Inkwell Institute
Middle East Desk
We know that NATO is bombing the crap out of Qadafi’s force to prevent them from retaliating against the rebels in the East……with that given I have some questions that I would like answered and so far I have heard nothing on them……
What happens if the rebels take Sirte, the hometown of Qadafi that is full of supporters? Will the rebels retaliate against the supporters? If so, then what will NATO do to prevent the mass killings of people in the town, if there is a possibility? Does it them become yet another perception of a genocide?
In his recent speech on Libya, Pres. Obama said that when this situation in the country is finished that the US would help the Libyans stabilize their country….just what the Hell does that mean? Just what will be needed for this promised stabilization? Could it have anything to do with a recent report issued by BP…..
According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Africa had proven oil reserves of 117,481 billion barrels at the end of 2007, or 9.49 percent of the world’s reserves. Five countries dominate Africa’s oil production, accounting for 85 percent of the total—Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola. But Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ivory Coast also produce oil, and exploration is ongoing in Chad, Sudan, Namibia, South Africa and Madagascar.
Africa’s oil is of a high quality and easy to mine, often from offshore rigs, and is distributed through existing sea lanes. The continent is the location of more than a third of the world’s new discoveries since 2000 and could be the site of far greater reserves than now thought.
Since democracy does not seem to be a driving force behind the insurrection of the Eastern half of the country….just what will we help stabilize? Maybe it will be their economy? That would send the fat cats jerking off in the corner!
The stabilization thing is a non-specific spin which means whatever we do we can say it is stabilizing a ravished country and people. Personally, I detest generalizations…..,I WANT specifics and the people of Libya should be demanding the same thing.
In their rush to eliminate Qadafi they could well be giving away their future for a few bullets……
We-ell – good questions. Yet only the taking of that town in question will provide any answers.
I think we should first remember that these “rebels” as far as we know, are NOT any kind of organised army, or freedom fighters in the accepted sense, but ordinary people – manual workers, doctors, lawyers, students, architects and on and on, who have been trapped and dragged into this situation by DECADES of repression and violence against them, so if they stick to targetting REAL Gaddafi supporters, who can really blame them for wanting a little revenge.
However, I THINK you will find that, once the “official” Gaddafi forces are driven out and seen to be losing wholesale, then much of the “support” for the dictator will simply evaporate…
I agree (at least in principle) with most of what you say, except that you do go on about democracy as if is a) an intrinsically good thing and b) it exists anywhere. We’ve been down this road a lot and you have agreed with me that it does NOT exist and is often a bad thing anyway – we’ve even agreed that a benign dictator is probably better than most so-called “democracies” that are currently around. There is no way to guarantee the benign bit, but whoever, or whatever, replaces Gaddafi is unlikely to be worse – for any of us.
PS: Sorry, I hit the “post comment” button too early. I meant to add – Providing it’s not AQ, of course, but “helping” the current action by ordinary people looks to me to be the best way of (hopefully) denying them a foothold in the area.
My concern is…..The history of “humanitarian intervention” by the U.S. government and European powers has produced only greater violence and more injustice–in Somalia, in Haiti, in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo, in Iraq–but with a seemingly progressive cover of opposition to dictators who were once supported by the West.
It is all a game and I worry about the outcome and want some answers….
Yugoslavia and Kosovo – I simply don’t agree (though I can’t recall what it was that America actually did there – was it much?)
A lot of bombs and some ground troops (marines, I believe)…..basically a peace keeping mission that had lots of guns going bang bang…but it was sold as humanitarian also…
My biggest point, whether right or wrong, is if the rebels start killing civilians because they are in a Qadafi town, will it become a reverse humanitarian situation….(that was dumb but I think you will understand the thought)……if so then what of the airstrikes? Yep, as usual, as a bad guy starts losing his grip he will then also loses his supporters….I went on about democracy because that is the sham they are feeding to spectators in the US, UK, France, the world….I do not believe for a minute that it will bloom that hardly in the ME…..
I agree about the democracy thing, but even the UK media is saying, “Don’t hold your breath waiting because there is a lot of stuff that will go down first.”
I agree about the question, but it MAY actually be the “exit strategy”. IF the rebels get TOO far out of hand, all the coalition has to say is, “Behave, or you’re on your own.” Not a perfect answer in every case I accept, but then in a situation like this, NO ONE can sit on the fence and remain entirely neutral, so sh*t is gonna happen!
I have noticed by reading UK news that they are a bit more forthcoming with opinions on the situation whereas in the US it is more repeating spin and slogans than actual reporting…..kudos to the UK and that is why I prefer them……
It will be awhile…I see Qadafi’s boys have counter attacked and the rebels have had to retreat….and yep….sh*t is gonna happen….my concern is that the US will get caught with its pants down…….
In his recent speech on Libya, Pres. Obama said that when this situation in the country is finished that the US would help the Libyans stabilize their country….just what the Hell does that mean?
Thank you!!! There are so many dang questions about this whole thing – from just how much involvement we will have in the war to what our involvement will be when the operation ends.
I need a Powerpoint presentation with bullet points. 🙂
You are welcome…….I am glad to see that Americans are interested in what is happening….matters not what side you are on…at least we are talking about it…….keep reading there will be more posts similar to this……I have worked in the ME and I have been a watcher for decades….
“Bullet points”? I love hidden humor…..LOL
Oh cool which ME country if you don’t mind me asking?
Haha totally unintentional. Iwasn’t trying to be punny, but hey it worked out that way. 😉
Do not mind at all….I spent time in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank…..
Always take credit! I loved it! BTW, I like the new design……
Man, it must suck to see what happened to those places since the revolutions.
Thanks! I was trying on so many, my head spun more than usual last night. 🙂
Most people in the area were poor anyway and the governments do very little for them…..they are beautiful places that war will do nothing to help…..I was in Baghdad in 1989…..an absolutely beautiful city…no matter what we think of Saddam…the people had health care from cradle to grave free…..education was mostly free from K to university…..but now NOTHING looks as it did and it will probably NEVER be the same city…a shame…..
Oooh Lord lobotero, please don’t tell me that. Yet another reason why we shouldn’t have invaded Iraq. 🙁
It is truly tragic……how many more beautiful cities will be destroyed in the name of….well whatever the reason…..