Posts Tagged ‘libya’

UK Intelligence

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, January 7th, 2018 - 43 comments

From the Opposition Labour Party, a rare instance of common sense and intelligence on display with regards foreign relations.

Saleh gone?

Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, June 7th, 2011 - 2 comments

The Arab Spring has become an increasingly bloody Arab Summer as dictators unleash their security forces to try to stop the wave of protests and revolutions sweeping the Arab world. Yemen’s dictator, wounded in the fighting, left for treatment in Saudi Arabia and seems unlikely to return.

Arab revolt update: Syria rising

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, March 26th, 2011 - 20 comments

The revolts around the Middle East are still heating up. The coalitions air strikes are dealing havoc to Gaddifi’s heavy weapons, giving the rebels a fighting chance. In Bahrain, the Shi’ites are brooding as the country remains under de facto Saudi occupation, Saleh looks gone in Yemen, while violence is escalating in Syria and Jordan.

Arab revolt round-up

Written By: - Date published: 1:50 pm, March 21st, 2011 - 41 comments

There’s a hell of a lot happening in the Middle East right now, with protests and violence from Morocco to Bahrain. It seems likely that more governments will fall in coming days. In every instance, these revolts appear to be genuinely grassroots movements. The West is turning a blind eye to some government crackdowns. Its support for democracy is overridden by the need for stability to secure its oil supply.

Action in Libya

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, March 20th, 2011 - 69 comments

US, UK and French forces have begun attacks on government targets in Libya. French planes flew reconnaissance yesterday and fired the first shots today.  They have destroyed a number of armoured vehicles and tanks. UK submarines have attacked air defence targets and their planes have fired missiles.  In total US & UK forces have fired […]

Ceasefire in Libya

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

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.

The battle for Benghazi

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, March 18th, 2011 - 11 comments

The Arab League turned against Gaddifi this week, calling for a no-flight zone. But the UN Security Council voted it down. The US voted against that proposal but is now talking about possibly talking about air strikes. As the West dithers the moment, to borrow from the Bard, is now very now. The rebellion is being snuffed out. Update: UN authorises air power against Gaddifi.

West leaves Libyan rebels to swing in the wind

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, March 12th, 2011 - 40 comments

Faced with the choice between short-term stability offered by a military strong-man or the long-term stability that would emerge from a democratic revolution, the West has long backed dictators in key resource supplying third-world nations. As the West backs away from saving the Libyan rebellion, it appears that little has changed.

Day of rage

Written By: - Date published: 9:04 am, March 7th, 2011 - 24 comments

You know things are bad when the AA is saying that high petrol prices are here to stay and there needs to be more investment in public transport. Global supply and demand is so tight that tiny disruptions are causing massive spikes. What if Saudi Arabia erupts?

No-fly zone for Libya

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, March 1st, 2011 - 43 comments

NATO leaders are discussing a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent the crumbling Gaddafi regime bombing and strafing protesters. Gaddafi’s loyalists are tied up keeping Tripoli under control, and the opposition is preparing to send in troops. Meanwhile, the big question elsewhere in the Arab world is what will happen on Saudi Arabia’s March 11, ‘Day of Rage’?

Gaddafi not going quietly

Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, February 23rd, 2011 - 36 comments

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has appeared on TV saying he will die a martyr in Libya, rather than flee into exile in the face of gathering protesters. The scale of the loyalist military’s attacks on protesters seems to be intensifying, while evidence of more troops refusing orders and defecting is also coming out. NATO may need to intervene.

Libya the next domino to fall

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, February 22nd, 2011 - 5 comments

It looks like Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi will be the next dictator to fall to the wave of protests and revolts sweeping the Arab world. The military initially sided with the regime and fired on the protesters, killing hundreds. But the loyalty of the security forces to the Gaddafi regime seems to be wavering. If this hard-man can crumble, who next?