Like better known war profiteers,
NGOs also cash in. A Centre for the Study of Interventionism (CSI) report
discussed it.
CSI challenges interventionist notions. Exponents believe "military
violence" should enforce international law.
"These claims stand in contrast to" non-interventionist principles.
UN Charter provisions and other international law enunciate them. CSI
challenges current practice. Its new report discussed Libya.
It explains how lies promote war. It asked if "the case for R2P (responsibility
to protect was) based on fraud." It wasn't on truth and international
law. Its rage to fight spurned them.
The UN Charter's Chapter VI calls for resolving conflicts peacefully.
Humanitarian intervention prohibits military force or other hostile
acts.
Chapter VII permits justifiable boycotts, embargoes, blockades, and
severed diplomatic ties. It prohibits war, except in self-defense until
the Security Council acts. It has final say.
Libyan interventionists claimed doing so protected civilian areas from
attack. In 2005, the General Assembly World Summit Outcome Document
adopted the responsibility to protect (R2P).
Paragraph 138 states each nation must "protect (its) population from
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity."
Paragraph 139 grants the UN responsibility "to use appropriate diplomatic,
humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapters VI
and VIII of the Charter, to help protect populations from" these crimes.
Military force is excluded. UN Charter provisions prohibit it for humanitarian
intervention. Justifying it under R2P is illegal. War crimes follow.
So does profiteering. War is big business. NGOs like corporate predators
cash in.
The web site ngo.org defines them as follows:
"A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary
citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international
level."
"Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform
a variety of service and humanitarian policies and encourage political
participation through provision of information."
"Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment
or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning
mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements."
"Their relationship with offices and agencies of the United Nations
system differs depending on their goals, their venue and the mandate
of a particular institution."
Other definitions call them non-political groups, advancing social/humanitarian
objectives. In fact, most profiteer largely for themselves. They're
ideologically biased predators, not humanitarians.
Nearly all have entrenched bureaucracies. Their officials are highly
paid. Their operating rules are secret. Their financing sources and
amounts are undisclosed. They mostly come from domestic or foreign nations
whose interests they serve. As agents, they perform PR, intelligence,
and population control. Most don't provide humanitarian services.
They all claim non-profit status, yet operate unethically. They collude
with governments or business interests. Their profiteer handsomely,
own unrelated businesses, and exploit people they claim to serve.
In many countries, they're the preferred choice for Western aid and
emergency relief. They provide cover for imperial intervention. They
cash in handsomely from wars, floods, famines, earthquakes, and other
disasters. "Non-profiteering" is big business.
Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
In 2006, General Assembly Resolution 60-251 established the Human Rights
Council (HRC) and authorized UPR. Three adopted "mechanisms" were decisive
for Libya:
(1) Paragraph 1 established HRC.
(2) Paragraph 8 opened HRC membership to all UN Member States based
on their contribution to promoting and protecting human rights. The
General Assembly, by a two-thirds vote, may suspend member rights based
on gross, systematic violations.
(3) Paragraph 10 authorized regular HRC annual sessions, including special
ones when needed on request from one member supported by one-third of
the Council.
UPR periodically examines the human rights record of all Member States.
In 2009, the Non-Aligned Movement stated:
HRC "should not be used as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs
of States or to question their political, economic, and social systems,
their sovereign rights, and their national, religious and cultural particularities."
In October 2005, the General Assembly adopted the responsibility to
protect (R2P) principle. On February 26 and March 17, 2011, the Security
Council adopted two Libya resolutions.
Even though Tripoli wasn't an International Criminal Court (ICC) member,
the first gave the body jurisdiction over ongoing events. The second
authorized "all necessary measures" to "protect civilians," as well
as no-fly zone cover. Doing so was an act of war. It followed almost
immediately.
"The Libyan case is a very good example of (lawlessly) interfer(ing)
in the internal affairs of a sovereign state."
Armed insurgents were supported and legitimized. Libya had no say. Claims
made before HRC about massacres and other atrocities were falsified.
Nonetheless, UN resolutions followed. So did war, mass slaughter and
vast destruction.
"NGOs and others invoke (R2P). But what responsibility do these bodies,
and the states which use military force, have for the consequences of
their acts?"
In May 2010, the NGOs Freedom House and UN Watch campaigned against
electing Libya but lost. Both organizations serve Western and Israeli
interests. Former American Jewish Committee (AJC) honorary president,
Morris Abram, founded UN Watch. AJC is a pro-Israeli front group
UN Watch wanted Libya expelled from HRC. On March 1, 2011, the General
Assembly supported its campaign based on lies. HRC's January 4, 2011
UPR was ignored.
It praised Gaddafi's Jamahiriya governance. It said it protected "not
only political rights, but also economic, educational, social and cultural
rights." It also lauded his treatment of religious minorities, and "human
rights training" given his security forces.
On February 21, 2011, the Libyan League for Human Rights got 70 other
NGOs to petition Obama, E.U. High Representative Catherine Ashton, and
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
They demanded international action against Libya. They cited R2P. Of
the 71 petitioners, only 25 were human right groups. Others included
UN Watch, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), B'nai B'rith,
and other anti-democratic organizations.
They demanded an emergency HRC Special Session "to address situations
of gross and systematic violations of human rights." They called for
the General Assembly to suspend Libya's Council membership.
On February 25, 2011, a Special Session was held. Libyan League for
Human Rights (LLHR) head Sliman Bouchuiguir called for international
community action against Gaddafi. LLHR is a member of the French-based
International Federal of Human Rights (FIDH). It's closely tied to NED.
Its claims later proved to be false. No documentation existed. The puppet
National Transitional Council (NTC) provided them. They said Gaddafi
slaughtered thousands, and mercenaries comprised 80% of his military.
Nonetheless, based on falsified NGO claims, Libya was expelled from
HRC. At the same time, other nations supported its Jamahiriya government.
Brazil cited its economic and social progress.
It acknowledged its promotion of rights for disabled persons, free health
care, and high primary education enrollment. It also noted its cooperation
with international organizations in areas of migrant rights, judicial
reform, and curbing corruption.
Malta and Tunisia also expressed support. They acknowledged Jamahiriya
Green Charter freedoms and achievements.
On March 14, 2012, when it was too late to matter, HRC adopted its report
praising Gaddafi's Jamahiriya government. UN Watch protested. It demanded
it be rescinded. It said "Libya's long-suffering victims deserve no
less." It ignored generous benefits NATO destroyed.
Amnesty International (AI) also called HRC's decision "abhorrent." Its
head, Suzanne Nossel, served as Obama's Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for International Organizations. She's also a former Human Rights
Watch (HRW) CEO.
Like AI, HRW's record is notoriously tainted. Both supported NATO's
Libya's campaign. It turned peace and stability into charnel house disaster.
These organizations and others like them often back oppressors, not
victims.
Media Complicity with Political and NGO Lies
On February 21, 2011, the government controlled French International
News Network (France 24) broadcast a Libya special. It falsely claimed
Gaddafi's planes bombed civilian areas. At a later French parliament
session, Sarkozy's Tripoli ambassador refuted the account.
At the same time, falsified claims about "African mercenaries" comprising
80% of Gaddafi's military were made. AI's Genevieve Garrigos supported
what she later said was based solely on unsubstantiated rumors.
Ashur Shamis is a National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL) founding
member. He was wanted by Interpol and Libyan police for years. He also
was an NED Libyan Human and Political Development Forum director. He
actively participated in regime change conferences.
Aly Abuzaakouk is another NFSL member with close NED ties. Like Shamis,
he's a wanted man. Among other anti-Gaddafi guests, Al Jazeera featured
him during NATO's campaign. Broadcasting falsified managed news, it
shamelessly serves imperial interests.
In 2011, London-based Chatham House, a pro-corporate think tank, discussed
NATO plans for attacking Libya.
A Final Comment
Libya was targeted based on falsified, undocumented NGO claims, as well
as similar ones by NED and other pro-Western organizations.
"The lack of investigation, and the non-existence of any process to
question (NGO assertions) inside the Council (became) one of the main
causes for the events which cost the lives of thousands of Libyans"
killed during NATO's campaign.
"Non-interventionism....is a way to guarantee Peace, Democracy and Freedom."
"The Libyan case shows the reality behind" R2P. The doctrine destroyed
peace. Thousands died. Vast destruction was caused. Libyan sovereignty
was lost.
NATO committed war crimes. HRC betrayed its mandate. So did the Security
Council, General Assembly and ICC. R2P is "an instrument of domination."
International bodies are imperial tools.
Stronger states crush weaker ones. International law's a non-starter.
"Russia's recent position on Syria is a step in the right direction."
It bought "breathing space" to slow another march to war. Stopping it's
another matter.
The same NGOs behind Libya's war want another on Syria. Their earlier
pattern's repeated. It features undocumented allegations, spurning dialogue,
and enlisting UN support.
"How can such interference and lack of rigor bring peace to international
relations? How can these ideas claim to" support humanitarianism? How
can UN bodies go along? How can they contemptuously dismiss their inviolable
mandate to support peace?
These and other questions deserve answers. Complicit Member States and
NGOs provide none. One war leads to another. Syria's turn is next. Like
Gaddafi, Saddam, and other Washington targets, vilifying Assad's based
on lies.
How long before bombs away repeats? How many more deaths will follow?
How much more can be tolerated? When will most Member States say no
more? When will peacemakers triumph? Humanity wants to know. Time's
running out for answers.
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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