The New Dark Age

20 June 2011 — Stop NATO

• 13 Libyan Civilians Killed In Latest NATO Assault; 856 Civilians Killed In All
• Libya Condemns NATO Raid On Residential Neighborhood
• Libya: 11,781 NATO Sorties, 4,469 Strike Missions
• Libya: NATO “Celebrates” Three Months Of Bombing With Fresh Carnage
• U.S. Guided Missile Destroyer Ends Italian Visit
• Guided Missile Destroyer Assigned To U.S. Carrier Strike Group Ends Israel Visit
• U.S. Guided Missile Cruiser Enters Georgian Port For Exercise
• Ukraine: U.S., NATO Complete This Year’s Largest Black Sea Naval Exercises
• U.S. Kills Seven In Pakistan In 36th Drone Strike Of The Year
• Pakistan Voices Concerns To U.S. Over Border Incursions
• NATO Installs New Joint Warfare Center Commander

13 Libyan Civilians Killed In Latest NATO Assault; 856 Civilians Killed In All

http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1894022.html

Trend News Agency

June 20, 2011

NATO hits house of historic leadership in Libya, killing at least 13: gov’t spokesman

NATO airstrikes hit in the wee hours of Monday morning the house of El-Khweldi el-Hamedi, a member of the historic leadership in Sebrata city, some 80 km west of Tripoli, said a Libyan government spokesman.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told Xinhua that at least 13 people were killed in the NATO airstrike, including Hamedi’s spouse and son and another ten civilians, adding that Hamedi has survived the NATO missile strike.

NATO has recently been ratcheting up military pressure on the regime of embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to quit.

Libyan officials have continually charged that NATO airstrikes have damaged civilian facilities and killed hundreds of civilians.

The most recent figures from Libya’s health ministry show 856 civilians have been killed in NATO air raids since they began in March. The figure could not be independently confirmed.

The world’s major powers, the UK, the U.S. and France, started on March 19 to launch strikes from the air and sea against Gaddafi’s forces after the UN Security Council passed a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and authorize “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya.

NATO formally taken over full command and control of military operations against Libya from the U.S. on March 31.

====

Libya Condemns NATO Raid On Residential Neighborhood

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-06/20/c_13940024.htm

Xinhua News Agency

June 20, 2011

Libyan gov’t slams NATO raids on civilian neighborhood

TRIPOLI: A Libyan government spokesman on Sunday condemned NATO air raids on a civilian neighborhood, calling the attack another “barbaric” crime “deliberately targeting civilians.”

Mussa Ibrahim said the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and Italy in charge of the military actions in Libya should take the moral and legal responsibility for the attack, which targeted a residential area with no military facilities or weapons installed nearby.

NATO warplanes struck the neighborhood early Sunday morning, killing 9 people, including five members of a family, and wounding 18 others. As a Xinhua reporter saw at the scene, a three-story building was reduced to a crumbling wreck, dozens of homes and scores of vehicles nearby damaged or destroyed, and windows of a school building shattered.

NATO warplanes were circling overhead for more than one hour after the raids, causing great panic to local residents.

In a statement issued later on Sunday, NATO admitted that civilian casualties were caused during the airstrikes – in the first such acknowledgement since the alliance began its air operations in March.

…

====

Libya: 11,781 NATO Sorties, 4,469 Strike Missions

Click to access 20110620_110620-oup-update.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

June 20, 2011

NATO and Libya

Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ

…

Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:

Air Operations

Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 08.00GMT) a total of 11781 sorties, including 4469 strike sorties, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 19 JUNE: 137

Strike sorties conducted 19 JUNE: 60

…

====

Libya: NATO “Celebrates” Three Months Of Bombing With Fresh Carnage

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/06/20/52122380.html

Voice of Russia

June 20, 2011

NATO “marks” 90 days in Libya

Vladimir Fedoruk Vladimir

NATO has admitted civilian deaths during an air strike against Tripoli, a report said on Sunday. The air strike was carried out “in celebration of” 90 days of the alliance’s operation in Libya.

NATO has acknowledged civilian deaths in Libya for the first time since it launched an air operation against the country three months ago. A total of nine civilians were killed and 18 were injured during a raid on Saturday night. A family of five was buried under the rubble.

According to the coalition command, the missile fired at the wrong target due to a glitch in the tracking system. The target was a ground-to-air warehouse. Gaddafi-controlled sources report that as at the end of last week, 856 people died in coalition air strikes. NATO command denies the reports, brandishing a detailed “picture” supplied by drones and combat helicopters.

Andei Volodin, Director of the Oriental Research Center, describes the Libya operation as a fiasco:

“As regards Libya, the campaign has proved utterly abortive. The NATO command never thought that it would last that long with zero results.”

The “celebration” of three-months-long bombardments of Libya over the weekend was clouded by NATO’s so-called “friendly strikes” at the rebels which killed 16 people. A rebel convoy near Brega came under attack having been mistaken for Gaddafi troops. Russia’s former Ambassador to Libya Alexei Podtseraba has this opinion:

“There is clear evidence of the West’s failure in Libya. If NATO launches a ground operation, it will openly breach the UN Security Council resolution. A failure in Libya will leave NATO with two options – either to acknowledge defeat or ramp up its military presence. Given the circumstances, Russia’s current mediation attempts are more than welcome and could prove instrumental in reaching a settlement.”

The African Union and China are ready for mediatory missions too. Libyan opposition leader Mahmoud Jibril is arriving in Beijing on Tuesday. And earlier this month, Chinese diplomats met with other opposition leaders in Qatar. These meetings aim to negotiate a ceasefire and start talks. The rebel finance minister Ali Tarhuni had to admit that rebel forces have run out of funds to pursue the war with Muammar Gaddafi. The Al Arabiya Channel reports serious differences within NATO as a number of NATO countries say they have been drained by the war and the US accuses European allies of doing a bad job in Libya.

====

U.S. Guided Missile Destroyer Ends Italian Visit

http://www.eucom.mil/english/fullstory.asp?article=Barry-Concludes-Gaeta-Italy-Port-Visit

U.S. European Command

June 20, 2011

Barry Concludes Gaeta, Italy Port Visit

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Public Affairs

GAETA, Italy: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) concluded its stay in Gaeta, Italy, June 17, after a five-day port visit to the city.

…

Nine ships have been stationed in Gaeta, with the primary mission of serving as the flagship for Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. It is currently the homeport of 6th Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).

Barry is part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, conducting maritime security operations in U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

====

Guided Missile Destroyer Assigned To U.S. Carrier Strike Group Ends Israel Visit

http://www.eucom.mil/english/fullstory.asp?article=Truxtun-Departs-Israel-Port-Visit

United States European Command

June 20, 2011

Truxtun Departs Israel after Port Visit

Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin J. Steinberg, USS Truxtun (DDG 103) Public Affairs

HAIFA, Israel: Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed Haifa, Israel, after a successful port visit, June 16.

…

“Haifa has enjoyed many years of successful visits by ships from the U.S. Navy,” said Cmdr. John H. Ferguson, USS Truxtun commanding officer. “It is a fantastic port for us to visit, and I think it will enjoy many future visits by U.S. ships.”

…

Truxtun is deployed as part of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group, comprised of Carrier Strike Group 2 staff, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron 22 staff, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Anzio (CG 68), and guided-missile destroyers Truxtun and USS Mitscher (DDG 57).

====

U.S. Guided Missile Cruiser Enters Georgian Port For Exercise

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=23637

Civil Georgia

June 20, 2011

U.S. Warship Monterey Visits Batumi

Tbilisi: The U.S. Navy cruiser, equipped with a ballistic missile defence system, will stay in Georgia’s Black Sea port till June 23, according to the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi.

“The USS Monterey is operating in the Black Sea to conduct joint maritime training with several countries adjoining the Black Sea…,” the U.S. embassy said on June 17.

…

The USS Monterey’s arrival in Georgia comes less than two weeks after another U.S. guided-missile cruiser, Anzio, visited the port of Batumi on June 9-12 for a joint damage control exercises with the Georgian coast guard.

The USS Monterey with 43 officers and 323 enlisted personnel arrived in the Black Sea last week to participate in multinational military exercises, Sea Breeze 2011, co-hosted by Ukraine and the U.S.

Azerbaijan, Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Macedonia, Moldova, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK and the U.S. take part in the exercises held from June 6 to June 18. Organizers said the training agenda included counter-piracy operations; non-combatant evacuation operations, as well as board, search and seizure trainings.

In a statement released on June 12, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern over arrival of the U.S. warship, equipped with advanced Aegis antimissile weaponry, in the Black Sea.

“The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that we will not overlook the appearance of any elements of US strategic infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of our borders and will consider any such steps as a threat to our security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Russia and NATO have failed to agree on forms of cooperation on the missile shield in Europe and Russia says that its concerns are being ignored by the Alliance.

“If we are talking about the usual “visit” to this highly sensitive region, why did they choose a ship armed with this particular version of weapons? And what role was assigned to the Monterey anti-missiles by the scenario of the Sea Breeze 2011 exercise during which “an anti-piracy operation by NATO standards” was being tested and improved?” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

————————————————————————–

http://en.trend.az/news/politics/1893759.html

Trend News Agency

June 20, 2011

U.S. ship enters Batumi Port

N. Kirtskhalia

Tbilisi: This morning the U.S. Monterey ship (CG-61) entered the port of Batumi, the Georgian Border Police told Trend.

A meeting ceremony was held at the port. The leader of of Adjara Levan Varshalomidze also attended the meeting. Today, officers of the Georgian Coast Guard will meet the ship’s crew to plan military exercises.

The joint military exercises in Batumi will be held on June 21.

The Georgian ship F-101 Coast Guard of Georgia will participate in the exercises.

“Monterey” has been regularly based in the Black Sea region for several years. It expresses support for stability and maritime security in the Black Sea region by holding joint naval exercises with the countries of the Black Sea basin.

Captain James Kilby runs the ship, with 43 officers and 323 sailors on board.

====

Ukraine: U.S., NATO Complete This Year’s Largest Black Sea Naval Exercises

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61116

Navy NewsStand

June 18, 2011

Sea Breeze 2011 Comes to a Close

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

ODESSA, Ukraine: Exercise Sea Breeze 2011 successfully finished after a closing ceremony and combined press conference at the Ukrainian Officer’s Club in Odessa, June 18.

Air, land and naval forces from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Macedonia, Moldova, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States participated in Sea Breeze, the largest multinational maritime exercise this year in the Black Sea, co-hosted by the Ukrainian and U.S. navies.

“We are honored to once again have co-hosted the annual multinational Sea Breeze exercise with our Ukrainian colleagues,” said U.S. Ambassador James McGee, political advisor to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. “Sea Breeze is about strengthening maritime partnerships in the Black Sea region in the spirit of Partnership for Peace, and I am happy to report that this year’s exercise was our most successful yet.”

…

“Sea Breeze gave us the opportunity to increase the interoperability of our forces in their actions in multinational peacekeeping, anti-terrorism and anti-piracy which are all threats we face in these times,” said Ukrainian Adm. Viktor Maksymov, commander in chief of Ukrainian naval forces. “I wish all of the participants of this year’s Sea Breeze all the best, good health, and fair winds and followings seas in all future activities until we meet again at next years’ exercise.”

Sea Breeze was conducted to improve maritime safety, security and stability actions in the Black Sea by enhancing the capabilities of Partnership for Peace and Black Sea regional maritime security forces.

====

U.S. Kills Seven In Pakistan In 36th Drone Strike Of The Year

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/06/20/52107703.html

Voice of Russia

June 20, 2011

US drones kill 7 suspected insurgents in Pakistan

US drones have delivered strikes in Pakistan to eliminate at least seven people, believed to be rebel fighters.

The strikes were delivered in the Kurram region, on the Afghan border.

US drones have delivered a total of 36 strikes in Pakistan since early this year, drawing scathing criticism from the authorities over the loss of civilian life.

====

Pakistan Voices Concerns To U.S. Over Border Incursions

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-06/20/c_13940191.htm

Xinhua News Agency

June 20, 2011

Pakistan voices concerns to U.S. over border incursion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday expressed serious concern to a visiting top U.S. diplomat over recent militant incursions from across the border with Afghanistan into Pakistan that led to loss of innocent lives.

Pakistan said that armed militants made at least four incursions into Pakistani territories, attacking checkposts and villages and killing soldiers and civilians.

Pakistani Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, while talking to U.S. Deputy Special Representative Frank Ruggiero, underscored the need for effective measures to prevent such incursions, the Foreign Ministry said.

…

Pakistan summoned Afghan envoys on two occasions and a strong protest was launched over a recent incursion of militants into its territory.

Pakistani officials said it is the fourth incursion of militants into its territories from Afghanistan within a month. The previous intrusions took place in Upper Dir, South Waziristan and Kurram Agency.

Pakistan also raised the issue with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who traveled to Pakistan on June 10 to 11. Karzai said it is the responsibility of his government to stop attacks if it happens from Afghan soil.

====

NATO Installs New Joint Warfare Center Commander

http://www.aco.nato.int/page424201732.aspx

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Allied Command Operations

June 20, 2011

Major General Jean Fred Berger Assumed Duties as Commander JOINT WARFARE CENTRE

French Army Major General Jean Fred Berger assumed command of NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre today in a Change of Command ceremony, replacing German Army Lieutenant General Wolfgang Korte, who is retiring after a 42-year military career in the German Army.

Polish Army General Mieczyslaw Bienek, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, based at Norfolk, Virginia, USA, presided over the Change of Command ceremony.

The historical day brought together many civilian and military authorities, Joint Warfare Centre’s international staff and family members as well as several dignitaries and media from Stavanger. Mr Roger Ingebrigtsen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, was the honoured guest representing the host nation.…