The Begining of the End-Rebels in Tripoli

[Som@li]

NATO nations set to reap spoils of Libya war

As rebels take Tripoli, foreign powers are eyeing the prize of Libya's high quality crude oil.

 

 

 

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, like his counterparts in the UK, Italy, the US and other countries, is keen to garner oil contracts once a new government emerges in Libya [Reuters]

It looks like the more telling news on Libya has migrated to the business pages. With jubilant reporting of Gaddafi's imminent downfall seizing headlines, it's the financial pages that have the clinical analysis. So, for instance, it is in this section that the Independent reports a "dash for profit in the post-war Libya carve up".

 

Similarly, Reuters, under the headline, "Investors eye promise, pitfalls in post-Gaddafi Libya" noted that a new government in that country could "herald a bonanza for Western companies and investors".

 

Before Tripoli has completely fallen, before Gaddafi and his supporters have stepped down and before the blood dries on the bodies that have yet to be counted, Western powers are already eyeing up what they view us just rewards for the intervention.

 

There are no more illusions over how far NATO forces exceeded the UN security resolution that mandated its campaign. For months, NATO officials insisted it was operating within brief - an air campaign, designed to protect civilians under threat of attack. But now it is described as an "open secret" that NATO countries were operating undercover, on the ground.

 

Add to that the reluctance to broker a negotiated exit, the practice of advising, arming and training the rebels, and the spearheading of an escalation in violence and it looks like NATO's job morphed from protecting civilians to regime change.

 

Oil for regime change

 

And there's a reason for this sudden rush of honesty over its involvement. As alluded to by the Economist, each country's contribution to the NATO effort in Libya is expected to have some impact on how much of the spoils it gets in the looming post-war period.

 

The French Le Figaro newspaper is keen to talk up Libya as "Sarkozy's war", while the British Telegraph drops references to the involvement of British military and intelligence officers, including MI6 and the RAF.

 

Aiding the Libyan rebel forces of the National Transitional Council has created a debt of gratitude. In the context of responsibility for what happens next in Libya, an anonymous British official told the Economist that NATO's involvement in the Libyan uprising means that: "Now we own it."

 

As Reuters reports, "Western companies look well positioned as billions of dollars in oil exploration and construction contracts come up for grabs as part of the reconstruction effort."

 

Leaving aside the massive profits from the rebuilding that Libya is now going to need, there are vast oil spoils to distribute. The Libyan oil industry produced 1.6 million barrels a day prior to the war. The country is thought to have 46 billion barrels of reserves - the largest in Africa.

 

Winners and losers

 

And this is what the information manager at the rebel-controlled Arabian Gulf Oil Company, Libya's largest oil producer, had to say about who it now intends to trade with: "We don't have a problem with Western countries like the Italians, French and UK companies. But we may have some political issues with Russia, China and Brazil." Those last three countries weren't involved in the NATO mission in Libya.

 

None of that is to bemoan the downfall of a terrifying dictator who has kept Libyans crushed and brutalised for decades. Gaddafi's demise is welcome; the courage of Libyans who fought his regime is staggering and only a stone would fail to be moved by their celebration of freedom now.

 

But it does not negate those factors to point out that NATO countries have not previously seemed bothered by the bloodiness of this dictator's 42-year-rule - or that the striking feature of the West's relationship to the Middle East has been its cynical alliances with repressive rulers, propped up to shut down their populations while opening up resources to foreign access.

 

It is exactly this track record - of being a corrosive influence and a self-interested broker - that has made Middle Eastern countries wary of any Western intervention in the tide of revolutions now sweeping the region. Libyan rebels asked for help, but were wary of what was viewed as a necessary alliance with Western forces. It does the flow of Arab uprisings a disservice to now glorify NATO's mission. A liberal intervention for humanitarian ends may be the comfortable hook; but securing assets and resources, as usual, is the real goal.

 

 

 

Source: Al Jazeera

[Jacaylbaro]

Cajiib ,,,,,,

[Che -Guevara]

 

Slide Show

[Che -Guevara]

NATO is bombing Gaddafi's hometown Sirte.

 

And bodies litter streets of Tripoli.

[nuune]

^^ Thanks Che for the images

 

 

Afriqiya Airways, destroyed by the rebels, Also there are other reports that NATO also bombed another 3 Afriqiya Airways in some cities across Libya, the rebels don't know how to keep valuable assets in safe places, mad dogs they are indeed with their NATO flagship, this doomed AIRBUS was one of the best airlines to fly with, and here waaba la diirtey, diirtey ayaaba dhaanta, weyba shiileen, inkaar idin ku dhacdey.

 

 

AIRBUS 300-600, very colorful, this airline was competing Etihad Airways in terms of design and comfort.

[NASSIR]

Nuune, The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Libya estimated to be almost $40 billion has already insured the destruction and reconstruction of this rich country. It's a new gold rush lol.

 

 

Seriously it's sad to see what's happening in beautiful Libya today.

[Che -Guevara]

You are welcomed Nuune.

 

Nassir..You can say that again, a lot of money to be made now even if Libya continues to descend into choas.

[NASSIR]

Che, I am sure you're well aware of why the Muslim world is in constant turmoil and violent intervention, This is what one of the publications of Earth Education and Research writes,

 

 

Control of the world's current and future oil reserves is the single greatest source of global economic and political power

. Oil

reserves

are identified deposits from which oil can be extracted profitably at current prices with current technology. The 11 countries that make up the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have

78%

of the world's crude oil reserves...Today OPEC's members are Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela

Old Sudan, Somalia and the Somali region of Ethiopia are also current and potential conflict hotspots.,.

[Jacaylbaro]

All those would be avoided if he resigned from the beginning ,,, he swore to bring Libya to the old age if he is to go. The west is simply taking that advantage to destroy the country.

[N.O.R.F]

Alot of construction work in Libya has quadrupled. Was with a friend who was going there to work only to fall ill just before he went (Feb/March '11). He would have been trapped there had he gone. Also, I have come across the management of Rixos Hotels as we did a hotel for them here.

 

On the current situation, the mad dog wants to see Libya ruined just so he could say 'I told you so'.

[Jacaylbaro]

Exactly ,,,

 

Let's not blame everything on the West. They just taking the shot that is it. The mad dog should've been smarter and give them no chance of doing such dirty job.

[nuune]

Breaking News:

 

 

African countries will not recognize the Rebel-Nato interim government, news just in from Addis Ababa AU meeting.

 

First time African Union spoke with one voice, hope they don't change their minds.

 

 

Well done South Africa, you have being heading this all along, thank you for not recognizing the mad dogs of Tripoli.

[Jacaylbaro]

And what would that mean to the rebels specially when the have all kinds of recognition from the West ???

[Peace Action]

Nuune Qadaafi bought many of these African leaders, it means nothing. They don't remember all the havoc Qadaafi caused in Africa. Funding wars in Chad, Sudan, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Somalia to name jus a few. Just wait and see what will happen when TNC takes over Libya for good and is able to buy these leaders.

[Libaax-Sankataabte]

This whole conversation about West's intentions is mute in my opinion. We know everyone has interests but what are the choices? Gadafi himself vowed he will destroy Libya if he or his family members are not allowed to rule it. Talk about entitlement. Even that empty blowhard Saif was on TV telling the world there is nobody who can lead Libya other than the “Brother Leader”. Wax maskax fiyoow maba leh reer Gadafi.

 

The Libyan people had two choices under the circumstances; either fight against this maniac family or be their slaves forever. In my opinion, the Libyans chose dignity over humilitiation and torture. Forty years of Gadafis partying with the nation's wealth was just enough. If they don’t seize the moment (Arab Spring, Support from Nato), the Libyans will never have this opportunity again.

 

It is unbeleivable we are talking about conspiracies when we know what this Family has done to Libya and its people. I am not a fan of midget Sarkozy or NATO, but this family has to go.

 

Nuune, thanks for the update again awoowe. Your man is going down, so buckle up my friend. :D