6 May 2011 — Stop NATO
- Perfectly Acceptable For U.S. And NATO To Kill Children
- Clinton: NATO Bombardment Of Libya To Continue
- Brussels: French Lawyer Charges NATO With War Crimes
- Russia, China: North Africa, Middle East Crisis Fraught With Most Serious Global Danger
- Russia, China United In Opposing NATO Ground Operation In Libya
- Foreign Minister: Russia Categorically Against Libyan Land Operation
Perfectly Acceptable For U.S. And NATO To Kill Children
english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91343/7371448.html
China Daily
May 6, 2011
Killing kids a crime whatever the reason
The author is deputy editor of China Daily US edition
When news about the NATO air strike killing Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi’s youngest son and three grandchildren emerged on Saturday evening, US President Barack Obama was wining and dining at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in the Washington Hilton Hotel.
He and NBC Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers were sharing jokes with hundreds of journalists and celebrities.
Obama offered his prayers to the people in Alabama who had just suffered a devastating tornado, but mentioned nothing about the NATO air strike in Tripoli, where Gadhafi’s three grandchildren all under the age of 12 were killed.
Which is not surprising, after all; US leaders have never apologized for the children killed by US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rather than feeling outraged by the killings, Obama was having a good time on Saturday evening. He made fun of billionaire Donald Trump who was sitting among the audience and he laughed when Seth Meyers lampooned Trump.
While Trump, who has been questioning Obama’s birth certificate for months, is indeed the biggest joke in US politics these days, Obama looked very much like a comedian that evening.
After the air strike, some US officials immediately tried to shirk responsibility by describing the bombing as a NATO operation. Yet anyone who knows how NATO functions knows it is impossible for the US to dodge responsibility in this way.
That evening, the journalists who cover the White House and the US President failed to accept their responsibilities. Instead of promptly questioning the US president about the killing, they partied with the Hollywood stars that were also attending the dinner.
Killing three young children was sadly no news to them.
TV networks, such as CNN, which devoted days to reporting a rape case in Libya a month ago, have also shown little interest in digging into the children’s deaths.
On the contrary, they broadcast the wild celebrations by Libyan rebels when they heard the news.
The headlines on the Washington Post and New York Times websites mentioned only the killing of Gadhafi’s son, not his three grandchildren. The message seems to be: It is a crime for others to assassinate and kill children, but it is perfectly acceptable when it comes to the US and NATO.
Nevertheless, comments left by readers were mostly condemnation.
There is no doubt that both the US and NATO still believe that military operations are great solutions to some of the world’s problems. However, what has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan has proved they are wrong. Victory cannot be won by relying on military force. The drone attacks that have been expanded under Obama are triggering more anti-US sentiments in that part of the world.
Eliminating someone is a relatively easy task for the mighty US military, but wiping out the influence of that person’s ideology and spirit is a far tougher job than it seems.
Both Obama and NATO should condemn the killing of the three children, even if their last name was Gadhafi. That is the only way not to lose more hearts and minds.
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Clinton: NATO Bombardment Of Libya To Continue
www.670kboi.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=113&itemid=29665809
ABC News Radio
May 6, 2011
Hillary Clinton: No Halt in NATO Bombing Until Gadhafi Stops Fighting
ROME: After more than six weeks of bombing, are U.S. and NATO forces ready to ease up on Col. Moammar Gadhafi?
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the bombardment won’t stop just because the Libyan strongman wants it to.
Meeting with allies in Rome, Italy Thursday, Clinton pointedly told Gadhafi that the attacks on his military targets won’t end until he meets a series of conditions.
First, Gadhafi must “cease attacks and the threat of attacks” against opposition forces who seek to drive him from power.
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The low-level civil war in Libya began late February, with NATO establishing a no-fly zone over the country on March 19. Since then, the two sides have reached a stalemate, with Gadhafi refusing to relinquish his 40-year rule and rebels controlling most cities in the eastern part of Libya.
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Brussels: French Lawyer Charges NATO With War Crimes
Pan-African News Agency
May 6, 2011
Libya-France: French lawyer to prosecute NATO for ‘crimes’ in Libya
-Several organizations from the diaspora, including the Federation of African Workers in France (FETAF), and the Association of Guineans residing abroad (AGRE), have recently expressed their outrage about the NATO air strikes on Libya.
A complaint will be filed in the coming days in Brussels, Belgium, against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for ‘crimes’ committed in Libya, including the killing of the Libyan leader’s son and his three grandchildren, French lawyer Philippe Missamou announced Thursday to PANA. ‘This is a complaint for war crimes and crimes against humanity. I am filing it in Belgium because it is the headquarters of NATO. The Belgian court is competent to assess this complaint,’ said the lawyer, who is known for handling political issues. He openly accused NATO of violating the rules of armed conflict in its actions in Libya particularly the protection of civilians.
‘For instance the attack of the residence of the son of Libyan leader: it is absolutely not a military objective. It’s a murder that should not go unpunished. We will use all legal means to obtain redress’, said Missamou.
‘What is happening in Libya has nothing to do with events in Tunisia and Egypt. In Libya, we are witnessing an armed insurrection. Insurgents loot, kill, burn. It is the duty of the Tripoli regime to respond by all means. What do we want authorities to do? Idly stand by? It’s unthinkable,’ added the lawyer.
Several organizations from the diaspora, including the Federation of African Workers in France (FETAF), and the Association of Guineans residing abroad (AGRE), have recently expressed their outrage about the NATO air strikes on Libya.
The heads of these organizations have mainly sought a cease-fire while demanding immediate acceptance of a political solution under the auspices of the African Union (AU).
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Russia, China: North Africa, Middle East Crisis Fraught With Most Serious Global Danger
www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=5&id=241960
Interfax
May 6, 2011
Moscow, Beijing concerned over events in North Africa, Middle East
MOSCOW: Russia and China think that the continuing situation in North Africa and the Middle East could entail the most negative consequences.
“Both Russia and China are extremely concerned about this situation, which is fraught with the most serious global disturbances,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on Friday.
Moscow and Beijing will work together to prevent new crises in the region, Lavrov said.
“We have agreed to coordinate our efforts using the possibilities of the two states in order to help further stabilize the situation and to prevent any continuation of unpredictable negative consequences,” he said.
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Russia, China United In Opposing NATO Ground Operation In Libya
english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/06/49929157.html
Voice of Russia
May 6, 2011
Russia, China FMs hold joint press-conference in Moscow
Russia and China agree that the crisis in North Africa and in the Middle East may have very negative consequences for the region.
Moscow and Beijing are concerned over the issue and will continue seeking for a better way to improve the situation in the region, Russia`s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a joint press-briefing with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Moscow today.
The two ministers also discussed China`s President Hu Jintao`s visit to Russia in June.
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en.rian.ru/world/20110506/163886776.html
Russian Information Agency Novosti
May 6, 2011
WorldRussia, China to cooperate on Middle East, North Africa
Moscow: Russia and China have agreed to tight cooperation in Middle East and North African issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
“We have agreed to coordinate our actions using the abilities of both states in order to assist the earliest stabilization and prevention of the further negative unpredictable consequences there,” Lavrov said after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
Lavrov also said Russia and China’s positions, as well as UN’s, are based on the principle that “every nation should determine its future independently without outside interference.”
The Russian minister again reiterated the strong condemnation of a possible ground military campaign in Libya.
Jiechi also said China strongly opposed any exercise of force and was deeply concerned by the situation in Libya.
Both ministers’ statements came in the wake of recent rumors that NATO allies were preparing to unleash a ground campaign in Libya.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution imposing a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, paving the way for a military operation against embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi which began two days later. The command of the operation was shifted from a U.S.-led international coalition to NATO in late March.
Public protests in the Middle East and North Africa have recently ousted regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, and led to a civil war in Libya, with protests continuing in Syria and Bahrain.
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Foreign Minister: Russia Categorically Against Libyan Land Operation
www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=4&id=241981
Interfax
May 6, 2011
Russia against possible land operation in Libya – Lavrov
MOSCOW: Moscow is categorically opposed to a land operation in Libya, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
“Resolution 1973, which the [UN] Security Council has already adopted, rules out such an option directly and unambiguously. This position taken by the Russian Federation remains absolutely unchanged,” Lavrov said at a news conference after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on Friday.
Russia and China will pursue this approach during the UN Security Council’s possible vote on a resolution giving the green light to a land operation in Libya, the Russian minister said.
At the end of March, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution permitting an operation to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. Russia abstained from the vote. An international coalition, made up of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and other countries, then launched Operation Odyssey Dawn against the Libyan authorities.
On March 31 NATO took over command of the operation.
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english.ruvr.ru/2011/05/06/49932286.html
Voice of Russia
May 6, 2011
Russia against ground operation in Libya – Lavrov
Russia is opposed to a ground operation in Libya. This came in a statement at a news conference in Moscow by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
He emphasized the point that the Libya-related resolution of the UN Security Council did not authorize this kind of operation. He said he was discontent with the fact that the Contact Group on Libya was trying to play the key role in determining the policy on the region.
On March 17th, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution providing for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya and paving the way for foreign military interference in the North African country.
Russia and China abstained during the vote. The coalition force under NATO command comprises the UK, France, the United States, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Norway.
The New Dark Age 