tagged w/ qaddafi
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On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, two senior U.S. defense spokesmen said that the USS Kearsarge with about 800 Marines on board was approaching Libya, as the West increases pressure on the regime of Colonel Qaddafi. The amphibious vessel is also carrying a fleet of helicopters and medical facilities that can provide support to humanitarian operations as well as military.
At the same time, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he was issuing more orders for U.S. warships and military personnel to head to the Mediterranean Sea near Libya, but showed an overall reluctance to involve the U.S. military on the ground in Libya or to establish a "no-fly zone" overhead.
At 14:08:20, CTV Calgary reported that a Canadian warship, the HMCS Charlottetown, would begin making its way to the waters off of Libya on Wednesday, to assist with evacuation and humanitarian efforts in the North African country. The deployment of the ship followed news that a Canadian Forces C-130J Hercules aircraft was denied landing rights in Tripoli Tuesday and had to return to Malta without the load of oil workers that officials had hoped to evacuate.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: US and Canadian warships dispatched to coast of Libya - National Foreign Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-national/us-and-canadian-warships-dispatched-to-coast-of-libya#ixzz1FOKZvCfgOn Tuesday, March 1, 2011, two senior U.S. defense spokesmen said that the USS... more
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This week: infinte rectums, C-section Midge, Norwegina snot rockets, deep fried Nutella, Adopt-a-Terrorist, Mormons and fruit flies, Vagina burgers, the Congressman one the prowl for transgendered babes, PMS wristbands, King's Speech shot on a gay porn set, and more.This week: infinte rectums, C-section Midge, Norwegina snot rockets, deep fried... more
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I have been watching developments in Libya over the last few days, and the sporadic statements that have been made by heads of state regarding action/non-action against Colonel Muammar Qaddafi. We have all been horrified to see that the Libyan leader has unleashed his 'dogs' on his pro-democratic protesters with orders to kill. We have watched the daily exodus of expatriates as they attempt to flee the country, as well as a small group of Libyans that want to cross the border into Tunisia.
A half-hour ago, we saw a press conference being held at the White House press room where Jay Carney spoke in veiled terms about what the US administration was planning, and the options it was considering. He explained that no less than an hour ago did a plane load of Americans leave Tripoli taking them to safety toward Istanbul. On the al-Jazeera channel, a Q & A program with UK prime minister Cameron was interrupted due to the White House Press Conference. Journalists were pressing for more exact answers, but unfortunately they were not getting them.
Will sanctions really work? In the short term, of course they won't. And I don't believe that President Obama thinks that either. His top priority was to get American civilians out of Tripoli and to safety. The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli is now shut down. Obama has spoken on the phone to Turkey's Erdogan, France's Sarkozy (who happen to be together at the moment in Ankara), and Italy's Berlusconi. Do you think they are discussing sanctions? Unlikely.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: You may not see or hear Obama, but he's working on Libya - National Foreign Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-national/you-may-not-see-or-hear-obama-but-he-s-working-on-libya#ixzz1F0TrN1UqI have been watching developments in Libya over the last few days, and the sporadic... more
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On Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that at least 30,000 foreign migrants from Libya have crossed the Tunisian border in the first major exodus to Tunisia since the Libyan turmoil began.
The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said later that Libyan nationals were among the arrivals in Tunisia, but spokesperson Melissa Fleming told AFP the agency did not know how many Libyans there were. The UNHCR has urged all countries to keep open their borders for people fleeing the bloodshed.
Another UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, said that the agency was to start an airlift this weekend that would bring in tents and other emergency shelter supplies into the city of Djerba, in Tunisia.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: In photos: 30,000 migrant workers flee Libya into Tunisia - National Foreign Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-national/in-photos-30-000-migrant-workers-flee-libya-into-tunisia#ixzz1Eu27Tg68On Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that at least... more
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Colonel Qaddafi has ordered the disruption of Libyan oil exports by destroying pipelines to the Mediterranean, sources tell Time's Robert Baer:
"There's been virtually no reliable information coming out of Tripoli, but a source close to the Gaddafi regime I did manage to get hold of told me the already terrible situation in Libya will get much worse. Among other things, Gaddafi has ordered security services to start sabotaging oil facilities. They will start by blowing up several oil pipelines, cutting off flow to Mediterranean ports. The sabotage, according to the insider, is meant to serve as a message to Libya's rebellious tribes: It's either me or chaos."
Oil has been spiking on fears of a Libyan disruption. Already today the country declared force majeur, effectively canceling oil contracts.
Libya produces 1.9 million barrels of oil per day.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/qadaffi-pipelines-2011-2#ixzz1EjwWJF4eColonel Qaddafi has ordered the disruption of Libyan oil exports by destroying... more
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Two Mirage Libyan fighter jets asked for permission to land in Malta a few minutes ago, as seen on the al-Jazeera English network. Aboard? Two senior airforce colonels who had been ordered to fly to Benghazi and fire on Libyan demonstrators. The jets did get to Benghazi as ordered, but apparently both colonels had a change of heart when they saw their countrymen being fired on. Instead, they took off and headed for Malta where they were taken for questioning upon landing.
This latest development in the ongoing battle between protesters who are demanding Qaddafi's resignation and Libyan armed forces could be an indicator that the regime has begun falling apart.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Breaking: Senior Libyan airforce colonels defect to Malta - National Foreign Policy | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/foreign-policy-in-national/breaking-senior-libyan-airforce-colonels-defect-to-malta#ixzz1EcOsrjt2Two Mirage Libyan fighter jets asked for permission to land in Malta a few minutes... more
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I'll provide you with the set up, then you provide me with the punchline.
So Hugo Chavez and Moammar Qaddafi are riding in a car...
[Choose your own punchline.]
I'll publish the results and/or your photoshops.I'll provide you with the set up, then you provide me with the punchline.
So... more
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I find myself in an ambiguous ethical dilemma. I am an avid supporter of democracy. Philosophically, I reject authoritarian regimes. Unfortunately, I am easily amused. There is always something funny to me about how despots act in the public sphere.
This morning I watched Muammar al-Gaddafi (though I prefer spelling it Qaddafi) give a rambling speech to the UN General Assembly. He had some insightful thoughts. Further investigating the abuses at Abu Ghraib. He condemned the current war, as well as previous military intervention in Korea, Vietnam, and Grenada.
To his credit, this was his first convo with the UN. It's been 40 years, so he covered a lot.
He finally got a chance to talk about JFK conspiracies. "Why did this Israeli kill the killer of John F. Kennedy? ... We have to open the files!" He probably started thinking about this theory in '91, because he loved JFK. (I imagine he thinks that Waterworld tanked, because of a worldwide conspiracy against Kevin Costner.)
He got topical too. Qaddafi suggested that “this swine virus may be one of those viruses that was created in the laboratory and it got out of control because it was meant to be a military weapon."
Qaddafi shows off his detailed notes (photo via)
Qaddafi gave Fox News fodder for their continuing coverage of Obama being unAmerican, by calling him a son of Africa. I wonder how Glenn Beck will spin “we are content and happy if Obama stays forever as President." Will he connect the dots to suggest that Obama is going to try to stay in power forever, like 'other prominent African dictators.'
Other highlights from the speech included: suggesting renaming the Security Council the Terror Council. And dissing the entire UN by saying they are "like speakers on Hyde Park Corner. You make a speech and then disappear. That's all you are right now." The latter makes me giggle like a teenager, 'cuz like he is saying that, but like that's what he's also doing, ya know, it's like irony or something.'
My favorite part was when he suggested that the United Nations needs to move somewhere more comfortable. He's not talking about uncomfortable chairs, Qaddafi stays in a tent. He's talking about the distance that New York is from the rest of the world. This man is suffering from jet lag people! "You will thank me for the proposal of (reducing) the suffering of flying for hours to come to this place."
Perhaps Qaddafi overlooked his own mistakes. He didn't mention Lockerbie, supporting a murderous regime in Sierra Leone, and simply not abdicating power after forty years. But he's done a service to the world, by providing us with so much entertainment.I find myself in an ambiguous ethical dilemma. I am an avid supporter of democracy.... more
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The UN General Assembly has wrapped up in New York and given that it's the closest thing to Lollapalooza we get in terms of Current News coverage, I wanted to a do a quick round up of the highlights.
It was President Obama's very first UN General Assembly. He gave one of his standard pieces of soaring oratory. Here's some highlights in video:
Obama Speaks at U.N. (Video)
Obama called for more responsibility in the international community, and I asked on the News Blog what America's international priorities should be.
Leah at Current_Green was listening closely to the lines about a commitment to fighting climate change (and promises she's blogging about it soon!)
Josh over at Current_Comedy blogged about his favorite speech of the Assembly, the ever-entertaining Muhmar Qaddafi (or Gaddafi), who overcame his tent troubles to give his first speech to the UN in 40 years of running Libya.
Ahmadinejad also spoke, and he was, as always, not particularly popular. Representatives from at least 11 countries walked out during his annual Holocaust denial. We'll have video of the speech for you later today.
Next up: Off to the G-20 in Pittsburgh!The UN General Assembly has wrapped up in New York and given that it's the... more
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Qaddafi and Chavez are working with many other african, and latin american nations in attempts to form an alliance similar to that of NATO.
Do you think that this will benefit their continents, or will it raise world hostility?Qaddafi and Chavez are working with many other african, and latin american nations in... more
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In a private meeting with relatives of Lockerbie victims, Libya's leader says he is sorry for their losses, and one relative tells him she has been praying for him.In a private meeting with relatives of Lockerbie victims, Libya's leader says he... more
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Still No Place in New York for Qaddafi’s Tent
Poor Muammar el-Qaddafi.
He has been trying to pitch his tent all over the New York area. But he has been turned down in Central Park, Englewood, N.J., and most recently, by the Westchester County town of Bedford, where tenants from the United Arab Emirates renting Donald Trump’s 213-acre estate were given a stop-work order after they began assembling a tent that would be used by the Libyan leader.Still No Place in New York for Qaddafi’s Tent
Poor Muammar el-Qaddafi.
He... more
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I find myself in an ambiguous ethical dilemma. I am an avid supporter of democracy. Philosophically, I reject authoritarian regimes. Unfortunately, I am easily amused. There is always something funny to me about how despots act in the public sphere.I find myself in an ambiguous ethical dilemma. I am an avid supporter of democracy.... more
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