	Generational Dynamics
	Forecasting America's Destiny ... and the World's

\| HOME \| WEB LOG \| COUNTRY WIKI \| COMMENT \| FORUM \| DOWNLOADS \| ABOUT \|

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 8-May-2011
8-May-11 News -- Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots

Web Log - May, 2011

8-May-11 News -- Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots

Russia objects to the 'Libya Contact Group'

Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots

Libya's rebels in Misurata suffered a major setback early Saturday, when Gaddafi's forces breached Nato's no-fly zone and bombed fuel storage tanks, causing them to explode and burn, according to VOA.

Fuel depot explosion in Misrata Libya (AP)

Fuel depot explosion in Misrata Libya (AP)

It's not known how the no-fly zone was evaded, but some reports indicate that it was done with helicopters bearing the Red Cross emblems.

Government forces have also been scattering land mines in and around Misrata harbor, preventing aid and evacuation ships from docking. The Chinese anti-vehicle mines are dropped by mini-parachutes from rockets that open during flight, according to the BBC.

Misrata is the third largest city in Libya, with a population over half a million. It's been under siege by Gaddifi's forces for weeks, and Gaddafi's forces have now destroyed much of Misrata's remaining supply of fuel. Some reports indicate that Misrata will be running out of food within a few weeks, along with other parts of eastern Libya, according to Reuters

The United Nations Security Council originally approved the no-fly zone to save the city of Benghazi from the kind of humanitarian disaster that Misrata is now facing.

The Libya Contact Group

Since the beginning of the military intervention, a way has been sought to aid the opposition so that they could pursue the fight with as little outside help as possible. One approach being considered has been to unfreeze some of Gaddafi's frozen assets and give the money to the rebels. Libya has over $34 billion in frozen assets in the U.S., more than $19.7 billion in the U.K., and about $412.3 million in Switzerland, according to the Wall Street Journal (Access).

Libya Contact Group (Ahram)

Libya Contact Group (Ahram)

In order to determine how to resolve legal issues and provide this aid, several European and Arab countries formed an international group called the "Libya Contact Group." The U.S., Britain, France, Italy, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan are among the member countries.

The Libya Contact Group met on Thursday and agreed to set up a new fund to aid Libya's rebels. It will initially be funded through donations and loans from the U.S. and Europe, according to Al-Ahram, and frozen funds will be used later.

However, only about $250 million were readily available, far less than the $3 billion that that the rebels are requesting.

The Contact Group is also coordinating military contributions to the rebels, and this is raising the suspicions of the Russians.

As we've reported several times in the past, the Russians are pursuing a policy objective of keeping the stalemate in Libya going on for as long as possible, so that Nato forces will be tied down there, giving Russia's armed forces a free hand in the Caucasus and Central Asia.

To this end, the Russians are insisting that any expansion of the Nato military intervention must be approved by the U.N. Security Council, where Russia has a veto, thus giving Russia effective control over Nato.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is complaining that the Libya Contact Group is seeking a way to set the course of the Libya intervention without having to go through the Security Council, and therefore not subject to a Russian veto. Lavrov said the conflict in Libya was a civil war and the international community should focus on stopping the fighting and not "taking sides," according to Reuters

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 8-May-11 News -- Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (8-May-2011) Permanent Link
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Donate to Generational Dynamics via PayPal

Web Log Pages

Current Web Log

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 8-May-2011 8-May-11 News -- Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots

Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots

The Libya Contact Group

Web Log Pages

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 8-May-2011
8-May-11 News -- Libya forces breach no-fly zone and destroy Misrata's fuel depots