Libyan opposition forms government

[ProSense]

Al Jazeera Video: Libyan council forms government

Who's Who in Libya's Opposition Council

Robert Dreyfuss
March 10, 2011

Things are unsettled in Libya, but slowly the opposition “Interim Transitional National Council” is getting organized. It has a website, which provides some good information about it’s makeup and activities so far, along with video testimonials from cities across eastern Libya pledging allegiance to the council. It was formally established on March 5.

The official chairman of the nine-member council, so far, is Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil, who served as Libya’s minister of justice from 2007–11 and whose biography is on the site. Other leading members include Mahmoud Jibril and Ali Al Issawi, who met President Sarkozy of France today in Paris.

Its founding statement reads:

“In this important historical juncture which Libya is passing through right now, we find ourselves at a turning point with only two solutions. Either we achieve freedom and race to catch up with humanity and world developments, or we are shackled and enslaved under the feet of the tyrant Muammar Gaddafi where we shall live in the midst of history. From this junction came the announcement of the Transitional National Council, a step on the road to liberate every part of the Libyan lands from Aamsaad in the east to Raas Ajdair in the west, and from Sirte in the north to Gatrun in the south. To liberate Libya from the hands of the tyrant Muammar Gaddafi who made lawful to himself the exploitation of his people and the wealth of this country. The number of martyrs and wounded and the extreme use of excessive force and mercenaries against his own people requires us to take the initiative and work on the Liberalization of Libya from such insanities.

“To reach this goal, the Transitional National Council announced its official establishment on 5th March 2011 in the city of Benghazi, stating its perseverance towards the aim of relocating its headquarters to our capital and bride of the Mediterranean, the city of Tripoli.

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[karynnj]

1. It is great that they are taking the initiative to define themselves

They need for people here, in Europe, and in the Arab world to know who they are. That was a legitimate question and one that was asked by several Senators on the SFRC last week. It was asked by liberals, like Kerry and Republicans, like Lugar and Corker. Though Deputy Secretary Burns answered about the people he and others have met, it didn't fully answer the question.

[ProSense]

4. It's great news.

The operation is organized the leaders defined and already in control of parts of the country.

[vaberella]

2. Huh, maybe they do have more of a vision than I gave them credit for.

This is very well organized. We'll see how this goes because it would look like Libya is being split in two. Thanks for this Prosense....this is an extremely interesting turn of events.

[loudsue]

3. Now they need a Declaration of Independence....and then

Gaddafi needs to be so completely marginalized into his true terrorist status, as the world begins to recognize the new government.

The world will be a better place without Gaddafi at the head of Libya, but there's just something about this whole thing that bothers me that I can't wrap my head around. It seems like it's more because of the oil than anything else, but it makes me question who the corporatist players are, and it appears they may be globalists....which traditionally isn't how a grass-roots movement wants to declare themselves.

[karynnj]

6. I wonder if that is not because for at least 4 decades, it HAS been oil

Here is a Daily Kos diary that speaks of the Carter doctrine, which essentially says we will fight for OUR oil now matter what country it is in - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/22/959090/-US-ME-Policy-is-Explicitly-Against-Regional-Self-Interest

In 2004 and since, Senator Kerry spoke against that - and from speeches like the Cairo one, President Obama has as well. Just last Wednesday, Kerry gave a speech that addressed this explicitly:

Of course, America‟s relationship with the region requires a broader readjustment to reflect the new realities. For decades, our Middle East policy has been driven by our addiction to foreign oil—a dependency we have still been unable to break. And democracy and human rights have been overshadowed. Too often over the past decade we have seen regimes in the region chiefly as bulwarks in the fight against terrorism, while looking away from abuses we find unconscionable. The result has been relationships focused on leaders rather than people. But we can no longer view the Middle East solely through the lens of 9/11. Now, we must view it through the lens of 2011.

As the people of the region demand reform, our approach to the region must embody our core values. At the most basic level, that means that we must be consistent in encouraging governments everywhere to respond to the hopes, and needs, and rights of their citizens. We must also emphasize programs that will strengthen our engagement with the people. What that means in practice will vary from country to country. Egypt is not Jordan, and Jordan is not Libya.

But throughout we must push back against the consolidation of power that has bred economic stagnation, corruption, and popular dissatisfaction. We should encourage the establishment of institutions that translate the will of the people into action, that promote transparency and accountability from leaders, and that safeguard freedom and justice for all.

For this to happen, the citizenry—the entire citizenry—must have a greater voice in the affairs of their government. Just as women made their voices heard on the streets of Cairo and Tunis, so their voices must be heard in the halls of government.

transcript: http://carnegieendowment.org/files/Kerry_Middle_East_speech_20110316.pdf

video: http://carnegieendowment.org/events/?fa=eventDetail&id=3161

[ProSense]

5. Libyan air force 'no longer exists'

Libyan air force 'no longer exists'

Coalition forces "operating with impunity" over Libya says British official, but fighting still rages on the ground.

Libya's air force "no longer exists as a fighting force" following devastating air strikes by international coalition forces, a British military officer has claimed.

The claim came as fierce fighting continued on the ground on Wednesday as forces loyal to embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continued their offensive against anti-government rebels across the north African state.

Addressing journalists at an air base in southern Italy, from which Royal Air Force (RAF) warplanes have been operating, Air Vice Marshall Greg Bagwell said international coalition forces could operate with impunity over Libya.

"Effectively, (Libya's) air force no longer exists as a fighting force," said Bagwell. "And his (Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's) integrated air defence system and command and control networks are severely degraded to the point that we can operate over his airspace with impunity," he said.

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[ProSense]

7. Sanctions in 72 hours: How the U.S. pulled off a major freeze of Libyan assets

Sanctions in 72 hours: How the U.S. pulled off a major freeze of Libyan assets

By Robert O’Harrow Jr., James V. Grimaldi and Brady Dennis

The Treasury Department team had been working nonstop on a plan to freeze Libyan assets in U.S. banks, hoping they might snare $100 million or more and prevent Moammar Gaddafi from tapping it as he unleashed deadly attacks against protesters who wanted him gone.

Now, at 2:22 Friday afternoon, Feb. 25, an e-mail arrived from a Treasury official with startling news. Their $100 million estimate was off — orders of magnitude off.

The e-mail said there was in “excess of $29.7 Billion — yes, that’s a B.”

<...>

Never before had U.S. officials so quickly launched economic sanctions affecting so many assets of a targeted country.

The frenetic 72 hours leading up to the Executive Order 13566 illustrate how a process of identifying and freezing assets — something that customarily has taken weeks or months — has become one of the first tactical tools to employ in the midst of fast-breaking crises.

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[Runework]

8. Im sure they will be saints like the Kurds

who aren't oppressing anyone in Northern Iraq...

"The supreme leader of the Yezidis in Iraq says his community is in danger losing its ancestral habitat and existence in Iraq.

But the threat this time comes from the two main Kurdish parties and their militias, U.S.’s best allies in Iraq.

Anwar Muawiya al-Amawi, the Yezidis’ Emir and their grand spiritual and political leader, told Azzaman that Kurdish leaders were encouraging wealthy Kurds to buy land owned by his impoverished community at exorbitant prices.

“The Kurds aim to purchase the land owned by other minorities like the Yezidis in order to integrate the area into their enclave,” Amawi said.
He said his people, inhabiting mainly districts which once were administratively linked to Mosul, the capital of Nineveh Province, were denied treatment at hospitals without prior permission from Kurdish political parties.

Amawi even accused the Kurds of denying his people government food rations “the thing that has slashed their living standards.”

Without clearance from the two Kurdish parties – the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party – no Yezidi has the right for public employment in Iraqi Kurdistan, he said."

http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/30030

[ProSense]

9. What do the Kurds

have to do with the Libyan people?

Top Ten Ways that Libya 2011 is Not Iraq 2003

[Runework]

10. one should be wary of information

disseminated in support of military action.

The Kurds were painted as simply peace-loving, tolerant , democratic people. However, theyve oppressed other minorities in Iraq.

[ClarkUSA]

11. We are watching the birth of a new democracy that we helped bring into existence.

Know hope.