Libya: From Colony to Independence Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi is the leader whom Nelson Mandeladubbed one of the revolutionary icons of our time. With a special passion for Libya's international relations, St John has highlighted virtually all aspects of Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi's foreign policy in numerous books and articles. His newest book, Libya: From Colony to Independence, fills an important gap in the literature on Libya by presenting a history not limited to a certain time period. 'Libya' details the struggles of the state from Greek settlements in the fifth century BC to the infamous Lockerbie bombing. For more resources see History of Libya. |
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A word of comment: As the tail of NATO's lie has grown too long, this time they could not hide this time that their bombs, what Obama calls bombs for humanitarian action, killed civilians. One wonders what kind of humanitarian action this is, as even terrorists would not make little children the target of their bombs.
Key Point of the news: The streaks of blood, smeared along the sides of this impromptu mass grave suggested a rushed operation, a hurried attempt to dispose of the victims. Who the men were and what happened to them, close to the Libyan rebels' western front line town of Al-Qawalish in the Nafusa Mountains, remains unknown. But the evidence of a brutal end were clear. One of the corpses had been cleanly decapitated, while the trousers of another had been ripped down to his ankles, a way of humiliating a dead enemy. The green uniforms were the same as those worn by loyalists fighting for Col. Muammer Gaddafi in Libya's civil war. No one from the rebel side claimed the corpses, or declared their loved ones missing. There was no funeral, or call to the media by the rebels to see the 'atrocities committed by the regime'.
A word of comment: This is what Mr. Obama calls humanitarian action. But more and more journalists now begin to wonder if it is not the extreme opposite action of what one can call humanitarian.
Key Issues & Facts: ZINTAN, Libya — Rebels in the mountains in Libya’s west have looted and damaged four towns seized since last month from the forces of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, part of a series of abuses and apparent reprisals against suspected loyalists that have chased residents of these towns away, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.
A word of comment: Do Mr. Obama and NATO still expect that they can win the heart of Libyan people by bombing and rooting?
Read also Libyan rebels looted and beat civilians, rights group says By the CNN Wire Staff July 13, 2011 2:00 p.m. EDT. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said that in "four towns captured by rebels in the Nafusa Mountains over the past month, rebel fighters and supporters have damaged property, burned some homes, looted from hospitals, homes, and shops, and beaten some individuals alleged to have supported government forces."
Read also: FRANCE 24 journalist David Thomson reported that he had witnessed events in Libya that confirmed Human Rights Watch (HRW) allegations of looting, arson and abuse of civilians by the rebels. Thomson, who was following the rebel forces operating in the Nafusa mountains south of Tripoli, said he saw “scenes of devastation” behind the front lines. “I saw villages burned and looted,” he said. “And as the HRW report says, some people, mostly black Africans believed to be fighting as mercenaries for the Gaddafi regime, were beaten and sometimes executed.” at Libya's rebels court EU as abuse allegations emerge
Key Issues & Facts: updated 6/17/2011 10:58:51 AM ET
One Benghazi resident, Isa, said two people were killed two days ago in a shootout after a family feud escalated.
"Sitting on a grubby mattress in the corridor, Abdusalam Osman, 23, said he was working in a car parts workshop near Ajdabiyah when he was seized by Gaddafi soldiers in March. He said he was subsequently released and returned to the rebel-held east, only to be detained this time by rebel forces suspicious of his experience while in government detention.
A word of comment: In cities liberated by the rebels, even physicians are captured and sent into the prison. They are being punished without trail for what they are not, for they did not do. What a strange way the rebels and Obama liberate people!
Read Hunt for Gaddafi backers in east Libya shows tension By Maria Golovnina updated 6/16/2011 4:11:31 PM ET
Key Issues & Facts: Behind the facade of normality, there is a sense of nervousness. Many people now possess guns. Explosions and brief exchanges of fire ring out almost every night. Neighborhoods are patrolled by armed vigilante groups, and ordinary people worry about crime
One Benghazi resident, Isa, said two people were killed two days ago in a shootout after a family feud escalated.
"Before the revolution life was normal. Now, life is abnormal. Nothing is normal..." said Ali, the construction worker.
A word of comment: A democratic society is where a variety of opinions are listened and tolerated. Yet, the opposite it the case in Benghazi where the rebels kill citizens they do no like without trial. Can one expect a healthy democracy can grow in the environment where a causal free speech can cost his or her life?
Read Libyan bombing alone will not budge Gaddafi, UK officials warn 15 June 2011 Last updated at 16:38 ET
Key Point Analysis:
Bombs Raining down over Rebel Units from NATO Apache Helicopters
It has emerged that Nato has been dropping leaflets threatening Apache air strikes against government forces. The leaflets – each featuring a picture of an Apache helicopter and a burning tank along with the words: "If you go on killing the children and families you will be destroyed" – were sprinkled from a bomb that detonated above no-man's land east of Misrata, raining down over rebel units who had advanced beyond the frontline without telling Nato.
The Risk of Civilian Casualties by NATO's Bombing Campaign
There is concern, meanwhile, that the longer the conflict goes on, the greater the risk of civilian casualties as Nato commanders succumb to political pressure to step up the bombing campaign. "The longer the war goes on the greater the chance of a blunder resulting in significant civilian casualties," warns the IISS in its latest Strategic Comments. It adds: "The risks also increase of both the government and rebels becoming more radicalised and perpetrating war crimes."
We wonder if democracy is still healthy when media is manipulating information for war propaganda of the dictator of foreign policy. Yet, we see a ray of hope for American democracy as Cynthia McKinney, the former US congresswoman and presidential candidate, went Libya to see the truth. As NATO attacks continue in Libya, ex US Congresswoman and former presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney went to the country on a non-governmental fact-finding mission to see what exactly is going on in the war-torn country. Cynthia McKinney believes the bombardments of Libyan cities and other measures taken by NATO, causing civilian casualties, represent the idea of "collective punishment".