Libyan Revolution Tweets, Day 22 (or 24*), Part 5

[Catherina]

Libyan Revolution Tweets, Day 22 (or 24*), Part 5

Today's threads: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

#Feb17 Youth organizers invite Gaddafi's collaborators to stand under his umbrella ella ella ella ella ella http://bit.ly/faa34E

"We have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. Plan A is to live and die in Libya. Plan B is to live and die in Libya. Plan C is to live and die in Libya."
- Saif Islam Qaddafi during interview

*I called this Day 22 because the official start date was #Feb17 but events kicked off 2 days earlier.

Previous Day 21 threads: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

The world’s 100 largest arms dealers, excluding Chinese vendors, sold weapons for $401 billion in 2009, with US vendors in first place. In 2009 the UK and France sold €687,399 of "Chemical or biological toxic agents, riot control agents, radioactive materials, related equipment, components and material". In 2011, the US government was going to sell Gaddafi $77Million of Military Hardware. The deal was quietly scuttled right before the revolution started. (Also see "Briefing and Major Arms Sale, State Dept Briefing on Oct 2010)

AC360 March 9 update with courageous Alex Crawford, the only reporter who got into Zawiya
On other alarming news, on March 9 the Sydney Morning Herald reported Nerve Gas used on protesters in Yemen. Will we hear a word about that?

Threads for Days 1-22 are in my journal

"I was born in Tunisia, I persevered in Egypt, I sacrificed myself in Libya, I have fought in Yemen&Bahrain. I am Freedom, I will not die."
- Libyan4life Jeel Ghathub

LibyanThinker The Libyan Thinker
New video of Soldiers Executed for Refusing to Shoot Protesters in #Libya

Click here for updated and interactive map

Military Installations

Oil Map


- Google Earth DL here to see positions of army and patrolling route of mercenaries
- MAP of Protests across the Middle East

Please rec if you read these so I know if the effort here is worth it.

[pinboy3niner]

1. CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:40 AM FRIDAY, MARCH 11

Libya time = EST +7 hours, PST +10 hours

[defendandprotect]

2. LIBYA HURRA -- !!

[Catherina]

3. Berlusconi says that #France has jumped the gun acknowledging interim gov't in #Libya

Libyan4life Jeel Ghathub
Berlusconi says that #France has jumped the gun acknowledging interim gov't in #Libya--Listen dont be bad that ur BFFL #Gaddafi is leaving
55 minutes ago

[pinboy3niner]

4. Greek plane lands in Tripoli; to return to Athens with Dutch soldiers in a few hours

From AJE Libya Live Blog - March 10:

11:17pm < (4:17 PM EST) >

A Greek military plane has landed in Tripoli, carrying the Greek undersecretary for foreign affairs, reports Al Jazeera's Karl Stagno-Novarra.

The diplomat is understood to be picking up the three Dutch soldiers captured by Libyan forces during an attempt two weeks ago to evacuate a pair of Dutch civilians. The civilians, who were also held, have since been repatriated.

The plane is expected to return to Athens in the next few hours, with the Dutch troops heading onwards to Eindhoven tomorrow.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-10-0

[JanDutchy]

7. Thanks for your support

Dutch news is coming in a moment, I'm curious if they have it actuel

[JanDutchy]

11. It is reported

Dutch government still keep mouth shut.

They are waiting until the plane is again in the air.

[pinboy3niner]

13. It has some resonance for me, Jan

One of my men in Vietnam was captured and spent 3 1/2 years as a prisoner of war.

In this case, the Dutch soldiers clearly were on a humanitarian mission. I'm happy to see they're getting a quick release and will be returning home.

[JanDutchy]

26. I can imagine

Flashbacks can we awfull...


Thanks for your support

[Catherina]

5. Great Video Analysis of French Support For Intervention in Libya

feb17libya Feb17Libya
#Feb17 #Libya Great Video Analysis of French Support For Intervention in Libya http://f.ast.ly/b3br3
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Video Analysis of French Support For Intervention in Libya
Posted on March 10, 2011 by main

This video analysis provides a great background and context behind France’s involvement and stance on the Libyan crisis.

VIDEO

http://feb17.info/general/great-video-analysis-of-french-support-for-intervention-in-libya/

Here's the youtube link to that video-

Dispatch: French Support For Intervention in Libya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEjpkNsjOBQ

Analyst Marko Papic explains the politics behind France's support of the proposed airstrikes on, and no-fly zone over, Libya.

[pinboy3niner]

6. Hillary Clinton to meet with opposition National Council

From AJE Libya Live Blog - March 10:

11:35pm < (4:35 PM EST) >

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, says that she will be meeting with members of Libya's opposition National Council during a visit to Egypt and Tunisia next week.

She has also warned against unilateral action on the part of the United States in Libya, as it could have "unforeseeable consequences".

< Youtube clip (0:40):>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvSugDEPYO4&feature=player_embedded


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-10-0

[Catherina]

8. think the GCC is becoming a Regional org w\ a joint plan which will result in a lot of bloodshed >

UKguy4justice Aminul Hoque
I think the GCC is becoming a Regional organisation that has a joint plan which will result in a lot of blood shed in the region. #Saudi
54 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[pinboy3niner]

9. GCC urges Arab League to intervene in Libya

From The Guardian's News Blog:

9.51pm GMT: < (3:51 PM EST) >

In another sign of the diplomatic noose tightening around the Gaddafi regime, a meeting of Gulf Arab ministers in Riyadh said the Libyan government has lost its legitimacy, according to a report from the United Arab Emirates news agency.

The Gulf Cooperation Council called on the Arab League to help stop the fighting in Libya, including the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/10/libya-uprising-gaddafi-live

[Catherina]

10. #Saudi police open fire on pro-democracy protesters

Hendka hend mohammed
#Saudi police open fire on pro-democracy protesters http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/10/saudi-arabia-police-fire-protest #march11
48 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Saudi police open fire on pro-democracy protesters
Government officials had warned strong action would be taken against protests calling for democratic reforms


Staff and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 March 2011 18.54 GMT

...

Government officials have warned they will take strong action if activists take to the streets after increasing calls for large protests around the oil-rich kingdom to press for democratic reforms.

A witness in the city of Qatif said bullets and stun grenades were fired at several hundred protesters marching in the city streets on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The witness, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared government reprisal, said police in the area opened fire and at least one protester was injured.

The Reuters news agency reported one witness as saying police fired percussion bombs to disperse the crowd of around 200 people.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/10/saudi-arabia-police-fire-protest

[Catherina]

12. Video: Protesters in Masrata, Libya encouraging those in Azzawiya

IbnOmar2005 Ibn Omar
http://youtu.be/ji71dUMTnCw protesters in #masrata encouraging those in #azzawiya #libya. translation in description
46 minutes ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji71dUMTnCw&feature=youtu.be

Protesters in Masrata, Libya encouraging the ones in Azzawiya, who have been under a brutal, violent siege by Gaddafi.

They chant: "Gaddafi is a breeze, Azzawiya you tornado!" and "O youth of Azzawiya, we want a bright night!"

مصراته ترد علي الحقير القدافي وكدبه

via libyafeb17.com

[Catherina]

14. In Libya, 7 journalists unaccounted for, 3 others abused

UKguy4justice Aminul Hoque
RT @tweetminster:"At least 7 journalists covering the conflict in #Libya are unaccounted for" bit.ly/frXwFX - CPJ #Libya #Saudi #Feb17
47 minutes ago

In Libya, 7 journalists unaccounted for, 3 others abused
Committee to Protect Journalists

The whereabouts of at least seven local journalists remained unclear today, CPJ research shows. Atef al-Atrash, a contributor to local news outlets, disappeared shortly after speaking on air on Al-Jazeera from Benghazi. Mohamed al-Sahim, a blogger and critical political writer; Mohamed al-Amin, a cartoonist; and Idris al-Mismar, a writer and former editor-in-chief of Arajin, a monthly culture magazine, have also been reported missing. Two Tripoli-based journalists--Salma al-Shaab, head of the Libyan Journalists Syndicate, and Suad al-Turabouls, a correspondent for the pro-government Al-Jamahiriya--were detained last month but are now unaccounted for.

Three BBC journalists--reporter Feras Killani, cameraman Goktay Koraltan, and producer Chris Cobb-Smith--were released on Tuesday after 21 hours of abuse that included beatings and mock executions, according to news reports. Killani told the BBC: "They were kicking and punching me, four or five men. I went down on to my knees. They attacked me as soon as I got out of the car. They knocked me down to the ground with their guns, AK47s. I was down on my knees and I heard them cocking their guns. I thought they were going to shoot me." He said he was later beaten severely and accused of being a spy. Cobb-Smith described a mock execution: "A man with a small submachine gun was putting it to the nape of everyone's neck in turn. He pointed the barrel at each of us. When he got to me at the end of the line, he pulled the trigger twice. The shots went past my ear." Cobb-Smith managed to place a call to the BBC with a phone that had not been discovered by security agents.

The International News Safety Institute issued a safety advisory today saying that journalists travelling to Zawiya are being obstructed. "Journalists have been detained at checkpoints on the edge of Zawiya and their equipment has been destroyed. Attempting to get in to Zawiya is extremely risky," the institute said on its website.

Since Libya's political unrest erupted last month, CPJ has documented at least 12 detentions, four assaults, two attacks on news facilities, the jamming of Al-Jazeera and Al-Hurra transmissions, and the interruption of Internet service. Numerous journalists have also reported the confiscation of equipment. For details, see our daily coverage:

...

https://cpj.org/2011/03/in-libya-7-journalists-unaccounted-for-3-others-ab.php

[defendandprotect]

57. LIBYA HURRA -- !!

[pinboy3niner]

15. The Guardian's summary of Thursday's events:

• Ras Lanuf in the east and Zawiya in the west appear to have been retaken by government forces, with heavy casualties among rebel fighters. Brega, close to Ras Lanuf, has also been targeted by air strikes and there has been fierce fighting around Bin Jawad.

• Journalists who entered Zawiya after the fighting had stopped said there was evidence of a prolonged and heavy battle, and saw many freshly dug graves in the centre of the city.

• Saif al-Islam Gaddafi vowed an all-out effort to crush the rebels in an interview with Reuters, and said that he and his father would "never surrender".

• Nato ministers, led by Germany and the US, rejected calls for a no-fly zone over Libya, unless there was a "demonstrable need for Nato action," agreement by the UN security council and support from other governments in the region.

• The leaders of France and Britain sent a joint letter to the president of the European council, saying that the Gaddafi clan had to leave Libya to bring a halt to the bloodshed.

• In Saudi Arabia, police used gunfire and stun grenades to disperse a group of 200 protesters during a demonstration by Shia in the east of the country, sending world oil prices higher.

• The International Committee of the Red Cross has described the situation in Libya as a civil war. It said it has seen increasing numbers of wounded civilians arriving in hospitals in Ajdabiya and Misrata

• The Guardian correspondent Ghaith Abdul-Ahad – who has been missing for several days – appears to be custody, according to Libyan government officials. A Brazilian journalist who was arrested alongside Abdul-Ahad was released unharmed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/10/libya-uprising-gaddafi-live

[roamer65]

16. I want NATO to start bombing Gadhafi's residences and military assets.

Where is military involvement from our goddamn gov't when we want it?

[David__77]

17. If McCain would have won, you would have got that.

I am glad that Obama is not intervening militarily.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pinboy3niner]

20. He's reported to be holding hostages at his residence as human shields

His residence is also reported to have tunnels that may extend more than a mile. An airstrike there likely would result only in the deaths of his hostages, while he would be in a safe location in the tunnels.

[Desertrose]

24. How bout some of that gas stuff they use to get rid of moles.....

throw it down his tunnels......gas him out like the rodent he is......

Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.


Human shields...that's just so horrible...

[joshcryer]

45. Mostly students, too.

[joshcryer]

46. Just blow up his airfield, munitious depots, and tanks, Libyans would have it from there.

[Catherina]

18. #G takes key towns as Nato squabbles

ToneyBrooks Toney Brooks
#Gaddafi takes key towns as Nato squabbles over #Libya action gu.com/p/2nkg9/tw At #NATO this morning, U.S. and Germany blocked #NoFly.
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply



Gaddafi takes key towns as Nato squabbles over Libya action
• Rebels retreat from Ras Lanuf and Zawiya
• Regime warns of full-scale military action
• Nato in paralysis as US blocks no-fly zone
• Navy chief says Britain ready to send more ships

Peter Beaumont in Tripoli, Ian Traynor in Brussels and Nicholas Watt
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 March 2011 20.44 GMT

...

Fears among Libyan opposition groups that they will be defeated by the time Europe and the US agree on a course of action were heightened when:

• Nato was left paralysed as the US joined Germany in blocking the imposition of a no-fly zone supported by Britain and France. Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said at a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels that contingency planning for a no-fly zone would continue, before adding "that's the extent of it".

Adding to the sense of diplomatic and political disarray, the AFP news agency reported that French president Nicolas Sarkozy will propose air strikes on Gaddafi's command headquarters to EU leaders. There was no confirmation by Sarkozy's office.

• Britain and France, which led the calls for today's emergency summit in the face of scepticism from Germany, differed on how to deal with the rebels. William Hague shared the irritation of some of his counterparts at a foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels when it was announced in Paris that France was recognising the Transitional National Council as the "only legitimate representative of the Libyan people". Hague spoke by phone with Mahmoud Jabril, the council's special envoy, who is expected to attend tomorrow's EU summit. But Hague pointedly said: "That leadership are legitimate people to talk to, of course, but we recognise states rather than groups within states."

• David Cameron and Sarkozy are also expected to clash today over the future of EU funding for north Africa and the Middle East. Britain wants to withhold £1bn in annual EU support for the region unless greater democracy is introduced. France is strongly opposed to the proposal which it regards as an assault on funding which benefits Francophone countries.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/10/gaddafi-libya-nato?CMP=twt_gu

[Catherina]

19. Arab League wud prefer for #G 2 win as it would b a set back & warning 2 revolutions elsewhere

MilitantNews Stephen Morgan
#Libya The countries of the Arab League would really prefer for #Gaddafi 2 win as it would be a set back and warning 2 revolutions elsewhere
1 hour ago

[Catherina]

21. The African Union will send a team of five African presidents to #Libya to try & stop the fighting.

feb17voices Feb 17 voices
RT @SultanAlQassemi: France 24 Arabic: The African Union will send a team of five African presidents to #Libya to try & stop the fighting.
1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Catherina]

22. Clinton #no-fly-zone not stop slaughter of Kurds true US/UK airforces often let Turkish jets bomb >

MilitantNews Stephen Morgan
#Libya Clinton #no-fly-zone not stop slaughter of Kurds true US/UK airforces often let Turkish jets bomb them+UK pilots officially protested
59 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[roamer65]

34. More excuses while the Libyan people are murdered.

This is reminding me of Rwanda. It's disgraceful.

[Catherina]

23. City of Derna Protests and Prays for their Brothers and Sisters Across Libya

feb17libya Feb17Libya
#Feb17 #Libya The City of Derna Protests and Prays for their Brothers and Sisters Across Libya http://f.ast.ly/g8Xgw
52 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

The City of Derna Protests and Prays for their Brothers and Sisters Across Libya
Posted on March 10, 2011 by main

On March 10, 2011 the city of Derna men and women came out to protest in solidarity with their brothers caught in battle in and Misurata, Zintan, and the rest of the cities in the West. They raise their voice against the suffering, the injustice, and the tyranny of this criminal regime, the killer of children and innocent people. the bloody massacres, and genocidal war that has been waged against the Libyan people.

They are seen here offering a duaa (Prayer) asking God for Gaddafi to receive the same pain that he has inflicted.

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6y5u0tVWJ0&feature=player_embedded

http://feb17.info/general/the-city-of-derna-protests-and-prays-for-their-brothers-and-sisters-across-libya/

[Desertrose]

25. Thee people are amazing...in the best way possible! nt

[JanDutchy]

27. The Hidden agenda unveiled: some interesting: The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya?

Insurrection and Military Intervention: The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya? (Prof Michel Chossudovsky)

http://worldnewstrust.com/all-content/edited/topic/war/insurrection-and-military-intervention-the-us-nato-attempted-coup-d-etat-in-libya-prof-michel-chossudovsky.html

[defendandprotect]

58. Great idea to heavily arm him before they tried to overthrow him ... ????

[Catherina]

28. #Saif Gadhafi turns up rhetoric w/fist-pumping speech to loyalists in #Tripoli tonight.

NicRobertsonCNN Nic Robertson
#Saif Gadhafi turns up rhetoric w/fist-pumping speech to flag-waving crowd of young men -- govt loyalists-- in #Tripoli tonight. #Libya
6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[JanDutchy]

30. Who is Who: Anti-Bullying ad

This ad can be very political explained

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWJut7KQhI4

[Catherina]

31. #Saif #Gadhafi to Arab world, screw your TV stations and screw your Arab League.. >>>

NicRobertsonCNN Nic Robertson
#Saif #Gadhafi to Arab world (except those who support regime): “..screw your TV stations and screw your Arab League..” #Libya
5 minutes ago

#Saif #Gadhafi tells crowd that people in E Libya r calling ”begging us and pleading for us to save them” (MORE) #Lib

#Saif #Gadhafi: I want armed groups to listen to me.. and I want our people in the east to hear this as well.. we are coming. #Libya

[Catherina]

37. Video "Saif Gaddafi: "Libya is 'not a piece of cake'"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C6CpeRzLiQ&feature=relmfu
on Mar 10, 2011

[Catherina]

32. dropping bombs on us, even shooting from the sea... but we control most of city"

feb17voices Feb 17 voices
LPC Eyewitness Ras Lanuf: "They're dropping bombs on us, even shooting from the sea, but we (opposition forces) haven't moved" #libya #feb17
31 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

feb17voices Feb 17 voices
LPC Eyewitness Ras Lanuf: "Gaddafi's forces came from the sea & are in neighborhood of Ras Lanuf, but we control most of city" #libya #feb17
30 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Catherina]

33. Breaking Press Release from #UN- Blah blah bad #g blah blah stop that or we'll tell you again

EndOppression Today I am Muslim 2
Breaking Press Release from #UN on #MiddleEast: Blah blah bad #gadafi blah blah stop that or we'll tell you again
17 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[necso]

35. The risk of becoming another force that

could use relief -- but that can't in practice be relieved -- bears careful consideration.

Always try to have options.

[Catherina]

39. The whole thing is so bloody complicated now as if the horror wasn't enough. n/t

[necso]

44. War,

especially against a ruthless adversary, is a terrible thing.

And international forces are not only extremely restricted in terms of what they can do, but they often have a very bad idea of what they can actually accomplish.

For example, anybody with a clue should have realized that invading Iraq was a very bad idea, and that getting bogged down in Afghanistan* was also.

*: I was against invading; and once we did, the best hope was to hit 'em hard, cut a generous deal, and get out -- while the risk of our coming back was still a credible threat.

[joshcryer]

64. It's no more complicated than it was on Feb 17th.

Gaddafi must go!

[defendandprotect]

95. Basically the Libyan people are not only fighting Gaddafi, they're fighting US/UK weapons --

our weapons industry which we show off so glowingly while we have 3 million

HOMELESS here. This is a dictator cemented in place by US weapons.

Nonetheless, the inspiration of the Egyptians and Lybians fighting for freedom

has shown us the positive effect it can have --

an Israel diplomat resigning and saying he can no longer abide the policies of

the Israeli govenrment -- that it is "wrong" -- and that if it does not change

it will become a "pariah" in the world -- and its government de-legitimized.

It's not just Libya United Libya United -- we recognize ourselves in the people

of Egypt and Lybia -- and that's as it should be.

The people of the Arab states are all one people -- as we all are.

Only the few and their violence work to separate us in their own interests.


:hug:

[Catherina]

36. Mosque in ruins amid twisted wreckage of Zawiya

septimius_sever septimius severus
Mosque in ruins amid twisted wreckage of Zawiya: http://thetim.es/f624Fs #libya #feb17
1 hour ago

Here is a video posted in an earlier thread today. Zawiya is devastated.

Zawiya town centre devastated and almost deserted
ITV News's Bill Neely describes the damage to the Libyan town, now back in the hands of the regime after a furious battle


Gaddafi's men are cleaning up Zawiya, the town they have finally taken after bombarding it for a week. They have brought in road sweepers to brush away the evidence of the worst fighting between Libyans in a century. It is certainly the worst devastation I've seen in any town centre.

Mix a huge IRA bomb with a tank battle and add the aftermath of an artillery barrage, and you get some idea of the damage to the centre of this town of 250,000 people. At least it used to be home to that number. When I arrived, the first journalist to enter after the fighting ended, the streets were almost deserted for half a mile in every direction beyond the main square. The only people were bands of Gaddafi's men, high on victory and bent on revenge, searching buildings for any sign of the rebels who had held them at bay for a week. A resident told us by phone two days ago that there wasn't an animal in the street or a bird in the air above Zawiya. She was right.

Dozens were killed in the battle for Martyrs' Square. There are now many more "martyrs" buried there. I counted more than 20 new graves. Clean-up crews swept furiously, trying to make the square look normal.

Soon there will be no sign of what I saw: blackened tanks being loaded on to transporters; militia vehicles burned and peppered with bullet holes; the clothing of the newly dead, shot in a battle in Gaddafi's backyard.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/10/zawiya-town-itv-regime-battle

[JanDutchy]

38. Malta refuses Libyan help request ahead of EU summit

Malta has refused a request by the Libyan government for help ahead of an EU summit which will discuss the upheaval in the North African country.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110310/local/pm-barroso-in-formal-meeting-in-brussels

[Catherina]

40. Germany decides to freeze the Libyan Investment Authority & Libyan Central Banks assets

libyanfsl Libya NFSL
Germany decides to freeze the Libyan Investment Authority & Libyan Central Banks assets #Feb17 #Libya
26 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[bobbolink]

43. Better late than never, I guess.

[Catherina]

41. Video- heavy fighting in #masrata, cameraman shot in the end, from march 6th

IbnOmar2005 Ibn Omar
http://youtu.be/xu3R-VgEEaE heavy fighting in #masrata #libya against #gaddafi, cameraman shot in the end
27 minutes ago

Heavy fighting in Masrata Libya, cameraman hit in the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu3R-VgEEaE&feature=youtu.be

video of the clashes between freedom fighters and Gaddafi's troops, cameraman in the end gets shot
This was shot on march 6th

[Catherina]

42. trying to steal our revolution for their own purposes, trying to get us back to the monarchy?

FreeLibyan87 Free libya
why is there many people trying to steal our revolution for their own purposes. this is for the libyan people by the libyan people. #Libya

mainly talking about people who trying to get us back to the monarchy (ex. crown prince) with ex being underlined twice.
11 minutes ago

[rabs]

47. Kicking; With news that a Brazilian journalist has been released

Andrei Netto, correspondent for O Estado de Sao Paulo, has been set free by Qaddafi forces, the newspaper reported today. Netto, who is 34, was detained and imprisoned for almost a week when he entered Libya from Tunisia.

O Estado reported that Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff put pressure on the G. regime to release Netto, who today was in the Brazilian ambassador residence in Tripoli.

The newspaper reported Netto, who is based in Paris, was jailed with Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, journalist for the Guardian newspaper of London. Last I saw Abdul-Ahad is still missing.

[JanDutchy]

48. Friday, day of Truth for Libya ?Gaddafi envoy holds talks in Athens: ..........

Gaddafi envoy holds talks in Athens

11 March 2011, Friday / AP, ATHENS http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&newsId=237904&link=237904

0


A Libyan envoy for Muammar Gaddafi held talks Thursday with Greek foreign ministry officials as part of an apparent Libyan diplomatic blitz before a European Union meeting to discuss the country’s upheaval.

Top diplomat Mohamed Tahir Siala met Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis and Secretary General Ioannis Zeppos, after similar talks were held in Lisbon with Portugal’s Foreign Minister Luis Amado on Wednesday night. None made statements after the 50-minute meeting at the Foreign Ministry in central Athens. However, Greek diplomatic officials said Siala conveyed the Libyan regime’s positions for a solution to the crisis. They said the positions did not differ substantially from those expressed publicly by Muammar Gaddafi and other Libyan officials. The “true intentions cannot be diagnosed,” the officials said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. They did not give details of what proposals might have been made, but said Greece will inform the other EU countries about the discussions during the 27-nation bloc’s foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Greece conveyed its position that the bloodshed in Libya must end immediately and that the international community must remain united and exercise pressure against the regime, they said. The Foreign Ministry said the meeting was arranged in agreement with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. A Greek source said the request for the meeting came via the Libyan Embassy, and that similar requests had also been sent to a number of other European countries.


-----

[Iterate]

49. Natural Gas, electricity, and Sirte

In the past few years Libya has increased its natural gas production, and even gotten help from the EU to reduce wasteful flaring by installing NG capture from its oil wells. Part of this gas has gone into export, but a significant portion now goes into electricity production both by changing over old oil-fueled turbines, and by building new power plants. Even in recent years there were constant blackouts during the summer months. And, as another benefit, it saves the more valuable oil for export.

Fair enough to that point. It was a win-win, except of course that G kept the money.

Libya exports its surplus gas largely through pipeline, including the the Greenstream pipeline to Italy, where it is also used for electrical generation. Two pipeline networks feed into it and supply cities along the way, one on the western border, and one from the eastern gas fields to Brega, that then follows the coast, splitting one branch to Benghazi and beyond, and the other through Sirte-Khoms-Tripoli, and finally joining the others at Melita.

The gas fields are in the east, the far west, and offshore. Production has been shut down in all, and exports nearly stopped except for a small (relatively speaking) amount that is used for domestic electricity generation.

Here are some quotes from Eni, the Italian company that's Libya's biggest gas exporter:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031003862.html

Eni's own production was down by two-thirds, Scaroni said. What is still running is mostly gas extraction to generate electricity, and turning that off would just create more problems for civilians, he said.

"The electricity is not for Mr. Gadhafi. It is for the Libyan people," Scaroni said.

Eni executives are in touch with Italian officials, who are in turn consulting with the European Union. "So far, we have been encouraged to continue production," Scaroni said.

The company has nevertheless suspended activity at offshore gas facilities as well as production at its Bu Attifel oil field due to insufficient staff, Scaroni said."

Now, I can't go on too long here right now, so I'll get to the verb. Sirte is the location of one of the largest, newest, all gas-fired power plants. Turn the flow valve off at the Brega pumping station, and it all goes dark. Every town using gas up the coast goes dark. Tripoli goes dark. Local storage will only last for so long.

Good sources are hard to find, mostly pay-for-view, and swamped by discussions of international shortages. Fuck 'em, I don't care if they have to push their SUVs to work. I have more sources, and probably better ones somewhere, but here are a few for now:

Libyan pipelines:
http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/north_africa_oil_gas_products_pipelines_map.html

List of power stations (partial, from ~2002)
www.auptde.org/oldsite/electric_stations/lebia.pdf

Pipeline map:
edit - deleted link and looking for the better one.

[JanDutchy]

50. Libyan official flies to Egypt with Gaddafi message as battle rages in Ras Lanouf

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-237790-libyan-official-flies-to-egypt-with-gaddafi-message-as-battle-rages-in-ras-lanouf.html



10 March 2011, Thursday / AP, CAIRO

[JanDutchy]

51. Youssef Fittori, a major in the opposition force“Today, God willing, we will take Bin Jawwad.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-237890-nato-begins-24-hour-surveillance-of-libyan-airspace.html

11-03-2011

[JanDutchy]

52. UPDATE 1-Libya frees Dutch marines, to leave on Greek plane

UPDATE 1-Libya frees Dutch marines, to leave on Greek plane
Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:44am GMT
(Updates with release, new estimated arrival time)
ATHENS, March 11 (Reuters) - The Libyan government has released three Dutch marines and they will be evacuated aboard a Greek military plane, the Greek Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

It said the plane was expected to land in Athens at 6 a.m. (0400 GMT).


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE72A00220110311

[JanDutchy]

55. Dutch marines caught in Libya heading to Greece by NICHOLAS PAPHITIS Associated Press Updated 05:06

Earlier Dutch newspaper Trouw mentioned at 01:38 that:

Soldiers seems delayed departure

11/03/11, 01:38

TRIPOLI-the departure of the three Dutch soldiers from Libya seems to be delayed. The Greek plane that would take away the three, still waiting at the airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli, reported a reporter of the Arab news channel al-Jazeera Friday morning from the airport.


ANP The Greek military aircraft must also bring approximately fifteen Greeks. These passengers had already boarded. They have taken off the plane and stay overnight, reported the journalist via Twitter.


According to the reporter from al-Jazeera has Libya at the last minute new demands. The Dutch topdiplomaat Ed Kronenburg is according to him again in contact with the Libyan negotiators. Son Saif al-Islam of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi would have said that the appliance in the morning departs. (REUTERS)

[Adsos Letter]

53. K&R

[Iterate]

54. UPDATE 2-US cable: Gaddafi's son took oil from Libyan field

OSLO, March 10 (Reuters)

The United States believed in 2009 that Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam was taking part of the output of an oil field run by France's Total, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.

The cable from the U.S. embassy in Tripoli -- made available to Aftenposten by the Wikileaks site -- said the Libyan leader's son had regularly diverted oil from the offshore al Jurf field, operated by Total in conjunction with Germany's Wintershall and the Libyan National Oil Corp.

"The embassy could not determine whether Saif's tapping of oil affected the Libyan state's share or whether it came at the expense of the foreign companies," Aftenposten reported on Thursday.

A spokesman for Total said no such activity took place with regard to its production share from al Jurf.

...more

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE7291YA20110310?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

[Iterate]

56. Cablegate contents RE: Aftenposten skimming story

http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/06/09TRIPOLI438.html

Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09TRIPOLI438 2009-06-04 13:01 2011-01-31 21:09 CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN Embassy Tripoli

VZCZCXRO0501
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTRO #0438/01 1551307
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041307Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4880
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1479
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0886
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS PRIORITY 0825
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0948
RUEHVT/AMEMBASSY VALLETTA PRIORITY 0418
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0738
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1058
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 5411

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000438

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, COMMERCE FOR NATE MASON, ENERGY FOR GINA
ERIKSON, (NATHAN MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (REITZA), AND CLDP (TEJTEL
AND MCMANUS)
CAS FINANCIAL ATTACHE (SEVERENS) LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/4/2019 TAGS: ECON EPET ENRG EFIN EINV LY

1.(C/NF) Summary: Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) renegotiated the terms of its production sharing agreements with France's Total and its partners in Libya (Germany's Wintershall and Norway's StatoilHydro), adjusting the existing stand-alone contracts to bring them into compliance with the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) rubric. The renegotiation of Total's contract is of a piece with the NOC's effort to renegotiate existing contracts to increase the Libya's share of crude oil production. An interesting corollary is that one of the affected fields is that from which Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, a son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, periodically obtains oil lifts, which he sells to finance his various activities. Depending on whether his lifts had been coming out of the NOC's production share or Total's (it's not clear what the arrangement was), the renegotiated agreements could adversely impact his revenue stream. End Summary.

2.(SBU) The NOC had already renegotiated its agreements with other international oil companies (IOCs) producing in Libya to align those contracts with the EPSA-IV framework. Under EPSA-IV terms, IOCs commit to upfront signing bonuses to the NOC, a lower share of produced oil and gas, technology transfers, training of local employees and investment to re-develop existing fields. Italy's Eni, Canada's Petro-Canada, a European consortium headed by Spain's Repsol, and a consortium headed by U.S. Occidental ("Oxy") signed renegotiated agreements under similar terms with the NOC in June-July 2008. Those companies cumulatively paid the NOC USD 5.4 billion in upfront bonus payments as part of the renegotiation process.

3.(SBU) The renegotiated Total agreements cover production at the Mabruk field (jointly operated by Total and StatoilHydro) and the al-Jurf field (jointly operated by Total and Wintershall). Under the new agreement, the Total-Statoil and Total-Wintershall consortiums will pay a signing bonus of USD 500 million to the NOC - USD 200 million at the signing and the remaining USD 300 million when the viability of gas exploitation in al-Jurf field is confirmed. The consortiums also committed to develop more robust training programs for local employees. Exploration and development costs associated with increasing production capacity of the Mabruk and al-Jurf fields will be shared equally by the NOC and the consortiums.

4.(SBU) Each consortium will take 27 percent of oil production, down from the 50 percent take they had under the previous agreement. For gas, the consortium will take a 40 percent share (down from 50 percent), which will be reduced in the future to 30 percent. For the Mabruk field, which is located in the Sirte basin and produces some 20,000 barrels of oil per day, the new production share is 73 percent for the NOC, 20.25 percent for Total and 6.75 percent for StatoilHydro. The contract's expiration date has been extended from 2027 to 2032. For the offshore al-Jurf field, which produces 45,000 barrels of oil per day, the new share is 73 percent for the NOC, 20.25 percent for Total and 6.75 percent for Wintershall. Natural gas produced at al-Jurf will be split as follows: 60 percent for the NOC, 30 percent for Total and 10 percent for Wintershall. The al-Jurf contract has been extended from 2017 to 2032.

5.(C/NF) Comment: The new production share percentage accepted by Total and its partners is still considerably larger than those obtained by other IOCs in renegotiating their existing contracts. It is also larger than the production shares of companies who won contracts in the most recent EPSA-IV bid rounds. The new agreement still guarantees Total, Wintershall and StatoilHydro longer access to existing Libyan reserves and further field development opportunities, with the potential of increasing oil production. An interesting potential corollary is that al-Jurf is reportedly the field from which Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, a son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, periodically obtains oil lifts, which he sells to finance his various activities. It is not clear whether those allotments have come from the production share of the NOC or Total (Saif has strong ties to senior French business and government figures). If his take has been coming from Total's production share, there could be a reduction in the number of lifts he is consigned and a TRIPOLI 00000438 002 OF 002 corresponding decrease in his bank account's bottom line. The timing is particularly bad, coinciding with other recent setbacks for Saif al-Islam that include the March cabinet shuffle that did not favor his reform efforts, his brother's successful visit to Washington (viewed as a threat to his perceived primacy on the U.S.-Libya account) and the recent nationalization of his al-Libia satellite television channel. End Comment. CRETZ

[Catherina]

59. Dear DU friends, this was my last thread (please read)

Dear DU friends,

I've become increasingly concerned with certain aspects of this uprising so this was my last thread and this is my last post at DU.

I see where this is heading and can't support it. The people of Libya will always have my support but what's going on here is internal chaos now being escalated and exploited by internal and external forces.

More relevant to this goodbye is that the United States' political goals are at odds with mine and with my support for sovereignty & independence in the Middle East. I can't continue here and vigorously fight NATO’s warmongering plans at the same time.

It's just time for me to go now.

I'll miss many of you and wish you the best, :hug:



God help the Libyan people.

The empire now wants to see events revolve around what Gaddafi may or may not have done, because it needs to intervene militarily in Libya and strike a blow at the revolutionary wave unleashed in the Arab world. Up to now, not one word was said; they kept their mouths shut and carried on with business.

...

“If essential human rights are a right of life, is the Council ready to suspend the membership of states that unleash war?”

“Will it suspend states that finance and supply military aid used by the receiving state in massive, flagrant and systematic violations on human rights and in attacks on civilian populations, such as what is happening in Palestine?”

“Will it apply that measure against powerful countries that carry out extra-judicial executions on the territory of other states, using high technology such as smart bombs and unmanned planes?

...

Fidel Ruiz Castro

PS. Interview worth viewing: Noam Chomsky and Jeremy Paxman's interview in full

[joshcryer]

61. That's a shame. You'll be missed.

[Iterate]

62. Take care of yourself, please.

I know you've heard that before. This shit leaves scars. The people who are telling you to take care are probably bearing some themselves.

I can only say what I wish I had done myself: find some safety, some support, and act from that place. Then just do what you can, and no more. Rest, renew, keep an eye on the good parts of life.

I'm sure some people will step forward to fill in, though certainly not as well, and not as intensely as you have done. But do rest and renew. Please?

[Desertrose]

65. OMG...NO!!! I'll miss you...but I understand...

and I've been feeling the same way as you...makes me so sad.....your image say sit all really.

Please don't forget us...your threads are invaluable!!
:cry:

Take good care Catherina!!!!!!:hug::hug::hug:

[JanDutchy]

Thanks Catherine, I respect your choice

"Under every stone there can be an 'animal'. When found: it is a choic what one do."

Part III of this story will be publised. Today it will be the political day of truth for Libya, a race which was started a long time ago:

"Insurrection and Military Intervention: The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya? (Prof Michel Chossudovsky)

http://worldnewstrust.com/all-content/edited/topic/war/...


Free Libya in Dignity please ! The Internationale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk69e1Vcmvg

[joshcryer]

67. I'm highly offended by the Coup d'Etat in Libya rhetoric.

It's as if the three weeks, probably month long, if not month and a half long resistance is irrelevant. This is why I have been hating any idea of intervention because it would completely wipe out what the revolutionaries have tried to accomplish.

[JanDutchy]

66. Thanks Catherine, I respect your choice

"Under every stone there can be an 'animal'. When found: it is a choic what one do."

Part III of this story will be publised. Today it will be the political day of truth for Libya, a race which was started a long time ago:

"Insurrection and Military Intervention: The US-NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya? (Prof Michel Chossudovsky)

http://worldnewstrust.com/all-content/edited/topic/war/...


Free Libya in Dignity please ! The Internationale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk69e1Vcmvg

[Ghost Dog]

68. We must denounce NATO’s war-mongering plans...

...The Libyan leader got involved in extremist theories that were opposed both to communism and capitalism. It was a stage when Gaddafi dedicated himself to theorizing, something that doesn’t have any place in this analysis, other than to point out that the first article of the Constitutional Proclamation of 1969 established the “Socialist” nature of the Great Socialist People’s Libya Arab Jamahiriya.

What I wish to emphasize is that the United States and its allies were never interested in human rights.

The hornet’s nest taking place in the Security Council, at the meeting of the Human Rights Council at the Geneva headquarters and in the UN General Assembly in New York was pure theatre.

I completely understand the reactions of the political leaders involved in so many contradictions and sterile debate, given the tangled web of interests and problems they must look after.

We all know very well that the character of permanent member, the power of veto, the possession of nuclear weapons and quite a few institutions are sources of privileges and interests imposed by force onto humankind. One can agree or not with many of them, but one can never accept them as fair or ethical measures.

The empire now wants to see events revolve around what Gaddafi may or may not have done, because it needs to intervene militarily in Libya and strike a blow at the revolutionary wave unleashed in the Arab world. Up to now, not one word was said; they kept their mouths shut and carried on with business.

With the latent Libyan rebellion being promoted by Yankee intelligence, or by Gaddafi’s own errors, it is important that the people don’t let themselves be deceived, since very soon world opinion shall have enough elements to know what to expect.

In my opinion, and that’s what I said from the very first instant, we must denounce NATO’s war-mongering plans... - http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/reflexiones/2011/ing/f090311i.html


--
- I'm not so sure DU is an inappropriate place in which to vigorously fight NATO’s warmongering plans, Catherina? :hug:

[joshcryer]

69. "Libyan rebellion being promoted by Yankee intelligence" = insulting.

The empire now wants to see events revolve around what Gaddafi may or may not have done, because it needs to intervene militarily in Libya and strike a blow at the revolutionary wave unleashed in the Arab world. Up to now, not one word was said; they kept their mouths shut and carried on with business.

With the latent Libyan rebellion being promoted by Yankee intelligence, or by Gaddafi’s own errors, it is important that the people don’t let themselves be deceived, since very soon world opinion shall have enough elements to know what to expect.

:puke:

What a despicable and vile position to take.

Gaddafi's crimes are well established already. There is no "question of what he may or may not have done."

The 'empire' if it were to intervene militarily would not be striking a blow against the revolutionary wave, it'd be striking a blow for the revolutionary wave (because as it's looking now, the revolutionaries cannot win without intervention, which is why the OP stopped posting; the very idea of western intervention = discredit, which is what I was afraid would fucking happen :puke:).

Yankee intelligence, btw, is what is promoting the rebellion, and you shouldn't let yourself be deceived. The OP fell for that one, too. :puke:

Sorry, this is just too rich, too too rich.

I still don't want anyone to intervene, but if it stops the killing sooner I'm not going to bitch about it, even if it does sully the revolutionaries and they're seen by 'progressives' as 'puppets of the west.'

[Ghost Dog]

72. Yes, I largely agree with you there:

I've come to the conclusion Fidel is overlooking the true madness, the true 'ideological extremism, the 'satrap' mentality of Muammar al-Gaddafi. In his role as 'Defender of Socialist Revolution' (ie. the Libya Arab Jamahiriya, up to now) he's overlooking the clear fact that, although it's true that the 'capitalist imperialist powers' also want to get rid of Gadaffi, the vast majority of the Libyan people, in Tripolitania as well as in Cyrenaica, are demanding, and are right now fighting, suffering and dying for, the end of the current regime. I think Fidel should recognise his duty, and the Revolution's duty, to support these people, as much as he feels a duty to resist the imperialist powers, regardless of any role played by 'Yankee intelligence' or any other aspect of internet-enabled 'color-revolution' activity, media mockingbird propaganda, etc. (which he well knows, btw, is already being calibrated for the Cuban context).

Some kind of targetted military action - the latest French proposals, for example - properly and cleanly executed, would be of great assistance to the new Libyan Revolution. Perhaps France could be an acceptable executor of such actions. Perhaps Turkey could be, too. Both have NATO resources to call on.

But once resolved the process of revolution, the issue then becomes that of its outcome.

Mr. Castro apparently fears that by that stage the Libyan people will find themselves with little choice but to accept integration into the usual pretend-democracy bourgeois banker-dominated 'western capitalist world'.

Now, some serious movement for change in the USA itself, growing out of a wave of wildcat and general strikes in protest at the 'new robber-baron' economic situation (as well as the financial-, ethical- and war-crimes political situation) would go a long way towards alleviating such risk.

[joshcryer]

73. The same could've been said (and was probably said) of the Egyptians, though.

And the Tunisians. But they're not stopping, it's not like, "Oh hey we protested for weeks but we'll just roll over and play dead" it's "hey we're going to keep protesting until we get what we want!" The Libyans, of all of the people, of all of the revolutionaries, are the last to allow the west to sully their actions and build a "pretend-democracy bourgeois banker-dominated 'western capitalist world'." (Though one should not say an 'embrace' of capitalism is by itself evil, as Gaddafi was embracing capitalism before the revolution happened, and indeed, to rebuild the cities that Gaddafi has razed they're going to require contracts with the west. Oil itself is a capitalist resource by definition, imo.) One thing that Gaddafi failed is to recognize that the councils he set up are the perfect system for a representative democracy, each council member being similar to an elected 'senator' and so on. They don't have to do much to transition, simply allow council members to be elected, and you just created a democracy (Valara Project proposes the same for Cuba, but that's an entirely different subject).

Libya is a country that is fighting for its very survival, a country that is trying to become a constitutional democracy, by the people, for the people. It is very much like the American Revolutionary War. Ironically if the French help the Libyan Revolutionaries it would be an amazing thing, 228 years after the Treaty of Paris (which cemented the United States as a sovereign state). The French were part in parcel to arming Gaddafi, it is only, in a twist of sick irony, their obligation to correct their folly. People, in this time of France mockery, forget that the United States would be a British Colony were it not for them.

[Ghost Dog]

75. Yes indeed.

Nothing wrong with doing business with the economic and political de facto dominant status quo. But on the right terms. A democratic socialist Libya would almost certainly nationalise the oil, gas and water natural resources and thus negotiate from a position of collective strength with global politics, industry and finance, for example.

[Ghost Dog]

70. How The So-Called Guardians Of Free Speech Are Silencing The Messenger

By John Pilger

March 10, 2011 "Information Clearing House" -- As the United States and Britain look for an excuse to invade another oil-rich Arab country, the hypocrisy is familiar. Colonel Gaddafi is “delusional” and “blood-drenched” while the authors of an invasion that killed a million Iraqis, who have kidnapped and tortured in our name, are entirely sane, never blood-drenched and once again the arbiters of “stability”.

But something has changed. Reality is no longer what the powerful say it is. Of all the spectacular revolts across the world, the most exciting is the insurrection of knowledge sparked by WikiLeaks. This is not a new idea. In 1792, the revolutionary Tom Paine warned his readers in England that their government believed that “people must be hoodwinked and held in superstitious ignorance by some bugbear or other”. Paine’s The Rights of Man was considered such a threat to elite control that a secret grand jury was ordered to charge him with “a dangerous and treasonable conspiracy”. Wisely, he sought refuge in France.

The ordeal and courage of Tom Paine is cited by the Sydney Peace Foundation in its award of Australia’s human rights Gold Medal to Julian Assange. Like Paine, Assange is a maverick who serves no system and is threatened by a secret grand jury, a malicious device long abandoned in England but not in the United States. If extradited to the US, he is likely to disappear into the Kafkaesque world that produced the Guantanamo Bay nightmare and now accuses Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks’ alleged whistleblower, of a capital crime.

Should Assange’s current British appeal fail against his extradition to Sweden, he will probably, once charged, be denied bail and held incommunicado until his trial in secret. The case against him has already been dismissed by a senior prosecutor in Stockholm and given new life only when a right-wing politician, Claes Borgstrom, intervened and made public statements about Assange’s “guilt”. Borgstrom, a lawyer, now represents the two women involved. His law partner is Thomas Bodstrom, who as Sweden’s minister for justice in 2001, was implicated in the handover of two innocent Egyptian refugees to a CIA kidnap squad at Stockholm airport. Sweden later awarded them damages for their torture.

/... http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27649.htm

[CommonSensePLZ]

71. Thanks for everything

I said on other threads that I think it's a bad idea considering my country's record with apparently helping troubled nations with good intentions then becoming corrupt. But I think we all know the time has come for Qaddafi's family to be removed. I hope things won't be as bad as they currently look like they're going to.

I'm sure other users here will try to keep us informed on what goes on, but you really did it first. Thanks again. :)

[joshcryer]

74. I'll start an AJE general thread when it's "tomorrow" in Libya (or pinboy3niner can! hi!).

It won't be as fast moving as this one but it'll be updated with the days news etc.

pinboy3niner might beat me to it though we'll see. I work in the day time but that's OK because it won't be 'tomorrow' in Libya until I get off.

[pinboy3niner]

77. CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 1:15 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 11

Libya time = EST +7 hours, PST +10 hours

Be my guest, Josh. I'll look forward to your thread. :hi:

[CommonSensePLZ]

85. Ooh thank you too

:)

[pinboy3niner]

76. I'll be sorry to see you leave; hope you'll reconsider

DU is a resource for information sharing, and it might be useful to not abandon it entirely.

I know it's been an ordeal lately, but as painful as it has been, there is hope yet.

Of course, I'm being a little selfish here, too--I don't know what we'll do without our "Commander-in-Tweep."

Thanks for all the work you've done here, and best wishes for the future. :hug:

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[blindpig]

82. You've done what you could.

What you are doing here now is a powerful statement in itself.

Rest assured, history is on our side. With every stupid reactionary grab they make it all the more certain.

Solidarity.

[defendandprotect]

94. Oh, Catherina ....

think we are all concerned about the same thing -- US/MIC superpower and imperialism.

More relevant to this goodbye is that the United States' political goals are at odds with mine and with my support for sovereignty & independence in the Middle East. I can't continue here and vigorously fight NATO’s warmongering plans at the same time.


Weapons and wars have also bankrupted us -- morally and financially --

We have been labelled "a terrorist nation" by the United Nations and they're correct!!

Wish I could say that all Americans are awake and aware of the tragedy of our warmongering

nation -- but many Americans are and I think most here at DU. Many DU'ers are trying to

figure out how best to put down fascism in our own country.

The courage and intelligence and beauty of the people you have shown us in Egypt and Lybia

and all over the Arab world has stolen our hearts and inspired us.

Tragic to lose your efforts here -- and guidance.

Love to you --

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[defendandprotect]

96. KR -- WITH REGRET --

[uppityperson]

106. Thank you for doing this for so long and I well understand, have been worried about you

Best wishes to you and Libyans

[Iterate]

60. K for dawn in Libya.

[JanDutchy]

63. 3 Dutch Soldiers Freed From Libyan Custody - Defense Ministry

Source: AFP

THE HAGUE (AFP)--Three Dutch soldiers held by Libya after a botched attempt to free civilians have been released and have left the country, a defense ministry spokesman in The Hague said Friday.

"The crew left Tripoli," said spokesman Otte Beeksma, adding that they were "in good condition".

They had flown out on a Greek marine helicopter and were expected in Athens early morning, he said.


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110310-719414.htm...

--------------
And for this great moment


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTsQk7IKyTk&feature=rela...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY6pHJLAMto
------

Free Libya in Dignity please !: The Internationale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk69e1Vcmvg

[pinboy3niner]

78. AJE UPDATES: Libya Live Blog - March 11

1:06pm < (6:06 AM EST) >

Al Jazeera Arabic is reporting that there is fighting between pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces in the town of Az Zawiyah today.

The rebels still control the centre of the town, but mosques and residential buildings have been damaged, as these photos seem to confirm (Al Jazeera can't confirm the authenticity of the images). <Images at link, below>


1:02pm

Al Jazeera's Hoda Hamid just reported from Benghazi, the rebel stronghold which has become a rear base to the frontline in the face of the aggressive offensive by pro-Gaddafi forces that began on Thursday.

Hundreds of people protested in support of the rebel forces on Friday as she spoke, and optimism remains high in Benghazi that the city could resist any attacks by pro-Gaddafi forces.

"But if you look at the country and what's happening, I think it's quite clear that there's a battle in Az Zawayah, in Misurata, in Ras Lanuf, in Brega there were some air strikes … the Gaddafi forces are certainly trying to keep or to regain control of all the oil facilities around the country."

For Gaddafi's forces to retake Tobruk, Libya's eastern-most oil port, they would have to pass through Benghazi, she said.

While the rebels don't lack the desire to defend their town, they do lack firepower.


12:24am

While foreign journalists are facing significant hurdles on getting information out of Ras Lanuf, but Libyan state television aired footage on Friday of people fleeing the city and of pro-Gaddafi searching houses for weapons.

Rebels lost their control of the residential areas by late morning on Friday, but were reportedly holding on to part of the strategic oil port, Ibrahim Said, the deputy director of the hospital in nearby Ajdabiya, told the Associated Press.


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

[pinboy3niner]

79. Obama to hold press conference on oil, Libya/ME/Africa unrest at 11:15 a.m. EST

March 10, 2011 6:30 PM

Obama to hold press conference Friday
Posted by Brian Montopoli

President Obama will hold a press conference at the White House at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, a senior white house advisor tells CBS News.

"The president will hold a news conference at the White House tomorrow to talk about rising energy prices among other issues," the advisor said.

...


Other topics likely to come up at the news conference are the situation in Libya, negotiations over funding the government and battles over the rights of unions in Wisconsin and elsewhere.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20041862-503544.html

[defendandprotect]

97. For Obama, it's "oil" and "energy prices" -- !! In Egypt and Libya it's about freedom, humanity --

courage to fight to live free --

What we need most of all in the White House is a humanist --

someone who thinks in terms other than of money and conquest and weapons --

[pinboy3niner]

80. The Guardian: Huge demo in Benghazi; stronger clamor for NFZ

12.17pm:

The rebel clamour for a no-fly zone is getting stronger and stronger as armed forces loyal to Gaddafi continue to pound his opponents:

(Reuters) - A Libyan rebel who for days has been fighting off government attacks in the besieged town of Zawiyah has appealed to the world to implement a no-fly zone. Witness accounts suggest forces loyal to Gaddafi now control almost all of Zawiyah, a city on the Mediterranean Sea about 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, but rebels are still fighting there.

"We do not know what is going on in the outside world. We do not have television channels or radios, we are kind of cut off from the outside world," the rebel fighter, called Ibrahim, told Reuters by telephone.

"But all we want is a no-fly zone. To ban <Gaddafi> from flying his planes. I swear to God, if this happens we will be talking to you from Bab al-Aziziyah in a week," he said, referring to Gaddafi's compound in the Libyan capital.

12.12pm:

More from Chris McGreal, who's at a huge demo in Benghazi, where "thousands upon thousands" of opposition supporters have turned out. The crowds are waving pre-Gaddafi Libyan flags — and, significantly, French tricolores.

Chris reports that rebel leaders are now calling not only for the creation of a no-fly zone, but also for air strikes to stop Gaddafi's attacks on cities such as Ras Lanuf. ....

Audio report at link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/11/libya-gaddafi-uprising?intcmp=239

[pinboy3niner]

81. The Guardian's quick summary of today's events so far:

(The Guardian shows timestamps as GMT, which is EST +5 hours.)

12.57pm: Quick summary of today's events so far:

• Gaddafi's forces appear to have forced most of the rebels out of the city of Ras Lanuf

• Air strikes have been launched against the towns of Uqaylah and Brega

• Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Benghazi as rebel leaders reiterate their pleas for the creation of a no-fly zone — and ask the international community to use air strikes against Gaddafi's forces

• The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has told the emergency EU summit in Brussels that
"targeted" air strikes could be used against Muammar Gaddafi's regime if his forces resort to the use of chemical weapons or launch airstrikes against civilian protestors

• But the EU foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, has warned that a no-fly zone could risk civilian lives in Libya

• In Tripoli, the security services are tightening their grip on a turbulent neighbourhood to prevent protests taking place after Friday prayers

• Elsewhere in the Arab world, there have been protests and demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Kuwait


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/11/libya-gaddafi-uprising?intcmp=239

[pinboy3niner]

83. AFP bureau chief expelled from Iran

...Agence France-Presse has said that its deputy bureau chief in Tehran has been expelled from Iran.

The agency said that Jay Deshmukh left Iran this morning shortly after being notified of the expulsion order.

AFP said Iranian authorities gave no reason for the decision to expel Deshmukh. He simply "received the order to leave."

Deshmukh was among 10 or so foreign journalists whose press cards were withdrawn on 15 February, a day after an opposition rally by tens of thousands in solidarity with Egypt's popular uprising.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/11/libya-gaddafi-uprising?intcmp=239

[pinboy3niner]

84. Ras Lanuf: Oil storage facility ablaze after airstrikes

From AJE Libya Live Blog - March 11

3:52pm < (8:52 AM EST) >

Correction: Al Jazeera understands it is an oil storage facility that has been hit by airstrikes outside Ras Lanuf, not an oil refinery.


3:50pm

After earlier fighting reportedly targeted residential areas in Ras Lanuf, Gaddafi forces have targeted an oil refinery outside the city, sending thick black plumes of smoke billowing across the desert landscape.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

_________________________


Map of Ras Lanuf-As Sidr/Sidra area, showing where town, port & oil refinery are. #Libya

http://twitpic.com/48gewj
General layout map of Ras Lanuf-As Sidr/Sidra area, showing where town, port & oil refinery are. #Libya

[pinboy3niner]

86. AJE updates: OPPOSITION COUNTER-ATTACKS, RE-TAKES RAS LANUF

Times are local Libya time (EST +7 hours).

5:17pm

Ras Lanuf, Sidra Port and Albargiya remain under rebel control after fierce battles, residents tell Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Gaddafi forces have pulled out of the residential areas of Ras Lanuf, says Reuters.



4:55pm

Rebel forces reinforce front at north-eastern entrance to Ras Lanuf, where Gaddafi troops are attempting to re-enter the city, Al Jazeera reports. The battle for the city is ongoing, our correspondent says.


4:57pm

Here's that phonecall with Khaled, an anti-Gaddafi fighter near the Ras Lanuf city limits. He describes the scene of the counter-attack.

YouTube video news report (3:48):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RVWJmAwD4s&feature=player_embedded


4:41pm

Libyan warplanes continue to circle Ras Lanuf


4:46pmFighting continues along the Libyan coast. An anti-Gaddafi rebel fighter tells Al Jazeera that opposition forces have mounted a counter-attack, and have pushed Gaddafi forces out of Ras Lanuf. The front line is now 20km further west, toward Bin Jawad, he tells us by phone. We'll being you the full phone call very soon.


4:23pm

The oil storage facility on fire outside Ras Lanuf is next to an oil refinery which was hit yesterday, Al Jazeera learns.

We've also been told that residential areas of the city are again coming under attack.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

[pinboy3niner]

87. 250,000 have fled Libya (foreign residents, not Libyans)

From The Guardian's News Blog (times are GMT):

3.50pm:

A startling statistic from the International Organisation for Migration: A quarter of a million people have fled Libya since the uprising against Gaddafi's regime began last month.

(AP) About 6,000 people a day are still crossing into Tunisia and Egypt, many of them Bangladeshi workers who need longer flights, said Mohammed Abdiker, the IOM's operation director.

"If the majority continue to be Bangladeshis needing long haul charter flights to get home, the cost to repatriate them will far exceed our current resources," he said.

There were already 8,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya when the crisis began — many of them people fleeing from Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. Among those only a few hundred had managed to cross the borders out of Libya.

So far, however, refugee workers have not seen Libyans crossing the border to flee their homeland, UN refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards said.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/11/libya-gaddafi-uprising?intcmp=239

[pinboy3niner]

88. "Good morning. A quick catch-up on Libya:"

From The Guardian's News Blog...

8.44am:

Good morning. A quick catch-up on Libya:

• The Gaddafi regime has issued a defiant warning that the "time for action" had arrived as a sustained military assault forced the defeat of Libyan rebels in the strategically important town of Zawiya and their retreat from Ras Lanuf.

• Squabbling continues between EU and Nato members over the best way to tackle the crisis: Britain and France are pressing for the imposition of a no-fly zone; the US and Germany are opposing it.

• EU leaders are today set to demand that Gaddafi gives up power in Libya with immediate effect. A draft declaration for approval at an emergency summit in Brussels today declares that "Colonel Gaddafi must relinquish power immediately" and says the objective is for Libya to "rapidly embark on an orderly transition to democracy".


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/11/libya-gaddafi-uprising?intcmp=239

[hardcover]

90. Thank you Pinboy3niner

appreciate your work.

[pinboy3niner]

92. Welcome to DU, hardcover

Thanks, but to tell you the truth, I really miss Catharina. :cry:

:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

89. EU calls for urgent summit on #Libya with African Union and Arab league

...Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher (@AlanFisher), reporting from the EU summit in Brussels, tweets:

EU calls for urgent summit on #Libya with African Union and Arab league

[pinboy3niner]

91. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on sending weapons to Libya opposition:

"The UN Security Council is discussing a broad range of options, but it is up to the member states of the Security Council to determine a future course of action."

(At 6:32pm timestamp):
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

[pinboy3niner]

93. CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 7:30 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 11

Libya time = EST +7 hours, PST +10 hours

[CJvR]

98. The success...

...of Gaddafi in capturing Zawiyah and the faliure of the rebels in capturing Sirte could well be the beginning of the end for the revolution. The fight will be brutal and savage but Gaddafi have proven himself to be a brutal savage so it will come. The lack of leadership in the revolution is proving to be ever more poisonous to it's cause not just in the field where it is disasterous but even worse in diplomacy where nothing is worse than the mixed messages that have been coming from the rebellion. Next major traget is Misrata and a secure route there, when Misratha falls the West will essentially be back under Gaddafi. There are lesser cities in the west still in revolt but if the big ones couldn't hold the smaller ones wont be able to either so Gaddafi can consolidate the west behind the bastion of Sirte.

[pinboy3niner]

99. A message to the EU from Benghazi:

From AJE Libya Live Blog - March 11

8:29pm < (1:29 PM EST) >

While international negotiations regarding the response to the crisis in Libya vis a vis an intervention continue, at least some in Benghazi are fairly clear about what they expect from the European Union.




http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

[pinboy3niner]

100. Burlesconi: "Quiet exit" for Gaddafi may be impossible now

From AJE Libya Live Blog - March 11:

8:41pm < (1:41 PM EST) >

Silvio Burlesconi, the Italian prime minister, says that the hardline stance taken by major powers against Muammar Gaddafi may have forced the Libyan leader into a situation where a quiet exit became impossible.

Speaking at the special meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Burlesconi said:

Once someone put forward the idea of bringing Gaddafi before the International Criminal Court, I think the idea of staying in power became entrenched with him and I don't think anyone can make him change his mind."

Asked if Gaddafi may be persuaded into going into exile, Burlesconi said:

I don't think, following this position and let's say this loss of legitimacy with all his international interlocutors, I don't think this possibility remains any more."

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-11

[pinboy3niner]

101. BREAKING NEWS: Libya's dictator a 'bloodthirsty nutcase thug'

[pinboy3niner]

102. Government security officers quash Tripoli protests

From a story in the NYT:

In Tripoli on Friday, government security officers fired tear gas canisters and shots in the air in a pre-emptive move to quash protests by worshipers at a mosque in the rebellious neighborhood of Tajura.

The government also led journalists on a tightly scripted visit to Zawiyah, the city less than 20 miles from Tripoli that the Colonel’s forces seem finally to have wrested from rebel control. On Friday, the thousands of protesters who were seen cheering in the city’s central Martyrs Square last month had been replaced by hundreds of people in green bandanas cheering for Colonel Qaddafi.

Despite the government’s efforts to sanitize the scene, signs of the conflict were everywhere. Apartment buildings around the square were severely damaged, and many of the lamp posts were bent over. The tower atop the mosque had been knocked off, the speaker used for the call to prayer was dangling by a wire. The mosque itself was in ruins, and there was a pile of crumpled up burned out cars and trucks piled behind the rubble.

The 20 graves of fallen rebels had been plowed over. The Qaddafi forces had painted over the rebel flags on the sides of buildings, then hung green and white streamers over several buildings to cover up the repainting or other damage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/africa/12libya.html?_r=1&ref=world

[pinboy3niner]

103. defected members of military still fighting #Gaddafi forces @Ras Lanuf. #Libya

LPC: civilians that were fighting have regrouped @Agayla, but defected members of military still fighting #Gaddafi forces @Ras Lanuf. #Libya
6 minutes ago via web

[pinboy3niner]

104. #Arab League prepares to back #no-fly zone: http://on.ft.com/gO2QDi #libya

#Arab League prepares to back #no-fly zone: http://on.ft.com/gO2QDi #libya
less than a minute ago via web

[joshcryer]

105. Libya Revolution Day 23:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x619456

[Swede]

107. You've done a great job on this.

Take a break,but don't leave.