“I can say that the Libyan leader is ready to implement what is in the roadmap by the AU.”-South African President Jacob Zuma
For the second time, Gaddafi has accepted an AU cease fire and peace plan. The first time U.S. led NATO, and the rebels, rejected the offer. The South African president said: “…the importance of the ceasefire proposed by the AU on condition that NATO and (others) stop bombing and give the Libyan people a chance to solve their problems by themselves.”
The African Union is upset because Libya is a member of the AU, and the AU sees NATO’s actions against Libya as an attack against the African continent.
May 17, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was recently asked, by CBS’s 60 Minutes, about the war against Libya. He replied that the United States was not legally/technically at war with Libya (that would take a declaration of War by Congress). Instead Gates says the U.S. is engaged in “limited kinetic action” against Libya.
Gates is not the first U.S. official to make such a reference to the war against Libya.
An audio recording of Gaddafi was played on Libyan TV May 13. He state that he was alive and called the West “cowards”. For weeks Italian media speculated that he was wounded or dead.
“I thank all the presidents, ministers, ambassadors and all the people of the world who have expressed their deep concerns on my life after the attack.”-Muammar Gaddafi
As if the United States and Europe aren’t doing enough for the Libyan Civil War. Today, May 13, Libyan rebel reps are meeting with President Obama, to ask for more money.
Mahmoud Jebril, with the rebel’s National Transitional Council, is asking that Obama turn over the frozen assets of Gaddafi. Jebril is a U.S. educated technocrat, who is helping to lead the rebel campaign against the Libyan government.
Jebril says that if the rebel Council doesn’t get more money soon, they will not be able to pay their mercenaries, I mean rebel troops. The implication is that the so called rebel freedom fighters would walk away.
In the rebel controlled city of Berga, at least 16 civilians were killed, 40 wounded, after NATO planes bombed them.
Witnesses say most of the victims were Muslim clerics. They were holding a religious meeting at a home in the city. Many rebels now doubt that NATO is acting to protect civilians in rebel held territory. They point out that NATO rarely acts when they need them, and, as in the recent airstrike on Berga, NATO has bombed civilians on several occasions.
“In a post-Gaddafi era, I think we will still have a role to play in assisting a new Libyan government in a transition to a sustainable democracy.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General
Rasmussen explained that NATO will focus on rebuilding Libya’s security and military units.
Basically what Rasmussen is saying is that U.S. led NATO plans on setting up shop in Libya, after they kill off Gaddafi. What was that Obama said about this not being a long term adventure?
“It’s probably at this point somewhere in the ballpark of $750 million.”-Robert Gates, U.S. Defense Secretary
Pentagon officials originally said the operation against the Libyan government, would cost $604 million. Now Pentagon officials predict the ongoing war will cost U.S. taxpayers $40 million per month, if it doesn’t escalate.
Libyan state TV showed video of Gaddafi meeting with tribal leaders.
On April 30, Gaddafi’s youngest son, and three grand children were killed by a NATO airstrike. Italian media has been speculating that Gaddafi was also killed, because he stopped making public appearances.
Libyan TV did not give a date for when the video of Gaddafi was made. Hours after the video was aired NATO bombed Tripoli.
Italian media is claiming that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is dead. They point out that it’s been nine days since he was seen in public, since the time a NATO airstrike killed one of his sons.
Several foreign envoys are also spreading the rumor by saying there is talk within the Libyan government about who will take charge. If Gaddafi is dead, then it is proof that he was not in total control of the Libyan government, because the Libyan military continues to pound rebel positions. It might also explain why NATO leaders stated, a second time, that there is no military solution to Libya.