The New Dark Age

12 April 2011 — creative-i.info

Libya and Humanitarian War
By Robert Dreyfuss
Two elder American statesman, at least one of which might better be put on trial for war crimes, have come up with an attempt to square the circle by reconciling “realism” and “idealism”-that is, neoconservative interventionism-in regard to “humanitarian” wars. They fail. www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27862.htm

Gaddafi Figures Prominently on the Roadmap for Peace
By Simon Tisdall
The idea that ‘brother leader’ Gaddafi must be forced out in Libya has scant support beyond London, Washington and Benghazi.  www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27861.htm

At least 10 Libyan rebels killed west of Ajdabiya in Libya:
At least 10 Libyan rebels were killed Sunday in a fierce fight with the Libyan government troops to the west of the eastern town of Ajdabiya, Xinhua reporters witnessed. en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1858865.html

African Union says Libya accepts cease-fire plan:
A delegation of African leaders said Sunday that their Libyan counterpart Moammar Gaddafi accepted their “road map” for a cease-fire with rebels, whom they will meet with Monday wapo.st/ezovQd

African leaders in Benghazi for peace talks:
A delegation of five African presidents has arrived in the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi in a bid to end hostilities and negotiate a way out of the deepening crisis. english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141194135418891.html

No ceasefire without Qaddafi pullback, say Libya rebels :
”The people must be allowed to go into the streets to express their opinion and the soldiers must return to their barracks,” Shamsiddin Abdulmolah, a spokesman for the rebels’ Transitional National Council, told AFP thedailynewsegypt.com/region/no-ceasefire-without-qaddafi-pullback-say-libya-rebels.html

Western allies: Libya cease-fire must meet UN conditions:
U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague says anything short of compliance with UN resolutions would be ‘betrayal of the people of Libya’ www.haaretz.com/news/international/western-allies-libya-cease-fire-must-meet-un-conditions-1.355371

Support for U.S. Military Action in Libya Down to 39% With 37% Opposed:
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 39% of Likely U.S. Voters now agree with the president’s decision to take military action in Libya, down from 45% two weeks ago just after the mission began.
bit.ly/gUTROx

10 April 2011

Libya, AFRICOM, And US Scramble For Africa
By Colin Benjamin
April 10, 2011 – As Western war mongering in Libya continues, there’s another dimension to the conflict to consider: what role does the existence of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) have to do with America’s participation in this invasion? Ever since the West launched military intervention in Libya, some scholars have said the powers were engaging in imperial interference to secure resources on the African continent. Professor Horace Campbell and Professor Molefi Asante are two who’ve said this isn’t just about Libyan oil but is about African oil interests and resources throughout the continent…
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=76705

“Humanitarian Intervention” in Libya – A Cloaked War of Choice
Marc Herbermann
April 10, 2011 – The current incidents in Libya are hard to believe. A country rich of oil but nearly defenceless was first being strafed by massive bombing raids of three nations. The major attacker is lead by a Nobel Peace Price laureate who goes to war in disregard of the constitution of his country (Article I, Section 8, Powers of Congress). The “international coalition”, in reality a small fraction of the international community assaulted a sovereign country that hadn’t attacked it. Now, passing the reins to NATO forces apparently broadens the basis of approval but doesn’t provide legitimacy. NATO neither helps to prevent a genocide, nor does it support “democratic freedom fighters”. Instead, it sides with one party in a civil war and imposes a selective arms embargo…
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=76718

Obama’s Fateful Abuse of War Powers
By Former Congressman Paul Findley, Co-founder of CNI
April 10, 2011 – The acts of war ordered by President Barack Obama against the government of Libya violated provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973. He also exceeded his authority by pledging U.S. combat support to the United Nations Security Council and to NATO for military measures against Libya. The United States may soon find itself entrapped in a costly civil war in that North African nation. Congress is complicit in creating this mess, because it failed to demand presidential compliance with the Constitution and public law and neglected its own explicit constitutional duty in the exercise of war powers…
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=76720

Libya: rebel defences ‘failing’ as Gaddafi forces move towards Benghazi
Chris McGreal in Ajdabiya
April 10, 2011 – Muammar Gaddafi’s forces continued to fight their way toward Benghazi, the heart of Libya’s revolution, as five African leaders arrived in Tripoli in an effort to broker a ceasefire and political settlement. Rebel defences around Ajdabiya appeared to be failing as Gaddafi’s soldiers broke in to the heart of the strategic town, 90 miles from Benghazi, and engaged in running street battles after again outmanoeuvring the revolutionaries. Although western powers continued their air strikes, they did not appear to deter Gaddafi’s forces…
http://www.uruknet.de/?p=76704