Can the International Community Prevent Catastrophe in Libya?

[Astronuc]

Quite a story on Yahoo about the initial events in Beghazi.

Battle at army base broke Gadhafi hold in Benghazi (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_af/af_libya_the_battle_for_benghazi

Those are some brave souls.


Gadhafi is finished. After Beghazi, there is no turning back.

 

[nismaratwork]

Quite a story on Yahoo about the initial events in Beghazi.

Battle at army base broke Gadhafi hold in Benghazi (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_af/af_libya_the_battle_for_benghazi

Those are some brave souls.


Gadhafi is finished. After Beghazi, there is no turning back.

Agreed, but now we have to see how much harm he and his tribe/sons can do before he dies or Tripoli is taken. There's no winning for him, but he could be a "spoiler"... and it fits his personality as he presents it.

 

[Astronuc]

Agreed, but now we have to see how much harm he and his tribe/sons can do before he dies or Tripoli is taken. There's no winning for him, but he could be a "spoiler"... and it fits his personality as he presents it.

There are increasing calls for investigations of human rights violations - but that's after the fact.

There needs to be decisive military action from NATO. The US is tied up in two other theatres. Ideally the Egyptians and Tunisians would lead an effort to support Free Libya - but I doubt that will happen.

NATO is in a position to take action. I doubt that will happen in a timely manner, i.e. before more innocent people (noncombatants) are killed - if it happens at all.

Folks in Benghazi were disappointed to hear Gadhafi address his supporters from the Green Square in Tripoli. It means the protesters could not hold the area against Gadhafi supporters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8348490/Gaddafi-claims-crisis-has-ended-Tripolis-Green-Square.html


Meanwhile the Iraqi government in Baghdad is facing similar protests from young people who want and end to corruption and what they see as an undemocratic government in Baghdad.

 

[rootX]

I heard an interesting comment this morning. It's seems that Benghazi is function much better under the anti-Gadhafi forces than under the old regime. So it appears there his hope and expectation that Libya will be much better for the people without Gadhafi.

NATO is in a position to take action. I doubt that will happen in a timely manner, i.e. before more innocent people (noncombatants) are killed - if it happens at all.

You can take an optimistic view and believe that

- Benghazi is a good representative of future and whole Libya
- the crisis can be resolved by sending NATO armies to Libya

I am not that optimistic however I would leave it to you if you wish to substantiate above two arguments. I don't see anything good happening in the near future.

 

[Astronuc]

You can take an optimistic view and believe that

- Benghazi is a good representative of future and whole Libya
- the crisis can be resolved by sending NATO armies to Libya

I am not that optimistic however I would leave it to you if you wish to substantiate above two arguments. I don't see anything good happening in the near future.

Those are your words, not mine. I only report what I hear and see.

The Free Libya forces are not ready or in place to defend their compatriots in Tripoli. Only NATO has the capability, but not the resolve.

 

[rootX]

Those are your words, not mine. I only report what I hear and see.

Thanks for pointing out that. I believed that's (Benghazi is a good representative of future and whole Libya , the crisis can be resolved by sending NATO armies to Libya) what you were thinking.

The Free Libya forces are not ready or in place to defend their compatriots in Tripoli. Only NATO has the capability, but not the resolve.

Yep, I certainly agree with that.

 

[rootX]

Gaddafi supporters:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12558066

Libya: Who is propping up Gaddafi?

Why military action is not considered:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12575058

Military intervention can be safely ruled out: It is so complex and controversial that the Council has only twice taken that route - Korea in 1950 and Iraq in 1991.

Sending in peacekeepers, too, is a non-starter - typically, they are deployed to fortify existing truces or borders (not to fight) at the request of the government of a strife-torn country.

Instituting a "no-fly zone" over Libya enforced by fighter jets is also most unlikely. Council members are wary of such Western-led military measures after their experience in Iraq.

There was also one video from BBC reporter but I cannot find now. One is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12585949

It is also pointed in the video that Libyan economy relied on migrant workers but currently all the migrant workers are evacuating Libya.

 

[mugaliens]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/fleeing_libya" .

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/fleeing_libya" ...

 

[nismaratwork]

There are increasing calls for investigations of human rights violations - but that's after the fact.

There needs to be decisive military action from NATO. The US is tied up in two other theatres. Ideally the Egyptians and Tunisians would lead an effort to support Free Libya - but I doubt that will happen.

NATO is in a position to take action. I doubt that will happen in a timely manner, i.e. before more innocent people (noncombatants) are killed - if it happens at all.

Folks in Benghazi were disappointed to hear Gadhafi address his supporters from the Green Square in Tripoli. It means the protesters could not hold the area against Gadhafi supporters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8348490/Gaddafi-claims-crisis-has-ended-Tripolis-Green-Square.html


Meanwhile the Iraqi government in Baghdad is facing similar protests from young people who want and end to corruption and what they see as an undemocratic government in Baghdad.

Agreed; if the EU and neighbors will do nothing, we can at least destroy aviation and naval assets.

 

[nismaratwork]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/fleeing_libya" .

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/fleeing_libya" ...

Fantstic... just fantastic. This is going to be one for the history books; how EU failed their former colonies in every way imaginable.

 

[nismaratwork]

Well... at least we have a better gauge of just how absolutely nasty Hugo Chavez is...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/01/libya.venezuela.chavez/index.html?hpt=T2

 

[Astronuc]

Fantstic... just fantastic. This is going to be one for the history books; how EU failed their former colonies in every way imaginable.

It looks like the US Navy (Pentagon) is repositioning ships near Libya to support some action. France may be stepping up to the plate, and Ban Ki-moon seems to be calling on the international community to take action to protect Libyan civilian population.

Apparently the US and others have frozen $30 billion of assets of Ghadafi and family. I can't imagine that they obtained $30 billion by being astute investors.

 

[nismaratwork]

It looks like the US Navy (Pentagon) is repositioning ships near Libya to support some action. France may be stepping up to the plate, and Ban Ki-moon seems to be calling on the international community to take action to protect Libyan civilian population.

Apparently the US and others have frozen $30 billion of assets of Ghadafi and family. I can't imagine that they obtained $30 billion by being astute investors.

Astute investors in alternative enterprises!... like terrorism... OK.


Yeah, I think we have to be part of any air and naval blockade, just given the need for C&C. I sincerely hope that this prevents the bloodshed from becoming catastrophic.