West Sees Opportunity in Postwar Libya for Businesses

[IDemo]

Firms from NATO countries hope gratitude will be a factor in awarding contracts

WASHINGTON — The guns in Libya have barely quieted, and NATO’s military assistance to the rebellion that toppled Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi will not end officially until Monday. But a new invasion force is already plotting its own landing on the shores of Tripoli.

Western security, construction and infrastructure companies that see profit-making opportunities receding in Iraq and Afghanistan have turned their sights on Libya, now free of four decades of dictatorship. Entrepreneurs are abuzz about the business potential of a country with huge needs and the oil to pay for them, plus the competitive advantage of Libyan gratitude toward the United States and its NATO partners.

A week before Colonel Qaddafi’s death on Oct. 20, a delegation from 80 French companies arrived in Tripoli to meet officials of the Transitional National Council, the interim government. Last week, the new British defense minister, Philip Hammond, urged British companies to “pack their suitcases” and head to Tripoli.

When Colonel Qaddafi’s body was still on public display, a British venture, Trango Special Projects, pitched its support services to companies looking to cash in. “Whilst speculation continues regarding Qaddafi’s killing,” Trango said on its Web site, “are you and your business ready to return to Libya?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/world/africa/western-companies-see-libya-as-ripe-at-last-for-business.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

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http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine

[pocoloco]

1. They got Sweet Crude?

[court jester]

3. Producers of sweet crude oil include...

"...North Africa: Libya and Algeria. Western Africa: Nigeria.Ghana Central Africa: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_crude_oil

Sweet crude oil is a type of petroleum. Petroleum is considered "sweet" if it contains less than 0.5% sulfur,<1> compared to a higher level of sulfur in sour crude oil. Sweet crude oil contains small amounts of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. High quality, low sulfur crude oil is commonly used for processing into gasoline and is in high demand, particularly in the industrialized nations. "Light sweet crude oil" is the most sought-after version of crude oil as it contains a disproportionately large amount of these fractions that are used to process gasoline (naphtha), kerosene, and high-quality diesel (gas oil). The term "sweet" originated because the low level of sulfur provides the oil with a mildly sweet taste and pleasant smell. Nineteenth century prospectors would taste and smell small quantities of the oil to determine its quality.<2>

[court jester]

2. R&

:dem:

"...When Colonel Qaddafi’s body was still on public display, a British venture, Trango Special Projects, pitched its support services to companies looking to cash in. “Whilst speculation continues regarding Qaddafi’s killing,” Trango said on its Web site, “are you and your business ready to return to Libya?”

It was all foretold thusly:
Backing up Globalization with Military Might

"...President Bill Clinton recently praised NATO for its campaign in Kosovo saying the alliance could intervene elsewhere in Europe or in Africa to fight repression."We can do it now. We can do it tomorrow, if it is necessary, somewhere else," he told U.S. troops gathered at the Skopje, Macedonia airport. (1)..."

...Given these scenarios, it is hardly surprising that Clinton and the leaders of the other NATO countries continue to glorify the aggression against Yugoslavia as "preventing a humanitarian catastrophe," "promoting democracy" and "keeping the peace "against a Hitler-like dictator who would not adhere to "peace" agreements. The public is being repeatedly assured that the means -the bombing of the people of Yugoslavia-were justified by the ends..."

"...An article by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times entitled "What the World Needs Now" tells it all. Illustrated by an American Flag on a fist it said, among other things: "For globalism to work, America can't be afraid to act like the almighty superpower that it is....The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist-McDonald's cannot flourish without McDonnell Douglas, the designer of the F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley's technologies is called the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps." (23)..."

http://www.globalissues.org/article/448/backing-up-globalization-with-military-might

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill

[KG]

4. the west was happy enuff to do business there before.

the interruption of revenue streams by the revolution was what got the west involved in giving a helping hand...

the west doesn't seem nearly as interested in aiding the Syrians...

[Arctic Dave]

5. And so the real reason presents itself.

Some will say it was for oil but I am beginning think the reason is much bigger.

Western markets have destroyed themselves and they are now deperately trying to force these countries into capitalism as to save themselves. Capitalism needs expansion to survive, note how the list of "bad" people are countries who are unwilling to subject themselves, for the most part, to westrn financial constructs.

[GreenArrow]

6. Guess that Mammonitarian intervention

is working.