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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 19-Mar-2011
19-Mar-11 News -- Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action

Web Log - March, 2011

19-Mar-11 News -- Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action

Bloody Friday spreads to Yemen and Syria

Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action

A week ago, the Obama administration had no position on a no-fly zone over Libya. The situation changed rapidly, and by Thursday the administration was in favor, but was working behind the scenes, allowing Britain and France to take the lead. (See "18-Mar-11 News -- UN declares war after Gaddafi threatens 'moment of truth'".)

Cheering Benghazi residents watch President Obama live on large screen

Cheering Benghazi residents watch President Obama live on large screen

On Friday, President Obama took the international lead in advocating military action against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

In his speech on Friday, he said the following:

"Once again, Qaddafi chose to ignore the will of his people and the international community. Instead, he launched a military campaign against his own people. And there should be no doubt about his intentions, because he himself has made them clear.
For decades, he has demonstrated a willingness to use brute force through his sponsorship of terrorism against the American people as well as others, and through the killings that he has carried out within his own borders. And just yesterday, speaking of the city of Benghazi -- a city of roughly 700,000 people -- he threatened, and I quote: “We will have no mercy and no pity” -- no mercy on his own citizens.
Now, here is why this matters to us. Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Qaddafi would commit atrocities against his people. Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue. The entire region could be destabilized, endangering many of our allies and partners. The calls of the Libyan people for help would go unanswered. The democratic values that we stand for would be overrun. Moreover, the words of the international community would be rendered hollow. ...
Now, once more, Moammar Qaddafi has a choice. The resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met. The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. That means all attacks against civilians must stop. Qaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata, and Zawiya, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.
Let me be clear, these terms are not negotiable. These terms are not subject to negotiation. If Qaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences, and the resolution will be enforced through military action.
In this effort, the United States is prepared to act as part of an international coalition. American leadership is essential, but that does not mean acting alone -– it means shaping the conditions for the international community to act together. ...
Let me close by saying that there is no decision I face as your Commander in Chief that I consider as carefully as the decision to ask our men and women to use military force. Particularly at a time when our military is fighting in Afghanistan and winding down our activities in Iraq, that decision is only made more difficult. But the United States of America will not stand idly by in the face of actions that undermine global peace and security. So I have taken this decision with the confidence that action is necessary, and that we will not be acting alone. Our goal is focused, our cause is just, and our coalition is strong. Thank you very much."

Big crowds of cheering Libyans watched the speech on a huge television screen in central Benghazi. Although Obama took pains to mention that the US was not acting alone, it seemed clear to the cheering crowds this was Obama's show.

President Obama's speech is receiving criticism because he did not demand that Gaddafi step down.

Libya's foreign minister announced on Friday that Libya would abide by the UN Security Council resolution, and would abide by a cease-fire. However, al-Jazeera kept reporting continuing attacks by Gaddafi's forces on civilians. Susan Rice, America's ambassador to the U.N., accused Gaddafi of violating the cease-fire. She told CNN that the "U.S. is ready to act" and that Gadhafi "should be under no illusions that if he doesn't act immediately he will face swift and sure consequences, including military action." She added, "We are focused immediately on protection of civilians, on ensuring that the march to Benghazi does not continue and that those who are most vulnerable have the rights and protections that they deserve."

The U.S. is now fully committed to preventing a massacre, or anything that appears to be sufficiently like a massacre, against Libyan civilians. Any military action is permitted except, apparently, the use of foreign troops on the ground in Libya. British and French aircraft will participate, but it remains to be seen whether any Arab League countries will participate.

Either way, the US is now in the lead in foreign wars in three different Muslim countries.

Bloody Friday spreads to Yemen and Syria

Many of the biggest protests have occurred on Fridays, as people pour out of the mosques after midday prayers. On this Friday, violence in Yemen reached a new high, and the first large demonstration occurred in Syria.

Yemen's president Ali Abdullah Saleh declared a nationwide state of emergency, after a violent crackdown on anti-government protests killed at least 41 people, and left scores more wounded, in the capital Sanaa, according to Al-Jazeera. This is the worst violence in Yemen in decades.

There was no indication how long the state of emergency would last.

Public protests were almost unknown in Syria, until now. On Friday in the city of Deraa in the south of Syria, near the border with Jordan, several thousand people conducted anti-government demonstrations, chanting, "God, Syria, Freedom," according to Reuters.

Security forces were reinforced with troops flown in by helicopters. At least three people were killed, and dozens more were wounded.

So if you're keeping score, the "Arab Revolution" has now spread to the following countries: Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya and Syria.

The U.S. is involved in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

Additional links

Young protesters in Iraq's generational Awakening period are developing their own voice: "What we have passed through is like a dark dream. We believe in Iraq as the primary identity, not sect or religion." In 2006 and 2007, when the NY Times, NBC News, and others on the left were saying that Iraq was in a worsening Sunni/Shia civil war, I pointed out that a civil war was impossible, and that Iraqis have historically considered themselves to be Iraqis first, and Sunnis or Shia second. (See "Iraqi Sunnis are turning against al-Qaeda in Iraq" from 2007.) This new youth movement would be repeating that historical trend. Washington Post

Al-Qaeda has essentially been irrelevant in the recent Arab uprisings, with its regional appeal declining and its networks under severe pressure everywhere. Jamestown

Saudi Arabian officials, led by King Abdullah, are still furious that President Obama threw Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak under the bus so quickly, and now Obama has almost no influence in Saudi Arabia. In particular, "King Abdullah has been clear that Saudi Arabia will never allow Shia rule in Bahrain — never." NY Times

The unfolding disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant follows decades of falsified safety reports, fatal accidents and underestimated earthquake risk in Japan’s atomic power industry. Bloomberg

London's left-wing Guardian newspaper whines that the US military has developed software allowing it to control separate identities on online social networks. (LOL! Everyone does this, and you don't need special software.) Guardian

Russia considers the United States, not Japan, to be its main enemy in the Pacific region. However, Russia's relationship with Japan is challenged by an acute crisis over the South Kurile islands, which used to belong to Japan, but which Russia took over after World War II. Jamestown

Adding to Japan's problems, the salt water tsunami may have ruined enough Japanese farmland that its national rice production will be threatened, requiring more imports of rice. AgriMoney

News you can use: 25 techniques for disinformation. PreventDisease.com

Why would you date a man who can't punctuate? Telegraph

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 19-Mar-11 News -- Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (19-Mar-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 19-Mar-2011 19-Mar-11 News -- Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action

Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action

Bloody Friday spreads to Yemen and Syria

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 19-Mar-2011
19-Mar-11 News -- Obama takes international leadership for Libya military action