a more comprehensive one if you want.

Usually I have a pretty good sense of what topics you're posting on at a given time, so I'll be happy to give you a heads-up next time something like this comes up.

I'd guess the mods aren't exactly just kickin' back in the hot tub these days, lol.

:hi:

[Turborama]

17. No probs. Just don't do it again, ok?

I wanted to kick it earlier, but it's archived already.

There must be a serious amount of new OPs being posted here for one that's that recent to get archived.

:hi:

[highplainsdem]

20. +1. And I'm sorry I missed your earlier topic about this.

I've posted a Bloomberg article, "UN Responds to Libyans’ Cry for Freedom With Global Protection," with a quote from the director of HRW:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x706216

[PVnRT]

28. Pfft. HRW is a just a FRONT organization for BIG OIL

OPEN YOUR EYES





:sarcasm:

[pinboy3niner]

29. A wolf in sheep's costume? Oh...

dagnabbit!1!!



:rofl:

[Turborama]

42. Dayum!

You had me for a minute there, you trickster, you.

[highplainsdem]

19. K&R

[highplainsdem]

21. "Only action of this kind can help protect the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians

currently at risk."

Exactly.

Thanks for posting this!

[Turborama]

22. You're most welcome. Thanks for the K&R

It's a shame this isn't get read as much as it should.

Maybe the facts in the title are putting people off coming in and having a read? :shrug:

[Turborama]

23. It's early morning here and I'm giving this a kick before crashing out

In the hope that some more DUers will read it and realize that it was not Exxon and BP who were calling for the No Fly Zone and Investigation Into Gaddafi's Atrocities.

:kick:

Night all...

[highplainsdem]

24. 'Night, Turborama! And thanks again for posting this!

[tekisui]

25. knr.

[TahitiNut]

26. The Saudis seem to be noticeably absent.

Go figure. :shrug:

[Turborama]

39. It's my fault for not fixing the formatting when I put the OP together.

This section...

Palestine: Al Dameer Organisation for the Political Prisoners Welfare, The Palestinian Society for Human Rights, The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Media- Palestinian Human Rights Organization.
Qatar: National Council for Human Rights. Saudi Arabia: Human Rights First Society(HRFS).

Should look like this...

Palestine: Al Dameer Organisation for the Political Prisoners Welfare, The Palestinian Society for Human Rights, The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Media- Palestinian Human Rights Organization.

Qatar: National Council for Human Rights.

Saudi Arabia: Human Rights First Society(HRFS).

[TahitiNut]

43. Ahhh ... thanks!

:dunce:

[pinboy3niner]

27. Libya in its Arab Context

Libya in its Arab Context

Posted By Marc Lynch Monday, March 21, 2011 - 1:16 PM


President Obama's decision to join an international military intervention in Libya has met with a largely negative response in the United States across the political spectrum. Critics correctly point to a wide range of problems with the intervention: the absence of any clear planning for what comes after Qaddafi or for what might happen if there is an extended stalemate, doubts about the opposition, the White House's ignoring of Congress and limited explanations to the American public, the selectivity bias in going to war for Libya while ignoring Bahrain and Yemen, the distraction from other urgent issues. I have laid out my own reservations about the intervention here and here.

This emerging consensus misses some extremely important context, however. Libya matters to the United States not for its oil or intrinsic importance, but because it has been a key part of the rapidly evolving transformation of the Arab world. For Arab protestors and regimes alike, Gaddafi's bloody response to the emerging Libyan protest movement had become a litmus test for the future of the Arab revolution. If Gaddafi succeeded in snuffing out the challenge by force without a meaningful response from the United States, Europe and the international community then that would have been interpreted as a green light for all other leaders to employ similar tactics. The strong international response, first with the tough targeted sanctions package brokered by the United States at the United Nations and now with the military intervention, has the potential to restrain those regimes from unleashing the hounds of war and to encourage the energized citizenry of the region to redouble their efforts to bring about change. This regional context may not be enough to justify the Libya intervention, but I believe it is essential for understanding the logic and stakes of the intervention by the U.S. and its allies.

...


I continue to have many, many reservations about the military intervention, especially about the risk that it will degenerate into an extended civil war which will require troops regardless of promises made today. But as I noted on Twitter over the weekend, for all those reservations I keep remembering how I felt at the world's and America's failure in Bosnia and Rwanda. And I can't ignore the powerful place which Libya occupies in the emerging Arab transformations, and how the outcome there could shape the region's future. Failure to act would have damned Obama in the eyes of the emerging empowered Arab public, would have emboldened brutality across the region, and would have left Qaddafi in place to wreak great harm. I would have preferred a non-military response -- as, I am quite sure, the Obama administration would have preferred. But Qaddafi's military advances and the failure of the sanctions to split his regime left Obama and his allies with few choices. The intervention did not come out of nowhere. It came out of an intense international focus on the Arab transformations and a conviction that what happens now could shape the region for decades.


http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/21/keeping_libya_in_context

[highplainsdem]

32. Interesting read. Thanks!

[highplainsdem]

30. kick

[highplainsdem]

33. again

:kick:

[bengalherder]

38. Kick !

[Turborama]

40. Thank you, bengalherder

Nice to see you around!

:hi:

[Turborama]

44. .

Popping in for another very early morning :kick: before I crash.

I hope this doesn't get archived because there still seems to be a lot of DUers who have totally missed reading the OP and finding out who - along with the Libyans themselves - the main voices were behind the original calls for a no-fly zone.

[Tx4obama]

45. And- On March 1, the U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent a resolution in regards to Libya

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x717373

[Turborama]

46. Thank you for adding that link here.

Some people seem to think Obama just woke up one morning and thought: "You know what...? I just got an urge to bomb Libya today, must get the Joint Chiefs of Staff into the Situation Room. RIGHT NOW!"

[MadHound]

48. So why didn't they, in cooperation with the UN, establish the NFZ themselves?

After all, it's not like they don't have the manpower and machinery to do so. We sold it to them.

But no, instead we had to jump in, spending more money we can't afford, and suffering the blowback that will inevitably come our way.

[Hugabear]

50. Very good question, one that we'll probably never get an answer for

They could have very well done this themselves with the UN's blessing.

[Turborama]

51. Look at the OP again.

These letters were written by Arab NGOs and "prominent Arab individuals.

Not Arab governments.

[MadHound]

52. And if you do just a modicum of research,

You will find that those Arab NGO's and "prominent Arab individuals" have deep ties to their respective Arab governments.

Not to mention the simple fact that Arab governments themselves were calling for a no fly zone, even before the US was.

So again, why can't they have established such a zone themselves, rather than having the US jump in, spending even more money we don't have. After all, isn't that one of the reasons we sold those countries arms and weapon systems, so they can take care of regional matters such as this?

[Turborama]

54. So, it's about money? Is that your core reason for being against the intervention?

As for your other point about them having "deep ties to their respective Arab governments", please share with us the results of your research.

[Hugabear]

53. I doubt anyone will have a solid answer for that

In fact, your point was so good that I felt it deserved its own thread

[Hugabear]

49. Still waiting for this "Arab-led no-fly-zone" thing to happen

Seems to me they're content letting the US, Britain, and France do the dirty work. No sign of any Arab League planes taking an active role. Until then, it's just talk.

[spanone]

55. the neocons wanted it too.....just days before coalition bombing

Foreign Policy Experts Urge President to Take Action to Halt Violence in Libya
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March 15, 2011 | Open Letter

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC

March 15, 2011

Dear President Obama:

Regrettably, the international community has yet to take serious action to prevent a moral and humanitarian catastrophe in Libya and the Libyan opposition is now on the defensive. As forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi push eastward, we are concerned that the brutal and indiscriminate tactics of government forces could lead to additional civilian casualties.

On Saturday, the Arab League endorsed Libyan opposition calls for a no fly zone. We call on you to urgently institute a no fly zone over key Libyan cities and towns in conjunction with U.S. allies. We also call on you to explore the option of targeted strikes against regime assets in an effort to prevent further bloodshed. The United States should also immediately recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council and take all necessary actions to support their efforts to unseat the Qaddafi regime.

In your inaugural address two years ago, you said this: "And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."

Today the United States and its allies should stand with the men, women and children of Libya who seek a future of peace and dignity. The situation in Libya in the coming days will not just impact the Libyan people. As protests continue against repressive regimes around the world, the message currently being conveyed by our inaction is that killing and repression will go unpunished and are the best option for despots seeking to postpone reform.

For the sake of our security as well as America’s credibility with people who seek freedom everywhere, we ask you to act as quickly as possible to ensure that the people of Libya – and the world – know that we are willing to back up our principles with action.

Sincerely,


Fouad Ajami
Ash Jain
Randy Scheunemann

Stephen E. Biegun
Ken Jensen
Gary J. Schmitt

Max Boot
Robert Kagan
Dan Senor

Ellen Bork
Lawrence Kaplan
Henry Sokolski

Paul Bremer
David Kramer
Whit Stillman

Scott Carpenter
Irina Krasovskaya
William Taft

Elizabeth Cheney
William Kristol
Marc Thiessen

Eliot Cohen
Tod Lindberg
Daniel Twining

Seth Cropsey
Michael Makovsky
Kurt Volker

Thomas Donnelly
Ann Marlowe
Peter Wehner

Michele Dunne
Cliff May
Ken Weinstein

Eric Edelman
Joshua Muravchik
Leon Wieseltier

Jamie Fly
Michael O'Hanlon
Rich Williamson

Reuel Marc Gerecht
Martin Peretz
Damon Wilson

William Inboden
Danielle Pletka

Bruce Pitcairn Jackson
John Podhoretz

http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/content/fore .....you'll note they have taken the page down