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48 killed, 150 injured as allies launch airstrikes in Libya

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I guess there's no "Line of Death" this time... : )

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Hypocrites.what about the people fighting for political reforms in zimbabwe,Ivory Coast,Bahrain,Yemen etA.wht did Britain,France and US do when Saudis were sending troops to support Bahrain government?

If it is because of oil,forget it because these same rebelP will be the first to shoot if they try something like that. I cant just believe that in their so called Civilization ,the only alternative to a problem is WAR.The disgusting part is,they were dealing with a rebel leader who was once part of the Ghaddaffi government .

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It will be interesting to see how the Libs will try to champion this war.

You have drones killing civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan almost every day, but they say Gadhafi is the terrorist. British provacateurs caught by the Rebels in Libya trying to start this chaos.

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I guess Obama and Bush are the same. If you don't believe me, here are two quotes that happend on Mar 19 from both presidents:

MARCH 19, 2011 OBAMA: 'Today we are part of a broad coalition. We are answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world'...

MARCH 19, 2003 BUSH: 'American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger'...

I guess pretty soon Code Pink will start up again. And when the first major losses by NATO occurs, it will mean that the US will be left alone there.

The world is pretty much the same, no matter who is in the White House.

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Hypocrites, you say?!

Well, what else is new?

Saudi troops invade Bahrain to prop up the monarchy while at home the Saudi autocrats suppress their own people. Snipers acting on behalf of America's friend, the Yemen autocracy, murder 46 innocent demonstrators. And the list goes on. And on. No objections from the same people who are waxing sentimental over the Libyan people Gadhafi is killing.

Just a little while ago Gadhafi was everyone's friend. The Pan Am-Lockerbee atrocity was more or less forgiven and one its perpetrators released from prison is Scotland on "humanitarian" groups. Thanks to Libyan oil Gadhafi was allowed to come in from the cold.

Of course nobody really liked him. So when they saw the chance, the Western powers jumped on him.

I hope the rebels win. I also hope they won't have to fight NATO occupation forces after Gadhafi is overthrown.

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Gadhafi is toast. So is his son.

Obama is correct in ordering U.S. military attacks on Gadhafi's air defenses. Of course he never would have without a U.N. Security Council resolution and promises by other countries to join in.

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The end will justify the means.They did not exhaust all possible alternatives before launching this war.the arab leaders who are supporting are doing so to gain favor of no inteference in their kingdom ,whiles they are butchering their people. No wonder western influence is dwindling because hypocrisy and cunning have been your game.And most countries are now realising that. Everytime,WAR,WAR and WAR.is that the only way to boost your economy .

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Without the involvement of ground forces from the coalition ,I think Libya will probably be divided in two. Civil war will continue until there is a conclusion like Vietnam.

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Do not trust these current supporters from those Islamic countries . Later every one will accuse USA and the free world. Here US and his allies will loose money and men to save them or save their nation. Later new govt will come and China and Russia will be their good friends. Those militia is supported by hard line muslims and they will not thank the help what the US and UK forces gave to them. It is Libya herself solve it with out US or UK... Or let China and USSR go and solve it..... the new super powers...

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In an open letter, Gadhafi warned: “You will regret it if you dare to intervene in our country.”

This was a really foolish move by Europeans. And for what end? What gain? Gadhafi may have scrubbed his nuclear weapons program, but he does have an even greater weapon of mass destruction: millions of African refugees. He is paying African mercenaries to fight against the rebellion. His next move will likely be to recruit "refugees" from Niger, Chad and Darfur (Sudan) to take a leisurely boat ride across the Mediterranean to a better life in Europe. If Gadhafi sends a flotilla of ships and boats with a couple hundred thousand "refugees" to Italy and the South of France, Sarkozy and Burlesconi will have no political future left and Europe will face a humanitarian nightmare. Europe, Canada and America have launched Operation "Odyssey Dawn." Gadhafi will likely respond with Operation "Camp of Saints."

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@realmind: You nailed it correctly. Just look at Iraq. China is making good money on investing in the infrastructre of Iraq, after the US paid for the removal and installation of a new government with our money and blood.

If the UN had any backbone, they should say that the countries that get the first chances of rebuilding are the ones who voted for the resolution.

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The new age of colonialism has began. It's a shame. The war under false pretense to defend human rights. It's disgusting.

I have no complaints toward "western powers" at least their foreign policies hadn't changed much since 17th century but Russia and China especially China... Has it already forgot Opium Wars?

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Big jump in support for Benghazi East Libya. Hope the end this conflict,as soon as possible and libyans make a peaceful libya.

We can add Libya politics,Iraq politics and Afghanistan politics ,now into same kind of situations, with high change push by US,EU and UN.

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this is simple logic folks. Unfortunately the world is moving towards more civil liberties and freedoms. However most of the Arab world still lives in the governance 60 years ago, where you have one leader running the show for decades. The young generation in these areas, on the other become purplexed when they see other even better developed countries have their presidents come and go. They therefore become warry of life presidents and leaders, especially those tending to groom their children to succeed them as seems the case in most of the Arab world. Somebody should not be a leader, just because s/he was born by a leader. s/he should prove that he is sane and intelligent enough to lead people. I don't see this coming from Libya anarchy for instance! Good revolutionalists don't stay long in power...Mandela can say the last word on this! Rather, good revolutionalies would be proud to see other people carry on wit their ideas as they join the strong group of elders for such revolutions worldwide. On the bombing issue, was there any alternative? maybe but the fact is that the head of state in Libya vowed to go house by house with no mercy. he has done this before and how many times should he be allowed to go away with it? the biggest problem with people mad with power is not to read between the lines and know when to call it quits. They become too mad with power that they even think they can kill and mime at will. they seem to think that they created all people and have a right to remove this life from them.......it may have not been the right move to strike but i don't see any alternatives ....

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correction..Hope they end

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jeancolmar: Just a little while ago Gadhafi was everyone's friend. The Pan Am-Lockerbee atrocity was more or less forgiven and one its perpetrators released from prison is Scotland on "humanitarian" groups. Thanks to Libyan oil Gadhafi was allowed to come in from the cold.

Perhaps forgiven in your part of the world.

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it's encouraging to see this many people seeing through and calling out the hypocrisy and double standards of the world elite. selective invoking of "humanitarian crisis", "democratic and human rights" etc. is getting really old. hell it was old enough hundred years ago already, when similar crises was unfolding in north africa as well. just don't make the mistake of equating the populations of the belligerent governments with the policies and interests of the ruling classes of their countries and international financial aristocracy. NO TO WAR! NO TO IMPERIALISM! NO TO NEO-COLONIALISM!

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Whoa, what does this mean for the value and concept of national sovereignty? Is civil war now internationally illegal due to the United Nations??

Non-violent protest and earnest discussion is to be desired, but would the US have applauded French military interference in the formational civil war of President Lincoln’s time? This is not to challenge the value of humanitarian concerns. I can see German genocide of the Jews in WWII as meriting military intervention, even had it only been known in and of its self, but this?

Condoleezza Rice… I mean, H.R. Clinton speaks here of “…every reason to fear that left unchecked, Gadhafi will commit unspeakable atrocities” to justify military action, but at this point the military move was preemptive which entails high risk of wrongdoing in all but the most obvious of situations. Concerned about atrocities? Then request to put official civilian watchdogs on the ground, and act on what is known.

The UN coalition speaks good values, but its methods are highly questionable, especially in light of recent history.

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Reading all these comments I let myself fall into realpolitik... Yes ghadafi has the power through the oil production of Lybia. Yes he his an awful bloody tyran who is always a latent threat to free world financing international terrorism His folk has finally raised against him an opened a door to more freedom (still to be confirmed). We must take that opportunity to shoot the tyran down, and give Lybian people the possibility to rebuilt something better. "fight for human rights", "neocolonialism", "fight for democracy". Nice words ! But it is time for action, not for speeches because time window is narrow.

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Libya has oil, plus the price of gas needs to get above $5 a gallon for the Globalists to make enough profit to sustain these wars and impoverish the U.S. slaves. Iran and Venezuela will be next.

Nevermind that the US has enough oil reserves for 200+ years. =The control of oil (real money) is the issue here. Not the oil itself, but the control of oil and the slaves.

People need to shut-up and drive their cars and be a good slave. Those that walk or ride a bike are terrorists. People that do not buy fiat dollars are terrorists (SLA -Silver Liberation Army etc)

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otumfuo: "They did not exhaust all possible alternatives before launching this war"

Oh, for cryin' out loud, They only waited until thousands of Libyans has already been killed by Gadhafi's forces, and with Gadhafi launching all-out attacks on the rebels ( and any civilians who dared to venture out on the streets ) and threatening "No mercy".

Badsey: "the US has enough oil reserves for 200+years"

I doubt that.

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The USA and it's allies have absolutely no business in Libya. the Libyans should be fending for themselves on this one. Another strike against Obama as far as I am concerned! A dictator replaced by Hamas! Real good one!

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The logic is so clear: if u kill terrorist, u r terrorist and if u kill inoccent civilians, then u r inoccent! gogo USA, u will be destroyed soon with such a logic.To bring heavy bombing and cruise missiles to protect civilians WHILE killing them is a great idea.I wont be suprised if some nuclear nukes will destroy some US cities.

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Lets make a fund! Needa get some cash to sponsor 2k$ per student in usa, and gather 20000 of them at washington and make revolution as in Egypt and Lybia.I wanna see the reaction of US goverment and how they will solve it. Double standards of democracy rly sucks.Im ashamed to be an American.

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Sarge-As far as I know,they did not invite the two groups for talks.Dailogue between the two groups should have been facilitated.the west thinks they are not vunerable to social unrest and foreign inteference .But I bet you that time will come soon. The airstrikes are killing libyans and it is rather increasing the violence.I say again,what do these same neo-coloniasts have to say about Bahrain,Yemen,Ivory Coast etc ?

They have been queit on the Saudis and Bahrain.

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Electrokids...they'll drop bombs on you!

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This makes me so angry. Haven't enough people died lately? Doesn't Gadhafi have a TV? Stop this selfishness worldwide!

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America's military-industrial complex just announced the latest windfall for its shareholders. Feel free to drop by for cognac and cigars, gentlemen.

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C'mon, WordStar, Obama showed great patience in the face of Republican criticism of inaction, he has endeavored to put a European face on the intervention, and he has vowed not to send ground troops. This is important because, unlike the morasses the US is in in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is the first military venture Obama can call his own - and he is not taking it lightly.

America won its independence with invaluable help from France, but it was the newly-aware Americans who won it, not the French. Libyan independence - from Gadhafi and 'the big man' - can only be won in the same way. My take is that this action is measured and appropriate.

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I don't get the impression that the coalition against Gadhafi has thought this through. Air power alone doesn't guarantee that Gadhafi and his son will be overthrown . In fact, it would be due to plain luck if it they were to succeed in the stated aim of regime change. They can bomb his residence but it is surrounded by thousands of non-military supporters (human shields). Not likely they will do that. At this point, it doesn't appear that the rebels have the forces and equipment necessary to win outright. This could turn into a protracted non-fly zone situation as occurred with Iraq after the Gulf War. The coalition would then be obliged to supply the rebels with arms and other support short of ground troops - which has been ruled out thus far.

Bottom line, what if the no-fly zone and bombing do not work? I don't think I've heard any of the coalition members address that very real possibility. Do they have a plan B? Also, is there a post-war plan?

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US military industrial and other Foreign contractors ,just made USD 100 million or more yesterday.

Just One tomahawk missile costs 500,000 over USD. 100 over fired into Libya,that cost 50-60 million USD.

Value Defense companies shares going up,via new LIBYA spending.

Middle east nations also,may be increase defense defense,buying more from Russia,China,USA and others.

You can't stop USA from spending 700 billion USD on defense. Libya was spending 1 USD billion a year,for decades on defense.

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Rajakumar: US military industrial and other Foreign contractors ,just made USD 100 million or more yesterday.

What's your point?

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Still scratching my head over the lack of required congressional approval for acts of war that democrats used to demand under previous administrations....?

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More civilans were killed in Yemen yesterday than in all of the Libyan conflict to date. So, whats the reasoning behind only intervening in Libya if it is indeed only for the reasons as stated by Clinton and Obama to protect civilans and allow aid in? Is Syria next for a no fly zone? Lastly, those sure are some well armed "civilians" I see running around attacking gov't forces..........

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Midnightpromise: So, whats the reasoning behind only intervening in Libya if it is indeed only for the reasons as stated by Clinton and Obama to protect civilans and allow aid in?

So you're saying the UN should also go into those countries? Or are you not saying that and just making a point that you don't intend to back up?

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Main reason for U.S., France and British involvement is the controlling of the oil. West is now losing the control of the oil with the accelerated Chinese oil investment in Libya. Currently France a major investor in oil fields of Libya, but this is changing. In all, China has evacuated an estimated 36,000 of its workers from Libya, chartering buses, sending jetliners, even dispatching its navy to escort civilian rescue vessels. China has deep involvement with Libya. Thirsty for oil and other raw materials needed to fuel its breakneck development, China is funneling money and manpower into ever more volatile regions of the globe to lock up natural resources. Despite international pressure, China has developed closer trade ties with energy-rich Libya and has emerged as a major investor and financial partner of Gadafi and China is now the third-largest buyer of Libyan crude behind Italy and France. Since 85 percent of the oil from Libya goes to Europe, the west is very concerned with the accelerated involvement by the Chinese and they will do whatever it takes to stop their involvement.

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human shields. what will they think of next.

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Sfjp330 Your analysis is true and is one of the factors.But when the dust settles,we will see if their new found Friend (the rebels) will allow them to control the oil.Ordinary libyans are fed up with Ghaddaffi and all the oil partner countries.

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sfjp330: Since 85 percent of the oil from Libya goes to Europe, the west is very concerned with the accelerated involvement by the Chinese and they will do whatever it takes to stop their involvement.

So that's why the Chinese gave the green light at the UN? Maybe they weren't able to piece the situation together like you did by using a keyboard and web browser. Perhaps you should send your post to them in an email. It would make for a good head slapping moment by the Community party.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought China abstained from the UN Security Council resolution on Libya, along with other G20 players Brazil and India. Not exactly a green light, but not a veto, either. Sometimes a complex situation requires one to do nothing for the time being.

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lemur, I agree. If you are not going to vote Yes or No (Veto), then keep your mouth shut, is how I look at it.

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SuperLib at 09:42 AM JST - 21st March. So that's why the Chinese gave the green light at the UN?

Russians and Chinese abstained from the UN Security Council resolution on Libya.

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SuperLib at 09:42 AM JST - 21st March. So that's why the Chinese gave the green light at the UN?

sfjp330: Russians and Chinese abstained from the UN Security Council resolution on Libya.

They could have easily blocked the resolution, as we both well know. What you're saying is simply illogical.

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It is not the same as Shock and Awe.

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