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Turmoil in Libya (2011) and post-Gaddafi blowback
- Thread starter willellis
- Start date
A
aesop081
Guest
Well done to all my CP-140 brothers and sisters who deployed to TF LIBECCIO. Welcome home. We took the Aurora to battle for the first time and opened allot of eyes on what we can bring to the fight at sea and over land. Fly safe and keep kicking a** !!
S
smale436
Guest
Welcome home to you all from someone who spent 6 months on the other side of the island! For the record, the two times I made it out to Sig were worth the 3 hour drive to satisfy the craving for Subway and English magazines. I enjoyed chatting with the very nice CP-140 DetCO sitting next to me on the plane home.
- Reaction score
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- Reaction score
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8)
- Reaction score
- 4,266
- Points
- 1,260
- Reaction score
- 4,266
- Points
- 1,260
Canadian navy to introduce drones in new Mediterranean mission: admiral
By: The Canadian Press Posted: 11/22/2011
Article Link
OTTAWA - Canadian warships will soon be deploying drones on overseas operations.
The crew of HMCS Charlottetown is currently testing the lightweight ScanEagle, a leased, unmanned aircraft the army used to great effect in Afghanistan.
Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, head of the Royal Canadian Navy, says the idea is to deploy the drone when the frigate heads back to the Mediterranean next year as part of the government's recently announced plan to keep a warship in the region throughout 2012.
But instead of hunting for Taliban planting roadside bombs, Maddison says the plane will provide surveillance over both sea and land.
The Canadian navy has experimented with drones, but the use of the ScanEagle represents the first step towards their introduction into service.
The ScanEagle, with a three-metre wing-span, is capable of staying airborne for 20 hours and carries an infrared camera as well as a radar system.
It's launched by catapult and lands by snagging a wire.
Maddison says the drone is not a substitute for the vessel's aging Sea King helicopter, but will enhance the warship's existing capability.
"A UAV provides an excellent capability ... to do that surveillance and reconnaissance," he said. "We saw this as a real opportunity."
The frigate is currently testing the drone off the coast of Nova Scotia.
American warships have used unmanned aircraft since 2005 and defence experts say they've proven themselves especially valuable tracking pirates in the Gulf Aden and in the waters off Somalia.
Maddison made the comments in a teleconference while visiting HMCS Vancouver, which has been directed to join NATO's standing counter-terrorism mission in the Mediterranean.
More on link
By: The Canadian Press Posted: 11/22/2011
Article Link
OTTAWA - Canadian warships will soon be deploying drones on overseas operations.
The crew of HMCS Charlottetown is currently testing the lightweight ScanEagle, a leased, unmanned aircraft the army used to great effect in Afghanistan.
Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, head of the Royal Canadian Navy, says the idea is to deploy the drone when the frigate heads back to the Mediterranean next year as part of the government's recently announced plan to keep a warship in the region throughout 2012.
But instead of hunting for Taliban planting roadside bombs, Maddison says the plane will provide surveillance over both sea and land.
The Canadian navy has experimented with drones, but the use of the ScanEagle represents the first step towards their introduction into service.
The ScanEagle, with a three-metre wing-span, is capable of staying airborne for 20 hours and carries an infrared camera as well as a radar system.
It's launched by catapult and lands by snagging a wire.
Maddison says the drone is not a substitute for the vessel's aging Sea King helicopter, but will enhance the warship's existing capability.
"A UAV provides an excellent capability ... to do that surveillance and reconnaissance," he said. "We saw this as a real opportunity."
The frigate is currently testing the drone off the coast of Nova Scotia.
American warships have used unmanned aircraft since 2005 and defence experts say they've proven themselves especially valuable tracking pirates in the Gulf Aden and in the waters off Somalia.
Maddison made the comments in a teleconference while visiting HMCS Vancouver, which has been directed to join NATO's standing counter-terrorism mission in the Mediterranean.
More on link
Rheostatic
Full Member
- Reaction score
- 0
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- 210
http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/v2/nr-sp/index-eng.asp?id=12437 said:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/massive-rcaf-flyby-over-parliament-hill-on-thursday-1590568.htm said:
Shared with provisions of The Copyright Act
Honours for mission to end 'brutal' Libyan regime
Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News 24 Nov
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/11/24/pol-libya-ceremony.html
Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute to the Canadian military Thursday for its role in ending Moammar Gadhafi's "brutal and psychotic" dictatorship.
An elaborate ceremony on Parliament Hill also included a special honour for Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, the Canadian in charge of the NATO-led mission launched in March.
Harper, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Gov. Gen. David Johnston, commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, and Gen. Walt Natynczyk all attended the event, thanked the Canadian Forces and hailed the intervention as a success.
“It is a day to pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women of our Armed Forces who played their part. And yes, it is a day to honour the great Canadian who led them," Harper said.
The prime minister said the mission was undertaken for a noble purpose, to help protect Libyans who were uprising against Gadhafi and asking for freedom.
"And, why would they do otherwise, having experienced over four decades of dictatorship so brutal and psychotic, that it had literally taken their country out of the mainstream of human existence?" Harper said.
The prime minister said Gadhafi's harsh and violent response to the uprising was "an invitation to genocide" and that is why Canada joined its NATO allies to support the United Nations-backed response.
He said Canada will always defend what is right. "For we believe that in a world where people look for hope and cry out for freedom, those who talk the talk of human rights must from time to time be prepared to likewise walk the walk," said Harper.
A 21-gun salute and a flypast over Parliament Hill kicked off the morning's event before it began in the Senate chamber.
The flypast involved seven CF-18 fighter jets, a Sea King helicopter, an Airbus and a Globemaster aircraft, and was meant to pay tribute to the aviation support provided by the Canadian Forces in the Libyan mission.
Bouchard was given the meritorious service cross, a recognition for a military activity that, according to the Department of National Defence's description, "has been performed in an outstandingly professional manner, according to a rare high standard that brings considerable benefit or great honour to the Canadian Forces."
The medal was pinned to his uniform by Gov. Gen. Johnston, who in his remarks, said the Canadian Forces served with distinction.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I thank you for your service in this mission," he said.
When Bouchard accepted his medal and made his speech, he called those who participated in the mission "true Canadian heroes."
Bouchard wanted Gadhafi captured alive
He said Canadian air crews helped conduct the most precise air campaign in NATO's history and sea crews faced dangerous conditions to help allow for humantarian aid to be delivered to Libya's ports.
"Libya and Libyans are the true victors of this campaign. They have won their war and every day, as we see it, they are winning their peace," he said.
Bouchard said he is hopeful to see an effective judicial system soon in Libya, and expressed disappointment later to reporters that Gadhafi was killed and won't face it.
"The death of Gadhafi was unfortunate in the sense that I would have preferred to see him taken to justice," Bouchard said.
Harper, Natynczyk and MacKay all paid tribute to Bouchard and his role in leading the international effort.
MacKay said Bouchard, who is set to retire in January, "exemplified the best that our country has to offer."
"To Gen. Bouchard, and all of our fine men and women in uniform, I thank you, the Libyan people thank you, Canadians everywhere thank you and thank your families," the defence minister said.
Earlier in the day, MacKay addressed questions about why a ceremony was held to mark the Libyan mission and not the Afghanistan one. The defence said the Afghanistan mission isn't over yet, but that it too will be commemorated.
"We're looking at ways in which we can appropriately pay respects and honour Afghanistan veterans in addition," he said Thursday.
"This mission came about very quickly ... it has now successfully concluded. Suffice it to say there is more work to be done in Afghanistan with respect to the stabilization of that country and Canadian Forces are still there. That is one major difference. To suggest somehow that the Afghan mission has come to a close and that we would commemorate it in such a way as we are celebrating today is simply inappropriate."
About 900 troops are conducting a training mission in Afghanistan, based in Kabul.
Ceremony called 'showpiece' for government
One critic called Thursday's ceremony a "garish display" at a time when the government is trying to cut costs, and that there is a fine line between celebrating the military and putting on a "political show."
"It goes beyond just recognizing the contributions of members of the Canadian Forces to being a showpiece for the Conservative government," Stephen Staples, president of the Rideau Institute, told CBC News. "The government has to be careful here. While the public supports the Armed Forces, they don't want them used as props for Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay and this government."
Canadian troops left for Libya in March with a mission to enforce an arms embargo and no-fly zone imposed over Libya through a United Nations resolution.
About 630 military personnel served in the region at any one time until operations came to an end on Nov. 1, after Gadhafi's capture and death Oct. 20. A number of fighter jets and other aircraft were deployed along with HMCS Charlottetown to patrol the waters off Libya. It was later replaced by HMCS Vancouver. In total, about 2,000 troops served a tour in the region.
Canadian Forces aircraft dropped more than 600 bombs, helped refuel the aircraft of allies and gathered intelligence.
Gadhafi ruled Libya for 42 years until he was ousted by his own people in an uprising that became a civil war.
more at link.
Honours for mission to end 'brutal' Libyan regime
Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News 24 Nov
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/11/24/pol-libya-ceremony.html
Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute to the Canadian military Thursday for its role in ending Moammar Gadhafi's "brutal and psychotic" dictatorship.
An elaborate ceremony on Parliament Hill also included a special honour for Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, the Canadian in charge of the NATO-led mission launched in March.
Harper, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Gov. Gen. David Johnston, commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, and Gen. Walt Natynczyk all attended the event, thanked the Canadian Forces and hailed the intervention as a success.
“It is a day to pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women of our Armed Forces who played their part. And yes, it is a day to honour the great Canadian who led them," Harper said.
The prime minister said the mission was undertaken for a noble purpose, to help protect Libyans who were uprising against Gadhafi and asking for freedom.
"And, why would they do otherwise, having experienced over four decades of dictatorship so brutal and psychotic, that it had literally taken their country out of the mainstream of human existence?" Harper said.
The prime minister said Gadhafi's harsh and violent response to the uprising was "an invitation to genocide" and that is why Canada joined its NATO allies to support the United Nations-backed response.
He said Canada will always defend what is right. "For we believe that in a world where people look for hope and cry out for freedom, those who talk the talk of human rights must from time to time be prepared to likewise walk the walk," said Harper.
A 21-gun salute and a flypast over Parliament Hill kicked off the morning's event before it began in the Senate chamber.
The flypast involved seven CF-18 fighter jets, a Sea King helicopter, an Airbus and a Globemaster aircraft, and was meant to pay tribute to the aviation support provided by the Canadian Forces in the Libyan mission.
Bouchard was given the meritorious service cross, a recognition for a military activity that, according to the Department of National Defence's description, "has been performed in an outstandingly professional manner, according to a rare high standard that brings considerable benefit or great honour to the Canadian Forces."
The medal was pinned to his uniform by Gov. Gen. Johnston, who in his remarks, said the Canadian Forces served with distinction.
"On behalf of all Canadians, I thank you for your service in this mission," he said.
When Bouchard accepted his medal and made his speech, he called those who participated in the mission "true Canadian heroes."
Bouchard wanted Gadhafi captured alive
He said Canadian air crews helped conduct the most precise air campaign in NATO's history and sea crews faced dangerous conditions to help allow for humantarian aid to be delivered to Libya's ports.
"Libya and Libyans are the true victors of this campaign. They have won their war and every day, as we see it, they are winning their peace," he said.
Bouchard said he is hopeful to see an effective judicial system soon in Libya, and expressed disappointment later to reporters that Gadhafi was killed and won't face it.
"The death of Gadhafi was unfortunate in the sense that I would have preferred to see him taken to justice," Bouchard said.
Harper, Natynczyk and MacKay all paid tribute to Bouchard and his role in leading the international effort.
MacKay said Bouchard, who is set to retire in January, "exemplified the best that our country has to offer."
"To Gen. Bouchard, and all of our fine men and women in uniform, I thank you, the Libyan people thank you, Canadians everywhere thank you and thank your families," the defence minister said.
Earlier in the day, MacKay addressed questions about why a ceremony was held to mark the Libyan mission and not the Afghanistan one. The defence said the Afghanistan mission isn't over yet, but that it too will be commemorated.
"We're looking at ways in which we can appropriately pay respects and honour Afghanistan veterans in addition," he said Thursday.
"This mission came about very quickly ... it has now successfully concluded. Suffice it to say there is more work to be done in Afghanistan with respect to the stabilization of that country and Canadian Forces are still there. That is one major difference. To suggest somehow that the Afghan mission has come to a close and that we would commemorate it in such a way as we are celebrating today is simply inappropriate."
About 900 troops are conducting a training mission in Afghanistan, based in Kabul.
Ceremony called 'showpiece' for government
One critic called Thursday's ceremony a "garish display" at a time when the government is trying to cut costs, and that there is a fine line between celebrating the military and putting on a "political show."
"It goes beyond just recognizing the contributions of members of the Canadian Forces to being a showpiece for the Conservative government," Stephen Staples, president of the Rideau Institute, told CBC News. "The government has to be careful here. While the public supports the Armed Forces, they don't want them used as props for Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay and this government."
Canadian troops left for Libya in March with a mission to enforce an arms embargo and no-fly zone imposed over Libya through a United Nations resolution.
About 630 military personnel served in the region at any one time until operations came to an end on Nov. 1, after Gadhafi's capture and death Oct. 20. A number of fighter jets and other aircraft were deployed along with HMCS Charlottetown to patrol the waters off Libya. It was later replaced by HMCS Vancouver. In total, about 2,000 troops served a tour in the region.
Canadian Forces aircraft dropped more than 600 bombs, helped refuel the aircraft of allies and gathered intelligence.
Gadhafi ruled Libya for 42 years until he was ousted by his own people in an uprising that became a civil war.
more at link.
- Reaction score
- 4,266
- Points
- 1,260
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 410
Mexico 'stops entry' of Libya's Saadi Gaddafi
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16075043
Canadian part of network that tried to smuggle Gadhafi son into Mexico
REUTERS
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/12/07/canadian-part-of-network-that-tried-to-smuggle-gadhafi-son-into-mexico
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/315728
All those appear to match up to this article from November 17th 2011:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/17/canadian-with-ties-to-libya-arrested-in-mexico/
Canadian with ties to Libya arrested in Mexico
Stewart Bell
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16075043
Canadian part of network that tried to smuggle Gadhafi son into Mexico
REUTERS
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/12/07/canadian-part-of-network-that-tried-to-smuggle-gadhafi-son-into-mexico
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/315728
All those appear to match up to this article from November 17th 2011:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/17/canadian-with-ties-to-libya-arrested-in-mexico/
Canadian with ties to Libya arrested in Mexico
Stewart Bell
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 410
Story from the BBC, Pretty good way to start wrapping up this "2011" thread.
Libya independence: King Idris anniversary celebrated
BBC
24 December 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16325383
For the first time in 42 years, Libya is celebrating the anniversary of its independence.
Libya independence: King Idris anniversary celebrated
BBC
24 December 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16325383
For the first time in 42 years, Libya is celebrating the anniversary of its independence.
- Reaction score
- 146
- Points
- 710
Why no Canadian media coverage? Libyans desecrate Commonwealth war graves. The Brits and Aussies are all over this story, but here?
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1252&bih=548&tbm=nws&q=libya+war+graves&oq=libya+war+graves&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=0l0l0l22046l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&gs_l=serp.12...0l0l0l22046l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0
I discovered it at Norman's Spectator:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/nspector4/
"SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2012
...
Mail on Sunday front page: Shocking video of Churchill's Desert Rats' graves being smashed to rubble by Libyan rebels http://tinyurl.com/76tyrbh
Libyan rebels smashed headstone of Canadian pilot, M. P. Northmore/killed in October 1943/buried in Benghazi http://tinyurl.com/76tyrbh"
Then at Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs
http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/257-eng.html
"Sunday, 4 March 2012 - Updated at 1845 hrs EST
...
International News
...
Herald Sun
Commonwealth war graves in Benghazi desecrated
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/sickening-attack-on-diggers-war-graves/story-fn7x8me2-1226288480111
- More "
http://www.smh.com.au/national/disgust-at-desecration-of-diggers-graves-in-libya-20120305-1ubj9.html
Mark
Ottawa
https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1252&bih=548&tbm=nws&q=libya+war+graves&oq=libya+war+graves&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=12&gs_upl=0l0l0l22046l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&gs_l=serp.12...0l0l0l22046l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0
I discovered it at Norman's Spectator:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/nspector4/
"SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2012
...
Mail on Sunday front page: Shocking video of Churchill's Desert Rats' graves being smashed to rubble by Libyan rebels http://tinyurl.com/76tyrbh
Libyan rebels smashed headstone of Canadian pilot, M. P. Northmore/killed in October 1943/buried in Benghazi http://tinyurl.com/76tyrbh"
Then at Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs
http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/257-eng.html
"Sunday, 4 March 2012 - Updated at 1845 hrs EST
...
International News
...
Herald Sun
Commonwealth war graves in Benghazi desecrated
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/sickening-attack-on-diggers-war-graves/story-fn7x8me2-1226288480111
- More "
http://www.smh.com.au/national/disgust-at-desecration-of-diggers-graves-in-libya-20120305-1ubj9.html
Mark
Ottawa
- Reaction score
- 146
- Points
- 710
Toronto Star plays up the--quite limited--Canadian angle (surprised?):
Libyan mob’s desecration of British and Canadian war cemetery ‘absolutely appalling’
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1140915--libyan-mob-s-desecration-of-british-and-canadian-war-cemetery-absolutely-appalling?bn=1
Mark
Ottawa
Libyan mob’s desecration of British and Canadian war cemetery ‘absolutely appalling’
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1140915--libyan-mob-s-desecration-of-british-and-canadian-war-cemetery-absolutely-appalling?bn=1
Mark
Ottawa
- Reaction score
- 4,266
- Points
- 1,260
Just like Afghanistan - no reporters on the ground = limited OR no coverageMarkOttawa said:
- Reaction score
- 146
- Points
- 710
In fact it seems ten Canadians are buried at the cemetery:
http://www.canadaatwar.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/cemetary/1/Benghazi%20War%20Cemetery/
Via SOMNIA:
http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/257-eng.html
Mark
Ottawa
http://www.canadaatwar.ca/memorial/world-war-ii/cemetary/1/Benghazi%20War%20Cemetery/
Via SOMNIA:
http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/257-eng.html
Mark
Ottawa
Libya: Semi-autonomy declared by leaders in east
6 March 2012 Last updated at 07:27 ET
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17271431
Civic leaders in eastern Libya have declared semi-autonomy for the oil-rich region.
The decision was made at a meeting attended by at least 2,000 people near the eastern city of Benghazi.
Supporters of the move say the region, known as Cyrenaica, has been neglected for decades and local people should now decide on local matters.
But the governing National Transitional Council has argued against federalism, amid fears it could break up Libya.
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, reporting from the meeting, called the announcement a declaration of intent by the tribal leaders of Cyrenaica.
It is not yet clear what degree of autonomy the leaders are seeking, and will likely be the subject of much debate with the NTC in Tripoli over the coming months, he adds.
end
6 March 2012 Last updated at 07:27 ET
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17271431
Civic leaders in eastern Libya have declared semi-autonomy for the oil-rich region.
The decision was made at a meeting attended by at least 2,000 people near the eastern city of Benghazi.
Supporters of the move say the region, known as Cyrenaica, has been neglected for decades and local people should now decide on local matters.
But the governing National Transitional Council has argued against federalism, amid fears it could break up Libya.
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, reporting from the meeting, called the announcement a declaration of intent by the tribal leaders of Cyrenaica.
It is not yet clear what degree of autonomy the leaders are seeking, and will likely be the subject of much debate with the NTC in Tripoli over the coming months, he adds.
end
The Return Of The King
March 7, 2012
Article Link
Egyptian police believe several thousand weapons a month are being smuggled in from Libya. These include assault rifles, RPG launchers, machine-guns, mortars, small caliber rockets, shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles and ammunition. Only about 20 percent of these weapons are seized by police. The smugglers have been operating along the largely desert border for generations, and are quite good at avoiding Egyptian border patrols. Part of the problem is that there is no border security on the Libyan side and no national police force there either.
National elections are still on for June, and the best organized groups tend to be Islamic conservatives or radicals. Meanwhile, the NTC (National Transitional Council) is having a hard time restoring government and the economy because of corruption and a shortage of skilled foreign workers. Like all oil-rich Arab states, Libya depended on skilled foreigners for key technical jobs (especially medicine and running the oil operations) and unskilled foreigners for the dirty jobs no Libyan wanted to do (garbage collection and unskilled labor tasks). Countries are unwilling to allow their citizens to return until the NTC can assure the safety of the foreign workers. Some foreign workers have returned anyway, relying for safety on the assurances of the company or local government they are working for. The NTC is also changing Kaddafi-era banking and business laws to allow foreign companies to invest in and set up operations in Libya. At the moment, foreign companies have to make deals with local militias and keep lots of cash handy for bribes and "security."
A major reason the NTC cannot get the government going is corruption. This bribery and theft was somewhat organized under Kaddafi, but now it's a free-for-all and too much money just disappears before it can be spent on needed goods or services. The NTC is finding that local leaders cannot be trusted, and they will often steal much of the money they have been given for distribution to individuals and families. This lack of "civil society" (enough people willing to work for the public good without stealing or engaging in other forms of corruption) is causing widespread anger and resistance to any new national government. While tribal leaders are more trustworthy, they will also steal. But not as much as strangers and at least you know who the tribal leaders are and who they are related to. Thus the resurgence of tribal politics, for the tribe is an ancient form of government that, in chaotic times, is often the only viable alternative.
March 6, 2012: Leaders of eastern Libya declared autonomy. The new region would be called Barqa and would still leave foreign affairs, the national defense and managing the oil fields to the central government. This call for federalism was not unexpected, as Kaddafi came from western Libya, and favored tribes there at the expense of eastern Libya. The people in the west are accustomed to running things, but they no longer have the popular, or military, power to do so. Worse, most of the armed men in the country belong to over a hundred militias, most of them based on tribal affiliation. Meanwhile, the key to eastern autonomy is the oil workers in the area. The east is where most of the oil is, and if the 3,000 oil workers agree with autonomy, the situation becomes very serious.
The NTC, which began in the east, but has since moved to Tripoli, blamed this new separatism on foreign interference by other Arab countries. Some Libyans still refer to the east by its ancient name, Cyrenaica. Before Kaddafi took over the 1960s, the monarchy ruled the country as three provinces, each with more autonomy than Kaddafi ever allowed. The eastern group calling for autonomy is led by a great-nephew of the last king of Libya. Compared to Kaddafi, old timers remember royal rule as much kinder and gentler.
This development spotlights some fundamental truths about the country. Libya has three distinct physical regions: the northwest coast, the northeast coast, and the Sahara Desert southern region that covers more than 90 percent of the nation. The northwest coastal region (the old Roman province of Tripolitania) consists of the narrow coastal plain and the Jaffara Plain inland. The northeastern Libyan coastal region (roughly the old Roman province of Cyrenaica) lies to the east of the Gulf of Sidra.
About 85 percent of Libya's six million people live along the coast. About five percent are still nomadic. About 90 percent are Arabic-speakers of mixed Arab-Berber ancestry. Berbers who retain their ancient language and culture, comprise only four percent and most of them live in small villages in the western hill country south of Tripoli. Other minorities comprise about six percent of the population. Nearly 100 percent of the population speaks at least some Arabic and 97 percent are Sunni Moslems.
March 4, 2012: In Tripoli, the new Libyan Army graduated its first class of soldiers. The 225 graduates were volunteers from anti-Kaddafi militias and underwent four months of training.
March 2, 2012: A UN report concluded that everyone in Libya behaved badly during 2011, and that the victorious rebels still hold over 5,000 prisoners (Kaddafi loyalists, foreign mercenaries and sundry suspicious characters). While Kaddafi has more blood on his hands (having killed many more Libyans in just a few months), the rebels sought vengeance on pro-government gunmen and pro-Kaddafi civilians. The UN believes that the current prisoners are being mistreated.
February 27, 2012: Tribal elders have finally negotiated a ceasefire to end the tribal fighting in the southeast. The violence has left over a hundred dead in the last few weeks. This is one of the many expected tribal wars, and is taking place in near the borders of Egypt, Chad and Sudan. There, the dark skinned Toubu tribe, which was persecuted under Kaddafi, is under attack by the larger and lighter skinned Zwai. The Toubu accuse the NTC (National Transitional Council) of backing the Zwai. Like many tribes in Africa, the Toubu have branches in Niger and Chad. There has long been racial and ethnic conflict along the southern border of the Sahara Desert (the Sahel region), where light skinned Arabs, Tuaregs and Berbers bump into darker skinned Africans.
February 25, 2012: Additional pro-government militiamen arrived in the south east, to encourage warring tribesmen to settle down.
February 20, 2012: Misarata, the city that suffered the most during the rebellion against Kaddafi, was the first city to hold local elections.
February 17, 2012: Around the country, many Libyans celebrated the first anniversary of the anti-Kaddafi revolution. The rebellion officially ended eight months after it began, with the death of Kaddafi last October 20th.
More on link
March 7, 2012
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Egyptian police believe several thousand weapons a month are being smuggled in from Libya. These include assault rifles, RPG launchers, machine-guns, mortars, small caliber rockets, shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles and ammunition. Only about 20 percent of these weapons are seized by police. The smugglers have been operating along the largely desert border for generations, and are quite good at avoiding Egyptian border patrols. Part of the problem is that there is no border security on the Libyan side and no national police force there either.
National elections are still on for June, and the best organized groups tend to be Islamic conservatives or radicals. Meanwhile, the NTC (National Transitional Council) is having a hard time restoring government and the economy because of corruption and a shortage of skilled foreign workers. Like all oil-rich Arab states, Libya depended on skilled foreigners for key technical jobs (especially medicine and running the oil operations) and unskilled foreigners for the dirty jobs no Libyan wanted to do (garbage collection and unskilled labor tasks). Countries are unwilling to allow their citizens to return until the NTC can assure the safety of the foreign workers. Some foreign workers have returned anyway, relying for safety on the assurances of the company or local government they are working for. The NTC is also changing Kaddafi-era banking and business laws to allow foreign companies to invest in and set up operations in Libya. At the moment, foreign companies have to make deals with local militias and keep lots of cash handy for bribes and "security."
A major reason the NTC cannot get the government going is corruption. This bribery and theft was somewhat organized under Kaddafi, but now it's a free-for-all and too much money just disappears before it can be spent on needed goods or services. The NTC is finding that local leaders cannot be trusted, and they will often steal much of the money they have been given for distribution to individuals and families. This lack of "civil society" (enough people willing to work for the public good without stealing or engaging in other forms of corruption) is causing widespread anger and resistance to any new national government. While tribal leaders are more trustworthy, they will also steal. But not as much as strangers and at least you know who the tribal leaders are and who they are related to. Thus the resurgence of tribal politics, for the tribe is an ancient form of government that, in chaotic times, is often the only viable alternative.
March 6, 2012: Leaders of eastern Libya declared autonomy. The new region would be called Barqa and would still leave foreign affairs, the national defense and managing the oil fields to the central government. This call for federalism was not unexpected, as Kaddafi came from western Libya, and favored tribes there at the expense of eastern Libya. The people in the west are accustomed to running things, but they no longer have the popular, or military, power to do so. Worse, most of the armed men in the country belong to over a hundred militias, most of them based on tribal affiliation. Meanwhile, the key to eastern autonomy is the oil workers in the area. The east is where most of the oil is, and if the 3,000 oil workers agree with autonomy, the situation becomes very serious.
The NTC, which began in the east, but has since moved to Tripoli, blamed this new separatism on foreign interference by other Arab countries. Some Libyans still refer to the east by its ancient name, Cyrenaica. Before Kaddafi took over the 1960s, the monarchy ruled the country as three provinces, each with more autonomy than Kaddafi ever allowed. The eastern group calling for autonomy is led by a great-nephew of the last king of Libya. Compared to Kaddafi, old timers remember royal rule as much kinder and gentler.
This development spotlights some fundamental truths about the country. Libya has three distinct physical regions: the northwest coast, the northeast coast, and the Sahara Desert southern region that covers more than 90 percent of the nation. The northwest coastal region (the old Roman province of Tripolitania) consists of the narrow coastal plain and the Jaffara Plain inland. The northeastern Libyan coastal region (roughly the old Roman province of Cyrenaica) lies to the east of the Gulf of Sidra.
About 85 percent of Libya's six million people live along the coast. About five percent are still nomadic. About 90 percent are Arabic-speakers of mixed Arab-Berber ancestry. Berbers who retain their ancient language and culture, comprise only four percent and most of them live in small villages in the western hill country south of Tripoli. Other minorities comprise about six percent of the population. Nearly 100 percent of the population speaks at least some Arabic and 97 percent are Sunni Moslems.
March 4, 2012: In Tripoli, the new Libyan Army graduated its first class of soldiers. The 225 graduates were volunteers from anti-Kaddafi militias and underwent four months of training.
March 2, 2012: A UN report concluded that everyone in Libya behaved badly during 2011, and that the victorious rebels still hold over 5,000 prisoners (Kaddafi loyalists, foreign mercenaries and sundry suspicious characters). While Kaddafi has more blood on his hands (having killed many more Libyans in just a few months), the rebels sought vengeance on pro-government gunmen and pro-Kaddafi civilians. The UN believes that the current prisoners are being mistreated.
February 27, 2012: Tribal elders have finally negotiated a ceasefire to end the tribal fighting in the southeast. The violence has left over a hundred dead in the last few weeks. This is one of the many expected tribal wars, and is taking place in near the borders of Egypt, Chad and Sudan. There, the dark skinned Toubu tribe, which was persecuted under Kaddafi, is under attack by the larger and lighter skinned Zwai. The Toubu accuse the NTC (National Transitional Council) of backing the Zwai. Like many tribes in Africa, the Toubu have branches in Niger and Chad. There has long been racial and ethnic conflict along the southern border of the Sahara Desert (the Sahel region), where light skinned Arabs, Tuaregs and Berbers bump into darker skinned Africans.
February 25, 2012: Additional pro-government militiamen arrived in the south east, to encourage warring tribesmen to settle down.
February 20, 2012: Misarata, the city that suffered the most during the rebellion against Kaddafi, was the first city to hold local elections.
February 17, 2012: Around the country, many Libyans celebrated the first anniversary of the anti-Kaddafi revolution. The rebellion officially ended eight months after it began, with the death of Kaddafi last October 20th.
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Brian Stewart: new Libya post-mortems highlight NATO's flaws
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/04/18/f-vp-stewart-nato-libya.html
For the knee jerk CBC critics this is:
" a confidential after-action NATO assessment of campaign "flaws" that was just obtained by the New York Times, which published details on the weekend."
Same story NT Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/world/africa/nato-sees-flaws-in-air-campaign-against-qaddafi.html
And just came upon this Opinion editorial from today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/opinion/nato-after-libya.html?hp
And check out the "comments" , some good discussion.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/04/18/f-vp-stewart-nato-libya.html
For the knee jerk CBC critics this is:
" a confidential after-action NATO assessment of campaign "flaws" that was just obtained by the New York Times, which published details on the weekend."
Same story NT Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/world/africa/nato-sees-flaws-in-air-campaign-against-qaddafi.html
And just came upon this Opinion editorial from today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/opinion/nato-after-libya.html?hp
And check out the "comments" , some good discussion.
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