The Libyan Dream
March 30th 2011 20:33
On March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security Council, by a vote of 10-0, with 5 abstentions (Brazil, China, Germany, India, and the Russian Federation), “authorized Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory — requesting them to immediately inform the Secretary-General of such measures.” (SC/10200, “Security Council Approves ‘No-Fly Zone’ over Libya, Authorizing ‘All Necessary Measures’ to Protect Civilians, by Vote of 10 in Favour with 5 Abstentions,” 3/17/11).
Why were France, Great Britain, and the United States so willing to “protect civilians” in Libya from attack by their leaders, yet they’ve ignored the plight of civilians in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Rwanda, and other black African nations? Are France and Great Britain really trying to control the flow of oil and people into the European Union?
More than 18,000 migrants have arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, ostensibly fleeing conflicts in northern Africa. However, when questioned by local immigration officials, they give as their real reason the goal of finding work in Italy, France and eventually Great Britain. There is a real and large anti-Muslim backlash in the Euro zone, especially in France, with Muslims being blamed for every ill, real and imaginary: consider the banning of head scarves in French schools and the Muslim youth riots in the Paris suburbs in 2005. Currently, northern African Muslims make up 5-6% of the French population, and for the French, this is too much, especially with their high birth rate. So, of course the French, and especially Sarkozy, want to limit further northern African immigration.
Libyan oil accounts for between 1-2% of world exports, but the Euro zone consumes more than 62% of its exports. Libyan oil accounts for only .5% of US imports.
Italy - 376,000 barrels (22% of all oil imports)
France - 205,000 barrels (16% of all oil imports)
China - 150,000 barrels (3% of all oil imports)
Germany - 144,000 barrels (8% of all oil imports)
Spain - 136,000 barrels (12% of all oil imports)
UK - 95,000 barrels (9% of all oil imports)
Greece - 63,000 barrels (15% of all oil imports)
USA - 51,000 barrels (0.5% of all oil imports)
Austria - 31,000 barrels (21% of all oil imports)
Netherlands - 31,000 barrels (2% of all oil imports)
Portugal - 27,000 barrels (11% of all oil imports)
Switzerland - 17,000 barrels (19% of all oil imports)
Ireland - 14,000 barrels (23% of all oil imports)
Australia - 11,000 barrels (2% of all oil imports)
(Page F30, “Which countries import the most oil from Libya?,” 3/1/11)
The Euro zone countries, especially France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK have a vested interest in protecting their fuel supply. Germany voted to abstain on UN Security Council Resolution1973 because, as is their way, they could benefit from any victory over Gaddafi without getting their hands dirty. Spain and Italy are just tourist havens and have nothing to contribute to NATO except territory to launch missions from.
If the United States doesn’t have an oil interest, and we’re not being overrun by northern Africans, what are our interests? Democratization of northern Africa? How can we be sure that the outcome of a rebel victory over Gaddafi won’t be as bad as or worse for the United States and Israel than Gaddafi? Right now, the Israeli’s are very nervous; speaking about Syrian rioters who appear to be taking their cue from the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, Eyal Zisser, director of the Middle East Studies department at Tel Aviv University, was quoted as saying, “That has been the working assumption in Israel for years: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.” (“Israel not eager to see Syria’s Assad go,” Amy Teibel, Associated Press, 3/29/11). If it has to fight a war, Israel would rather fight a proxy war with Hezbollah and Hamas than fight an actual war against Iran and the Arabs.
Who are the rebels? Gaddafi has been claiming that the rebels are, at the very least, al Qaeda inspired, if not al Qaeda outright. There are those in Congress, John McCain among them, calling for the United States to arm the rebels so they can defeat Gaddafi; we did this in Afghanistan in the 1980’s when we armed the Taliban to help them defeat the Russians. The Taliban, after 9/11, refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, and now we’re bogged down in an Afghan war. Abu Yahya al-Libi, a Libyan and a senior member of al Qaeda, “urged Libyan rebels to continue their fight against Muammar Gaddafi and warned of the consequences of defeat, in a videotaped message posted on Jihadi websites, the Qatar-based Gulf News reported on Sunday.”
““The Libyan people have suffered at the hands of Gaddafi for more than 40 years ... He used the Libyans as a testing ground for his violent, rambling and disgusting thoughts,” Abu Yahya stated.”
“He warned that "Retreating will mean decades of harsher oppression and greater injustices than what you have endured.””
“Abu Yahya also accused the West, and the US in particular, of having supported oppressive Arab regimes at the expense of the people.”” (“Al Qaida commander backs Libyan rebels in message,” Reuters, JPost.com, 3/13/11).
Now, I don’t believe that the rebels are al Qaeda or al Qaeda backed, but neither do I believe that they are democracy advocates in the sense that we advocate democracy. Should they defeat Gaddafi, they won’t back women’s rights or the rights of religious minorities in Libya. What about the approximately 50% of the Libyan population who supports Gaddafi; will the United States and NATO bomb the rebels if they should start to prevail and jeopardize the civilian population in Gaddafi held areas? The Security Council mandate calls for the protection of civilians, and it doesn’t specify where they are located and who’s attacking them.
It’s very easy for Americans to back the rebels; we love backing the underdog because we are a nation of underdogs who have the “American dream” of rising up and making good. We just have to remember that the “Libyan dream” may not be the “American dream.”
Why were France, Great Britain, and the United States so willing to “protect civilians” in Libya from attack by their leaders, yet they’ve ignored the plight of civilians in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Rwanda, and other black African nations? Are France and Great Britain really trying to control the flow of oil and people into the European Union?
More than 18,000 migrants have arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa since the beginning of the year, ostensibly fleeing conflicts in northern Africa. However, when questioned by local immigration officials, they give as their real reason the goal of finding work in Italy, France and eventually Great Britain. There is a real and large anti-Muslim backlash in the Euro zone, especially in France, with Muslims being blamed for every ill, real and imaginary: consider the banning of head scarves in French schools and the Muslim youth riots in the Paris suburbs in 2005. Currently, northern African Muslims make up 5-6% of the French population, and for the French, this is too much, especially with their high birth rate. So, of course the French, and especially Sarkozy, want to limit further northern African immigration.
Libyan oil accounts for between 1-2% of world exports, but the Euro zone consumes more than 62% of its exports. Libyan oil accounts for only .5% of US imports.
Italy - 376,000 barrels (22% of all oil imports)
France - 205,000 barrels (16% of all oil imports)
China - 150,000 barrels (3% of all oil imports)
Germany - 144,000 barrels (8% of all oil imports)
Spain - 136,000 barrels (12% of all oil imports)
UK - 95,000 barrels (9% of all oil imports)
Greece - 63,000 barrels (15% of all oil imports)
USA - 51,000 barrels (0.5% of all oil imports)
Austria - 31,000 barrels (21% of all oil imports)
Netherlands - 31,000 barrels (2% of all oil imports)
Portugal - 27,000 barrels (11% of all oil imports)
Switzerland - 17,000 barrels (19% of all oil imports)
Ireland - 14,000 barrels (23% of all oil imports)
Australia - 11,000 barrels (2% of all oil imports)
(Page F30, “Which countries import the most oil from Libya?,” 3/1/11)
The Euro zone countries, especially France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK have a vested interest in protecting their fuel supply. Germany voted to abstain on UN Security Council Resolution1973 because, as is their way, they could benefit from any victory over Gaddafi without getting their hands dirty. Spain and Italy are just tourist havens and have nothing to contribute to NATO except territory to launch missions from.
If the United States doesn’t have an oil interest, and we’re not being overrun by northern Africans, what are our interests? Democratization of northern Africa? How can we be sure that the outcome of a rebel victory over Gaddafi won’t be as bad as or worse for the United States and Israel than Gaddafi? Right now, the Israeli’s are very nervous; speaking about Syrian rioters who appear to be taking their cue from the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, Eyal Zisser, director of the Middle East Studies department at Tel Aviv University, was quoted as saying, “That has been the working assumption in Israel for years: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.” (“Israel not eager to see Syria’s Assad go,” Amy Teibel, Associated Press, 3/29/11). If it has to fight a war, Israel would rather fight a proxy war with Hezbollah and Hamas than fight an actual war against Iran and the Arabs.
Who are the rebels? Gaddafi has been claiming that the rebels are, at the very least, al Qaeda inspired, if not al Qaeda outright. There are those in Congress, John McCain among them, calling for the United States to arm the rebels so they can defeat Gaddafi; we did this in Afghanistan in the 1980’s when we armed the Taliban to help them defeat the Russians. The Taliban, after 9/11, refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, and now we’re bogged down in an Afghan war. Abu Yahya al-Libi, a Libyan and a senior member of al Qaeda, “urged Libyan rebels to continue their fight against Muammar Gaddafi and warned of the consequences of defeat, in a videotaped message posted on Jihadi websites, the Qatar-based Gulf News reported on Sunday.”
““The Libyan people have suffered at the hands of Gaddafi for more than 40 years ... He used the Libyans as a testing ground for his violent, rambling and disgusting thoughts,” Abu Yahya stated.”
“He warned that "Retreating will mean decades of harsher oppression and greater injustices than what you have endured.””
“Abu Yahya also accused the West, and the US in particular, of having supported oppressive Arab regimes at the expense of the people.”” (“Al Qaida commander backs Libyan rebels in message,” Reuters, JPost.com, 3/13/11).
Now, I don’t believe that the rebels are al Qaeda or al Qaeda backed, but neither do I believe that they are democracy advocates in the sense that we advocate democracy. Should they defeat Gaddafi, they won’t back women’s rights or the rights of religious minorities in Libya. What about the approximately 50% of the Libyan population who supports Gaddafi; will the United States and NATO bomb the rebels if they should start to prevail and jeopardize the civilian population in Gaddafi held areas? The Security Council mandate calls for the protection of civilians, and it doesn’t specify where they are located and who’s attacking them.
It’s very easy for Americans to back the rebels; we love backing the underdog because we are a nation of underdogs who have the “American dream” of rising up and making good. We just have to remember that the “Libyan dream” may not be the “American dream.”
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