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Posts Tagged 'Libya'
Mary Rizzo – Libya, a question of people, and a message for anti-imperialists
Posted: 06/24/2011 by editormary in Europe, Grassroots Activism, Human Rights, Internet and Communication, Libya, Middle East, Opinions and Letters, People's Movements / Struggles, Rant / Musings / Discussion, Refugees, Religion, Strategy for Liberation, War
Tags: Anti-Imperialism, Gaddafi, Gheddafi, Immigration, Libya, NATO, Refugees, War
Protesters for Libyan freedom in London
It seems like years ago, but only a few months have gone by. The anti-imperialist world raised their virtual glasses in a united toast to the people's revolutions. When I say this phrase, it seems I need to define every term, so bear with me. I will try to not take any concepts for granted.
The anti-imperialist world as I have come to know it is generally comprised of generally well-to-do intellectual-type folks who engage more time in discourse and social networking than they actually do in developing strategies or training individuals for a radical change in society where local (indigenous) people are their own leaders and determine for their exclusive benefit the policies and economic organisation of their own territory. They however are generally very passionate about the need to seek justice against tyrants and they believe that the people themselves want the same thing, so they do what they can (far from the places themselves) ninety-nine times out of one hundred by raising awareness through their articles, videos, comments, social network activities and fundraisers for more public events to raise awareness (and this cycle continues until it exhausts itself into the next fashionable group of unfortunate others).
With all that awareness-raising, you would be sure that by now, this formidable band of selfless virtual warriors would have convinced all of the world that there is no way on earth that the will of the people should be trampled on and that sooner rather than later, each people will achieve its own autonomy and self-reliance. These people who have concretely moved towards self-liberation might even be so inclined as to bite the hands that looks like it feeds them, if this has to happen for them to truly be free, but an anti-imperialist should never look at his or her own interests as a member of the empire who enjoys the privileges of that status, and should even tolerate great levels of aggression against the empire he calls home.
That said, when first Tunisia, then Egypt, began staging independent demos to demand change in their government systems, inspired by their sheer numbers, they seemed to be fully successful. There was bloodshed among civilians, but it ended, and this was a revolution that was almost like a dream, almost too easy and certainly so full of promise and hope. It even adopted the name that will remain with it for all time, "Arab Spring", the long-awaited renewal of Arabhood connected to the idea of development of a new society that was going to put people before anything else. That it gained support at a global level probably was intrinsic to its success.
Protesters in Gaza
How did that happen? Well, we all know it was through mass communications, some of it entirely spontaneous between those directly involved, and some of it presented to a wider community to enlist their sympathies and support. It was the fact that the world was watching that perhaps hastened the demise of Ben Ali and Mubarak, and it could also be the fact that a barrier of fear had been broken. Make no mistake, I have been documenting Egyptian uprisings for at least 3 years, and there are others who like me were not under the impression that Egyptians were passively accepting a lack of political expression and a worsening social crisis. Several of us had commented that it was necessary to break through the impression that Egyptians were incapable of rebellion and to show that there was the emergence of a protest movement that was non-confessional, and was tying together the idea of the rebirth of Arabhood as well as an Egyptian national identity that was as vibrant as the Egyptian people. We could have been some of the few who were not surprised by the revolution, but what did surprise us was the enablement that this gave to nearby peoples.
Living in the European country closest to Libya and with a colonial past which as recently as 1972 has seen mass expulsions of Libyans of Italian descent, whatever happens in Libya is going to be felt directly. In the past years, hundreds of boats full of refugees have headed toward our shores, and as has been documented thoroughly, the Libyan regime had utilised the African migrants as a playing card to obtain many things from Italy. The Africans who were brought to Libyan Migrant Detention Centres were actually imprisoned there, and the thought of dying at sea on unsafe and overcrowded ships was a risk almost all of them were desirous to take after months of torment from the military and police branches of the Libyan government. There were truckloads of them driven to the confines of the desert and left there to die, documented by Italian film crews, who were concerned about lives in the face of the "Bilateral Agreements" so that Gaddafi could keep a foothold in Italy's economy and obtain "aid" worth billions of Euros for infrastructure (some of it I can personally testify was for bunkers), weaponry and telecommunications in exchange for a policy of limiting African immigration from Libyan shores.
Gaddafi's racism thought it found another foothold in the sensitivities of the Italian government, and his words were carefully used to obtain what he wanted, a combination of greed and rank racism that I witnessed few anti-imperialists getting upset about. It deserves being read word by word:
"Europe runs the risk of turning black from illegal immigration, it could turn into Africa. We need support from the European Union to stop this army trying to get across from Libya, which is their entry point. At the moment there is a dangerous level of immigration from Africa into Europe and we don't know what will happen. What will be the reaction of the white Christian Europeans to this mass of hungry, uneducated Africans? We don't know if Europe will remain an advanced and cohesive continent or if it will be destroyed by this barbarian invasion. We have to imagine that this could happen but before it does we need to work together."
Gaddafi's recent "Rome By Night" outing
Gaddafi would come to Italy, honoured by Silvio Berlusconi and the best that the Italian government had to offer by way of hospitality, in order to seal more deals and to re-establish that these two neighbours had the same interests at heart: especially a thirst for petroleum and a provider who would make sure there would be preferential treatment under certain conditions, including keeping Europe white. Berlusconi was also an honoured guest in Libya, promising billions of Euros for schools, retirement homes, infrastructure and other things. It is curious that those continually claiming Libya was fulfilling all of its people's needs on its own seem to not question why they would need so very much Italian money to do what they claim has already been done. During these visits, our news shows were almost suffering an embarrassment at how to represent it. The feelings run deep, and we had known of the abuses that were going on in Libya. Many of us know Libyans, some of them in exile, "You mean you can't go back? What do you mean you can't go back?" Others who come on scholarships and seem to never want to talk about politics either. I would joke with two friends (one in each category) and call it the Libyan black hole. However, both would easily admit that Libya could be much more than it is, if only it could have the chance for that.
So, I watched the revolutions with other anti-imperialists, and the Libyan revolution had quite a few of us excited at the first moments because Libya is not a Middle Eastern country and it also has ambiguous and collaborative relations with the empire, and with my nation in particular. I was naively convinced that true anti-imperialists would welcome the will of the people as sovereign and that the information constantly withheld from us regarding many human rights violations would cause one of those powerful moments of decision: supporting an action that really was going to mean conflict and risk for my own nation. As February 17th approached, (with its planned march in Benghazi of the family members of the 1,200 political prisoners of Abu Salim who had been executed by Gaddafi ) I noticed that a few would start to say it was not a real revolution because a) it was against a leader who claimed to be anti-imperialist, b) it was a tribal conflict that we should not take part in, as it would lead to division of Libya (as if they actually knew or cared!), c)the protesters had some problems that did not make them revolutionary, with the sub-groups of 1) they are seeking the restoration of the monarchy, 2) they are religious fanatics that will turn back the clock on progressive revolutions and make Libya a theocratic state. I asked them if they had the right to determine when a revolution was valid and when it was not, and I was surprised to hear that they were putting conditions on the support of a people, and didn't they notice the people were demanding their freedom?
I started to check into all my favourite anti-imperialist sites, most of the relevant articles indicated to me by friends on Facebook, and lo and behold, most of these were articles by Westerners. If I had kept count, and I should have, I would have the evidence in front of me that out of 100 articles perhaps 3 were actually penned by Libyans. I got to wondering what was happening when I had been reading and hearing the reports from Benghazi by Mohamed Nabbous, killed by Gaddafi's squadrons and in the many comments surrounding these interventions, and noticed the enormous gulf in what the Pundits were saying, and what Libyans were saying. It was as if there were two worlds colliding. All of these people claimed to love freedom and to want to do anything necessary to obtain it, but there was that nasty issue of Gaddafi actually threatening to exterminate those who tried. At this point, one would think that this would be enough for one to firmly side with the Libyan people and wonder what the pundits were going on about.
And, at this time, many things entered the scene, such as NATO, which all of us detest, and transitional governments and Libyan officials abandoning their leader and an upsurge in refugees flooding into Tunisia and war and death in the land that only a few weeks before was the next domino with a tyrant's face that had to be knocked down.
We read of infiltrations of Al Qaeda, (this was what Gaddafi claimed the Thuwar ("rebels" to those who hate them and "freedom fighters" to those who love them), of deals with Empire, of CIA infiltrates and anything else that you can imagine by way of establishing that those who were commemorating the massacre of their loved ones and who were massacred while doing so were SO BAD and if we supported them, we were dupes. I guess it would take a very self-assured person to still want to see the Thuwar and indeed the people opposing Gaddafi in a decent light.
Already involved in a few discussion groups regarding the events in the region, I was invited by friends to join a few private mostly-Libyan discussion groups. I wanted to observe the discourse, and since my sympathies and antipathies were known to me, but not backed up by enough concrete information, I took it as my "personal fact finding mission" to learn as much as I could about the situation from Libyans. Indeed, the discussions in these groups are lively, and shockingly, almost everyone in the groups (which are by no means small either) has a martyr for the cause and has family living in conditions of siege. It is quite a shocker to log in and see someone receiving condolences for his father, his uncle, her brother, a daily litany of suffering and loss… And even more shocking was the coming into contact with a world I should have been more aware of, that of the acceptance of the will and wisdom of God.
Yes, religion plays a big part in many of these struggles, and while this is not a religious war, (and all Libyans practice the same religion for the most part), the element of faith and perseverance that these people surely learned from over four decades of negation of their political freedom is omnipresent. I would also peek into Pro-Gaddafi boards and oddly, there was a sort of violence and lack of humanity that were not even hidden very well. It became almost apparent to me that there was a lot more to this situation than meets the eye.
I got into discussions with American Communists (self-proclaimed, naturally) and leftists in general and when they started to stress that they didn't like the religious symbolism that they were seeing (as if their taste was going to matter) I had to ask them why they thought they knew better than the Libyans what was best for Libyans. I was told that the Libyans would put the monarchy in. I stated that the TNC issued a statement and it was supported by those I was discussing things with, that there were to be elections and there was going to be an establishment of democracy. These AC + Leftists told me that the Libyans were dupes for the empire and religious fanatics and that if they were not working for a world revolution but for a repressive and authoritative patriarchal set-up, and thus, as AC + Leftists, the Libyans would not be worthy of obtaining their support. I thought that was some cheek. So what I decided to do was to serve as a filter, I invited Libyans to use my board to engage with these anti-imperialists, and many willingly did so. They presented the Libyan point of view, they were kind, patient and tried to explain what the situation was so that it could be understood.
I admit I was shocked at the violent verbal reactions they got. I admit it was the classic Western Pundit thing of orientalism and ignoring the voice of the common man if that common man was not "politically advanced". It was the thing I see time and again in Palestine activism: the great Western hero (usually white, male, often Christian or Jewish) determines that he or she knows what is best and becomes the spokesman and mouthpiece for Palestinians. It is denial of Palestinian agency, but it is so common and so normal that we tend to not notice it as the alarming trend it is.
McKinney not looking too objective there.
Working for the Man
So, when Cynthia McKinney stepped onto the scene, it is as if the secret prayers of the Gaddafi supporters who also are against the Libyan people's revolution (they want to deny it's what it is, but they are unable to turn off our memory cells that far back) had been answered. Black, female, present in the past in brave gestures for Palestine, outspoken against the robbery of the Democratic vote in the Bush elections, pacifist and they can plug their noses on the fact that she actually might represent empire by being involved in the presidential elections as a candidate and as a Roman Catholic. She does fine to complain against NATO abuses and even their involvement, but to become the mouthpiece of Gaddafi went above and beyond the call of duty, even going so far as to follow the game plan he provided while establishing the proper narrative to put forth. She did this as well on Libyan State TV, yes, the same state TV that has been accused by Libyans as sending out calls for ethnic cleansing of the Amazigh people (a linguistic minority in Libya) and those living in cities where protesting became resistance and then revolution.
And it seems, once again, we have thousands of eyewitnesses who the anti- imperialists, Leftists, American Communists refuse to listen to or when they are given the opportunity censor them or hurl insults their way, but when an American "eyewitness" (who has been shown where the Gaddafi cronies have taken her and nowhere else) speaks, she is the one who must be listened to, because she will not change anything, because she has no loved ones there, so whatever happens is politics, because she will have her hardcore followers and for all the ones she loses, she will pick up more, sensing where the anti-imperialist (banter) winds blow, feeding the fundraising machine for awareness-raising in an endless cycle. Those who actually are Libyans are treated to the usual "shut up" that is reserved for "counter-revolutionaries". All from the comfort of these Western Anti-Imperialist homes far away from where the blood is being shed.
So what is my final remark to anti-imperialists, that group which I had felt I had proudly belonged to for decades? Quit lecturing with such an attitude of cultural colonialism and start listening to those who are actually the directly interested party. Answer them at least once when they ask what alternative you would have offered when it was clear that their people were being violently crushed. Realise they are not interested in anything but their own freedom, and that includes freedom from you and your ideology and platitudes that contain nothing concrete for them to use towards obtainment of their freedom. If the anti-imperialists can't understand that, then Khalas, because shutting up is golden.
Nasrallah speaks about the people's revolutions VIDEO!
Posted: 03/21/2011 by editormary in Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Resistance, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Video
Tags: Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Resistance, Revolution, Yemen
Aya Al-Shohada – Don't Cry for Me (poem for the martyrs for freedom)
Posted: 03/19/2011 by editormary in Counter-terrorism, No thanks!, Libya, People's Movements / Struggles, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Strategy for Liberation
Tags: Libya, Resistance
Blasting. Shouts. Screams. Sirens.
Someone told me to run, I should.
I try to keep my eyes open; I would, if I could.
Wait,
Nobody told me it would feel this good.
I look at the sky and breathe in one last time,
That's it; I think it has reached my time.
I close my eyes and as I let go, I smile,
I haven't felt this happy in a very long while.
Don't get carried away with me,
Going, Going, I'm gone away…
To my mother, father, son, daughter and anyone that has cried;
It would be an insult to say I have died,
Instead be blissful and speak my name in pride,
Or release those tears of joy you are trying to hide,
For I am waiting for you on the better side.
Sorry about the call you received at 4 o'clock in the morning,
I don't want you upset and I don't want you mourning.
I am sorry to anyone I have left behind,
I hope one day peace and tranquillity you will find.
Don't worry about me I am wide awake,
For I have lost my earthly life for the almighty's sake.
If you have lost me or any family member,
Stay with the thought that we will meet again in Jannah.
They say what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger,
So try and hold on a little while longer.
With you I will always remain, in your heart and your soul;
As you try to find freedom and accomplish this goal.
Be strong, and remain standing tall,
Don't give up hope or lose patience as you fight for evil's downfall,
Everything helps no matter how small,
Each one of us can build freedom like each brick builds a wall.
Pray, Pray, Pray and Pray.
Try not to lose patience and carry on day after day,
As you fight for freedom in every way.
My death wasn't my end, it's not over,
The sadness of my loss you will Inshallah get over,
Remember that paradise is what I fly over,
The Dunya's hurt that I suffered I don't think over,
Agony and Pain I will never again fret over,
Just carry on praying for the day that this is all over.
Adib S Kawar – Where are the Arabs? A response to Robert Grenier
Posted: 03/18/2011 by editormary in "Israel", Counter-terrorism, No thanks!, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Resistance, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance
Tags: Arab States, Arabs, Armed resistance, CIA, Libya, NATO
The author of the article I post below, Robert Grenier, rightly asked: "Where are the Arabs?" but in our opinion, we Arab Nationalists, also believe that he had also rightly volunteered to reply to his own question which is in his own words:
"…the primary motivating principles of the rebels have been clear: A desire for personal liberty, dignity and collective social empowerment."
Once an Egyptian Arab intellectual lady, Huda Hanum Shaarawi, replied after the 1948 Palestinian Arab Nakbah to the question: "How is it possible that seven Arab states and their armies were defeated by one state "Israel"? Her reply was simple and clear: "Because they were seven states with seven armies and seven 'leaderships' each quarrelling with the rest, while the enemy was one with one leadership, one army for one state.", which the author has described below:
Robert Grenier was the CIA's chief of station in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 1999 to 2002. He was also the director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre." As a high CIA officer he should have known why did the British Mr. Sykes and the French M. Picot come together to plan to divide the east Mediterranean Arab territories even before the defeat and expulsion of the Ottoman Turks from it. They met and agreed to conclude on what is known as "The Sykes Picot Agreement", that is, to apply the principle of "divide and rule", of course to create small weak Arab states that cannot defend themselves in the face of the colonialist powers and their colonialist ambitions, who were at the time in the first place Great Britain and France.
And lately why the old Zionist fox Shimon Peres to be joined at a later time by Condoleezza Rice, U.S Secretary of State under George W. Bush, further try to divide the present Arab states into a smaller states based on religious and ethnic minorities, which Zionists and other colonialist powers shall try to create between them feuds and enmities so as to resort to these colonialist powers for protection against their other Arab brothers… then Zionists and other colonialists shall be able to control them all, but fortunately enough what is known as the New Middle East colonialist conspiracy did not see the light, and with the domino theory of Arab revolutions presently taking place shall never be realized, and hopefully an Arab unity shall instead be realized to counteract these Zionist and western colonialist conspiracies.
Now the aim of young Arab revolutionaries is to get rid of these rulers who want to keep their control on what they consider as their subjects in collaboration with their colonialist protectors, but the young Arab citizens who want to be no more subjects of their corrupt ruers, but real citizens and be able to decide their own fate are struggling to overthrow all these rotten, corrupt and isolationist rulers. That is why those particular rulers shall not volunteer to come to give assistance to Libyan Arabs or any revolutionary Arabs citizens revolting against their rotten rulers… because as we said and saw that by the domino theory, revolutions shall pass from one Arab state to another. They, Arab rulers, want to keep their chairs under the seat of their pants and keep on riding on the backs of what they consider their obedient subjects. The young revolutionaries want their freedom and liberty from their internal and external rulers.
In a big and rich Arab state, an official and a member of the ruling family commented on the simple and rightful demands of their young citizens whom they consider "subjects" who gathered peacefully. As is the case with all Arab rulers, the official said after denying that there were gatherings and demands: "The cooperation of citizens with security men to confront those who call for anarchy was a good proof and spontaneous response against those calling for evil in a peaceful country." He added that, "driving people to overstep matters to what doesn't achieve demands or reform, calls for dialogue,and that is exactly what those in command in the state call for"!!!!
Another highly posted official said: "Some of those calling for evil gathered in front of the ministry of internal affairs," he claimed that, "they want to make of the state a place of chaos, they are organizing purposeless demonstrations that have no high aims, but they proved that they don't know the people of their state"!!!
From Libya, correspondent Ogharit Dandaash wrote the story of the engineer Almahdi Zeo:
"Before February 14th there was not a single exceptional matter or incident that makes it to informational mass media, nor was there a political stance, be it pro or con, regarding the regime that was in the activities of this Benghazi engineer who was in his forties. Engineer Almahdi Zeo was living a quiet life in Benghazi, his financial status was as described by those who knew him well as "better than good (kwaiseh)". Zeo was the head of a family, and the father of two daughters studying at university, who never heard or noticed him fidgeting when Gaddafi and his men ruling from their stronghold of terror in Benghazi were mentioned.
On February 15th 2011 the young people of Benghazi didn't expect the official birth for the February 17th revolution, to mount the winds of change that blew from their neighborhood. They demonstrated and were confronted from the Benghazi battalion of terror with fire in front of the court house… many of the revolutionary fell down martyrs…
While the young revolutionaries were marching in the funeral of their martyred comrades, Zeo was passing an ordinary day during his monotonous life. He passed in front of the headquarters of the battalion on his way to practice his ordinary daily routine work, it was inevitable that some incident should happen to attract his attention. Young people returning from the funeral of their beloved comrades, were, without notice, confronted with live fire, the source of which was from the battalion of Al-Fadel Omar, the headquarters of the soldiers of the regime, where any activists with political opposition to the regime, or with any ideas that contradict those of the Gaddafi Green holy Book. Zeo stopped to see the young people confronting the heavily armed soldiers with their naked chests, He returned home to tell his two daughters about 18 years olds fighting without help.
The following morning he returned to practice his ordinary work, believing that the zeal of the young couldn't but be aborted with the regime's brutality, but just in front of the same battalion tens of young people returned for another sit down with other supporters… Zeo realized after a long life of submission and looking aside shall not end with the feeling at ease required by other human beings, those youngsters realized, before it was too late, that there is a difference between living as ordinary human beings and a life full with a humanitarian meaning.
That night he hugged his beloved ones like he had never done before, he talked to them about small heroic incidents that history books didn't mention, and about which no poems were written, but they leave their effect in people's souls that had submitted to accepting life at ease, and as an ordinary matter… and left his house.
The place is the headquarters of the Benghazi battalion, date before the new Libyan history, attendants, the young persons seated on the ground, the occasion: drawing a new road map for the revolution.
The engineer said: "Success depends on the element of surprise: Clearly, we need to act quickly.
One of youth there understood: the moment the road opens, we attack.
Another youth pointed out to another group of young people, the brothers coming here are from Baida, they came to help us.
The engineer said, "I am going ahead".
The engineer mounts his car that was loaded with gas containers for home use, and drives towards the wall of the two storey building housing the battalion's headquarters, which is impossible to enter to or to break into. He steps on the accelerator to maximum speed, hits the wall, the car explodes, the wall crumbles creating an opening, the youngsters rush into the headquarters.
The element of surprise dispersed the soldiers who ran away, the revolutionaries took control and they obtained their first quantity of arms, they took control of the helm of the battle and thus the battle turned in their favor. After some confrontations, the Abu Al-Fadel Omar battalion fell and its leader fled to Tripoli along with Assaadi Al-Gaddafi (One of Muamar Gaddafi's sons) who took refuge at the battalion's headquarters after the outbreak of revolution. Then the weapons and ammunitions stores are now in the service of the revolution born on February 17th.
The fall of the battalion contributed to the liberation of Benghazi, and the revolutionaries gave credit in that to Engineer Almahdi Zeo for the morale and military help he gave to them, and encouraging many officers and soldiers to defect from Gaddafi's forces and join the revolutionaries, and opening the door wide open for victories, which made the east of Libya fall from the hands of Gaddafi into the hands of the revolution within four days.
Martyr Al-Mahdi Zeo did not live to reap the fruits of the trees he planted, but those Libyan young men and women who had never heard of Engineer Zeo know now that the engineer of the realized revolution shall be the name who they shall tell to their children and grandchildren when their hair shall turn grey about a revolution executed by dreamers who didn't wait enjoy its fruits.
So we should not expect from these decaying, rotten and dictatorial regimes to step in to help other revolutions against their equally decaying, rotten and dictatorial Arab regimes… they are equally bad and should be overthrown by young Arab revolutionaries.
"Where are the Arabs?" The other Arabs, are the young revolutionary Arabs, who are each cleaning the dirt the old Arab dictatorial and rotten Arab regimes left over by colonialism behind. Good things are coming with Arab liberty and unity.
So we cannot but agree with Robert Grenier saying: "A new day is dawning in the Arab world. The revolutions underway have only just begun, and there is much to be sorted out in the countries where the democratic wave has taken hold. The response of other regional regimes, under less acute and immediate pressure, but still grappling with the challenge of socio-political changes now set perhaps inexorably in motion, remains very much to be seen. For all that its common outlook is rapidly evolving, the Arab world has a long way to go in coming to a firm consensus about what forms of rule will meet its minimum standards of acceptability."
ORIGINAL PIECE
'Where are the Arabs?' By: Robert Grenier
If Arab states are serious about ending Gaddafi's menace to his people, they must take the lead in helping the rebels.
Robert Grenier Last Modified: 13 Mar 2011 08:35 GMT
If Arab states do not act now, when the last Libyan rebel lies bleeding in the desert, his final words
may well be: 'Where are the Arabs?'
It was August of 1982. For seven weeks, Beirut had been sealed off, under attack by Israel from land, sea and air. Water and electricity supplies were cut. The Israelis had secured the airport and much of the southern suburbs. The Syrians had been defeated, their air force wiped from the Lebanese skies. Chairman Arafat and the PLO were seemingly at the mercy of their enemies, utterly dependent upon the international community to arrange an evacuation of their fighters which would bring an end to the carnage. Isolated and alone, all the leader of the Palestinian movement could do was look into the cameras and plead: "Where are the Arabs?"
In January of 1991, a nominally extensive international coalition of armed forces, led by the US but including many of the Arab countries, stood poised in northern Saudi Arabia to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. It might have seemed that much of the Arab world was unified, and had engaged the United States and the international community in their cause to liberate a brutally occupied Arab country.
But in many of the Arab capitals, and to a seeming majority in the Arab street, the armies massed in the Saudi desert were anything but a sign of Arab strength and unity. For in point of fact, the Arab countries had had comparatively little to do with organizing this un-authorized, largely Western coalition. Many Arab nationalists from across the region asserted strenuously that the Arabs should not rely upon the Americans to sort out their difficulties, arguing in favor of an "Arab solution" to the crisis. In fact, however, this was mere posturing: An Arab solution to the crisis would have amounted to meek acquiescence in Saddam Hussein's intra-Arab aggression. Those Arab countries most threatened by Saddam were not about to entrust their fate to regional Arab councils. They did not wish one day to be left, alone, to make the entreaty: "Where are the Arabs?"
Today, in the deserts along the coast of Libya, patriots are fighting to liberate themselves and their country from over 40 years of brutal, arbitrary misrule. Although tribal and other social divisions are no doubt playing a role in determining the fault lines of the civil war progressively settling over Libya, the primary motivating principles of the rebels have been clear: A desire for personal liberty, dignity and collective social empowerment. In this they have been transparently inspired by the courage of their brothers and sisters in Tunisia, in Egypt, and in many other parts of the Arab world. But as they attempt to withstand the onslaught of Muammar Gaddafi's better-armed loyalists, and as those rebels most hard-pressed repeatedly plead for at least limited outside assistance, well they might ask: "Where are the Arabs?"
Passivity and diffidence
A new day is dawning in the Arab world. The revolutions underway have only just begun, and there is much to be sorted out in the countries where the democratic wave has taken hold. The response of other regional regimes, under less acute and immediate pressure, but still grappling with the challenge of socio-political changes now set perhaps inexorably in motion, remains very much to be seen. For all that its common outlook is rapidly evolving, the Arab world has a long way to go in coming to a firm consensus about what forms of rule will meet its minimum standards of acceptability.
Nonetheless, the latest indications of Arab intent in the context of Libya are positive, if as yet insufficient. A clear message has been sent by both the GCC and the Arab League that Gaddafi's brutality toward his people is not acceptable, and has effectively delegitimised his government. The Arab nations have taken a clear stand in favour of a UN Security Council-imposed no-fly zone, and for urgent outreach to the National Transitional Council in Benghazi.
So far, perhaps, so good. Still, troubling signs of traditional passivity and diffidence remain. The Arabs are deferring action to the international community without suggestions as to how that action should be implemented, and with no firm commitment for their own direct involvement. The Arab League ministers aver that a no-fly zone should only be for the purpose of protecting Libyan civilians, and should end as quickly as possible. They continue to express concern over foreign intervention, while requesting precisely that. Their ambivalence is palpable.
At the same time, evidence is mounting that the international fixation on a no-fly zone may be a distraction from more urgently-needed action, and may in fact be counter-productive. First of all, it is not at all clear how great a threat is posed by Gaddafi's air strikes, per se. While the military situation remains confused, it seems more likely that Gaddafi's armour and artillery pose the more lethal danger to both rebel and civilian targets.
Moreover, imposition of a no-fly zone would be no simple task. Security Council agreement is far from assured: The Council is divided, and the Chinese, in particular, will do what they can to avoid approving international interference in internal Libyan affairs, out of fear of the negative precedent it might set for themselves. While others might well participate, the US, clearly, would have to take the lead. (As far we Arabs are concerned, we have no trust with the United States and other western powers, their policies are equally colonialist, and we suffered enough on their hands and their rogue adopted and nursed our Zionist entity- A.S.K.)
Following its doctrine, the US would need to attack Libyan air defences first; the potential for significant collateral damage is considerable. The Americans would also require a helicopter-borne "combat search and rescue (CSAR)" capability to be in place for downed pilots before they would willingly act. And there are not nearly enough aircraft in theatre, yet, for an effective no-fly effort. Finally, it may simply be too much to suppose that the Americans, already engaged militarily in two Muslim countries, should now intervene in a third, when the risk to their already weak regional standing from those who may advocate international action now, but will no doubt quickly criticise any missteps, is so great.
If the Arab League is serious about ending Gaddafi's menace to his people, they should focus on providing the National Transitional Council with the means to defeat him and his loyalist forces. The US, the EU and NATO have all made clear that they will only act with a clear legal mandate and with regional support. Therefore, it is up to the Arab nations to take the initiative.
It is very likely that the softness in the Arab League stance is a reflection of the divisions between those members on either side of the "democratic revolutionary" divide. Hobbled by the need for consensus, the League as a whole has gone about as far as it is capable; it is unlikely to take the tough decisions and hard actions necessary to counter Gaddafi's resurgence. Those whose commitment to support of the rebellion is notably strong – Egypt and the GCC countries in particular – must be prepared to take the lead from here.
First, they should move quickly to recognise the Council in Benghazi as the legitimate government of Libya, and immediately request modification of the current UN arms embargo to exclude its forces. Meanwhile, a rapid assessment of the rebels' military requirements is needed; these would likely include ammunition, anti-armour weapons, and perhaps rockets or artillery. It is clearly within the capabilities of at least some of the Arab countries to provide these rapidly by air, most likely with logistical assistance from the US or NATO. In this context, it would become far easier, and more palatable, for the US and NATO to provide overhead intelligence, perhaps off-shore jamming of Libyan military communications, and other forms of assistance to the transitional government.
We can begin to imagine that such an Arab-led initiative on behalf of the Libyans could help to build a new, cooperative relationship with America and the West – one which flows from Arab empowerment and collective resolve, and not, as in the past, from Arab weakness.
The time has come, in short, for the Arab regimes to demonstrate regionally and internationally the will and courage to act demonstrated by many of their own citizens domestically. Otherwise, they run the risk, in what is supposed to be a transforming Middle East, that when the last Libyan rebel lies bleeding in the desert, the boot of a pro-Gaddafi thug upon his neck, his last gasp will be: "Where are the Arabs?"
Robert Grenier was the CIA's chief of station in Islamabad, Pakistan, from 1999 to 2002. He was also the director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.Source:
Liberated Libya REJECTS US intervention (video)
Posted: 03/02/2011 by editormary in Counter-terrorism, No thanks!, Egypt, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, Video
Tags: Arab people, Gheddafi, Libya
Libya – The Third Revolution Video
Posted: 02/24/2011 by editormary in Grassroots Activism, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Video
Tags: Arab people, Gheddafi, Liberation, Libya
(thank you Hussain)
Mary Rizzo – Libya and the Dogmatism of the "left" abandons the people again.
Posted: 02/24/2011 by editormary in "Israel", Iran, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Rant / Musings / Discussion, Strategy for Liberation
Tags: Anti-Imperialism, Arab people, Arabism, Chavez, Gheddafi, Leftists, Liberation, Libya
Gheddafi and Chavez
If one, like myself, is raised with the love of "the worker" and "the people" which exceeds any love of a party, an ideology or even a nation, it is difficult to really fit in with any established left. While the left claims that it seeks power of the people, too many times its public statements make it clear that the people to protect are instead the people already in power, despite what they might actually have to do in order to maintain that power.
In the past, I have been critical of the massive investments Fidel Castro allowed to be made by Rafi Eitan and have been told that expressing how wrong the policy of "anything at all to uphold the Cuban revolution is good, even if it means trampling on Palestinians" was. I was accused of siding with dissident Cubans. It seems that there is a belief that this leader is beyond criticism.
Again, when I have criticised Ahmadinejad (who is not a leftist leader, but currently a leader some of the anti-imperialists who do not accept pan-Arabism look to as being "the voice of truth") for the lack of what I consider political savvy in some of his speeches and how easily they are used to deflect attention to Israel as victim and away from Palestine as real victim, I have been accused of being a Zionist… and to my eyes, the automatism of Ahmadinejad=the real anti-Zionist seems like rote dogmatism without true reflection of what precisely Iran's role in the region's in/stability might be. Iran deserves to be free of all instrumentalisation and to have a truly autonomous and independent domestic and foreign policy, no matter if Ahmadinejad is the leader or not, but those in the West who insist upon singing the praises of Ahmadinejad as a symbol and condemning those who don't are using simpleton logic and do nothing that is different from those who use him as the banner for what is evil.
Today my inbox has gotten another jolt. It seems that the "Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity" is supporting Muammar Gheddafi and accusing the uprising in Libya as being the work of foreign services. Like classic dogmatic leftist propaganda, their press release attempts to equate the person of Gheddafi with the nation of Libya. Like all pieces of dogmatic propaganda, it contains some elements of truth, such as lamenting the lack of media attention for the crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people as well as the tendency of the forces of power in the West to attempt to hijack any popular movement and take control of it. As well, its statements about Gheddafi's son being a benefactor in an NGO are also true, as his foundation donated 180 vehicles to the Viva Palestina mission as well as having assumed the exaggerated costs of the doomed and ill-planned Road to Hope Convoy, which did not factor in the amount of money to actually bring the goods to Gaza by boat, as is (unfortunately in these horrible times we live in) the only means possible. However aside from some facts and truth in the press statement, the core truth is that once again, the "left" sides by the power of a leader who states himself to be anti-imperialist, (despite evidence to the contrary) and instead tyrannically controls the business and wealth in a sort of State Capitalism where only a few gain and where democracy is seen as counter to the interests of the State.
It is sufficient to read the press statement to see that the great blindspot blocking many who speak in the name of the "left" is a lack of awareness of the unstoppable force and legitimacy of the Arab masses. People in the MENA lands are divided into nations, religions, political orientation so that they can be used for a huge variety of dogmatic reasons. This is done even by their friends and supporters who neglect a very basic reality – unity across every artificial divide. There are those who blame/praise the recent uprisings on Islam, but that is again untrue. Though these are nations with a vast Muslim population, the uprisings are not religious rallies and are indeed joined by Muslim groups, but not lead by them, just as they are joined by internationalist groups, but are not lead by them. It is simply the power of human beings who live in the "Middle East" and North Africa who are demanding their political and human rights. It is their identification as a united front which brings them en masse to the largest squares in their countries, allows them to face bravely the very real threat of bodily harm and even death.
It is the Arab human being who is being buried on the beaches of Tripoli, the cemeteries of Soussa, Manama and Cairo. It is the Arab human being who is arrested in Palestine for sharing his or her solidarity with other humans fighting for their rights. There is no limit of age, sex, religion, political credo or even social class. There is one uniting factor, the factor of Arabhood, Arab Consciousness that is drawing these people to demand to have a say in their own future and to construct their own country, and protect it for all the nationals abroad who are in exile or diaspora, ousting corrupt and tyrannical leaders who have at times used patriotism of the nation to inspire "brand loyalty" to the leader.
Yet, these same feelings of patriotism, the beloved flags of all the independent nations, are being waved in a mass statement of unity. Arab people are supporting other Arab people across the globe, seeking to empower the individual national struggles in the name of Arabhood and humanity as a whole. The Algerian, the Moroccan, the Jordanian, the Tunisian, the Iraqi, the Egyptian and all the other national identities are not abandoned, but are instead joined together in solidarity as a sole people rising up against any outside forces or internal pressure that seeks to strip them of their power and determination to be the protagonists of their own stories.
Just as it is wrong and improper to impose sanctions against a people to bring down a leader, as is attempted from the West and the imperialist powers (US and EU sanctions against Iran, Iraq, Gaza, to name only some), it is also wrong to have attempted to call for an economic boycott of Egypt to bring down Mubarak. To boycott an Arab nation at this time, as is expected soon from the USA towards Libya, never brings down the leader, it only weakens the masses and makes them further victimised by the oppressive powers, their own and those from outside. Boycotts are to change policy, not to bring down leaders, and they do nothing but increase suffering to the population which does not possess any kind of powers or economic clout.
So the left, rather than support Gheddafi, should condemn the proposed boycott of Libya while at the same time accept the power of the people and abandon the dogmatism of the charismatic "revolutionary leader" when it is evident that his leadership is in place only by means of oppression. I would expect that true revolutionaries and leftists will ignore the appeal of the Chavez Foundation and will take their place alongside the Arab people in their struggle for freedom.
(thank you Ali Baghdadi for bringing this missive to my attention).
HUGO CHAVEZ INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY
HCI-FPFS
"To love one's neighbor is also to love one's enemy. Although in reality that qualifier-'enemy' does not exist in my vocabulary. I recognize that I only have adversaries and I have acquired the capacity to love them because in this way we do away with violence, wrath, vengeance, hatred and substitute them with justice and forgiveness."
Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez (1999)
Press Statement 23 February, 2011.
Bamako, Republic of Mali Tel: 00223-6413027.
This is the second statement to the Press issued by the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCI-FPFS), in the light of the situation in Libya. It is no more a secret to state in this Press Release that foreign powers, opposed to peace, unity and progress of Africa are in action again, leading a wicked campaign of treachery, deception and terrorism against Libyan leader, Muammar Al-Qathafi and the people of Libya. This time, the enemies of Africa are hiding behind the corrupt foreign media in their criminal attempts to attack and destroy Libya.
The international conspiracy to destroy Muammar Al-Qathafi through a carefully-calculated media frenzy constitutes the burden of each of our position statement on current events in Libya, especially the wide, vicious, hypocritical gap between the US and Western powers' "democratic" avowal and the state terrorism associated with the activities of these so-called civilized nations towards the people of Africa, Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America. In the first place, the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace,
Friendship and Solidarity (HCI-FPFS) wonders how British Foreign Secretary William Hague can feel so comfortable in the company of anti-Libyan organized crime groups that seek the devastation and destruction of Libya. For instance, it was the British Foreign Secretary-turned-coat anti-Libyan, anti-Qathafi, anti-Africa, anti-Arab, anti-Hugo Chavez, anti-Venezuelan whom led the malicious lie to the world that Libyan leader Muammar Al-Qathafi had ran away and sought refuge in Venezuela. The malicious lie was doctored at a time British Prime Minister David Cameron was on an unannounced visit to Egypt, ostensibly to urge the military junta in Cairo to respect the so-called timetable for holding elections.
The other lies, deceptions and ill-thought-out propaganda associated with the ongoing anti-Libyan campaign in the corrupt media include the following misguided allegations, that:
LIBYAN WAR PLANES BOMBED CIVILIANS.
It is innuendos and reckless dissipation for any foreign government, organization or the corrupt media to suggest that the competent authorities in Tripoli used Libya's fighter jet planes against Libyan civilians. It has never happened and there is no evidence to convince any sane person to believe that the Government of Muammar Al-Qathafi ever used fighter planes against the Libyan people, since the dawn of the era of the Great September 1st Al-Fateh Revolution in 1969. As a matter of fact, there are all evidences available to conclude that the Government of Muammar Al-Qathafi does not need importing foreign mercenaries to protect Libyan life and property against the terrorist activities of organized crime groups and the corrupt media.
It is now clear that the "corrupt international media" disproportionately covers human rights violations in Libya beyond an attempted distraction from the actual situation on the North African nation. For example when Israeli army massacred Palestinian men, women and children in the occupied Arab lands and territories, there is little media coverage compared to the coverage generated over the drown attacks directed by the White House in Washington against tribes men, women and children in Afghanistan. The extrajudicial execution of Egyptian opposition leaders by US/Israeli trained agents of former government of the disgraced dictator Hosni Mubarrak was not covered by the "corporate media" despite it being a heinous crime against humanity. We assert that, the assumption that Libyan fighter planes deployed by the Libyan Government against civilians is without basis. This is further evidence that the corporate media's claims about happenings in Libya are without substance.
SAIF AL-ISLAM QATHAFI THREATENED THE LIBYAN PEOPLE.
The corporate media got it wrong from the beginning when it made and repeated the claim that Saif Al-Islam Qathafi, the President of the Gadafi Foundation threatened the Libyan people. When weighing the claims of the corporate media against the President of the Gadafi Foundation, one should look at Saif Al-Islam's background. This is a man who leads a respectable Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Gadafi Foundation that has been instrumental in enforcing the principles of the Green Charter International (GCI), for peace, human rights, rule of law, democracy, freedom and human dignity in Libya and world over.
Saif Al-Islam's statement on attempts by criminals to rob the Libyan people of their peace, freedom and dignity was crystal clear and made to urge the Libyan people to resist any foreign attempts to destroy their country. The accusations against Sail Al-Islam are false and reveal that the corporate media is ever willing to blatantly lie in order to attempt to damage the reputation and illuminating personality of Sail Al-Islam.
Thus far we have seen how a simple, clear-cut national security case became a wider, more serious problem through unwillingness on the part of the enemies of Libya to respect the sovereignty and independence of the North African nation. Instead they (the enemies of Libya) deliberately buried facts and began a campaign of gossip, tale bearing and slander against Sail Al-Islam. We have also learned how the US and Western imperialists encouraged the corporate media's anti-Libya terrorism by listening to their unfounded and baseless allegations and treating them as true.
NO FLY ZONE RHETORIC.
A number of heretics, racists and anti-Libyans have gone mad and resorted to advocate for a "no fly zone" be imposed on Libya. The objective, it is now clear-to create a corridor for aggression and violation of Libya's sovereignty and integrity. Those who advocate for this subversive action plan are themselves collaborators of organized crime groups intending to destroy Libya.
On whether Muammar Al-Qathafi is in control of Libya, we would leave it to the sane international community to read the writings on the wall. There is no gain saying the fact Muammar Qathafai is well, kicking and performing his duties as Leader and Guide of the Revolution, and remains the legitimate leader of the Libyan masses. The Libyan Government is fully in control of its country's internal situation, and as repeatedly said by Muammar Qathafi, the Libyan Government would not sit idle and allow any body pursue vested personal agendas, or derail the country from path of economic prosperity and sustained development.
The competent authorities in Tripoli have undertaken full duties and responsibilities through decisive action in the face of a well planned international covert agenda, and managed to restore security and protect human life and property in Libya. The US and Western governments hate-filled attacks on Colonel Muammar Qathafi are mere "propaganda" aimed at diverting growing international concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq, occupied Palestine, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Anger and frustration at the collapse of the anti-Arab, pro-zionist regime in Egypt is completely understandable and shared by us, in the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCI-FPFS), yet that anger must not be directed at destroying.
Concluding we call upon the civilized international community to exert pressure on the military junta in Cairo not to allow any part of Egypt be use as staging posts for the destabilization of Libya.
Signed:………………………….
President of the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCI-FPFS),
For, and on behalf of the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCI-FPFS).
Ali Baghdadi – The Gheddafi "kingdom" must come to an end
Posted: 02/23/2011 by editormary in Egypt, Libya, Middle East Issues, People's Movements / Struggles, Resistance
Tags: Egypt, Gheddafi, Liberation, Libya, Nasser
A classic postion for a dictator's speech... from the window of the symbolic building
I have just finished listening to Colonel Qaddafi
I did not get wiser, nor did my opinion change.
40 years is enough even if the ruler is Mother Tereza
or Nelson Mandela…………
One thing I must agree with Qaddafi:
If and when Qadafi shall leave Libya,
it will no more be ruled by "a Libyan".
Raja Chemayel
Raja, I am surprised. How did you get the strength to listen to Gheddafi's speech all the way to the end? I tried but couldn't do it. I got too sick. I did even vomit.
I met the man several times. I prayed behind him on the sand outside his tent. I visited his home and sat with his ordinary and humble wife and lovely daughter, Aashea. I was impressed. I loved what I saw. Aaesha told me that she will soon be studying law to defend the oppressed. I must say that my home is better than theirs. I am not rich. I saw no servants. It was Aaesha and her mom who brought lemonade, pistachio nuts and baclawa. The living room was tiny and had simple furniture. Only the home of President Omar al-Bashir of the Sudan impressed me more. It was even tinier and simpler. The couch I sat on was an old iron bed.
Nasser was a dictator, but we loved him. He was our champion. As a matter of fact, we almost "worshipped" him. He built Egypt. The Arab people realized that we are one nation. Despite our defeats, we felt proud. He was one of the pillars of the non-aligned nations' movement. He continued to live in his house that he owned as an officer. The home had only one bathroom. Nasser was surprised when his children complained and told him that they knew some families who had two bathrooms. The Nasser family members had to stand in line to wash, bathe and do the other thing; you know what I mean. After he was poisoned, he left behind less than 100 dollars for his family.
Gheddafi was a dictator too. But we tolerated him. He financed several liberation movements around the world. He didn't succumb to Zionism. He didn't open an Israeli embassy at this bad time when the majority of Arab leaders are caving in. We also thought that he didn't deposit billions of dollars in foreign banks. Of course, it is too early to find the truth.
I personally dropped Gheddafi from my "book" when he paid over two and a half billion dollars to the Lockerbie Pan American crash victims. Libya has nothing to do with this horrendous crime. It was a false flag. It was a CIA operation. The White Prime Minister of South Africa was warned in advance to not take that plane. Gheddafi also paid for the attack on a night club in Berlin. Two American soldiers died. This crime was carried out by the German Red Brigade that worked for the CIA.
My "respect" for Gheddafi ended when he capitulated to Bush the son on nukes and sent all material and equipment to Washington. The guy even demanded that Iran should do the same to avoid destruction by America.
I was delivering a speech titled "Africa's Brain Drain" in Tripoli, Libya when the Tunisian President fled to Saudi Arabia. Almost 500 people from Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand attended a conference on African Immigration to Europe. I was shocked to discover that the organizers were not interested in the papers we delivered. They packed us as cattle and drove us to listen to Gheddafi and his puppets. The great "revolutionary leader" delivered another speech telling the Tunisians that they should have kept Ben Ali for life as a president. I couldn't believe my ears. He repeated the same nonsense later when the Egyptian youth revolution erupted. He wanted Mubarak to stay.
The only thing that I loved about my trip to Tripoli is the fact that I met some good people. Abdel Hakim Jamal Abdel an-Nasser was one. Fortunately, he didn't speak. I felt that he was disgusted. We embraced. I saw Nasser in him. But I also wept. I am "weak".
I do apologize to the Arab people of Libya. I thought that they would never rise up. I thought that they are not prepared to face the enormous firepower of Gheddafi's army. Fortunately, I was wrong. To my greatest surprise, they did. The price was too high. My Libyan brothers and sisters continue to pay.
Today, Gheddafi accused the Libyan youth who demand his ouster of being on drugs. Now I am convinced that the man himself is hallucinating. He should check what his Ukrainian "nurse" is giving him. He should leave now. He must not forget to take his sons. Libyans want to be free. The Gheddafi "kingdom" must come to an end.
Ali Baghdadi
Francesca Antinucci – Italian Business Deals with Gheddafi
Posted: 02/22/2011 by editormary in Europe, Libya
Tags: Europe, Gheddafi, Italy, Libya
Ghedaffi and Italian Foreign Minister Frattini
Eni and Impregilo, Unicredit, Astaldi, Finmeccanica, Fiat, and even Juventus: Italian business deals with GHEDDAFI
I reject this devious Italy, petty trafficker, always nostalgic for its own colonial failure, heavily involved in this massacre of civilians underway, accomplice of the ferocious oppression of a legitimate popular revolt. I reject this accomplice, Italy, debased, asleep
Francesca Antinucci
This reading can be enhanced by this musical accompaniment
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWZR-ZO_m6A)
for which I thank the wisdom of Doriana Goracci
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi who kisses Ghedaffi's hand. Classic gesture used in the mafia to denote submission
Summary by Reuters
ENI: The major Italian oil company which has various activities in Libya, among which, long-term (take or pay) contracts. (Clause that is included in purchase contracts, under the basis that the purchased is obligated in all cases to pay, entirely or partially, the price of a minimum quantity of raw materials indicated within the contract, even in the possibility that this material is not withdrawn). The six-legged dog illustrates an investment plan running up to 25 billion dollars in the country. Tripoli had also indicated its intention of purchasing shares in the company.
IMPREGILO, ASTALDI: Impregilo,the leading construction company in Italy, would greatly benefit from the friendly relationship between Berlusconi and Gheddafi, in that they have been pre-qualified for the realisation of a super-highway project in Libya financed by the Italian government of a 5 billion Euros value. The second largest construction company in Italy, Astaldi, has also expressed interest in participating in the project. Impregilo has also been cited as a possible investment target by Libya.
FINMECCANICA: The Italian aerospace company in 2009 signed an agreement with Libya for the cooperation in the aerospace sector and in other projects in the Middle East and Africa. The agreement entails the creation of a 50-50 joint venture in which the partners are Finmeccanica and Libya Africa Investment Portfolio. Finmeccanica has also had various contracts with Libya, one of several, last year, for the construction of railways having a value of 247 million Euros. Not to be ignored is the fact that the Libyan Investment Autority holds 2.01% of the shares in Finmeccanica.
UNICREDIT. The Libyan holdings in the banking group are 7.5%, after the acquisition by the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) of 2.59% of the capital. The Central Bank of Libya is another shareholder in Unicredit, with shares for 4.988% of the capital.
FIAT. Libya came to the rescue of Fiat in 1977, upon the invitation of Giovanni Agnelli, with the acquisition of approximately 15% of the shares by the Lybian Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico). The investment gave rise to a strong wave of criticism. Fafico thus sold its shares in 1986, but in 2002 repurchased shares exceeding 2%. At the moment its shares amount to less than 2%.
Libya, lastly, is active in football as well. Lafico in fact holds no less than 7.5% of the capital of Juventus. Al-Saadi Gheddafi, the Colonel's son, once a player in the Perugia and Udinese teams, is also a member of the Board of Directors of Juventus. Libya at a certain point also thought of investing in Lazio and had invested in Triestina.
Lafico is also active in the textiles sector, holding shares worth 21.7% in Olcese, according to what is written in the company's Internet site.
http://domani.arcoiris.tv/mentre-il-medio-oriente-brucia-gheddafi-compra-100-milioni-di-azioni-finmeccanica-diventa-un-po%E2%80%99-padrone-di-armi-navi-e-aerei-non-si-sa-mai/
Translated by Mary Rizzo for We Write What We Like and Gulagnik


EVERY PLAYER RECEIVES A FREE T-SHIRT and becomes part of the new Junior Eagles Club. The Junior Eagles club will allow your player to visit Bethlehem High School Varsity Tennis matches and meet the players and coaches!!


text:
Q: Concatenate Avatar to a Chat Message I would like to concatenate a users avatar to a message they send in a chat system . At the moment I have progressed to the point where I have the image name.jpg for each user showing up in the chat (MEANING: I have an ID for each user to INDEX).

I need to be able now have it so that it display as avatar in the chat with the following code
<?php echo  ""; ?>

I want to display the avatar here wrapped in the span to $new_str which is the message to be sent

        <?php echo "My Profile "?><?php echo " |".$row['username']." says :"; ?>

        **//LINE I WANT TO ADD THE AVATAR TO**
        <?php echo $new_str ;?>

        <?php echo $row['date']; ?>

        //THIS LINE DISPLAYS THE IMAGE BUT ON ALL LINES IN THE CHAT
        <?php echo $row['imagelocation']; ?>

The 3rd span tag above displays the users avatar but on all messages My query is selecting everything from the table so that all users can see the messages, How can I make my query to show and avatar for each user on each line of a message they send  (Im using ID as an INDEX for each user) but I'm stuck trying to display the avatar on each line of a message for that user
If I include a WHERE CLAUSE below to index the ID for the user the chat wont display everything to all other users in the chat.
$query = "SELECT * FROM chat ORDER BY id DESC";
    $run = $con->query($query);
    while($row = $run->fetch_array()):
    $new_str = str_replace($row['msg']);

?>

My TABLE STRUCTURE AVID IS THE USERS ID table chat

Below are my query's showing how im getting the ID and image path and then UPDATE  table tbl1
 if(isset($_POST['submit'])){  // RETRIVE + UPLOAD THE IMAGE AVATAR FOR THE USER IF THEY SUBMIT A IMAGE TO UPLOAD
            move_uploaded_file($_FILES['file']    ['tmp_name'],"avatars/".$_FILES['file']['name']);
            include('..\db.php');
  $con = mysqli_connect($dbsrvname, $dbusername, $dbpassword, $dbname);
            $q = mysqli_query($con,"UPDATE tbl1 SET imagelocation = '".$_FILES['file']['name']."' WHERE username = '".$_SESSION['CurrentUser']."'");
           // $me = mysqli_query($con,"UPDATE chat SET imagelocation = '".$_FILES['file']['name']."' WHERE username = '".$_SESSION['CurrentUser']."'");
    }
    }

Note Security has not yet been applied to the avatar upload option

<form>
<textarea name="msg" placeholder="enter message"></textarea>
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Send"/>
</form>

<?php
if(isset($_SESSION['CurrentUser'])){ // if session is true
if(isset($_POST['submit'])){
$name = $_SESSION['CurrentUser'];
$msg =  $_POST['msg'];

// GET THE NAME OF FILE FOR THE PATH
$q = mysqli_query($con,"SELECT * FROM tbl1 WHERE username = '".$_SESSION['CurrentUser']."'");
                        while($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($q)){
                                echo $row['imagelocation'];
                                $path = $row['imagelocation'];

                        }

////////// SELECT FROM TBL1 TO GET ID OF USER (separate query )
 $q = mysqli_query($con,"SELECT * FROM tbl1 WHERE username = '".$_SESSION['CurrentUser']."'");
                        while($row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($q)){
                        echo $row['id'];
                        $onlineid = $row['id'];
                                }

////////// INSERT USERNAME MSG AND TIME + ID OF USER  NAME OF FILE
$query = "INSERT INTO chat (username,msg,date,avid,imagelocation) values ('$name','$msg', now(),'$onlineid','$path')";
$run = $con->query($query);

$me = mysqli_query($con,"UPDATE chat SET imagelocation = '".$path."' WHERE username = '".$_SESSION['CurrentUser']."'");

}
 }
 else {
     echo "You Need to Login to type in this chat";
 }
?>

Note : Security has not yet been applied to my query's
   Thanks in advance

A: I know this is a different way from yours but it still gives the same results and in an easier way.
You can create a function which you can call from anywhere as long as you have the users unique id. Like this:
function get_user($user, $field) {
    // run your db connection here with $con as your db variable, remember we are using `mysqli` and not `mysql`
    $query = mysqli_query ($con, "SELECT $field FROM users_table WHERE id='$user'");
    $sql = mysqli_fetch_array($query);
    $value = $sql[$field];
    return $value;
}

This way you cannot only get the users images but also every value of the user in the users table as long as you have the id, so you can say:
$image = get_user($user_id, 'imagelocation');
$name = get_user($user_id, 'username');

And so on and forth. What I normally do I run this function in an external page which I always include in all my pages.
Hope this helps

A:
How can I display a concatenated image in my Software based on user : Covering security issues

Firstly, you'll need to establish that you can't just jump into coding without a mission statement (a plan).
Let's start with your database hierarchy, we already know that we'll need a user and this user needs authentication so a login and register is needed.
USER_TABLE :
    uid (int) 255 PK AUTO_INCREMENT
    username (varchar) 30 UNIQUE
    salt (varchar) 22 UNIQUE
    hash (varchar) 120 UNIQUE
    rcab_rank (int) 255
    email (varchar) 60
    member_since (timestamp) CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
    image_url (varchar) 120
    session_key (varchar) 18 UNIQUE

I want to just highlight the importance of a few things here, having a unique session key makes it harder for people to session hijack or social engineer your clients/members. Using encryption means that if there was a breach of data, the attacker cannot use sensitive data without a lot of stress and time which you'll need to alert your members/clients.
But moving on, as you can see I added an RCAB module inside your structure meaning that you can now invoke power to your members/clients by creating a rank table and giving each rank priveledges and a unique rank id (which you'll need to code of course).
It's important now to decide the best secure approaches to your software, that meaning what connection drivers to use and how to securely use each. In this example, I'll provide you with a written PDO object:
namespace ProjectName\App\Drivers;

interface MyConnection {
    public function query($statement, array $values = []);
}

class Database extends \PDO implements MyConnection {

    public function __construct(
        array $config = ['mysql:host=X;dbname=X', 'user', 'pass']
    ) {
        try {
            parent::__construct($config[0],$config[1],$config[2]);
        } catch (PDOException $ex) {
            die($ex->getMessage());
        }
    }

    public $Result;

    public function query(
        $statement, array $values = []
    ) {
        $smpt = parent::Prepare($statement);
        (empty($values)) ? $smpt->execute() : $smpt->execute($values);
        $this->Result = $smpt;
        return $this;
    }
}

You can use this Object like so:
require_once dirname(__FILE__) . '/path/to/file/pdo.php';
$con = new ProjectName\App\Drivers\Database();
$smpt = $con->query('SELECT * FROM table WHERE column = ?', ['value'])->Result;
foreach($smpt->fetchAll() as $row):
    echo $row['column'];
endforeach;

It's now important to firstly hash (one-way encrypt) your members/clients credentials:
Click here to view a relatable StackOverflow question about creating a randomised string for your salt and session key.
$password = $_POST['password'];
$salt = 'UNIQUE STRING';
$hash = hash('SHA256', $password.$salt);

$con->query('INSERT INTO table (salt,hash) VALUES (?,?)', [$salt,$hash]); // ect..

Finally, checking your upload types is important - any user can easily upload a malicious script to your server using a file uploader unless you protect yourself: this being said, never check the file extension - you should always check the file MIME type.
That in conclusion, security is an important part of software and preventing it may seem a pain in the neck but you'll thank me later ;).

Just to say finally, you should rename the file before upload to a image directory on your server to something like $_FILES['upload']['name'] = time() . '-' . $user_id_here and then simply add it to your chat by storing that image path in the database in it's own table with a reference to the user by user id.

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Een decoratieve lichtbron voor grootse verlichting van entree, terras etc. - buitenwandlamp Buzzard myGarden van Philips is het allebei. Het heeft de vorm van een lantaarn en is gemaakt van mat zwart gelakt aluminium, dat aan een metalen element aan de muurbevestiging hangt. Door de transparante kap wordt er geen licht tegengehouden, zodat het ingezette lichtbron - gloei- of Led-lamp naar keuze - ongehinderd zijn licht naar alle kanten kan uitstralen. Het is zeer raadzaam om Led-lampen met filament-technologie te gebruiken, want ze zijn niet alleen zeer energiezuinig, maar ook extreem duurzaam en bovendien ook decoratief, en in de transparante kap komt dit zeer goed tot zijn recht.
Is deze lamp ook geschikt voor een lamp met ingebouwde schemerfunctie?
We bought 3 of these for the garden. We are very happy with the design. However, unfortunately one arrived cracked, which we only noticed once we had thrown the box away, hence only 3 stars.
Thank you for taking your time in rating the product. We are sorry to hear that one of the items arrived damaged.
Please note that we will immediately rectify this by dispatching a free of charge replacement to you.
Lamp is nicely design unfortunately execution is very bad. Product looks excellent on the picture, unfortunately manufacturer makes short lasting product, One of fixing broke during installation so we had to find alternative solution.
I can not comment on brightens as we change bulbs for LED.
I just hope one day people will have some standards so we will do not need fill our bins with this type of products.
It's all up to us, consumers, isn't it?
Thanks so much for your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the lights aren't the quality you were expecting and that one already has broken. We'll be glad to help you select some alternatives if you would prefer, and help arrange the return to our warehouse of the other lights. Our service team will contact you shortly regarding this. Thanks again!
Fitted on corner of building and with a 15W LED (Antique) provides a subtle flood of light in all round the corner - well built and deserves the CE marking.
These lights give a lovely soft glow in the evening. They are very good quality for the price.


by Tiffany Crawford Throughout Louisiana, clergy continues to play an integral role in the school choice movement.
by Paul Dauphin Working and living in this space where so many of us are advocates for school choice, we often view what we do from the inside out.
LFC President Ann Duplessis joined Tonja Myles on WXOK – Heaven 1460 and MAX 94.1 to talk about Louisiana's many school choice opportunities. Click here to listen.


Three miles south of Florence on US 101 Two miles of sand dunes between the park and the ocean.
18-acre botanical park dedicated to the protection of a single plant species, Darlingtonia californica. Also called a cobra lily, the rare, strangely-shaped plant is the only member of the pitcher plant family (Sarraceniaceae) in Oregon.
Located less than a mile from the famous Salmon Harbor on Winchester Bay. The campground is centered around beautiful Lake Marie. The small overnight campground offers RV and tent campsites, along with two log cabins and some yurts.
Situated on Eel Lake near the community of Lakeside, Tugman offers 115 campsites with electric/water hookups tucked away in a mature stand of shore pines. Oregon Dunes Recreation area is less than a mile away.
Washburne is located on the east side of Highway 101 with a buffer of native plants between you and the highway.


Celebrate Christmas with an evening of contrast, from the traditional to the contemporary.
Escape the chaos of the Holiday Season and relax with an evening of musical reflection led by our numerous music ensembles and choirs. Reconnect with the heart of Christmas; Peace, Hope, Joy and Love.


Trackside 3D is a new way to expand your Model Railway using 3D printing technology. Download once and enjoy unlimited prints for your personal use. Each of our digital products comes with instructions for printing and finishing the 3D model. Our growing range is competitively priced to help you justify the purchase of a 3D printer.
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We use JG Aurora Z603S printers for prototypes and test production. We also use JG Aurora A5 printers for testing and production for the oorail layout. We prototype and test smaller models on M3D Micro+ and Micro 3D printers.
We currently test with 1.75mm filament including Hatchbox PLA, Hatchbox ABS, M3D Opaque3DInk (PLA) and M3D ABS-R. We typically print in Cool Gray, Pearl White or Black.
When you purchase a downloadable digital product, all future updates for that product are free. Updates are based on product code (SKU). Subscribers to our Digital Subscription Programme have access to all updates provided their subscription is active.
You can make unlimited prints for use on your personal layout or your personally owned exhibition layout. We offer a special programme for Clubs, Societies or Groups who wish to offer 3D prints of our products to their members.
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text:
Fort Shantok Site NYU 1968 screening
Fort Shantok: "The site of an historic Mohegan Indian fort, village and burial ground off Route 2A in Montville, Fort Shantok is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. The site was excavated in the 1960s and early 1970s by New York University under the direction of professional archaeologist Dr. Bert Salwen, professor of anthropology at NYU. The Fort was the center of Mohegan tribal authority during the 17th and 18th centuries and the scene of a number of important events in the tribe's history, including several significant meetings between English leaders and the famous Mohegan sachem Uncas. The manufacture of wampum at Fort Shantok probably helped promote the Mohegan tribe and its sachem Uncas' political rise and strong alliance with the English at the expense of other tribes. Under Uncas' leadership, the Mohegan entered into several Treaties with the English and during the Pequot War of 1637 Mohegan warriors joined with English troops and their indigenous allies to help defeat the powerful Pequot.
Archaeological evidence found at Fort Shantok provided important insights into indigenous cultural change and adaptation as a result of Mohegan-European contacts. Many items were bartered from Europeans and adapted by Mohegans for use in traditional activities. For a time Fort Shantok was a Connecticut state park, but after the Mohegan tribe was officially recognized by the National Park Service, the state of Connecticut returned the land to the tribe (Lavin 2007).
Fort Shantok Palisade
Lucianne Lavin
2007 Connecticut Connections: Places to go to Learn about Historical Archaeology, Connecticut History.
Bert Salwen
1970 Cultural Inferences from Faunal Remains: Examples from Three Northeast Coastal Sites. Pennsylvania Archaeologist 40(1-2)1-8.
Lorraine Williams
1972 Fort Shantok and Fort Corchaug: A Comparative Study of 17th Century Culture Contact in the Long Island Sound Area. Ph.D. dissertation, New York University, University Microfilms, Ann Arbor.
Lorraine E. Williams, Kevin A. McBride, and Robert S. Grumet
1997 Fort Shantok National Historic Landmark. Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut 60:29-42.
Important Finds from Fort Shantok:
Fort Shantok also provided important insights into indigenous cultural change and adaptation as a result of Mohegan-European contacts. Shown here are several items bartered from Europeans and adapted by the Mohegans for use in traditional activities.
Distinctive early post-contact Mohegan pottery called Shantok Incised by archaeologists. Some archeologists believe that the pottery style is a cultural marker for the Mohegan/Pequot peoples, who prior to the 1630s had comprised one tribe. Others believe it represents an extra-tribal social group that inhabited southeastern New England. Note the designs resembling corn ears and female genitalia, which some archaeologists interpret as symbolizing both food and tribal fertility in a time period when Indian peoples losing their political independence, economic success, and experiencing great population losses caused by European diseases, wars, and poverty.
Shantok was a center of wampum manufacture, an activity that could generate wealth, social status, and political power and which probably helped promote the Mohegan tribe and its sachem Uncas' political rise and strong alliance with the English at the expense of other tribes.

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text:
Blânzi – wieś w Rumunii, w okręgu Gałacz, w gminie Corod. W 2011 roku liczyła 1189 mieszkańców.

Przypisy

Wsie w okręgu Gałacz

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