Open Thread: Reports and Notes on Libya

McJ's picture

These are some ongoing notes I have made on the Libyan upheaval. A lot of the information I've noted is coming from Al Jazeera coverage. So, keep in mind that most of these reports were not, or cannot be confirmed, as many forms of communications in Libya are very limited right now. (And of course, that AJ is part of the MSM gang of propagandists that shill for the Evil Ones wink.) I've added links to the information I have gotten from elsewhere.

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Feb 21, 2011

Al Jazeera is reporting that they are firing on protesters in Libya from warplanes and helicopters.
Two pilots (senior colonels in the air force) have landed in Malta rather than carry out their orders to bomb the protesters.
They are some reports of planes bombing the protesters.
Heavy military equipment such as anti-tank missiles used in Benghazi
Groups of Gaddafi thugs have attacked the crowds using machine gun fire.
Reports of naval ships firing on Tripoli. 250 people are reported killed on Tuesday.
There are cars full of armed mercenaries roaming the streets attacking homes, killing people and raping women.
Al Jazeera is not showing some of the pictures because they say they are too graphic.
There are large numbers of people fleeing over the border to Tunisia.
The UN is said to be considering instituting a no-fly zone over Libya and the security council is holding a closed door meeting on the situation today.
There are calls for the US and NATO to intervene as the situation is out of control (surprise, surprise).

"The unfolding situation in Libya has been horrible to behold. No matter how many times we warn that dictators will do what they must to stay in power, it is still shocking to see the images of brutalized civilians which have been flooding al-Jazeera and circulating on the internet. We should not be fooled by Libya's geographic proximity to Egypt and Tunisia, or guided by the debates over how the United States could best help a peaceful protest movement achieve democratic change. The appropriate comparison is Bosnia or Kosovo, or even Rwanda where a massacre is unfolding on live television and the world is challenged to act. It is time for the United States, NATO, the United Nations and the Arab League to act forcefully to try to prevent the already bloody situation from degenerating into something much worse." http://lynch.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/21/the_libyan_horror

Libyan State TV JANA is reporting (another surprise) that the government was fighting an Israeli-inspired scheme to create anarchy in the country. It said that there were no genuine popular grievances behind the protests. Israel is financing "separation" forces in the Arab region, JANA added. Al-Shams newspaper, which is controlled by an arm of the information ministry in Tripoli, reported online that the government has exposed "foreign network elements" in several Libyan cities." http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/02/201122113343795447...

Some notes: (Here we go again I may have to move this to the forum. We'll see how it goes smiling )

That envoy of peace Tony Blair and his foreign policy success in Libya...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284132/Tony-Blair-special-advis...

"Colonel Gaddafi is understood to be on first name terms with Mr Blair, who saw his work in Libya as one of the great foreign policy successes of his premiership.[...] Mr Blair's trip to Tripoli in 2004, where he shook Colonel Gaddafi's hand and declared a 'new relationship'. The meeting led to lucrative Libyan oil contracts for Shell.
A month before stepping down as PM, Mr Blair visited-Colonel Gaddafi in Tripoli again at the same time that BP signed a $900 million deal with the Libyan National Oil Company.[...] Since becoming a part-time Middle East peace envoy on leaving office in 2007, Mr Blair has exploited his contacts to amass a personal fortune in excess of £20 million.
He has a lucrative contract to advise JP Morgan, which pays him £2million a year. Part of his job for them is to develop banking opportunities in Libya. It is understood that British firms Mr Blair is linked to are also being given contracts to tap Libya's massive natural resources, and to help rebuild the country's outdated infrastructure.
The details are sketchy because he has built a labyrinthine business empire of interlocking partnerships designed, it seems, to conceal the sources and scale of his income."

Balkanization ??:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/gadhafis-contro...

"...there is unemployment, as in most Arab countries where there is a bulge in the youth population.
And there is the traditional enmity between Libya’s eastern Cyrenaica region and the western region of Tripolitania. “They still remember that Gadhafi overthrew King Idris who was born in [Cyrenaica],” said Israeli historian Yaakov Hajaj-Lilof, a specialist on Libyan Jewry.
But when protests started more than a week ago in Benghazi, capital of Cyrenaica, the Brotherly Leader failed to nip them in the bud. "

Photobucket
Sept. 2, 1969 Herald Journal

"A third of the population in Libya, and fewer in Sudan, are still affiliated with the Sanusi organization."
http://www.reference.com/browse/Sanusi

I know nothing about the history of Libya. I did a bit of checking yesterday and it seems to me it may be ripe for balkanization which seems to be a US/Israeli/NATO specialty for stealing resources and grabbing power. It was colonized by the Greeks, then the Romans, retaken by the Arabs, became part of Ottoman Empire, split up by the Allies after WWII and had just about everyone else messing around in it over the centuries. In 1969, when Gadhafi seized power in a coup that overthrew King Idris, I read somewhere that it was four states. So, I am thinking that one report likening it to the Kosovo or Serbia is an interesting analogy. Sans the oil of course, which makes Libya an especially juicy piece of real estate for the evil ones to salivate over.

Here is a snip from a BBC Timeline:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1398437.stm

4th century BC - Greeks colonise Cyrenaica in the east of the country, which they call Libya.
74 BC - Romans conquer Libya.
643 - Arabs under Amr Ibn al-As conquer Libya and spread Islam.
16th century - Libya becomes part of the Ottoman Empire, which joins the three provinces of Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan into one regency in Tripoli.
1911-12 - Italy conquers Libya.
1942 - Allies oust Italians from Libya, which is then divided between the French, who administer Fezzan, and the British, who control Cyrenaica and Tripolitania.
1951 - Libya becomes independent under King Idris al-Sanusi.
1956 - Libya grants two American oil companies a concession of some 14 million acres.
1961 - King Idris opens a 104-mile pipeline, which links important oil fields in the interior to the Mediterranean
1969 - King Idris deposed in military coup led by Col Muammar Gaddafi, who pursues a pan-Arab agenda by attempting to form mergers with several Arab countries, and introduces state socialism by nationalising most economic activity, including the oil industry.

Wed. Feb 22 3:15 am UTC
LIBYA is one of the most tribal nations of all the Arab countries. There are four major tribes.

Gaddafi gives a 75 minute speech on state TV. Says he is not going anywhere and he will die a martyr in Libya.
There is a Libyan warship off the coast of Malta and they cannot contact it or any officials in Libya to find out what it is doing there. The Libyan embassy there is distancing itself from the Libyan government and do not know why the ship is there.
The Maltese army is on high alert as well the Italian army.
Gaddafi has paid hundreds supporters to demonstrate in the streets in support of his government.

Gaddafi's ridiculously long speech was said to be rambling and not very intelligible. He blamed a half a dozen or so countries for the uprising and just about everything but himself. He said the crowd had been given psychogenic drugs. The pics of him really mad him look like a madman flaying his arms around and pounding his fist etc.

Americans to be evacuated out of Libya tomorrow by ferry to Malta. Other countries are sending ships. Turkey has two ships on the way. Italians are also being evacuated. Apparently, there are problems evacuated foreigners on airplanes. A steady stream of Tunisians are leaving over the border but are reportedly being stopped, searched and looted as they leave by the military. Libyans are not getting over the border so they are speculating that the military is stopping them from leaving.

Libyan regime is believed to be falling apart with high ranking members wanting to leave however afraid to do so. Civil workers are leaving their jobs and joining the protesters.

From James comment Tue, 02/22/2011 - 20:41:
http://www.winterpatriot.com/node/529#comment-15192
The crews of two Libyan warships have mutinied and are refusing to obey Muammar Gaddafi's orders to attack the eastern port city of Benghazi. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166583.html

Libya Conquered in the Dark
BBC's Breathtaking Propagandizing.
by Tony Cartalucci
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/02/libya-conquered-in-dark.html
"Since the mainstream media is obviously compromised, it is up to us to discern what is really happening. The greatest clue that all is not what it seems and that foreign hands are meddling in the affairs of these nations is the fact that paid propagandists like BBC and AlJazeera are clearly taking sides instead of doing their supposed job of objective reporting.
While the designs against Libya are somewhat ambiguous, we have already noted beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Egyptian and Tunisian protests are entirely the result of Western meddling, where even the props used by the protesters were "recycled" from a previous and admitted US-backed plot in Serbia. The hallmarks are there, and absent of objective reporting, caution is urged, further research is required, and without a doubt, our mainstream media is not to ever be trusted again.

"Another tell-tale sign the globalist's are ruffled over Qaddafi's defiance is simply looking at BBC's one-sided coverage. In a recent report, BBC once again concedes that reports coming out of Libya are "impossible to report." Despite this admission buried within their article, they continue relaying reports coming out of the US State Department's Movements.org's translations of protester accounts. Movements.org's efforts can be observed by following them on Twitter via @AYM, revealing nearly everything reported by the mainstream media is coming from the US-backed "Twitterati." http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/02/russia-todays-americas-new-reg...

Feb 22 - 9:28 am UTC
Surprise! Oil prices are going to skyrocket.

Italian radio is reporting that Cyrenaica is no longer under Gaddafi's control.
hmmm - Did the civilian protesters take it over - I don't think so.
This is definitely beginning to look like it is organized from the outside.
There are numerous reports of foreigners involved in the attacks. Some that are said to have been seizing military equipment were French speaking.

"Qadaffi’s Norma Desmond Moment"
Justin Raimondo, February 22, 2011
http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2011/02/22/qadaffis-norma-desmond-moment/
Editorial note: Moammar Qadaffi’s Norma Desmond moment has finally arrived. Here is my transcription of his address to the Libyan nation:

What's with the thugs with yellow hard hats. Is this so the snipers who have reportedly been shooting people from rooftop positions can readily identify them at a distance?
(Note: Again as in Egypt lots of gunshot wounds to the head/chest apparent from photos being shown.)

Thur 7:45 pm UTC

Video from CNN in Benghazi, Libya
I don't know whether you all will be able to view this if you are not on FB - haven't got time to search for on the CNN site right now it is Ben Wederman reporting from the celebrations in the city:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=139663419433861&oid=1195521281...

Sat. 5:35 pm UTC
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Side Note:
In Iraq, gunmen attack the largest refinery and detonate explosives starting a huge fire.
Huge demonstrations continue in Yemen and Algeria as well as continuing demonstrations in Bahrain.
A prominent human rights activist has returned to Bahrain. (Mr. Hassan Mashaima (aged sixty-one) - from Jidhafs region. Mr Mashaima, a retired teacher, is the current Secretary General of the Human Rights Committee of the Movement of Civil Liberties and Democracy Movement (HAQ)[17]. He was the previous Vice President of the Al-Wefaq political society. Mr Maishama is a known human rights activist who has been campaigning for democratic reforms and human rights in the Kingdom of Bahrain for more than fifteen years. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:49zVv7fETXcJ:www.ba... ).
In Egypt, the army has attacked the crowds gathered in Tahrir square with tasers and batons etc. (no live fire reported). Witness says it was terrifying.
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5:40 pm UTC
Gaddafi is reported as arming civilians to fight other civilians. Gaddafi makes another speach and AJ reporter characterizes it as Gaddafi saying he is arming Libayns to fight Libhans for the good of Libyans. He was also on again about foreigners giving the protesters drugs. Experts are saying Libya could be split into two - East and West.

6:05 pm UTC
Head of Libyan Special Forces has defected and says he is putting his resources at the disposal of the "youth movement." I found that characterization very strange because as far as I know it hasn't been described that way before. Perhaps this ties into the Gaddaffi's continued insistence of saying outside forces are giving the youth drugs, the so called "Taxi of Jedayi".

Reports of vicious attacks on the protesters in Tripooli by security forces who are said to be using machines guns, ak 47's, on crowds and hunting down and killing anything that moves.

Planes from Kenya said to be bringing in foreign fighters.

Revolutionary force is being organized in Benghazi with young men from all over Libya going there to join. Gaddafi's home town is only a short distance away and there are 400 heavily armed security forces there.

UN Security Council is close to passing a resolution saying Libya is a "threat to international peace and security". This is being heavily promoted by France, Britain and the US - China is very cautious. This resolution will include some heavy sanctions.

Obama says "military option" still on the table.

hmmm- everywhere one of these people's revolution pops up Wiki Leaks has a timely, 'pertinent' release on that country.

8:32 pm UTC
Libyan ex Justice minister said to be forming government in Benghazi.

Mon 10:22 am UTC

Ghaddafi's Ukranian nurse flees country and arrives in the Ukraine.
Thousands of migrant workers are fleeing Libya over the Tunisian border. They are saying there is a 'refugee crisis'. Not to make light of the plight of these people, however it seems to me this is not a refugee crisis in the traditional sense. It is more of a problem of getting them back to their home countries. They are setting up tent cities and need food and medical supplies etc., locals and NGO's are helping but the Tunisians are being overwhelmed. The camps being set up can be characterized as transit camps.

Big meeting in Geneva happening today over the crisis. Hilliary Clinton shown getting off a plane.
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Side Note:
Australian Jihadi's!! Australian Al Qaeda in Yemen. Abu Nassir??
AJ is doing a special report on Al Qaeda in Yemen. They are focusing on so called foreign jihadis. They are showing training manuals meant for impressionable young Australian, American and British men. Money for training is coming from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Really stressing these trainees are holding Australian passports. From the bit a caught of this "People In Power" special painted, Yemen was being painted as the new stronghold of Al Qaeda all under the direction of the American Anwar al-Alwaki and with a whole bunch of Australians training there to commit terrorists acts. It was really kind of weird.
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Az Zawiyah has apparently taken by anti government protesters. The government troops are said to be set on mounting a counter offensive. The area is quiet right now, there are no more attacks. Witness on phone says lots of the military have joined them.

Russian foreign minister speaking now to UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. He says that these mid east countries in upheaval should be left alone to sort out their own internal affairs without external intervention - I think he is meaning that there should be no outside military help or political pressure not that the people shouldn't be helped. It needs a multi lateral cooperative approach. Use of military force against civilians is unacceptable.

Russia voted for the recent sanctions on Libya by the UN security council.

Human rights council has ordered an investigation into the violation of human rights in Libya and individuals can be tried for war crimes in the international criminal courts. They are hoping this may act as a deterrent in Libya.

10:40 am UTC

British reports that UK Gov stopped - 900 million Pounds (in Dinars) ordered by Qaddafi to be printed out and sent to Libya. The UK Gov has been in a panic to stop this money from being shipped. Used a bunch of stalling techniques till they could put rules in place to seize this money.

Interesting report on a group of foreign fighters who had been captured by anti gov protesters. They were exhausted and confused. They all said they had been hired by Qaddafi to provide security for a 'celebration' and did not come there to suppress the uprising. They said they had just been caught up in the events. They looked like they were all young black Africans.

11:00 am UTC

First I've heard of this. A reporter from Geneva is saying that the US, Russia and other Western countries have used special forces to go into Libya and secretly fly out their citizens.

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Side Note:
Egyptian government has issued a travel ban on Hosni Mubarak and his family. So, I guess he is still in Egypt.
They are questioning whether they intend to put Mubarak on trial or whether this is a gesture to appease the people, to make a show they taking their demands seriously. They have also frozen his and his family's domestic assets.
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While I have been watching the coverage they show lots video clips with traffic in the background. I notice that most all of the vehicles look new or in good shape - lots of trucks, vans and SUV's.

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Side Note: Some quotes and links for Benghazi explosion and SAS capture and release.

Brittish bungle Lybian SAS mission http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/07/3156530.htm?section=justin
It is understood they were escorting British diplomats trying to establish contact with opponents of Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi.
**
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168558.html
The British team was in Banghazi to hold talks with opposition leaders. Witnesses say their helicopter landed in Libya on Friday.
The members of the delegation were carrying weapons, maps and passports from four different countries.
Revolutionary forces had earlier said that the Britons were detained in Benghazi because their identities could not be established.
**
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1363187/Libya-unrest-UK-spies-SA...
British diplomats and spies have been engaged in intensive efforts to speak to opposition forces, which are led by Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of the rebel National Libyan Council.
**
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benina_International_Airport
Benina International Airport (IATA: BEN, ICAO: HLLB) (Arabic: مطار بنينة الدولي) serves Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name...
**
Now ministers have approved a presence on the ground to gather information and boost the chances of the rebels.
The liaison teams will be primarily composed of envoys but will include some intelligence officers.
They will link up with Special Forces already in Libya to provide protection and give informal military advice to the Libyan opposition.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1363187/Libya-unrest-UK-spies-SA...
**
Explosion about 30 miles outside Benghazi - http://audioboo.fm/boos/294127-lpc-from-benghazi-explosion-30km-outside-...
**
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/05/134288545/Explosion-Rocks-Libyan-Rebel-Str...
huge explosions at a military munitions depot just outside the city. Located in a rural residential area, the base was the scene of utter destruction last night.
They came in and planted explosives around the buildings. Who would do this with so many civilians living right next door? It's not human.
ROBBINS: At leased for(sic) fires blazed with various colors of smoke washing sour fumes over the area. Rescue crews scrambled to distribute medical masks as they and nearby residents stumbled through the rubble of destroyed concrete buildings and wrecked cars, looking for survivors.
**
http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/24417132/7805482/3/
There were 12 hangers in the complex - only one of them exploded.
**
http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/benghazi-arms-dump-blast-death-to...
"We're not quite sure whether it was sabotage, an accident or an air strike, but nobody saw any planes," Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for the rebels' self-declared national council in Benghazi, said.
**
http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/benghazi-arms-dump-blast-death-to...
"We have eight killed by the explosion at the Rajma military base as well as more than 20 injured," Imad Talahma, a neurosurgeon at Benghazi's medical city.
"We don't expect to find people intact (on the site). It has been estimated that around 40 people were in the compound. The explosion destroyed a large area and affected the residential area," he added.
**
Explosion in al-Rajma http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/03/05/140230.html
In another incident, at least 19 people were killed and dozens wounded when twin blasts ripped through a weapons depot at the al-Rajma military base, southeast of Benghazi, doctors said.
The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, but most residents ruled out an air strike by Gaddafi loyalists.
Resident Abdallah Bubakr told AFP rebels turned up at the base demanding weapons to take to the front at Ras Lanuf.
"Two cars rode up with people at the place and said they wanted weapons to take to Raslanuf. They entered the store and just after they left Rajma, there was the first explosion, followed five minutes later by another," he said.
**
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA20110304T222233ZARZ42/Libyan%20weap...
"The two explosions took place at 6:30 pm (1630 GMT). The casualties started to arrive at hospital an hour later," he said.
Residents say the military base, about 20 kilometres (12mi) from the city, is the main warehouse for weapons in the area
**
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/06/liam-fox-sas-unit-libya
A senior member of Benghazi's revolutionary council said: "They were carrying espionage equipment, reconnaissance equipment, multiple passports and weapons. This is no way to conduct yourself during an uprising.
...The Sunday Times reported Libyan and British sources confirming the SAS unit had been detained by rebel forces it had approached to secure a meeting with a junior diplomat to offer help in their fight against Gaddafi. The mission backfired when rebel leaders in Benghazi objected to foreign interference from governments which had not yet formally recognized them as Libya's legitimate rulers, it said.
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So the two explosions took place at 6:30 pm March 5, 2011 at the al-Rajma military base located 20 km (some reports say 30 Km) southeast of Benghazi. As far as I can tell, the SAS team was arrested March 5, 2011 about 10 km from the airport, which I assume would be the Benina International Airport which is located 19km east of Benghazi. I can't establish when they were arrested or if that was shortly after they landed (because they were spotted by locals) or at a later time. I don't think so because many reports say they were escorting British diplomats which sounds more to me like they were traveling in vehicles as opposed to being arrested shortly after leaving the helicopter. In one report it says they landed on March 4, 2011. It is also reported that the Brits approached the rebels. I also seriously question why these guys were let go so quickly considering they were carrying espionage equipment, reconnaissance equipment, multiple passports and weapons. Who from the Libyan rebels intervened on their behalf and why?

"We refused to discuss anything with them due to the way they entered the country," spokesman Abdul Hafiz Ghoqa told reporters in the rebel stronghold Benghazi. "Now we're trying to negotiate a way for them to go back home."
http://www.smh.com.au/world/covert-british-diplomatic-team-forced-out-of...

Why would they want to negotiate a way home for them?? It doesn't make sense.

McJ's picture

Order Out of Chaos....

From Noor at Snippits and Slappits:
"February 25, 2011, an insightful blogger named The Olive Farmer
posted: I wrote this a while back:

“The plans of the global scum elite have been long in the making. Their objective has been to export manufacturing to cheaper labour countries, (done), create mountains of debt out of thin air, (done), impose stringent IMF dictated financial cutbacks in order to pay this fictional debt, (done and continuing), then create the triggers for revolution that will be fed by the unrest already caused (about to occur).

Why revolution? Because it is out of revolution that a new world order will be born. It is out of revolution that the western world can be further enslaved. It is out of revolution that the evil can be most gratifyingly extended.

It is in post revolutionary regimes where the most significant culling of the human race can happen, because revolution always leads to totalitarianism, to mass fear, to the free operation of murder squads, to death camps, to the most fun for the most evil, to the great blood offerings for the god of the shapers of the false reality.

One of the triggers will be the likely revolutions in countries which have a history of civil unrest.”

Read the entire post at the link: http://snippits-and-slappits.blogspot.com/2011/02/order-out-of-chaos.html

Disorder out of revolution

another good article from Giordano Bruno -
http://neithercorp.us/npress/2011/02/middle-east-chaos-what-to-learn-and...

He makes a ton of good points and is well worth reading (as are the comments).

However, I don't agree with his assessment of the revolutionary forces in Egypt. His is too simplistic. The protesters wanted far more than getting rid of Mubarak including many constitutional, legal and administrative changes. And they have so far achieved (wittingly or unwittingly) the very important goal of avoiding an invasion from israel which meant leaving the current military structure in place for the moment. However Giordano is right about them (probably) not knowing some of the underlying causes and the real enemies behind them.

Though many are aware of the US being a prime enemy there are other enemies they have made no mention of. For instance, it is likely that very few protest leaders are aware of the problem of not having sovereign banks and the way that will undo any reform or revolution as happened in South Africa. And this would need to be addressed before any significant changes can be made in any way permanent or long standing.

The thing is that relatively peaceful revolution can only be successful in stages. The military need to be convinced to go along or a successful coup to be staged within the ranks of the military itself and the new leaders go along with the people and their wanted reforms. And the Egyptians have been successful so far in this process as far as it has gone.

It remains to be seen whether they can consolidate and expand their reforms from here or not. But so far so good. Pointing to the military still being in control and saying nothing has changed, as many commentators are saying, is to not see what has actually happened and to assume that the protest movement has stalled.

The increased amount of violence that is being stirred up by the west in Libya through their own saboteurs, as opposed to what they did in Egypt, could well be designed to forestall an Egyptian-like response and instead to create a violent reaction from the population and quite possibly set the scene for a US invasion. Something, in the form of an israeli invasion, that was thwarted in Egypt.

McJ's picture

Going for the jugglar - Military attack may be only solution

Another Kosovo?
U.S. Military Attack On Libya May Be Only Solution - says CBS news.

They are so used to everyone just buying their bullshit spin they don't even bother to try to cushion it any longer. Of course the US(/NATO) Military coming in guns blazing, killing countless innocents is the 'only solution' to save the Libyan people from...well, hmmm....what shall we say??...themselves??...dying some other way??...ever having a chance to govern themselves??... profiting from their natural resources???...not doing their part for the NWO??...the chance of averting a bloody civil war and having their country torn apart??

No mention of the US contribution to the chaos. Just the good guys thinking of ways they can help out.

McJ's picture

The War Party's Atrocity Porn

The War Party's Atrocity Porn
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2011/02/war-partys-atrocity-porn.html
"The tendrils of "Operation Mockingbird" extended through every significant national media organ, from the Washington Post and Newsweek to the Time-Life conglomerate, from the New York Times to CBS. As a result, according to former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, the Fourth Estate "has been captured by government and corporations, the military-industrial complex, the intelligence apparatus." It is, in everything but name, an appendage of the Regime. This is clearly seen every time the Regime decides the time has come to mount another campaign of humanitarian bloodshed abroad.

Having "learned nothing from the horrors that they cheer-led like excitable teenage girls over the past 15 years, these bohemian bombers, these latte-sipping lieutenants, these iPad imperialists are back," sighs a wearily disgusted Brendan O'Neill in the London Telegraph. "This time they're demanding the invasion of Libya."

Libya

"balkanization which seems to be a US/Israeli/NATO specialty for stealing resources and grabbing power"

Balkanization is definitely a US/NATO/Israeli specialty.

Not just to steal resources and grab power, but to sow discontent amongst the population.

The newly divided population.
This is what has gone on in Sudan, and this is what is being done in Libya.

McJ's picture

Penny re: Libya

"Balkanization is definitely a US/NATO/Israeli specialty.
Not just to steal resources and grab power, but to sow discontent amongst the population."

Yup and it looks like we are going to see it in action again real soon.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said today that there are three American warships scheduled to enter the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday and 400 U.S. Marines are being sent to join them. He said the ships are intended to give the Americans “the full range of options”.

The Air Craft Carrier The USS Enterprise which just went through the Suez Canal into the Arabian Sea was part of a group of ships that had boxed in the two Iranian Warships that passed through the Suez Canal about a week ago. There were unconfirmed reports that it had turned around and was headed back through the canal on route to Libya which seems likely to be true after Gate's statement.

The US is also moving an Amphibious Assault Ship LHD-3 Kearsarge into the area. "The Kearsarge is fully capable of amphibious assault, advance force and special purpose operations, as well as non-combatant evacuation and other humanitarian missions."

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/260950/us-repositioning-ships-possi...

The were also reports yesterday that the French Carrier the Charles de Gaulle, that was in the Indian Ocean a few days ago on training operations with the US, India, Saudis and UAE, was en route to the Suez transit line and expected to be joining the Enterprise by Friday.

I believe Britain already has at least one ship there and there are more on the way.

From the Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/946749--canadian-warship-to-b...
"Warships, aircraft and hundreds of international soldiers are en route to Libya in support of a massive aid mission aimed as much at hastening Col. Moammar Gadhafi’s exit from power as relieving the thousands of refugees who are fleeing the country."
...Canada, which has three military aircraft in nearby Malta and one in Germany, will dispatch one frigate to the region, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday."

Sounds more like a massive invasion force than an massive aid mission to me. I also question them calling this a "refugee crisis". This is in no way to make light of the plight of all the people fleeing Libya, however it is predominantly foreigners and not Libyans that are streaming over the borders. So presumably, most of them have a country to go back to. The crisis they have is in housing and feeding them in temporary camps until they can arrange for them to get back to their home countries. Admittedly, that may be a crisis for the individual workers however that is a whole different set of circumstances than if these tens of thousands of people were Libyan and had no where else to go.

I am also really curious to know what will happen to all the billions of dollars worth of Libyan assets that are being seized. As I noted above in my post, England just grabbed 900 million pounds (approx 1.5 billion USD) worth of Dinars that was scheduled to be sent to Libya. What do you think are the chances the Libyan people will get that money back?

McJ's picture

Just popped out of the Canal

Just popped out of the Canal...

"The Royal Navy's HMS Cumberland has now departed Benghazi in Libya, having safely extracted 207 entitled persons (EPs) and, despite heavy weather, is now making passage to Malta.
Britons and entitled persons are processed for transit aboard HMS Cumberland
The Type 22 frigate was on her way back to the UK from operations in the Gulf to be decommissioned when she was ordered to stay in the eastern Mediterranean to evacuate Britons trapped by the unrest taking place in the North African country.
Lieutenant Commander James Farrant from Cumberland said:
"We had literally just popped out the north end of the Suez Canal when we got the call. We had been in the Arabian Gulf on security patrols."

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/HmsCumb...

quick question

Has anybody else noted the people at the Libyian borders, both Egypt and Tunisia? Was watching mondays' PBS and I could not for the life of me find a single woman or child among the clamouring refugees. Where are they? Why is nobody comenting on this? I found it rather disconcerting. The desperateness of the men was extremely sad, but??

a quick reply

Hi Debbieanne, I haven't seen the footage you mention but one possibility that comes to mind is that they are 'guest workers' trying to get back home and not refugees as such.

McJ's picture

Foreign workers

I would agree with James on this one Sally. From what I have watched of the Al Jazeera coverage (and that's the only MSM coverage I've watched) the people coming over the Tunisian and Egyptian borders are predominantly male foreign workers and a lot of them seem to be from Africa. I'm presuming they would have been in Libya without their families and are from countries that are not evacuating, or cannot evacuate, all of their nationals. There were also a lot of Tunisians and Egyptians working there whom I assume would be returning to their homes but would be contributing to the overall number of people coming across. Where I have seen pictures of women and families etc. are of the people that have been evacuated by boat or on flights out.

McJ's picture

Debbieanne not Sally :)

Woops sorry....that should be Debbieanne not Sally. smiling

McJ's picture

Israel provides henchmen for Gaddafi

Israel provides henchmen for Gaddafi
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167814.html
"Israeli arms distribution company Global CST has reportedly, under the authorization of Tel Aviv, provided Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi with African mercenaries to clamp down on anti-government protesters.

Egyptian sources have revealed that the Israeli company has so far provided Gaddafi's regime with 50,000 African mercenaries to attack the civilian anti-government protesters in Libya.

The arms company was previously convicted in an African country over illegal deals, News-Israel website reported.

Sources say Global CST had obtained the permission for providing the mercenaries to Gaddafi from the Israeli officials in advance.

Earlier, Global CST general manager had met with the head of the Israeli Intelligence Agencies (Aman) and Defense Minister Ehud Barak and obtained the permission for the measure.

The company representatives also met with Abdullah Sanusi, the head of Libyan Internal Intelligence, in Chad to discuss the details for a final agreement, the report says.

The mercenaries who attack the civilians in Tripoli have mostly come from Chad.

Gaddafi regime pays $2000 per day for each mercenary. The mercenaries receive $100 per day and the remaining goes to Global CST, the report says.

Meanwhile, the United States has demanded the UN Security Council (UNSC) to remove the provisions of charging mercenaries with war crimes in the killing of Libyan civilians.

The request is for the UNSC to word the resolution in a way that no one from an outside country that is not a member of the International Criminal Court could be prosecuted by the Court for their actions in Libya.

The Libyan revolution, inspired by the recent revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, sparked nearly two weeks ago.

Brutal crackdown by the Libyan regime on anti-government protesters has left thousands of people dead so far. "

surprise

You can imagine my surprise, even shock, at this revelation. Who woodah thunk it?! 50,000 seems a lot though. Hmmm . .

GO USA

"Meanwhile, the United States has demanded the UN Security Council (UNSC) to remove the provisions of charging mercenaries with war crimes in the killing of Libyan civilians.

The request is for the UNSC to word the resolution in a way that no one from an outside country that is not a member of the International Criminal Court could be prosecuted by the Court for their actions in Libya."

You can't get much more blatant than that, can you!

McJ's picture

All out in the open

It does seem to be all out in the open now, doesn't it? I think James is right about infighting among the elites. It is actually looking a lot like they are in an all or nothing war and they don't really care who knows about it. It's a race for the prize. Whatever the hell that may be for them.

Duff and Disinfo

"“Israel is flooding Libya with mercenaries, Gaddafi is slaughtering his own people and the rebel leaders who have called for help from America are being ignored while Gaddafi is consolidating for a full scale civil war which could easily have ended a week ago.” . . . . . . .

. . .. "Libya already owns much of Washington and London. Bush and Blair are his best friends as are Cheney and Rumsfeld. They loved him, love him still. He was forgiven Lockerbie, he was forgiven terrorist bombings that killed American servicemen in Europe, he was forgiven his training and support of the IRA factions that killed so many Brits."

Where's Duff going with this bullshit?

McJ's picture

Global GST

Wow, what's he on about? I'm not even sure what he is saying in that post. Here's another one - http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/03/03/gordon-duff-israel-intervenes-in....
Israel and the US are going to go to war against each other in Libya? Only the Israelis are going to send in Africans mercenaries to do their dirty work?
This whole puzzle is getting too complicated for me. laughing out loud Do you think maybe it is just all falling apart for the 'evil ones' and it's an all out, no holds barred race to the finish to determine the winner?

From Duff's article linked above.
"Though Israeli advisors and intelligence personnel have been on the ground in Tripoli for some time, there are questions as to whether the Gaddafi’s regime can hold on until substantial aid arrives, particularly in light of increasing pressure for a US strike, widely called for, bringing Gaddafi’s rule to an abrupt end. Sources in the region tell us;
“Israeli military advisors have been “in place” since the first and Mossad teams who have long used Libya as a base of operations in Africa are working to “decapitate” rebel leadership.”

I don't know about the 50,000 troops claim but 'Israeli advisors in place' certainly rings true.

The original report about the 50,000 troops appears to have come from Iran's Press TV (altho they may have gotten it from Duff but every report I checked cited Press TV and there were a lot or reports). The company that they said was providing the mercenaries is Global GST. They are an Israeli consulting firm approved by the Israeli Ministry of Defense and headed by Israel Ziv , a retired general who fought in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Ziv is assisted by a former deputy director of Israeli military intelligence and several former members of the cons-espionage service Shin Bet.

Major Gen. (ret.) Israel Ziv founded the security consultancy group, Global-CST. Over the years the Group has expanded its activities and now operates in civil fields as well – all led by Major Israel Ziv who serves as the Group's President. GLOBAL-CST is an Israeli based company that provides strategic defense and security solutions to governments and major international corporations, also developing sustainable programs designed to meet the needs of governments or large-scale international companies, in different fields like Agriculture, Water treatment, Energy, Health, Communication and Infrastructure. http://www.metacafe.com/channels/Global+CST/

CEO of Global is Maj.-Gen. (res.) Meir Klifi, until 2009 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s military aide. Other employees include former Tel Aviv police chief David Zur and Col. (res.) Lior Lotan, a former senior officer in the IDF’s elite General Staff Reconnaissance Unit. A former top executive was Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser, formerly head of Military Intelligence’s Research Directorate and today a deputy director-general in the Ministry of Strategic Affairs.
The company is active in close to a dozen countries on three continents.
Recent news reports have put it in Mexico, Peru, Guinea and a number of countries in Europe. Zur runs a subdivision called GLS which is currently advising Brazil on security issues ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.

http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=195013

GLS is a member of MIKAL Group, a private defense group that has 50 years of proven
experience in customized defense systems and embedded affiliation to Global CST that specializes
in integrated defense solutions.
http://www.moital.gov.il/CmsTamat/Rsrc/HLS%202009/html/PDF/HLS_133.pdf

Global GST trained and advised the Colombians on how to gather information on the FARC and masterminded the rescue of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other hostages in 2008. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/colombia-hostage-rescue-the-is...

Last year they were fined for negotiating a deal to provide arms and military training to Guinea's military junta without the state's prior approval. Although they denied this saying, " it was not fined, but was instead ordered to spend the money to tighten its oversight procedures to avoid similar "errors" in the future."

But Guinean government and military officials say Israelis last year trained forces loyal to now-exiled leader Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara. Camara grabbed power in 2008. He survived an assassination attempt in December and agreed to go into voluntary exile." http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=195013

They are involved in Peru as advisers and trainers to the Peruvian army.
http://tinyurl.com/4ppufwh

Along with another Israeli company Defensive Shield they were training and advising Georgians just before it's attack attack on Ossetia.

"Two Israeli security companies, Defensive Shield and Global CST, announced yesterday that they had completed their projects in Georgia before fighting between that country and Russia broke out on Friday. The two are among several Israeli companies advising Georgia on security matters, training its army and occasionally supplying it with weapons."
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/2-israeli-firms-say-they-left-...

There name also appears to be M.E. Links - Middle East, Persian Gulf and North African Risk Assessment. You can find no information if you google this company. The company name comes from a site called Feral Jundi which is by a guy who is a private security contractor. http://feraljundi.com/2008/08/20/industry-talk-israeli-security-firm-glo...
You can find a link to the company in his post titled 'Industry Talk: Israeli Security Firm ‘Global CST’ on the World Stage'.

mercenaries

Yes I think it is falling apart. Though not totally yet. Some of the mayhem is being created by the bankers as an attempt to keep in control of the game i.e. to have other factions reacting.

I think Duff represents a section of the military/industrial complex that is pissed off at the jews. The 'jews' being the neocons, the israelis and the bankers behind them. I would not be surprised if this faction included the Vatican who are also trying to put a spanner in the bankers works.

I think this displeasure centres around the jews reneging on a deal (as they are want to do) to make America great i.e. the New American Century. Have you ever wondered why that document was available for public consumption? I have and I think I know why now. It was more bullshit from the bankers. But because I simply can't follow what Duff is saying, I don't know where they stand on Libya though I think it would be fair to say that Duff's sponsors are against israel controlling it. I think the pentagon must be split on this (and other issues)

Companies like Global GST area way for a country to engage in hostile acts against another country without being accountable to anybody; without (legally) committing an act of war.

It is also a way for military and political bigwigs who own and run these companies to rort the system at taxpayers expense

McJ's picture

Latest from Land Destroyer

Here is the latest from Land Destroyer on Libya.
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/03/us-libyan-policy-zero-legitima...
This guy seems to have come out of the woodwork about a year ago with some really good and timely posts. I don't know if he has an agenda but I note he has links to Alex Jones and Prison Planet etc. He doesn't say much about Israel which makes me suspicious however he provides tons of information and links.

Dodgy links

yeah, I noticed the dodgy links too. Cartalucci is quite a jump higher intellectually than infowars, too. It doesn't fit.

"He doesn't say much about Israel which makes me suspicious however he provides tons of information and links. "

Strange you should say that smiling From his latest on islamic banking - Of course, all aspects of the Old World are slated for elimination, as ancient values, be they of Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or even regional secular traditions, all pose a direct threat to the Anglo-American unipolar world government.

Jews are sided with all the other religions (and peoples) while the bad guys are "Anglo-Americans" i.e. WASPS. (which is likely the group backing Duff)

The title of teh piece is "Why the Banksters Hate Islam " and no mention of these bankers being jewish in the main. To be fair, he links to a number of videos by Imran Hosein and presumably Hosein names the bankers as jewish, though I haven't watched them yet. THe videos can be found here-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6iFFs0l3fs&playnext=1&list=PL0819CE057E5...

More from Cartalucci-
"It would be highly beneficial for those who seek true freedom and the undermining of the global world order, to exhibit mutual respect for their secular, Christian, Judeo, and Islamic brothers and sisters, and meet each other in the middle on these fundamental issues of sovereignty, because if there is anything the globalists fear and detest more than Old World tradition and faith, it is the prospect of all Old World traditions and faiths meeting together and joining battle against the globcratic elite."

Yeah, right! smiling

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Egyptian Special Forces Secretly Storm Libya

Egyptian Special Forces Secretly Storm Libya
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/03/egyptian-special-for...

"...the Mirror can reveal his Tripoli stronghold is now under threat from a growing army of special forces preparing to quell civil war.

Intelligence sources have told us that post-Mubarak Egyptian troops have been allowed into Libya by Tunisian soldiers - showing increasing Arab-backing for the anti-Gaddafi revolt.

The move came as a ferocious battle raged yesterday for control of the key oil port town of Brega after loyalists launched their first counter-offensive in the eastern desert in an attempt to reclaim "Free Libya".

Crack special forces troops have been secretly pouring into Libya to back the rebellion against Colonel Gaddafi."

I doubt that

I can't think of any reason the english papers would tell the truth on this. These papers (and the news wires) are controlled by the bankers.

If there are troops coming over the border from Tunisia, they won't be Egyptian forces. It is not in their interests to have someone other than Gaddafi in power, imnho, because Egypt will then come under attack from any new regime. In fact, I think that is one of the major reasons for the israelis and British forces being in there already.

“Airstrikes in Libya did not

“Airstrikes in Libya did not take place” – Russian military

http://rt.com/news/airstrikes-libya-russian-military/

Libya round-up

Here's a link (courtesy of AP) to a good summary of the Libyan situation and one that makes sense to me.-
http://www.saharareporters.com/article/libyan-conflict-perspective-cleme...

McJ's picture

That was helpful

That was helpful! Very informative.

McJ's picture

UK said negotiating release of soldiers in Libya

Hmmm - caught red handed?

UK said negotiating release of soldiers in Libya
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/uk-silent-report-libyan-rebels-seize-troops-201...

"On Saturday the Geneva-based Human Rights Solidarity group, which employs a number of Libyan exiles, told Reuters a team of "eight special forces personnel" had been seized by rebels.
Contacted by Reuters again on Sunday, the rights group said the soldiers were apprehended in a location 10 km (6.25 miles) from Benina airport which serves Benghazi.
An activist with the group, Jiumma Elomami, said "they are under arrest but we have information that the British authorities are now negotiating with the new opposition council to negotiate their release."

"...the crack troops [are] from a unit which has seen service in Iraq and Afghanistan and has a special place in British military folklore."

"SECRET MISSION"
The Sunday Times reported that Libyan rebels had captured the unit in the east of the country after a secret diplomatic mission to make contact with opposition leaders backfired.
The team were intercepted as they escorted a junior diplomat through rebel-held territory, the newspaper said.
The junior diplomat was preparing the way for a visit by a more senior colleague in an attempt to establish diplomatic contact with the rebels, the newspaper said.

Ya, I just bet that was what they were doing, providing security for a little diplomacy.

"...the soldiers were apprehended in a location 10 km (6.25 miles) from Benina airport which serves Benghazi"

Libya Explosion in Benghazi
http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201103051514-cro-...

From ABC news:
"March 5, 2011 08:03:00 http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3155975.htm
BEN KNIGHT: Well Elizabeth there's been a very, very big explosion here at one of the opposition's military training bases just outside Benghazi, and it has been huge. In fact I've just been to see one of the hospitals in town which is around about 20 to 30 kilometres from where we are now, and they felt the explosion there and the hotel I was in certainly people mentioned having felt it there."

I wonder if this was anywhere near where the British Special Forces troops were arrested?

"Now what has happened is that a couple of large munitions stores appear to have exploded. Now at the hospital there were some absolutely horrific injuries. We are hearing reports that around 17 people have died, but no one is really sure of that at the moment.
It's dark here, it's still in fact too dangerous to go inside because there is still a fire burning and people thing there are still unexploded weapons in there. So the full death toll may not be known until first light.
ELIZABETH JACKSON: So are you saying this was an accident?
BEN KNIGHT: Well, I'm thinking that it was an accident. The initial reports, the initial assumption was that this had been another bombing raid by the Libyan airforce. When we went to the hospital we spoke to some people who obviously had been at the base.
And what they told us was that there had been two vehicles who had driven into the base by force, they had run the gate and they were in there for around 15 minutes and then they came back out again and then 15 minutes later there were these large explosions. So they're suggesting that this was a sabotage by pro-Gaddafi agencies if you like. "
"But I have to say that that doesn't sound really quite plausible. These bases are not only guarded but they're full of people who are, pretty excitable anyway and the idea that two vehicles could drive in there and manage to set some kind of sabotage in two separate locations and drive out again quite safely does seem to stretch credulity just a little. "

True but what if they did not drive in there by force but they were invited in there. Who was it that was able to tell the story about the forced entry if such a large area was devastated by the blast and everyone in the complex was killed by the huge explosion? Someone that just happened to leave during that 30 minute interval or was that info planted? Sounds to me like it might be good cover for someone wanting to get into a heavily armed munition complex to set up a meeting there with a "junior British diplomat" on the pretext that it was to pave the way for talks with more senior officials.

Just spitballing here (God I am getting cynical sticking out tongue ) and this may be way off base but the timing of these two incidents coupled with Duff's latest ramblings on tactical nukes being used in the Benghazi explosion has got me wondering if he is running cover for a false flag op carried out by them guys "that have a special place in British Folklore".) hmmm

re Libya and the SAS

(God I am getting cynical)! I think it must have something to do with the company you keep. wink

I think you have read this very well, McJ. At the very least, it makes a whole lot more sense than that offered up by the voice of the establishment. THere is no way a british newspaper would print this before running it past the spooks. Therefore, you can take it as read (sorry smiling ) that this is what the spooks want us to think and these people are in the business of deception.

The next question is "Who's on whose side?"

McJ's picture

hypothetically...

"The next question is "Who's on whose side?"

Well hypothetically then....if the Brits blew up the ammunition complex near Benghazi then that must mean they are on the side of the Gadaffi loyalists and their Israeli chums but they want us to think they are supporting the rebels. How's that sound?

I would like to see if I can find a map showing where that dump was located and see how far it was from Benghazi.

Don't know at this stage.

Don't know at this stage. Could be, though.
But one would think that if the british were on Gaddafi's side they would step back, give him satellite and electronic intelligence and let him deal with things. He must have a huge advantage in firepower over any rebel group. Hence the move for 'no -fly zone'.

So maybe the rebel group aren't rebels at all. Or they are rebels but refused the brits 'help' not trusting them either. Or the SAS are being held by troops loyal to Gaddafi and the british are getting out in front of the story to (lie and) control the narrative.

I'm pretty sure you are on the right track re the SAS being responsible for the bomb (or for placing a homing marker for a missile), though, at the military base while 'negotiating' but something still is not quite right.

McJ's picture

Me either :)

Well, me either. If I get some time tonight I will see if I can dig up some more information to confuse myself with. rolling on the floor laughing

"placing a homing marker for a missile" - that's a good thought and could easily be done in a relatively short amount of time.

McJ's picture

One more quick thought I

One more quick thought I forgot to put in the original comment. There would have been a minimum of nine people (8 special forces plus the 'junior diplomat') in the party that was arrested. I am thinking that many people may very likely have been traveling in two vehicles. Also, they were arrested near the airport. We they headed out of the country on a flight?

Yes, indeed!

Spot on, McJ. smiling More thoughts in the chat room. Gotta go for now

McJ's picture

They were looking for a hotel room

Well I guess it's ok then..... these guys just dropped in by helicopter in the dead of night, carrying guns, explosives, and passports of multiple nationalities because they were looking for hotel rooms and a place for the group to stay and get themselves organized for their diplomatic mission.

OMG...rolling on the floor laughing

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/07/3156530.htm?section=justin
Brittish bungle Lybian SAS mission
 
A British SAS unit has been released after being detained by rebels in eastern Libya.
Up to six SAS solders were detained by rebels near Benghazi after flying into the area by helicopter on Friday.
It is understood they were escorting British diplomats trying to establish contact with opponents of Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi.
An opposition spokesman in Benghazi has told reporters that rebels refused to talk to the British delegation because of the way they entered the country.
The team is said to have entered without prior arrangement in the dead of night, carrying guns, explosives, and passports of multiple nationalities.

In an embarrassment to the UK, Libyan state television has broadcast what is believed to be a phone conversation between its ambassador to Libya, Richard Northern and an opposition spokesman.
Mr Northern is heard explaining the soldiers' presence to a spokesman for Libyan former justice minister Mostafa Abdel Jalil - now part of the opposition National Transitional Council - and saying there has been a misunderstanding.
"We have been planning to send some officials to stay in Benghazi to liaise with you, with the National Council, but also to keep an eye on the humanitarian situation," he said.
"We sent today ahead of those officials who are coming ... a small group just to find if there was a hotel, if everything was working and there was somewhere they could stay and work when we get our group organised."
Mr Northern says the group was picked up by local security concerned about their presence and who they were.
The spokesman for Mr Jalil replies: "They made a big mistake with coming with helicopter I think in an open area."
"The people, they note that there was somebody, some people [were] coming down," he said.
Mr Northern replies: "Oh, I'm not surprised. That is alarming."
The spokesman for Mr Jalil then says: "They talked to them and there is investigation now going on."
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed the SAS soldiers have been released and have returned to HMS Cumberland.
But foreign secretary William Hague would not be drawn on what the team was doing there in Benghazi in the first place.
"There is a small British diplomatic team in Benghazi. I can confirm that. We are in contact with them," he said.
"It is inappropriate to comment further on that at the moment but I can of course say that we are in touch with people across Libya.

h/t to I Understand and I wish to Continue for the links.
http://thirteenthmonkey.blogspot.com/2011/03/dodgy-diplomats-and-british...

Monty Python's Flying (in a helicopter) Circus

If only the Monty Python group was still working. Can you imagine the fun they would have with this? Perhaps they could have done another film - "Monty Python's The Meaning of Strife". It would be bound to have more meaning than this circus. laughing out loud

McJ's picture

The Meaning of Strife

"Monty Python's The Meaning of Strife"
rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing rolling on the floor laughing

This certainly is a circus!

McJ's picture

Petroleum and Empire in North Africa

Petroleum and Empire in North Africa. NATO Invasion of Libya Underway
Muamar Gaddafi Accused of Genocide
by Keith Harmon Snow
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23481
"Presented with this story are petroleum industry concessions maps ** for North Africa that people might want to ponder in between the Western propaganda on Libya. Amidst the full-court press of propaganda presented by the western media and State Department disinformation apparatus we find that Muamar Gaddafi is even accused of committing genocide against his own people.

US, France, Britain set up bases in Libya
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167578.html
"Several Libyan diplomats have been quoted by news outlets as saying these forces are setting up bases in the eastern cities of Benghazi and Tobruk -- the two oil-rich cities that have been liberated by the opposition forces.
British and US special forces entered Libyan port cities of Benghazi and Toburk on February 23 and 24."

Have we been lied to about Libya?

Yes we have, and bloggers have been sucked in by the MSM feed as much as the clueless public. i see Tony cartaluccis excellent articles are posted here, but here are more to undercut the lies swarming around this issue:
Stephen Lendman;
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/03/americas-war-on-libya/
so whose worse, the 'dictator' Gadaffi or the democratic EU?

'Last year, Gadaffi apologized for the long history of Arab slave trade of black Africans, an issue that many other rulers prefer to ignore. His full words were as following:
"I regret the behavior of the Arabs… They brought African children to North Africa, they made them slaves, they sold them like animals, and they took them as slaves and traded them in a shameful way. I regret and I am ashamed when we remember these practices. I apologize for this,"
The European Union on the other hand refuses to apologize for what has been done. Formal apologizing is blocked by Britain, the Netherlands (I'm so proud), Portugal, and Spain. Of course these also happen to be the nations that share the greatest responsibility for what has happened over the centuries'
http://davidrothscum.blogspot.com/2011/03/libyan-insurgents-begin-to-rev...

Who are the LIFG(Libyan Islamic Fighting Group) (aka the 'rebels')?
http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/138

and meet the NFSL,. the other main 'rebel' group
http://www.medialens.org/articles/the_articles/articles_2002/rk_secret_w...

Thanks for your comment and

Thanks for your comment and links, Brian. I'll get to them shortly (I hope!).
Tony Cartalucci does indeed write some good stuff. But he has a habit of leaving out some stuff as well. Like stuff concerning israel's involvement in wrong doings. Take a look at this short piece from him, for instance-
http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-banksters-hate-islam.html

those 'rebels' are armed

those 'rebels' are armed insurgents, some with Jihadist backgounds
way back when:
'Islamist gunmen have stormed a military arms depot and a nearby port in Libya and seized numerous weapons and army vehicles after killing four soldiers, a security official says.'
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/8874488/libyan-islamists-seiz...

'The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, under the leadership of Abu al-Laith al-Libi, formally merged into Al Qaida in 2007. Two years later, Libi disowned armed violence and negotiated with Qadhafi for acceptance of LIFG as an above-ground political association. The sudden rejection of violence coincided with the Muslim Brotherhood's makeover as a democratic force and Qatar's advocacy of political reform across the Mideast. As a legal entity, it incited the first protests in Benghazi in mid-February. Within days of the uprising's start, however, the LIFG reverted to its old ways, brandishing automatic weapons. What it plans to do with chemical weapons and advanced explosives is anyone's guess, while one psychological point remains clear: The militants are eager to pay back Americans and Europeans for10 years of bombing, maiming and torture.'
http://en.m4.cn/archives/5128.html

LIFG are jihadists returned from the wars in Afghanistan...and they are out to make an islamic state

also FYI
What you are not being told by the MSM or many bloggers
Libyan insurgents begin to reverse decades of progress in African cooperation
http://davidrothscum.blogspot.com/2011/03/libyan-insurgents-begin-to-rev...

http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/libya-getting-it-right-revoluti...

No Tahrir in Benghazi: A Racist Pogrom Rages On against Black Africans in Libya
by Glen Ford

American progressives and peace forces have been in a state of joyous delirium in recent weeks as they experienced vicarious, televised popular victories in Tunisia and Egypt. Watching unarmed crowds achieve tentative victories against entrenched, U.S.-backed regimes produced a kind of giddiness on this side of the ocean -- an otherworldly feeling that, somehow, the foreign outposts of the U.S. empire might suddenly disintegrate by popular demand. But now, the U.S. naval war machine lies off the coast of Libya, and it is time for the American anti-war movement -- such as it is -- to remember who is the biggest enemy of peace on planet Earth: U.S. imperialism.

It is certainly not Muamar Khadafi, no matter what you think of him. And the conflict that is raging in Libya seems in important ways very much unlike the events in Tunisia and Egypt. The anti-Khadafi forces were armed from almost the very beginning of the uprising and included elements of the military. Unlike the opponents of Egypt's President Mubarak, we know very little about who these rebel Libyans are -- except that they have been getting lots of material help from the Americans and the French and other Europeans. It is also becoming clearer by the day that a vicious, racist pogrom is raging against the 1.5 million sub-Saharan Black African migrant workers who do the hard jobs in Libya, work that is rejected by the relatively prosperous Libyans. Hundreds of Black migrant workers have already been killed by anti-Khadafi forces -- yet the U.S. corporate media express absolutely no concern for their safety. One Western report noted that large numbers of Black Africans were seized in Benghazi and were assumed to have been hanged. That is a war crime, whether these men were soldiers or migrant workers, but the Western correspondent seemed unconcerned.
etc
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/ford030311.html

some more thoughts and articles

We hear so much by armchair pundets as well as politician about how good the rebels in Libya are and their rebellion is right to support..So even politicians spout absurdities in what they perceive as a good cause. Here is aussie ex PM Rudd(victim of a US backed coup, whose now thoroughly chastened!) who wants to launch airstrikes on Gaddafis army etc...
'Australian government calls for air strikes on Gaddafi forces'
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/rudd-m07.shtml

it may not occur to this lost soul but the justification for this call to mass murder(how can any air strike not kill civilians?!) never occured, and here he wants to do what Gadaffi never did? Will he ever be challenged? No and Gaddafis green Book can tell us why:

'The party is a contemporary form of dictatorship. It is the modern instrument of dictatorial government. The party is the rule of a part over the whole. As a party is not an individual, it creates a superficial democracy by establishing assemblies, committees, and propaganda through its members. The party is not a democratic instrument because it is composed only of those people who have common interests, a common perception or a shared culture; or those who belong to the same region or share the same belief. They form a party to achieve their ends, impose their will, or extend the dominion of their beliefs, values, and interests to the society as a whole. A party's aim is to achieve power under the pretext of carrying out its program. Democratically, none of these parties should govern a whole people who constitute a diversity of interests, ideas, temperaments, regions and beliefs. The party is a dictatorial instrument of government that enables those with common outlooks or interests to rule the people as a whole. Within the community, the party represents a minority.'
http://www.mathaba.net/gci/theory/gb1.htm#party

Gadaffis not mad...but Rudd is.

So consider this: why dont we see 'rebels' in the western countries do what is being done in Libya? Not talk revolution but carry it out? What would happen to them? Would then govts roll over and say: 'You win: you can now govern?' That thought crosses noones mind, it seems.

Meanwhile, lets take a further look at gadaffi and the 'rebels':
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/libya-getting-it-right-revoluti...

Brian

further

'Israeli troops Attacks Women’s Protest, Dozens Wounded'
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m75615&hd=&size=1&l=e

will we see airstrikes against Israel? formed aussie PM and current FM Rudd was recently in Israel...is he aware of these atrocities? Does he care? or is he worried his party may lose its major sponsors: the zionist jews?
The media is also a bit silent...no calls to arms from the NYT or WP or anything.

Brian

Gaza no-fly zone

Good to see someone is reporting on israel's attitude. Of course, israel's attitude to democracy and protesters is no better demonstrated than by their 2008 Gazan massacre. Funny how no one called for a no-fly zone over Gaza or even better over israel, eh Brian?

an evil thought

I had a dream...its headline goes like this:
British rebels repel Camerons forces

a synposis of my dream runs:" british rebels tired of the repressive govt and corrupt politics decide to launch a rebellion to take down the govt.....From their fastness in Scotland, they make their way to london, taking over towns from camerons evil control.....'
How will Cameron respond?

Brian

Thanks again, Brian, for your

Thanks again, Brian, for your lengthy and thoughtful comments. I have read through your linked articles and though I have little to quibble about over the things that were written in them, I did notice some things that weren't written, though.

Steve Lendman, for instance, did not mention the fact that the Neocons and the press in the US, especially the NYT, whom he rightly criticises, also push the israeli agenda and this is often confused with the agenda of the WASP elite. So israel gets a pass just as I pointed out with Tony Cartalucci in my previous comment.

The LIFG are mentioned in connection with Al Qaeda in some of the linked articles but none of them talk about Al Qaeda being a child of the CIA even though this is common knowledge or that if the LIFG were in Bosnia they would have been working for the Americans. Even the Chinese site you link to makes no mention of Al Qaeda's pedigree!

The 'black African mercenaries' story has been debunked very well in a couple of the articles but the fact that the story originated from PressTV citing sources in israel doesn't get mentioned. Again another pass for israel which is unsettling to me because this story, it seems, led to the deaths of many innocent black African guest workers and black African Libyans.

No country in the middle east has more of an interest Arab governments and in the direction of Arab protest than israel. Yet their absence in all the links you provided is striking. Mind you, their absence is striking right across all the reporting over the protests and rebellions in the region lately. So to be fair, it would be difficult to provide links that drew attention to israel's involvement.

But I think it is also fair to raise this issue because the picture that is presenting through these links and connecting comments gives a somewhat distorted view because of this absence of israeli involvement. What do you think about it, Brian? Is this a fair comment of mine?

There is one link though that I have to take direct issue with you about and that is the one to The Investigative Project on Terrorism. It has to be a disinfo goldstar site. If you look at their About Us page you will see what I mean.

Anyway, I don't mean to take away from your extremely valuable point you are making over the fact that the people involved in the uprising in Libya are not civilian protesters as in other Arab countries but rather armed (and trained) rebels. A whole different fish, indeed.

FYI, much of the info here

FYI, much of the info here looks dodgy. Why quote a clueless and hysterical Mark Lynch (Libyan horror???!)? All that does is spread the lies about Libya and Gadaffi, ensureing that REAL horrors are unloaded on Libya. Think iraq ad baby incubators or WMDs. Thru repetition esp by academics, it becomes a defacto 'truth'. Goeebels would be proud!
As for Libya the gadaffis and Israel...please!

'Israel provides henchmen for Gaddafi'

sure...this is on par with aljazeera lies about the airforce bombing /strafing civilians
Monty Pythons Strafing Circus!

the MSM dosent need help in spreading its lies. they need to be examined.

I examined the articles you

I examined the articles you linked to and made an interesting observation. They all gave israel a free pass and I asked you to comment on this. I raised this point with your first comment about Landdestroyer but you avoided addressing that issue then, too.

Now, concerning lies, it has become apparent that the 50,000 mercenaries from Africa procured and paid for by israel turns out to be a lie; a lie that has cost many Africans and ethnic African Libyans their lives. This lie started with an israeli journalist quoting sources within the israeli government and PressTV (to their shame) fell for it and broadcast it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbvz2mTUDWA

You linked to articles that actually told the truth about the deaths about black Africans in Libya and why but they left out the crucial fact that the mercenary lie originated in israel.
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/libya-getting-it-right-revoluti...

I also noted that the reference link you gave for the background of the LIFG forces
http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/138
was an obvious disinformation site
http://www.investigativeproject.org/about.php
but you ignored this point (along with all the others) in your reply.

We have given you quite a lot of space here and you have become derisive when questioned. Not very polite, Brian. You're becoming a little incoherent, in fact. You are starting to sound like one of those israeli hasbara agents that are all over the web who get all excited when challenged.

Now, I think you owe us the courtesy of giving us your thoughts about how every source you linked to avoided israel's involvement and what that means. And be polite please smiling

sure..im no friend of the

sure..im no friend of the zionists...
but this is interesting:
'Now, concerning lies, it has become apparent that the 50,000 mercenaries from Africa procured and paid for by israel turns out to be a lie; a lie that has cost many Africans and ethnic African Libyans their lives. This lie started with an israeli journalist quoting sources within the israeli government and PressTV (to their shame) fell for it and broadcast it.'

no doubt its true,...My view on Press TV is they have an anti-Libyan stance! This is my point...many leftists also have their bias and this draws them to distort whats happening.
Thats why ive been wary of Press TV on Libya...they seemed to be on the side of the 'rebels'. This shows how complex this issue, where varied ideologies jostle for power!

But i doubt israel plays much of a role in events in Libya...

as for the site .investigativeproject.org
i checked whose site,and its is the very dodgy Steve Emerson(imfamiliar with that scoundrel), so you are right on one point...nevertheless, the LIFG is one of the militant insurgent groups that are getting called 'rebels', and that site does have what looks like valid info.

and as i said Israels role here looks minimal..We see reports that Gadaffis son goes to israel, and we know Gadaffi recently supported palestinians...so you can believe what you like.

McJ's picture

That's his point

"as i said Israels role here looks minimal"

That is James' point Brian. Israel's role looks minimal. Why is that, when obviously Israel has a huge stake and interest in what is going on in Libya and in the other middle eastern countries where there are ongoing protests? Why/how did the story about the 50,000 African mercenaries originate from Israel and why is no one reporting on that fact considering the damage it has done to the African workers trapped in Libya? Once the story is out there and has been repeated at nauseaum (similar to what you pointed out about the Lynch hysteria) it is not possible to take back even if the coverage is to correct the story. It still reinforces it. "Thru repetition...it becomes a defacto 'truth' ". It is interesting because, as James pointed out when the story first ran, the 50,000 number was noticeably excessive. Someone in Israel leaked a fabricated story which they knew wasn't going to stick to them but that would serve to reinforce the false African mercenary narrative that was already floating around.

So, why is Israel conspicuously missing from most coverage and analysis? Is that because they have nothing to do with what is happening or is it because they are able to control the coverage and therefore the narrative? Inquiring minds want to know.

Glad to hear you are no friend of the zionists. smiling

McJ's picture

Lynch surprise

FYI - The post was not meant to be an analysis. It is exactly what the title suggests 'Notes and Reports'.

"Why quote a clueless and hysterical Mark Lynch (Libyan horror???!)? All that does is spread the lies about Libya and Gadaffi, ensureing that REAL horrors are unloaded on Libya."

I think you missed the context on this one. I was quoting it as an example of the "hysterical" reporting that I saw as beating the drum for a NATO invasion. That is what the (surprise, surprise) was meant to convey. I imagine someone could have construed it differently. The post is more of an ongoing live blog where I am keeping track of the information that is coming through the MSM. I am simply monitoring it with an occasional comment. I think you will find the analysis part is being dealt with in the comment section.

So Brian San

Old Japanese saying-

Before open mouth
First must open eyes

McJ's picture

Karate Kid

Is that from the Karate Kid? smiling

Hiyeeeeaaahh!

How did you guess? laughing out loud

another chapter in the ongoing mystery

way OT but what the heck -- it's an open thread.

Chapter 38 of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is online now and it is called "A Secret Alliance".

You can be the first to read it if you hurry! Wink

McJ's picture

Yeah!

Yeah!

Where He Bought His Dresses

Chapter 39 of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is online now and it is called "Where He Bought His Dresses".

The story gets stranger and stranger ... wait till we get into the fiction! Wink

Chapter 40 is now online

The next installment in the series Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery is called "To Shield The Killer."

Thanks to those who are still supporting this ongoing effort. I hope to be back with more soon.

McJ's picture

Thanks to you for the great

Thanks to you for the great work. smiling

Chapter 41

Chapter 41 of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is called "Departures."

More chapters will appear soon if conditions permit.

Chapter 42

It seems a minor thing in the midst of everything else that's happening, but having embarked on the project, I am determined to see it through the best I can.

The newest chapter of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery " is called "A Hint About The Motive?" and I will be back with more as soon as possible.

Minor?

Hardly minor, Winter (if you'll allow me to correct you smiling )
I think Watson's comment sums it up, "But now, having met Hughes and some of the other people mentioned in the clippings, the gruesome reality hit me even harder than it had done the first time."

Excellent stuff, imho. The ramifications of this case are huge. This murder investigation strikes to the core of the mentality of the State.

Your series is an education in more ways than one. As one example, it shows that truth can be discerned from the fire hose of lies and nonsense that gush forth from the worlds captive media.

Then there's the literary education! Full marks for continuing on with it.

I suppose

considering how politely you've done it, I have to allow you to disagree with me -- but just this once! Wink

Thanks very much for your continuing support, and I'm glad to see you posting again too!

Chapter 43

Chapter 43 of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is online now and it is called "Reading And Thinking".

I'll be back with more as soon as I can.

Chapter 44

Chapter 44 of "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is hot off the press, and it is called "A "Safe" Story."

just in case you feel like reading a bit of fiction while waiting for the world to finish melting down.

McJ's picture

Yes I do

Thanks Winter. I am so enjoying reading your book and it is a break from the news of the world melting down for sure. smiling

Chapter 45

Next in the series "Sherlock Holmes And The Alderney Street Mystery" is "Chapter 45: Dylan Parry."

Best wishes to all; more soonest.
WP

diana johnstone on Libya as the new Kosovo

FYI good article, and attacked by louis Proyect on his blog, so doubly good....Louis banned me from commenting...blogging is where the new ictators learn their trade!
http://www.counterpunch.org/johnstone03072011.html

FYI this

FYI
this :
http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/138
quotes the US State dept:

Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)

Updated August 24, 2007

From: "Chapter 8; Foreign Terrorist Organizations," Country Reports on Terrorism 2005, US Department of State, April 30, 2006.

Description
The Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) emerged in the early 1990s among Libyans who had fought against Soviet forces in Afghanistan and against the Qadhafi regime in Libya. The LIFG declared the Government of Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi un-Islamic and pledged to overthrow it. Some members maintain a strictly anti-Qadhafi focus and organize against Libyan Government interests, but others are aligned with Usama bin Ladin and believed to be part of al-Qaida's leadership structure or active in the international terrorist network. The United States designated the LIFG a Foreign Terrorist Organization in December 2004
====================================================
and id see it as a terrorist org as well...it waas said to have laid down arms...BUT maybe not

New account to join Winter Patriot community blog.

Hi There,
This is A13 from "i understand and wish to continue"/ Thirteenth Monkey.blogspot.
i know this is off topic, but i made an application to be a member here and haven't as yet heard back.
Can you let me know if you have recieved my application, i did get a (i think automated)reponse back to my email but as yet i don't think it's been approved.
regards and thanks
A13

admin's picture

A13 application received

sorry for the delay and thanks for the comment to let me know =)
your account is approved, let me know if you have any trouble logging in?

McJ's picture

What does this mean?

What does this mean for ordinary Libyan's?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12683952
"In other developments, the European Union is expected to widen sanctions against Libya to include its sovereign wealth funds and central bank, EU officials say.
The sanctions, due to go into effect on Friday, will restrict Libyan organisations that hold stakes in a host of European companies, AP news agency reported.
The move goes beyond those sanctions already approved by the UN Security Council which targeted Col Gaddafi and his family and associates.

McJ's picture

What happens to the money?

What do they do with the funds when they seize them? And how does Libya function if it's money, banks and assets are seized? Sounds kinda like just someone else stealing from them to me? Who handles the fund/money while it is 'frozen'?

"Summary: Authority. http://www.swfinstitute.org/swfs/libyan-investment-authority/
For decades Libyan reserves from oil revenues was deposited in financial institutions yielding decent interest. In the recent decade, prevailing rates have dropped which has forced the Government of Libya to invest in financial assets with higher returns. The General Popular Committee established the Libyan Investment

It was established on August 2006 and the assets of the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company, the Libyan African Investment Portfolio, and Oilinvest Company were transferred into it. In addition, excess oil revenues are transferred to the Libyan Investment Authority. The fund invests through a number of external managers. LIA may make investments locally.
Sovereign Wealth Enterprises:
Libyan African Investment Portfolio
The fund has around $8 billion USD in capital and was created by the Libyan government in February 2006. It is a sovereign wealth enterprise (SWE) of the Libyan Investment Authority.
Significant holdings include:
*OiLibya
*Afriqiyah Airways
*Saharan Investment and Trade Bank (BISC)
*LAP Green Network
*Arab African Investment Trade Company
*Libyan Investment AuthorityLibyan African Portfolio (Suisse) SA"

===================================================================
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/03/08/lessons-from-libya%E2%80%99s...
"What are sovereign wealth funds? Information on most funds is difficult to find. We do know that more than 20 countries have significant sovereign wealth funds. Most of the countries with funds are resource rich or, in the case of China, export rich. They established the funds to avoid inflation in their own country and diversify income streams away from resources. In 2009 these funds held US$2-trillion to US$3-trillion worth of assets. This is small compared with the US$50-trillion in U.S.-denominated securities traded each year, but when compared with the US$4-trillion in securities of Africa, the Middle East and emerging Europe that are traded each year, the size of these funds gains in perspective. In addition, sovereign wealth funds are growing in size and set to grow exponentially in value when oil is over US$100 per barrel, which it currently is."

Wow - good time to seize one of these, just when the price of oil is skyrocketing.

"The LIA’s US$70-billion is small compared with the funds owned by Saudi Arabia (US$439-billion), Kuwait (US$202-billion), Qatar (US$85-billion), and the UAE (US$627-billion). Investments like the Harrods purchase, by the Qatar fund, are well known because of news coverage, but investors need to ask where the rest of the US$1.5-trillion from the other funds is invested and what happens if the countries currently experiencing nascent public protests end up like Libya. "
====================================================================

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZW20110228000096
"Meanwhile, Bahrain-based lender Arab Banking Corp. BSC (ABC.BH), or ABC, in which the Central Bank of Libya owns a majority stake, said it is not subject to international sanctions. "

OPM and Libya

Here's a report involving the stolen Libyan funds that gives a whole new meaning to the term, "Other People's Money" (OPM).

Love the logic of thieves giving credence to fellow thieves laughing out loud