Tag Archives: oil

International, U.S.

Britain reveals UN backed ground force operation in Libya

The United Kingdom’s Inner City Press revealed a 10 page document that shows a United Nations backed ground force operation is about to begin in Libya.  It will involve 200 military observers, 190 UN police officers and 61 civilians.

The operation is awaiting approval by the UN Security Council, and an official request from Libyan rebels.  It also details the creation of a new Libyan government, by the United Nations, not the rebels.

The 10 page “Martin report” also claims that the Libyan rebels committed war crimes, by killing prisoners and looting.  It also “doubts” that Gaddafi used mercenaries.

The report was apparently written on August 22, but was officially denied until Inner City Press got its hands on an official copy.

 

 

 

International, U.S.

U.S. led War on Syria: Russia threatens UN Veto, says the U.S. will sidestep the UN and use NATO to attack Syria

“We are afraid that the resolution could push the most radical Syrian opposition forces to more active operations to topple the government. Just because of that, we categorically do not accept the aims our Western colleagues try to attain with that resolution.”–Vitali Churkin, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations

Russia, as well as China, have stated that they oppose any UN Security Council resolution against Syria.

Russian officials say they have information that the United States, and European Union, will sidestep the UN Security Council, because they can not get enough votes of support for their planned attack on Syria.  Instead it is highly likely that the U.S. and EU will use language under NATO rules to justify an attack on Syria.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not part of the United Nations.



Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Obama screws 400 Merchant Marines out of a job

“This has literally flabbergasted the American maritime industry.  The idea was to create American jobs and help the economy.  But all the profit from the sale of the oil has gone to traders and oil companies and all the profit from movement of the oil has gone to foreign shippers and crewmen, and that’s galling.“-Christopher Coakley, The American Waterways Operators

In the name of a national emergency, President Obama has waived U.S. Merchant Marine Law, and is allowing foreign ships to carry U.S. oil supplies.

About a month ago Obama decided that the situation in Libya was threatening world oil supplies, so he decided to release 30 million barrels of oil from the U.S. strategic reserves.

Under the U.S. Merchant Marine Act of 1920: “Section 27, better known as the Jones Act, deals with cabotage (i.e., coastal shipping) and requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S. flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. The purpose of the law is to support the U.S. Maritime industry.”-Wikipedia

Obama decided the situation qualified as a national emergency, which allows him to wave the Jones Act.

According to U.S. merchant marine officials, Obama’s decision cost at least 400 U.S. jobs.

 

International

United Kingdom admits they have British soldiers on the ground in Libya, Britain & Rebels violate Geneva & Hague Conventions

The Daily Telegraph quoted Ministry of Defense officials, saying the SAS (Special Air Service) is on the ground and taking part in the battle for Tripoli.

Not only that, but the British officials admit they’ve had “boots on the ground” for several weeks.  The British SAS dress like civilians and use the same weapons the rebels are using.

It is a violation of the Geneva and Hague Conventions, for soldiers to dress like civilians.

Under the Geneva Convention, soldiers who wear civilian clothes are considered “illegal combatants”, and can be treated the same way that the United States is treating prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), and other prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and other secret locations.  A “legal combatant” must wear a uniform, or an obvious sign indicating they are a government soldier.

The Hague Convention states that soldiers “…have a fixed distinctive emblem recognizable at a distance.”

However the Hague Convention says any civilians defending their territory from invasion (like the U.S. invading Afghanistan & Iraq) are considered “legal combatants” even if they’re wearing civilian clothes.  If captured they must be treated as an official “Prisoner of War”, under Hague Convention POW rules, as a uniformed soldier would be treated.

Since Libya was not invaded, under the Hague Convention the civilian rebels are not allowed the same rights as a uniformed soldier, even if the rebels are wearing a uniform.

The rebels have been officially recognized by many countries, giving the Trans National Council the status of a government.  This means the TNC should have issued some kind of standardized uniform, or sign, for their “soldiers” to be legal under international law.  On top of that they are not defending from an outside invader.

So, the Libyan rebels, and the civilian clothed British SAS, are “illegal combatants”.  After all, isn’t the United States about the rule of law?

 

 

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Confirmed, U.S. & EU push to unfreeze Libyan assets is because Rebels are broke, African countries opposed

The United States, Europe and other countries are pushing for the United Nations to unfreeze billions in Libyan assets.  This is on top of what the U.S. is unfreezing.

A Libyan rebel official admitted in a press conference they needed the money “…for supplies…to pay salaries.”

From the beginning the African Union has been oppossed to the NATO action in Libya.  Libya is a member of the African Union, and the AU wasn’t even consulted by the the United States and Europe, before the United Nations was tricked into approving military action against Libya.

South Africa, one of the most powerful members of the AU says it will vote no on unfreezing Libyan assets.

 

International

Bab al-Azizia a trap for Rebels, being hit from all sides

Reports that the Bab al-Azizia military compound in Tripoli, is under intense attack by government forces.

The fighting has been going on for hours.  Initially rebels found hidden tunnels under the compound.  Government forces were hiding inside and began attacking the rebels.

Then in the early hours of the next morning government forces appeared on the streets of Tripoli, heading towards Bab al-Azizia.  Witnesses say government forces surrounded the compound, the rebels having to fight government forces from inside, and outside the compound.

International

Reporters held in Rixos Hotel freed after Libyan official in London issued order

Libyan government forces let at least 35 reporters go free.  They were hold up in the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli.

It happened after Mahmud Nacua, the Libyan charge d’affairs at the Libyan embassy in London, urged the government forces to let the journalists go free.

CNN’s Mathew Chance said the government gunmen “…literally cast away their weapons and said they were sorry to us.”

International

South Korea says Libyan Rebels attacked and looted their Embassy, Russia says if Rebels win Russia will officially recognize them

South Korean news agency Yonhap, says their ambassador’s residence in Tripoli, was attacked by about 30 people. They stole “television sets and other gadgets”, but no-one was hurt during.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, is urging peace talks between rebel and government forces. Medvedev says Russia will consider establishing formal relations with the rebels if they can unite the country.

 

 

International

U.K. to hold emergency National Security meeting about Libya, secret tunnels found under military compound, BBC now claims foreign reporters held by government forces

The British Prime minister’s office is holding an emergency National Security Council meeting on Libya. The meeting is being chaired by Foreign Secretary William Hague.

Rebels claim they’ve found tunnels under the Bab al-Azizia compound.  Sounds like fighting is taking place, rebels say they’re trying to “clear” the tunnels.

Despite many earlier reports from foreign reporters at the Rixos Hotel, saying rebels were threatening their lives, the BBC is now saying it’s Libyan government forces that’re doing the threatening.  They say one of their reporters was threatened when he tried to leave the hotel.