22 March 2011 — Stop NATO
World Steps Up Criticism Of Western Attacks On Libya
China Calls For Immediate End To Western Attacks On Libya
U.S. Warplane Crashes In Libya
Eight Warplanes: Sweden Follows NATO Into Another War
First Combat Mission For Eurofighter: British MPs Back War
Duty To NATO: Canadian MPs Unanimously Back Libyan War
Greece: Air And Naval Bases, Warship, AWACS “At NATO’s Disposal”
UN Security Council To Reconvene On Libya
“No-Fly Zone”: Video Of NATO’s Highway Of Death
Libya: Yet Another Imperialist Military Intervention
World Steps Up Criticism Of Western Attacks On Libya
news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-03/22/c_13791783.htm
Xinhua News Agency
March 22, 2011
World steps up criticism of Western air strikes in Libya
By Han Lin, Liu Dan
-”Following the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, a military strike against Libya is the third time in this century that a number of countries wielded force against a sovereign state.”
-Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba regarded the strikes as an “interference in internal affairs of Africa”, backing the 53-nation African Union stance against “any kind of foreign military intervention” in Libya.
BEIJING: The international community has stepped up its criticism and showed more worries about the Western-led air strikes against Libya following the forces launched operations to enforce a no-fly zone over the North African country.
China expressed its regret and opposed the use of force in international relations in a foreign ministry statement when commenting on the Libyan crisis and the Western-led air strikes.
“Following the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, a military strike against Libya is the third time in this century that a number of countries wielded force against a sovereign state,” said a signed commentary in China’s main newspaper the People’s Daily.
“It should be noted that attempts to resolve the crisis using military means affects the U.N. Charter and the norms governing international relations,
“In today’s world where some people with the Cold War mentality are still keen on the use of force, people have reason to express concerns about the effects of the military action,” added the commentary entitled “Do not abandon hope for peaceful resolution to Libyan crisis.”
Russia called on Britain, France and the United States to stop air strikes against the non-military targets in Libya, saying the attacks had caused civilian casualties.
“The resolution (on non-fly zone) is defective and flawed,” said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, adding “It allows everything. It resembles medieval calls for crusades.”
“In that respect we call on countries involved to stop the non-selective use of force,” its foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich echoed.
India’s Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said the strikes would lead to more harm to “innocent civilians, foreign nationals and diplomatic missions.”
“India calls upon all parties to abjure violence and the use of threat and force to resolve the differences. I think the need of the hour is cessation of armed conflict,” he told reporters.
Arab League chief Amr Moussa condemned the “bombardment of civilians” and called for an emergency meeting of the group of 22 states to discuss the Libyan issue.
He demanded of a report of the bombardment in which the Lybian armed forces command said 64 people, most civilians and children, were killed.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the Arab League criticism of the air strikes showed that Germany had “good reasons” to fear for the military intervention.
Turkey Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was critical of the formation of the coalition leading the action and stressed the objective should be “not to launch a large-scale war” in Libya.
Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei charged the Western intervention in Libya was aimed at “getting their hands on its oil”, as claimed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said the “adventure” was motivated by “petrol and who will exploit Libya’s oil fields”.
Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba regarded the strikes as an “interference in internal affairs of Africa”, backing the 53-nation African Union stance against “any kind of foreign military intervention” in Libya.
Loud explosions and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire were heard in the Libyan capital city of Tripoli at around 9:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Monday as the third round of Western-led air strikes started.
Many civilians were killed and wounded in this wave of attacks, according to local TV.
Libyan government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said the Western countries launched three consecutive days of air strikes after Libyan armed forces announced a comprehensive cease-fire and stopped all military actions. The majority of Libya’s civil airports and seaports were destroyed during the air strikes.
Obama defends U.S. military air raids in Libya
SANTIAGO, March 21: Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday defended the U.S. military actions against Libya, saying the U.S. military actions are in accordance with the UN resolution adopted to solve the Libya crisis. Full story
Russia’s Putin calls UN resolution on Libya “flawed”
MOSCOW, March 21: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday criticized West-led military actions against Libya was based on a “flawed” UN Security Council resolution, according to local reports. Full story
French warplanes fly around 400 hours over Libya
PARIS, March 21: French warplanes have flown around 400 hours in total in Libyan airspace, amounting to 55 sorties in three days, a military spokesman said Monday.
====
China Calls For Immediate End To Western Attacks On Libya
en.rian.ru/world/20110322/163143059.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
March 22, 2011
Beijing opposes use of force in Libya
China called on Tuesday for an immediate end to a Western-led military operation in Libya.
“Beijing opposes the use of military force and considers it necessary to respect Libya’s sovereignty, its unity and territorial integrity,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu said at a news conference in Beijing.
All parties must “immediately cease fire and resolve issues through peaceful means,” she added.
China was one of five countries, including Russia, that abstained from a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Thursday. The resolution imposes a no-fly zone over Libya and allows “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from leader Muammar Gaddafi’s attacks on rebel-held towns.
Operation Odyssey Dawn entered its third night of airstrikes on Libyan air defenses on Monday. Libyan state television has reported that at least 60 civilians have been killed and over 150 wounded.
Beijing has been severely critical of the military intervention, with the Communist Party’s flagship newspaper on Monday comparing it to the U.S.-led invasions on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin voiced similar views on Monday, likening the UN resolution to a “call for a crusade.” The comments were swiftly rebuked by President Dmitry Medvedev, who described them as “unacceptable.”
====
U.S. Warplane Crashes In Libya
news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/22/c_13792564.htm
Xinhua News Agency
March 22, 2011
U.S. warplane found crashed in Libya: report
LONDON: The U.S. military has confirmed that a U.S. fighter jet has crashed in Libya, British newspaper The Daily Telegrph reported Tuesday on its website.
The aircraft was an F-15E Eagle, the report said citing a correspondent currently based in Libya.
The two crew members were rescued by rebels after the jet forced down in a field near Benghazi due to “mechanical failure,” Britain’s Sky News also quoted U.S. officials as saying.
According to other media reports, the two crew members ejected after the equipment failure and are safe, although sustaining minor injuries.
====
Eight Warplanes: Sweden Follows NATO Into Another War
www.thelocal.se/32718/20110321/
The Local
March 21, 2011
Swedish Gripen fighters on Libya standby
The Swedish military said Monday that they would be ready to deploy Jas Gripen fighter aircraft within ten days, should Sweden be asked to participate in the military action against Libya.
“The armed forces have informed the government that we are able to deploy six to eight aircraft. At the moment they are on a ten day standby, so it wouldn’t take longer than that,” Therese Fagerstedt of the Swedish Armed Forces information department told news agency TT.
Where the aircraft would be stationed and how much ground crew would be needed is yet to be determined.
How long it would actually take for the unit to be deployed depends on the political decision making process.
Sources with insight into NATO have revealed to the Swedish Dagens Nyheter daily that Sweden will be asked to lend their support by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.
The Liberal Party (Folkpartiet) and the Christian Democrats have criticised the stance of the foreign minister Carl Bildt and the government, who have opted to wait for the request rather than offer Swedish help.
Allan Widman of the Liberal Party would like the government to make available the ‘Expeditionary Air Wings’, an eight plane strong flying unit, which is part of the Nordic Battle Group.
“I think we need to send the message that we can and wish to participate,” he told DN.
The foreign minister Carl Bildt does not however share the view of his government coalition colleague.
In a radio interview on Sunday, Bildt said that Sweden should wait to offer military assistance until requested.
However, if NATO was to approach Sweden, Bildt did not rule out possible military participation.
“All alternatives are still on the table. In the case of a request we will look at all the different ways that Sweden can contribute,” he said.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Ring, an expert on military strategy from the Swedish National Defense College (Försvarshögskolan), there is a need of further air power in the Libya operations.
“France have deployed about a hundred planes, which may sound like a lot. But compared to the air attacks on Kosovo and Serbia there are very few aircraft in action. Back then there were 700-800 aircraft per day,” he told TT.
On Monday Carl Bildt heads to Brussels to meet with foreign ministers from other EU member states.
On his personal blog “Alla Dessa Dagar” (literally: All These Days) he wrote on Sunday that the situation in Libya is certain to be high on the agenda.
“Sweden will support the resolution in the way and with the resources that we are best suited to,” Bildt wrote.
At the moment, he pointed out, the military action is the main focus, but there is more to the resolution than that and a role for Sweden in the operations is by no means certain.
————————————-
www.thelocal.se/32734/20110321/
The Local
March 21, 2011
Swedish house backs Libya involvement
-The last time Swedish fighter aircraft participated in battle was almost 50 years ago, when J 29 “Flying Barrel” planes fought in the Congo in the early 60s.
The Swedish Armed Forces have informed the government that it can send up to eight Jas Gripen planes to Libya.
-The aircraft form part of the Nordic battle group, the most well-trained air force unit in Sweden, and fully compatible with NATO.
According to Anders Silwer at the armed forces the unit could be deployed to the combat zone – for example at air bases in Sicily and Crete – “days” after a political decision.
The Swedish government can count on the broad support in parliament to send Jas Gripen aircraft to assist the UN-backed Libyan operation, with only the Sweden Democrats expressing a dissenting opinion.
It is reported that NATO may soon approach Sweden with to participate in the international effort against the Libyan regime. The defence alliance however spent the day discussing which nation was best equipped to lead the operation.
“We must wait and see what NATO is up to. This is of significance,” foreign minister Carl Bildt said.
If NATO is unable to agree Bildt has not ruled out Sweden being able to take part in an operation led by a group of countries, including France, the United States and Britain, although Sweden would be in unfamiliar position.
…
For Sweden it would be easier to take part within a NATO-led effort, despite not being a formal member of the alliance as the military is familiar with procedures following previous cooperation. [Afghanistan]
Swedish participation would require a swift decision in parliament and according to a review of the positions of parliamentary parties, a government proposition would receive the broad support of the Riksdag.
The Social Democrats have expressed their firm support for a Swedish contribution to the operation.
“For me, it is irrelevant if the request comes from France, the United Nations or from NATO. The UN has called for the mission,” said the party’s foreign policy spokesperson Urban Ahlin.
Left Party leader Lars Ohly said that he was cautiously positive to sending the Jas Gripen fighter into combat.
The Sweden Democrats, who currently hold 19 votes in parliament, expressed their opposition to a Swedish contribution to the military effort preferring instead to spend the money on measures to address a feared refugee crisis.
The last time Swedish fighter aircraft participated in battle was almost 50 years ago, when J 29 “Flying Barrel” planes fought in the Congo in the early 60?s.
The Swedish Armed Forces have informed the government that it can send up to eight Jas Gripen planes to Libya.
The aircraft form part of the Nordic battle group, the most well-trained air force unit in Sweden, and fully compatible with NATO.
According to Anders Silwer at the armed forces the unit could be deployed to the combat zone – for example at air bases in Sicily and Crete – “days” after a political decision.
====
First Combat Mission For Eurofighter: British MPs Back War
Agence France-Presse
March 21, 2011
Lawmakers approve Libya mission despite confusion
-Cameron earlier called for NATO to take command of operations in Libya, as NATO allies struggled Monday to overcome divisions about the organisation’s role in the strikes.
“Over time we want this to transition to a NATO command, a NATO command and control using NATO machinery, so all the partners in NATO and all those who want to contribute from outside can be properly coordinated,” he added.
LONDON: Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the country’s involvement in the military operation to enforce a UN sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya despite confusion over the mission’s scope.
Politicians on Monday voted 557 to 13 in favour of the action as British Typhoon fighter jets took part in their first ever combat mission, assisting coalition forces in patrolling the no-fly zone.
Prime Minister David Cameron had the support of his Conservative party and their Liberal Democrat coalition partners for military action, as well as the opposition Labour party.
But there have been conflicting statements about the aims of the air strikes from ministers and from the British military, amid fears that Britain could be drawn into a ground war similar to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Cameron Monday said there was no legal authority for enforcing regime change in the North African nation, contradicting earlier suggestions by ministers that air strikes could target leader Moamer Kadhafi.
After Kadhafi’s complex in Tripoli was hit overnight in raids by Western forces, Cameron said the UN Security Council resolution was limited to include the enforcement of a ceasefire and no-fly zones to protect civilians.
…
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said Sunday that there was a “possibility” British forces could target Kadhafi. Foreign Secretary William Hague refused to rule it out Monday, saying “that depends on the circumstances at the time”.
…
Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) earlier refused to comment on reports that it was a British missile which hit Kadhafi’s compound and that it aborted a further air attack after finding out foreign journalists were in the complex.
Acutely aware of the controversy over Britain’s six-year war in Iraq, Cameron repeated his argument that his first military action since taking office in May last year was “necessary, legal and right”.
…
During the House debate before Monday’s ballot, Hague fended off claims that the vote should have taken place before the operation started, saying if the UN resolution had been passed any later “it would have been too late”.
…
As the parliamentary debate took place, the MoD confirmed that it had sent more Tornado jets to the Gioia del Colle base in Italy and had deployed its Typhoon fighter jets for the first time.
“Today, Typhoons flew their first ever combat mission while patrolling the no-fly zone in support of UNSCR 1973,” Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff’s spokesman, Major General John Lorimer, said in a statement.
Cameron earlier called for NATO to take command of operations in Libya, as NATO allies struggled Monday to overcome divisions about the organisation’s role in the strikes.
“Over time we want this to transition to a NATO command, a NATO command and control using NATO machinery, so all the partners in NATO and all those who want to contribute from outside can be properly coordinated,” he added.
====
Duty To NATO: Canadian MPs Unanimously Back Libyan War
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/commons-unanimously-backs-deployment-to-libya/article1949786/
Globe and Mail
March 21, 2011
Commons unanimously backs Canada’s deployment to Libya
John Ibbitson
OTTAWA: As Canadian fighter jets flew over hostile Libyan air space, all four political parties put aside pre-election posturing for a few hours Monday to support Canada’s role in the mission to contain Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
“We are compelled to intervene, both [as] a moral duty and by duty [to] NATO and the United Nations,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay told the House of Commons Monday, opening debate on a motion supporting the deployment. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Québécois unanimously supported the Conservative motion.
====
Greece: Air And Naval Bases, Warship, AWACS “At NATO’s Disposal”
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_21/03/2011_383746
Kathimerini
March 21, 2011
Greece only providing support for Libya operations
-”On a bilateral level, Greece is responding to requests from friends and allies for providing help of a supportive nature. Greece has informed NATO that it is putting at its disposal the base at Souda, the airports at Aktio and Andravida, the frigate that has been sailing in waters between Crete and Libya for the past few days and an AWACS flying radar.”
Greece has clarified that it is only providing a supporting role in the efforts of coalition forces to establish a no-fly zone over Libya and is not taking part in any military operations.
The Defense Ministry issued a statement to emphasize that Greece was not actively involved in any of the current operations after two nights of bombings in Libya but was offering the use of bases and airports.
“At the moment, Greece is not taking part in any military operations, which are not being carried out within the NATO framework,” said the ministry.
“On a bilateral level, Greece is responding to requests from friends and allies for providing help of a supportive nature. Greece has informed NATO that it is putting at its disposal the base at Souda, the airports at Aktio and Andravida, the frigate that has been sailing in waters between Crete and Libya for the past few days and an AWACS flying radar.”
Athens will also offer a helicopter for search and rescue operations, should it be needed, said the ministry.
====
UN Security Council To Reconvene On Libya
english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/22/47770529.html
Voice of Russia
March 22, 2011
UN Security Council to reconvene on Libyan issue
The UN Security Council will discuss the situation in Libya next Thursday.
Consultations are being convened in connection with the doubts voiced by some Council members regarding the “legitimacy of what is taking place”.
The Council also intends to consider the letters by Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa. One of the missives was dispatched to the UN already after the start of the military operation.
The Libyan Foreign Ministry insists there is a “foreign conspiracy against the Jamahiriya”, and that the Security Council resolution “paved the way for military aggression.”
====
“No-Fly Zone”: Video Of NATO’s Highway Of Death
RT
March 21, 2011
Video of Gaddafi tanks burnt, oil depot on fire after Libya military strike
====
Libya: Yet Another Imperialist Military Intervention
www.hindustantimes.com/More-fuel-to-the-fire/H1-Article1-675983.aspx
Hindustan Times
March 21, 2011
More fuel to the fire
Sitaram Yechury
Yet another imperialist military intervention has begun with French air strikes on Libya. The US-sponsored North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) operation has been launched ostensibly to prevent Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces from attacking its people.
This direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, the biggest intervention since the military occupation of Iraq, comes under the sanction of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
This overzealousness betrays imperialism’s eagerness to retain its hegemonic control over the oil-rich region and prevent any realignment of forces that could be detrimental to its interests. The region has proven, accumulative reserves of 103.2 billion tonnes of residual fuel oil in 2009, or 55.6% of the proven total global oil reserves.
Imperialism’s double standards become clear with the US-inspired Saudi Arabian military intervention in Bahrain to prop up the Khalifa, opposed by the people seeking better standards of livelihood, human rights and democracy.
In Libya, imperialism seeks a regime change while in Bahrain, it seeks to sustain the autocratic Khalifa family that has lorded it over the country since 1783. Both interventions are ironically in the name of protecting the people. The reason for such dichotomy is not far to seek. Bahrain is home to the US navy’s Fifth Fleet and has been a steadfast ally. Libya, on the other hand, is not such a firm ally. Further, Libyan oil reserves and the ocean of fossil water reserves on which its deserts lie today have the potential of more lucrative profits than oil. A regime change here could well be to imperialism’s advantage, while in Bahrain it is not.
Behind these military interventions lie the basic geo-political interests of imperialism in the region. Its post-World War I history is replete with occupations aimed at controlling its energy resources. Post World War II, in an effort to reverse the gains of de-colonisation, the US intervened to topple the democratically-elected regime in Iran and foist a pliant one.
On the one hand, its propping up of Israel, military aggressiveness against Arab countries, denying Palestinians their homeland and on the other, the propping up of client regimes through massive military and ‘aid’ programmes, ensured imperialism’s hegemonic control over the region.
The situation dramatically changed over the past few months when popular protests across the region led to the downfall of pro-US regimes in Egypt and Tunisia. Hosni Mubarak’s Egypt was imperialism’s lynchpin in the region. With popular protests rising in other countries like Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, imperialist hegemony was threatened. It is important to remember that all these countries received massive US military assistance. In fact, the weapons being used by Gaddafi’s forces today were provided by the US and other Nato allies in the first place.
The recent popular upsurges have been triggered by the global economic crisis that has increased the burden on the people through massive lay-offs and price rise. Libya, interestingly, occupies the first place in the human development index for Africa and has the highest life expectancy in the continent. It provides food security, essential social services, education and health for its people as well as employment to people from neighbouring countries. However, the protesting youth are an unmistakable picture of indignation. The demands for a better life, a better political and social ordering and the ability or inability of the ruling dispensation to meet these aspirations are matters that have to be settled within sovereign boundaries of independent countries.
The military intervention in Bahrain a week earlier, however, has come under the terms of the Joint Peninsular Shield established in 1990 under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a six-nation regional organisation, where any member state can seek military assistance from another in the face of an external threat. The threat that the ruling autocracy in Bahrain faces is entirely internal. The GCC is estimated to have $1.34 trillion of surplus assets accumulated in the last few years alone as oil revenues. The escalation of popular protests in Bahrain could well snowball into other GCC states, spiralling a political destabilisation that jeopardises such huge reserves. Already protest marches in four different locations in Saudi Arabia have been repressed.
These popular upsurges have also negated imperialism’s stereotypical projection of any uprising in an Islamic country as the rise of fundamentalism and therefore terrorism. The joint statement by Bahraini opposition groups have put it succinctly, saying “this tripartite coalition adopts the choice of bringing down the existing regime in Bahrain and the establishment of a democratic republican system”. The people in Islamic countries, like people anywhere else in the world, aspire for better living standards, human rights and liberty. This aspiration gets exponentially magnified in countries that have suffered for centuries under oppressive, autocratic rule backed by imperialism.
If people are sovereign, then they must be allowed to decide on their future in their sovereign country. Imperialism must be forced to roll back this military intervention. The countries that abstained in the UN Security Council, including India, must now assert themselves and stop yet another military aggression in Libya.
PS: Whither Obama’s promising rhetoric at the Al Azhar in Cairo soon after he assumed the US Presidency?
Sitaram Yechury is CPI(M) Politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP
The views expressed by the author are personal.
The New Dark Age 
Leave a comment