- Make no mistake. Another Washington-led resource war
targets Libya's riches, besides wanting new US base locations for greater
regional dominance.
-
- America doesn't covet regional sun, sand and sea. "Humanitarian
intervention" is a lie. So are notions about peace, not war, liberation,
equity, justice, and other democratic values. Washington tolerates none
of them abroad or at home, plundering the world roguishly.
-
- All US presidents are war criminals. Obama is one of
the worst, doubling Bush's lawlessness, adding Pakistan and Libya aggression
to Iraq and Afghanistan, spending $1.5 trillion annually for militarism
plus multi-trillion dollar handouts to Wall Street crooks, while pleading
poverty to cut essential homeland social benefits.
-
- As a result, it's no exaggeration saying America is on
a fast-track to tyranny and ruin. It's no longer a fit place to live in.
Young people have a choice - leave or be exploited, a shocking indictment
of a corrupted, declining, lawless nation.
-
- Unchecked Global Militarism
-
- Waging wars at home and/or abroad every year in its history,
a permanent war agenda has been policy since WW II. A previous article
explained, accessed through the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/03/americas-permanent-war-agenda.html
-
- Historians Charles Beard and Gore Vidal called it "perpetual
war for perpetual peace," at all times concealing the real agenda.
As a result, since WW II, America's been a global menace, today calling
"terrorism" the main threat. In fact, it's bogus nonsense to
justify militarism, homeland repression, imperial wars, wanton destruction,
and lawless killings, heading the nation for moral, political and economic
ruin.
-
- In his book, "Another Century of War," Gabriel
Kolko observed:
-
- "The way America's leaders are running the nation's
foreign policy is not creating peace or security at home or stability abroad.
The reverse is the case: it's interventions have been counterproductive."
-
- In his newest book, "The World in Crisis,"
he said America's decline "began after the Korean War, was continued
in relation to Cuba, and was greatly accelerated in Vietnam - but (Bush
II did) much to exacerbate it," what Obama extended further.
-
- No wonder Kolko believes US influence is declining globally.
Other nations will surpass its "economic might." As a result,
America's "century of domination is now ending." Moreover, each
new imperial war hastens it. The fools running the country don't give a
damn as long as short-term gains are possible, no matter how many corpses
it takes to achieve them.
-
- In his noted trilogy, Chalmers Johnson called American
imperialism a "suicide option," noting its undermining effects,
explaining what he called:
-
- "isolation, overstretch, the uniting of local and
global forces opposed to imperialism, and in the end bankruptcy,"
combined with authoritarian rule, a fantasy democracy, social decay, and
loss of Bill of Rights freedoms.
-
- Immanuel Wallerstein thinks America "has been a
fading global power since the 1970s, and the US response to the (9/11)
terrorist attacks has accelerated this decline. (The) economic, political
and military factors that contributed to US hegemony are the same (ones)
that will inexorably produce the coming US decline."
-
- Obama's latest Middle East adventurism accelerates it
further, compounded by destructive homeland policies, notably economic
ones plunging Main Street into deepening depression affecting growing millions.
Wallerstein, in fact, believes capitalism's contradictions will doom it,
perhaps in the next four or five decades.
-
- What replaces it, however, may be better or worse, what
he calls "hierarchical and exploitative" or "relatively
democratic and egalitarian." No one knows which one, he says, but
today's destructive system won't survive, especially given its permanent
war agenda.
-
- Besides letting Wall Street run the country and loot
the treasury, war takes precedence over everything at a time America has
no enemies. As a result, growing millions lost jobs, incomes, civil rights
and futures. Perhaps desperation will one day will erupt.
-
- America's leaders trashed people for power and profit.
The criminal class in Washington is bipartisan. There's not a dime's worth
of difference between Democrats and Republicans on all major issues, especially
corporate favoritism and imperial wars.
-
- War Rages in Libya
-
- On March 21, New York Times writers Elisabeth Bumiller
and Kareem Fahim headlined, "US-Led Assault Nears Goal in Libya,"
saying:
-
- Bombing and cruise missile attacks continue. In defiance
of the Constitution's Article 1, Section 8 letting only Congress declare
war, Obama "said in a letter to (lawmakers) that he had the power
to (order) strikes, which would be limited in duration and scope, and that
preventing a humanitarian disaster in Libya was in the national interest."
-
- False! Obama lawlessly created a humanitarian crisis,
initially by enlisting, inciting, funding and arming insurgents to generate
one, now greatly exacerbated by "shock and awe" bombings. Reportedly,
hundreds have been killed, many more injured, as well as extensive destruction,
including hospitals, a medical clinic, at least one civilian airport, and
perhaps other non-military sites, whether deliberate or accidental. Falling
bombs and missiles aren't as accurate as claimed.
-
- Moreover, most casualties are civilians, including many
children. In addition, US jets slaughtered noncombatant government forces
leaving Benghazi. Gaddafi twice appealed for ceasefire. Washington declined
until completing its killing machine mission.
-
- Conveniently in South America, Obama again demanded Gaddafi
step down, what growing Arab anger joined by millions globally demand of
him and Pentagon high command killers.
-
- International condemnation also is growing, at least
rhetorically, responding to widespread public opposition to more war. NATO
countries, in fact, are split. Turkey blocked joint action. Norway said
it won't participate. Italy may withdraw use of its bases.
-
- Russian Prime Minister Putin called "Operation Odyssey
Dawn" a "medieval call to crusade," and UN Resolution 1973
"defective and flawed." South African President Jacob Zuma expressed
opposition to "the regime change doctrine (and) foreign occupation
of Libya." India called for an immediate ceasefire. Chairing the Security
Council in March, China wants more discussion, perhaps reconsideration
of Resolution 1973.
-
- On March 21, Reuters said the Security Council "turned
down a Libyan request for a special meeting to discuss Western air strikes,"
when, under its Charter Article 51 mandate, it's required to do so on matters
of naked aggression.
-
- Instead, according to an unnamed Council diplomat, a
March 24 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon scheduled briefing will proceed
as planned "to receive (his) report about the implementation of Resolution
1973 and will then discuss the situation in Libya," giving America
more time to wage war.
-
- On March 22, New York Times writers Elisabeth Bumiller,
Kareem Fahim and Alan Cowell headlined, "American (F-15) Warplane
Crashes in Libya as Ground Fighting Continues," saying:
-
- Mechanical failure, not hostile fire downed it, with
no further explanation. In fact, Gaddafi's surface-to-air (SAM) missile
capability very likely shot it down, the Pentagon in denial.
-
- Foreign Forces in Libya
-
- According to Stratfor Global Intelligence, reports suggest
"European and Egyptian special operations forces (are) deploying"
near Benghazi. Unconfirmed sources say 100 or so Egyptian commandos, in
plainclothes, joined opposition rebels in early March, likely at Washington's
behest. UK SAS and US Special Forces as well as CIA operatives have been
there for many weeks, maybe months as explained above and in earlier articles.
-
- On March 22, the Israeli news site Debka.com said reports
about "jubilant Libyan rebels encouraged by (cruise missile attacks)
to resume their offensive against Qaddafi's forces Monday were misleading
at best." Rebels, in fact, have only one organized platoon, no match
against government forces without supportive air strikes, as well as "American,
British, French," and perhaps Egyptian and other Arab ground troops
joining them. "The rebels must therefore be satisfied with holding
Benghazi downtown and a few sectors for as long as they can."
-
- UN Resolution 1973 prohibits a "foreign occupation
force." By implication, Western and Arab ones may invade but not stay
once hostilities end. Whether large numbers are coming remains conjecture.
Given Washington's determination to remove Gaddafi, it's possible, perhaps
even claim a reason to stay. Discount nothing when Washington arrives.
-
- Short of killing him, whether Gaddafi falls isn't certain.
Libya is very tribal. He has considerable support from half or more of
them and the army. They'll lose out if he's gone. As Stratfor explains,
he "was very careful to reward his friends and hurt and weaken his
enemies, (so) his supporters (are) substantial and motivated."
-
- Moreover, rebel forces aren't "democratic, much
less organized or cohesive." It's why Gaddafi routed them. In addition,
no-fly zones alone are ineffective. As a result, Saddam's removal took
invasion and ground war. Expect it perhaps in Libya, again claiming "humanitarian
intervention" with or without Security Council approval, what America
prefers but isn't deterred without it.
-
- However, Gaddafi didn't last 42 years by being stupid,
"but rather because he speaks to a real and powerful dimension in
Libya," and rewards the right people to support him. As a result,
nothing ahead is certain. Gaddafi has everything to lose by defeat, including
his life. It's incentive enough to hold on.
-
- Moreover, whether "coalition" adhesion sticks
as civilian casualties grow is unknown. Bomb and missile diplomacy only
goes so far. For sure, it doesn't make friends, especially in a region
very uncomfortable about America's presence. Growing anger strongly objects
to another Arab state's destruction and colonial takeover.
-
- If he's well hunkered down, it may be what Gaddafi needs
to survive. Then maybe not. No one knows for sure. After the Gulf War,
Saddam lasted another 12 years. At age 68, matching him may be all Gaddafi
needs.
-
- A Final Comment
-
- In his new article titled, "Obama's Bay of Pigs
in Libya: Imperial Aggression Shreds the UN Charter," Webster Tarpley
states:
-
- "Anglo-American propaganda portrays Qaddafi as a
kleptocrat." Perhaps so, yet a UK Daily Mail March 1 Kate Loveys article
headlined, "London School of Economics (LSE) takes 1.5 million (pounds)
from Gaddafi's son as chief admits embarrassment at relationship with the
regime," saying:
-
- Donated by Saif Gaddafi, half the research grant was
spent. "And a video has emerged of its leading academics lavishing
praise on Colonel Gaddafi, welcoming him as a statesman." Saif, in
fact, earned a LSE PhD in 2008 for the Study of Global Governance. The
Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation donated the funds.
The remaining amount will go for scholarships, not returned.
-
- That aside, Tarpley said:
-
- "Libya is one of the most advanced developing countries,
ranking 53 on the UN Human Development Index, making it the most developed
society in Africa. (It) ranks ahead of Russia (65), Ukraine (69), Brazil
(73), Venezuela (75) and Tunisia (81). The rate of incarceration is 61st
in the world." By far, America ranks highest, ahead of China with
four times its population. Moreover, Libyan longevity "increased by
20 years under" Gaddafi.
-
- Though no democrat, he "shared the nation's oil
income better than the rest of OPEC." Perhaps the lesson is that some
despots are better ones than others. America supports the worst of them,
supplying some generous aid.
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour
on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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