Ceasefire in Libya

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 am, March 19th, 2011 - 18 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags: , ,

If you’re like me, you just got home and were watching Te Karere with your nightcap. When it ended they cut to BBC with a live press conference of Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa (awesome name) who declared a unilateral ceasefire and called for talks with the rebels. If this is genuine, it looks like just the West getting out the big stick has been enough to scare the regime. No mention of Gaddifi in the speech. Is he still in charge?

18 comments on “Ceasefire in Libya ”

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  1. ak 1
    19 March 2011 at 2:41 am

    …and will the West still risk pressing ahead with another mass-murdering blitzkreig invasion now that the “demons” have laid down their arms – and while they are simultaneously slaughtering freedom-fighting “rebels” by Saud remote in Bahrain? Demons and rebels at the same time? Doubt it, Hills baby. Twitter’s broken the PR machine for good, guys: slink away, wait for the Saudi fire, polish your filthy bombs, and rot in your arrogant greed.

  2. Rosy 2
    19 March 2011 at 3:43 am

    Nah… Would you really trust Gaddafi?
    “Despite the ceasefire announcement, Gaddafi forces are not only attacking in Misrata but also in Ajdabiya, according to al-Jazeera, which reports “gunfire and heavy artillery clashes” at the southern entrance to the eastern city”

  3. Carol 3
    19 March 2011 at 7:07 am

    Also, Clinton is saying on Al Jazeera right now, that the US will respond to Gaddafi’s actions not his words, and the situation on the ground is not clear right now.

  4. Carol 4
    19 March 2011 at 7:32 am

    Al Jazeera is saying that Gaddafi looks weak as a result of his minister announcing a ceasefire, while continuing actions against the rebellion. And now Obama is laying down some “ground rules” ie what Gaddafi has to do to comply with the UN resolution: to withdraw from various cities & re-instate the main utilities for the people. He’s using the democratic rights of Libyans and prevention of a humanitarian crisis as the US’s reasons for enforcing this.

  5. ghostwhowalksnz 5
    19 March 2011 at 8:44 am

    Why is it terrible when dictators bomb and shell arab civilians but OK for Israel to bomb and shell arab civilians.

    A no fly zone never came up to prevent Israel bombing of a few square kms of the heart of Beirut.

    • Marty G 5.1
      19 March 2011 at 9:04 am

      It’s called hypocrisy, gww. Doesn’t mean stopping gaddifi isn’t right

    • Tiger Mountain 5.2
      19 March 2011 at 9:05 am

      The yanks are most selective when applying their usually bloody form of ‘tough love’. They supply arms to dictators and then remove same dictators when it suits them. So the US inconsistency does make it wrong morally for them to intervene.

      Ghost is spot on about the Israelis too.

  6. Bill 6
    19 March 2011 at 9:25 am

    A revolution has been averted. Both Washington and Tripoli will be happy about that.
    The only question left is whether ‘the west’ and the dictatotial Arab states push for a regime change anyway to achieve a more compliant Libya, or whether they will be content to ‘live with’ Gadaffi.

    Either way, the people are not and never were meant to have a succesful revolution. They won’t be participating in the formation or development of any democratic structures of governance if a regime change is pushed for. The new leader(s) in that event…the true bearers of the beacons of hope and democratic aspirations durrn’tyaknow….will be hand picked and presented by Washington and the Arab states as the only available choice. ‘Democracy’. Don’t ya luv it?

  7. ianmac 7
    19 March 2011 at 9:42 am

    A fascinating interview with Kim Hill this morning first up. Not on Replay yet.
    “Born in Pakistan and based in London, Tariq Ali is an editor of New Left Review and has written seven novels and more than 20 books on world history and politics, most recently The Obama Syndrome: War Abroad.”
    He discusses Libya and activity in Middle East and the implications of places like Bahrain – Saudi Arabia. And NZ as a vassal state for USA in Afghanistan. Hope it comes up soon.

      • Bill 7.1.1
        19 March 2011 at 5:40 pm

        Thanks for the link. Nice to hear articulate and knowledgable comment. Shame that Kim always comes across as a political idiot when she interviews emminent political analysts. Has she never actually attempted to learn anythIng from what they have to say? I find her die hard conservatism or apologism bloody frustrating. Mind you, if she was anything else, I guess she wouldn’t have that job and time slot for very long.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 7.1.1.1
          20 March 2011 at 10:00 am

          Thats the reality of radio in NZ , both commercial and public, right wing ‘idiots abroad’ are de rigueur.

          Fellow travellers such as Farrar and Hooten are given free reign, and thats in the news based programs not talkback

          A strident lefty doesnt get a leg in.

    • Carol 7.2
      20 March 2011 at 6:43 am

      Yes Tairq Ali gives a very considered and useful analysis. He thinks that the US will be the last empire on the scale of western empires.

      I think that the US & other Western powers will act to support their own interests in the Middle East and North Africa. However, I don’t think that they are in total control of the situation. There is an upheaval going on in the area, lead by sections of the people in various countries. Western powers have been taken by surprise and don’t have a well prepared, previously developed approach. Theyare trying to negotiate the situation from their own perspectives. The outcomes are not certain.

      This morning the US (Obama and Clinton) are trying to portray the US as not being the leaders of the actions against Gadhafi & his forces. It seems French planes are at the moment leading the actions in Libya and have fired the first shots:

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

      # French military jets are preventing forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Gaddafi from attacking the rebel-held city of Benghazi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says after a meeting of world leaders in Paris
      # It is thought to be the first act of intervention since the UN voted on Thursday for a no-fly zone over Libya
      # French aircraft also flew over “all Libyan territory” on reconnaissance missions, according to French military sources
      # Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte tells journalists he believed British, French and Canadian aircraft would launch the first airstrikes, a BBC correspondent reports

  8. the sprout 8
    19 March 2011 at 9:50 am

    my bet is MG will use every trick in the book to avoid capitulation.
    right now he’ll be stalling for time to re-assess and re-group.

  9. joe90 9
    19 March 2011 at 11:28 pm

    Al Jazeera live blog.

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