starting this thread, which i hope will be short-lived, to keep the board up to date with latest reports gleaned from the net

Massive earthquake or seaquake in Japan.....the pictures unfolding are really terrible...the tsunami is monstrous....

the worry is that G's overwhelming firepower is now looking likely to blow the "rebels" out of the water ...... de facto, that will mean G and his family remaing in power and imposing an ever more oppressive regime

it was certainly good to see AL coming out with a pretty strong statement of opposition to G, but the big question is "and what next"?

none of the potential scenarios (scenarii?) feels very comforting, but i'ld guess the most likely one is that libya will be made an economic exile, even by the other arab countries - except that the likes of iran (aka al qaeda or similar) will soon start interfering, to no one's benefit

Just listen to The Reunion on BBC2 for the second time.

Well worth a listen.

The program demonstrates the complexities and responsibility of intervention in war zones similar to Libya present conflicts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00z2sj6/The_Reunion_UNHCR_Bosnia/


The Reunion

Friday 11 March
9:00am - 9:45am
BBC Radio 4
UNHCR Bosnia
1/4
Sue MacGregor brings together six of the most important figures from the UN's humanitarian aid operation during the Bosnian war. The conflict, which lasted from 1992 to 1995, forced relief workers to deal with some of the most dangerous conditions they had ever experienced, and led to major changes in the way the organisation worked. The presenter is joined by Tony Land, the UNHCR agency's Chief of Operations for much of the war, former logistics officer Larry Hollingsworth, external relations officer Amira Sadicovic, field-worker Kris Janowski, BBC reporter Misha Glenny and former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown - the most prominent British politician to visit the region during the conflict.


Repeat
=============

i don't think there is any doubt that EU/UN/NATO was far too slow to react in bosnia ..... whether or not the action was then correct, is another one for debate ..... since then, we have moved into an age of "instant news" through the internet and similar, and there is certainly a danger that we, the general public, expect instant and correct decisions and action ..... there is thus a danger of things being done a bit precipitately ...... it is somewhat fortuitous that the 27 EU members were already scheduled to be in brussels prior to this frightening denouement in libya, so a properly considered reaction is likely to be forthcoming and quickly ..... at least this time, nothing will be activated without the support of at least AL, and hopefully with a number of other arab states who are separate from AL

Looks like Gaddafi might be saved by the tsunami.

Imho Cyners it would be better NOW if K took the country back. Thats for the markets. Cameron has farted about to much for too long and is out of his depth. I know a lot of people wont like what Im saying but I see a speedier end if K regains control.

GF.

Yes, but how long will he be in control?

Also. if that happens, what effect will sanctions have in that area and the oil market?

You can be certain that the french are already supplying weapons to the rebels, and those will appear in the frontline very soon...

Good for the French if they are. UK and USA need to get some serious hardware to the rebels quickly and get rid of Gadaffe and his family.

I'm 100% behind them.

We all know what the French are like , there as to be something in it for them, do they have any oil in Libya by any chance ?

WOW!! how the world is changing, the sight of the Japanees tsunami and the problems with the nuclier power plant is mind blowing!!

having listened to the news during the day, i don't think there is any leak, though there is a 12 mile exclusion zone as a precaution

Expect a large fall of stock's, and indices on Monday due to the Japenese situation.

why? ... it was known about on friday with no impact

That was because the Japan stock exchange was closed, and before the extent of the situation.

Over 1300 now dead, with over 10,000 missing persons, talk of Japan going into recession
and the total cost being $100 billion plus the threat of a meltdown.

If you think this will not effect stock's, and indices around the world on Monday then I am afraid you are in the minority. Let's see Monday.

It will effect uranium mining stocks . When will power , water and road /rail be back to normal ? not to mention the container ports.

however, the effect of the tsunami other than in japan seems to have been much less than feared

it's hard not to feel sorry for the anti-G rebels who now berate the west for not jumping to their aid ..... however, it was not many days ago that there were shrieks of horror from the same quarters that the west should not interfere in any way without being invited .... indeed, that latter sentiment is much the more valid as it is not hard to imagine the fully warranted outcry had the west piled in with the military ..... whether or not the arab states should have shown considerable more urgency in making their views known is another question entirely ..... the cynics among us may form the opinion that the procrastination was deliberate, though for quite what end is not yet clear

and world gov'ts view of similar shenanigans in the ivory coast is what? ..... a deadly hush, no doubt as no oil involved and merely a democratically elected gov't being bloodily refused the power voted to it.

Tragedy in Japan could play into the shorters hands all round on Monday i'm afraid.

All markets will open down on Monday.