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

France has said the Arab League supports imposing a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent Moamer Kadhafi's government forces attacking rebels.

if the above is true, and it may well be, then the question arises as to who (will be asked to) enforce this

Arab league ?....must be the new version of "The Human League"....Don't ...don't you want me ....?..don't you want me gaddafi baby ?...

It must be a bit like the ad for hamilton cigars out there.....carlos...carlos.......el presidente...el presidente....

Where next. Brixton, Birmingham, Manchester, or maybe a gay revolution in Brighton.

despite the mockery, i think you'll find AL is an important confederation of 20+ countries for both economic and political alignment and cooperation ..... i suspect saudi as the richest member calls a lot of shots, even if it is technically "one nation = one vote" ..... it is certainly important in this instance if the arab nations can be seen as talking with a single and unified voice

i think this is an interesting development ......

Rebel forces controlling much of eastern Libya say they have rejected an offer of negotiations with the regime of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi. Skip related content
A spokesman for the so-called National Libyan Council said the proposal had been made by a representative "seeking to negotiate Gaddafi's exit".

Mustafa Gheriani, the group's media officer, said: "We are not negotiating with someone who spilled Libyan blood and continues to do so. Why would we trust the guy today?"

Gadaffe and his sons day's are numbered.

now this is encouraging to see .....

1839 GMT: Moamer Kadhafi's regime is illegitimate and contacts should be initiated with the Libyan rebels, the Arab Gulf states say a meeting in Riyadh.

First post on this ..

I think Gaddafi will last another 9 months before getting the boot but meantime its going to get very nasty with a chance of foreign intervention.

if you're right, though i don't think you are, then seriously consider selling virtually all, especially minnows

|You would be right on that pineapple bonce. But cant see them lassting long. Bush would havwe had it over by now. Its these new liberal chiefs who are fing things up for everyone on the markets.

The US have now finally realized that they are not very good at winning the end game in war's , that's why they are not in a hurry in get involved in Liberia

confess was unaware of any great disturbances there!

There is next door , but that's another story. I meant Libya

Best joke of the conflict so far ! (:)))

Didn't notice this thread before.

Libya is depressing.

How much more "murder" is going to occur over the next few months, years seems unpredictable.

It high lights the stupidity of Bush's and Blair's invasion of Iraq.

It is has certainly made it more difficult politically to take serious military intervention, without the AL.

But, France's acknowledgement of the opposition may be the first step to doing so.

It may also be the death certificate for some of the opposition.

The calls for the prosecution of Gaddafi and henchmen at the moment, although probably justifiable, is more likely to entrench the present Gaddafi regime. A stupid timing of grand standing by certain leaders.

At the moment the developments are unpleasant watching.


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Hays,

You appear well informed on the ME.

What is your guess on the outcome in Libya over the next few years?

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
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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