Invasion Libya

Update 1 - 3/23/11
Update 2 - 3/25/11

As I've been following what's going on in Libya closely, I thought I'd keep an ongoing post with links for those interested with some commentary. This post will be updated with new developments. Al Jazeera has great coverage including a live blog.

For some background, University of San Francisco Professor Stephen Zunes wrote this article just as US naval ships were moving into the region when fighting between rebels and Gaddafi's forces first broke out. For a perspective on Libya's role in oil production, see this piece.

Missile hits Gaddafi compound in Tripoli from Al Jazeera, 3/21/11

‎But Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Sunday condemned what he called the "bombardment of civilians" and called for an emergency meeting of the group of 22 states to discuss Libya.

He requested a report into the bombardment, which he said had "led to the deaths and injuries of many Libyan civilians".

"What is happening in Libya differs from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone, and what we want is the protection of civilians and not the bombardment of more civilians," Egypt's state news agency quoted Moussa as saying.

[...]

However, Navy Vice Admiral William E Gortney added that any of Gaddafi's ground troops advancing on pro-democracy forces are open targets for US and allied attacks.

"If they are moving on opposition forces ... yes, we will take them under attack," he told reporters.

"There has been no new air activity by the regime and we have detected no radar emissions from any of the air defence sites targeted and there's been a significant decrease in in the use of all Libyan air surveillance radars."

The drawbacks of intervention in Libya, an opinion piece from Al Jazeera, 3/20/11

The Daily Show from 3/21/11. Great commentary on the situation in Libya.

As Gaddafi Forces Launch New Attacks, Reports on the Ground from a Divided Libya - Democracy Now reporting on the situation in Libya on 3/3/11.

No-Fly Zone Enacted as U.S. and Allied Forces Launch Air Strikes on Libya Amid Growing Concerns for Civilian Safety - Democracy Now reporting as the no-fly zone is enacted on 3/21/11.

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Update 1

Libyan rebels form 'interim government' from Al Jazeera on 3/23/11

Libya air force 'unable to fight' from BBC on 3/23/11. US Commanders were saying this after the first day, yet there were still strikes enforcing this so called no-fly zone.

CBS Poll: 50% Approve Of Obama's Handling Of Libya - Haven't read and watched US media on this, it comes as no surprise. I'm sure most of those opposed to Obama's handling of this say he hasn't done enough.

Debating Intervention: Is U.S.-Led Military Action the Best Solution to Libya Crisis? on Democracy Now, 3/23/11

Strikes will 'antagonise' many in Arab world, says Chomsky - from the Irish Times, 3/21/11

U.S. rescue chopper shoots six Libyan villagers as they welcome pilots of downed Air Force jet - From the Daily Mail, 3/22/11

Six Libyan villagers are recovering in hospital after being shot by American soldiers coming in to rescue the U.S. pilots whose plane crash-landed in a field.

The helicopter strafed the ground as it landed in a field outside Benghazi beside the downed U.S. Air Force F-15E Eagle which ran into trouble during bombing raid last night.

And a handful of locals who had come to greet the pilots were hit - among them a young boy who may have to have a leg amputated because of injuries caused by a bullet wound.

The imperialist scramble for Libya from Socialist Worker on 3/23/11. Includes comparisons to Kosovo.


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Update 2

Is Barack Obama's Libya intervention a flip-flop from what he said in 2007? from PolitiFact.

Savage asked Obama, "In what circumstances, if any, would the president have constitutional authority to bomb Iran without seeking a use-of-force authorization from Congress? (Specifically, what about the strategic bombing of suspected nuclear sites -- a situation that does not involve stopping an IMMINENT threat?)"

[...]

Obama said, "The president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

White House: Libya fight is not war, it's 'kinetic military action' from The Washington Examiner on 3/23/11.

US remains military muscle in Libya campaign from Raw Story (AFP repost) on 3/25/11.

Mission Creep - Opinion piece from Al Jazeera on 3/25/11.