Libya: Chavez to the rescue

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is offering to broker a peace agreement in Libya. Chavez and Gaddafi are old friends and allies so it comes as no surprise that South America’s “extreme leader” would want to involve himself in the affairs of North Africa’s “extreme leader”.

Analysts are not putting a great deal of weight on this idea. Predictions are that fighting is going to lead to if not the destruction of some of the oil infrastructure in the country, to at least a disruption of the industry. Certainly the oil markets have already been affected by the speculation of a civil war with energy prices climbing to levels not seen since 2008.

Reuters is reporting today that Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, has said the group would consider a proposal made by Chavez to negotiate a peace settlement for Libya’s intensifying conflict. Would Gaddafi accept an offer made by Chavez for mediation? Experts say that Chavez’ credibility is not very high and the only value of such an idea is that it may offer Gaddafi an honourable way out. This could turn out to be nothing more than a face-saving way out to exile. It is a curiosity and a coincidence that Chavez would step in like this as there were a multitude of rumours a short while ago when fighting first erupted that Gaddafi had fled to Venezuela. This resulted in the famous television appearance of Gaddafi holding an umbrella as he partially stepped out of a vehicle in the rain in front of his compound in Tripoli to show to Libya and the world that he was in fact still in the country and at the helm.

According to the Guardian, the Chavez plan is short on detail other than he would involve Latin America, Europe and the Middle East in the initiative which has been dubbed “the committee of peace”. Chavez has apparently said that the time has come for such a plan because “the U.S. is ready to invade Libya”. While the U.S. is deploying some forces in the area to respond to the crisis, there are no indications of an invasion and the U.S. has backed away from setting up a no-fly zone over the country.

Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua have claimed that western powers want to control Libya for its oil wealth. It was, they said, “better to have a political solution instead of sending marines to Libya, and better to send a goodwill mission than for the killing to continue”.

The big question is whether or not rebels will want to negotiate with a regime they are trying to bring down. Certainly protesters here like in Tunisia and Egypt are fed up with a dictatorial regime and want to see a democratic change. Such a goal is in conflict with any plan which would see Gaddafi remain in power in any way whatsoever.

War Crimes

The Financial Times writes that the International Criminal Court prosecutor investigating alleged crimes against humanity by the Libyan regime has said a “new era” of rapid prosecution of government human-rights violations had begun. Previous investigations in such areas as Dafur and the Congo have taken a long time, even years to look into problems usually well after the event had taken place. With Libya, the court is going to investigate allegations fir the first time while the event is ongoing. Allegations include security forces killing unarmed protesters, forced displacement, illegal detention and airstrikes on civilians. With Gaddafi receiving this warning from The Hague that he would be held accountable for his actions; will he consider what he does in response to the uprising? Desperate men do desperate things.

Charlie Sheen vs. Muammar Gaddafi: LOL

As everybody is well aware, Muammar Gaddafi has said some pretty incredible things lately, so incredible; some have doubted the man’s sanity. The American Charlie Sheen has done I don’t know how many television interviews as of late where his sanity has turned into the fodder of many a critic and comedian. Britain’s Guardian newspaper has put together an amusing quiz where you the reader get to pick which world class nut bar said what in a fight for the famous faux pas.

Charlie Sheen v Muammar Gaddafi: whose line is it anyway?

The US actor and the Libyan leader have produced some choice lines recently. Can you distinguish between them?

I note that question number 10 asks who said the following:

The US commission report on 9/11 was ‘an absolute fairytale, a complete work of fiction’

The correct answer surprised me but reminds me of just how many conspiracy theorists there may be in the world. See my blog Conspiracy: one man’s truth, another man’s lunacy 

Libya,Today,02.03.2011 brave revolutionaries fighting fearlessly for Brega

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD4Sn-6u0fo

Click HERE to read more from William Belle

Article viewed at: Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com