Updates on Libyan war: March 31

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China, Russia Should Prevent West Further Abusing Libya Resolution

Miguel D’Escoto: United Nations Has Become Lethal Weapon Of The Empire

Gates, Mullen: Top U.S. Defense, Military Officials Warn Of Protracted Libya Conflict

Libyan War: 16 NATO Members Contribute Warplanes And Warships

Sweden: NATO’s Loyal Cohort In Libyan, Afghan Wars

Libyan War: NATO In Full Charge, Future Remains Uncertain

Vatican Envoy To Libya: NATO Air Strikes “Killing Dozens Of Civilians”

NATO Could Repeat Balkans (And Afghan, Iraq) Scenario In Libya

Leading Russia MP: NATO Could Be Defeated In Libyan Ground War

NATO Takes Over Full Command Of Libyan War

Doubts Over Purpose Of Libyan Military Intervention Intensify

Libya: U.S.-NATO Ground Operations More Likely

NATO Assumes Full Command Of Libyan War Operations

Obama Authorizes Covert Operations In Libya, CIA Already There

CIA And MI6 Aiding Libyan War Effort On The Ground

Poll: Americans Oppose Obama’s Libyan War, Ratings At All-Time Low

Defense Minister: NATO’s Libyan Operation Costs Greece $9 Million A Month

Venezuela On Libya: No Peace With Bombs, West Eyes Oil Reserves

NATO Air Strike Kills Libyan Infant

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China, Russia Should Prevent West Further Abusing Libya Resolution

http://en.huanqiu.com/opinion/editorial/2011-03/639891.html

Global Times
March 31, 2011

UN resolution legality needs a gatekeeper

-China should unite with Russia in requiring the US, Britain and France to respect Security Council resolutions. As the Security Council president this month, China should hold an emergency meeting at the ambassadorial level, and demand announcements about air strikes and plans for future intervention.
-The world must not allow the West to act unchecked, especially when using the name of the UN. They should hear the voices of opposition and face the problems they cause.

On March 29, Gaddafi’s army recaptured two cities. This new twist to the Libyan military situation has heaped political embarrassment on the West.

It is now time to prevent the West from further abusing Security Council Resolution No. 1973.

The Western powers have acted beyond the resolution. Although the leaders of the US, Britain and France have said their military actions are only aimed at establishing a no-fly zone, the Western air strikes have directly attacked Libyan government forces and provided air support for the opposition.

They have jointly demanded Gaddafi to step down immediately, which has nothing to do with Security Council resolutions.

In the absence of China, Russia, the African Union and most members of the Arab League, the London conference centered around the political landscape of the “post-Gaddafi era.”

This countermands the authority of the United Nations and goes against the Western declaration of “letting Libyan people determine by themselves.”

The intensification of Western direct military intervention could force Gaddafi to step down soon. But the West has two obstacles: the Security Council resolution does not grant them such authority and they have to consider public opinion. The greater the opposition of global opinion, the more hesitant the West will be.

China should unite with Russia in requiring the US, Britain and France to respect Security Council resolutions. As the Security Council president this month, China should hold an emergency meeting at the ambassadorial level, and demand announcements about air strikes and plans for future intervention. The Council should ask the West to guarantee no expansion of military operations.

China should let French President Sarkozy know that the air strikes he defends are widely opposed in China. If he is a president with political honor, he should face the questions posed by Chinese media and guarantee that he will abide by Resolution 1973.

The world must not allow the West to act unchecked, especially when using the name of the UN. They should hear the voices of opposition and face the problems they cause.

Maintenance of the Security Council resolution can achieve a moral high ground. China and Russia abstained, which does not mean the US, Britain and France gained carte blanche. China, Russia, Brazil and other emerging countries should take actions to let these three countries understand this.
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Miguel D’Escoto: United Nations Has Become Lethal Weapon Of The Empire

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=276625&Itemid=1

Prensa Latina
March 31, 2011

D’Escoto: The United Nations is a Deadly U.S.Weapon
Ana Julia Suarez Cruz

United Nations: Former Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel D’Escoto, now appointed as the representative of Libya to the UN, said Thursday that the United Nations has become a “lethal weapon of the Empire (United States).”

USA Reportedly Supplied Weapons to Libyan Rebels

“We have to get it back, because if it dies it will not be born again,” warned D’Escoto, who was president of the 63rd period of sessions of the UN General Assembly (2008-2009).

In an interview with Prensa Latina in New York, D’Escoto, a Catholic priest, said the UN is dysfunctional, unable to fulfill the goals for which it was created.

D’Escoto harshly criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing him of betraying the UN Charter.

In that sense, he did not rule out coordination between the UN secretary general and the host country (the United States) to prevent former Libyan Foreign Minister Ali Treki from the entering U.S. territory.

Treki, who chaired the UN General Assembly until last September, was appointed Libyan ambassador to the UN two weeks ago by President Muammar Gaddafi, but he did not receive a U.S. visa to travel to New York.

“I don’t know what kind of effort Ban Ki-moon made with respect to that visa, as part of his duty as UN leader,” said D’Escoto .

Now, the appointment of D’Escoto as Libyan representative is in doubt, after the U.S. representative to the UN, Susan Rice, claimed the Nicaraguan does not have a diplomatic visa.

Following the statement by Rice, the UN press office cancelled a Thursday press conference with D’Escoto that had been announced on Wednesday by UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

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Gates, Mullen: Top U.S. Defense, Military Officials Warn Of Protracted Libya Conflict

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d99f8a0-5bb4-11e0-b8e7-00144feab49a.html#axzz1ICkFFsOM

Financial Times
March 31, 2011

Gates warns on protracted Libya conflict
By Daniel Dombey in Washington

Nato faces a protracted conflict in Libya, the US’s top two military chiefs signalled on Thursday, even as they promised that Washington would substantially scale down its participation in coming days.

Robert Gates, defence secretary, and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, acknowledged the possibility of a stalemate as they sought to square growing congressional discontent about the military action with Libyan rebels’ calls for more aid to prevent a rout by Muammer Gaddafi’s forces.
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Appearing at hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Mr Gates said: “We have considered the possibility of this being a stalemate and being a drawn-out affair.” He said there could be an outcome “where you achieve the military goal [of establishing a no-fly zone...] but not achieve the political goal” of ousting Col Gaddafi.

Howard McKeon, the committee’s chairman, warned that Nato “could be expected to support a decade-long no-fly zone enforcement like the one over Iraq in the 1990s,” while a series of other members underlined their doubts about the rebels’ political orientation.
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Libyan War: 16 NATO Members Contribute Warplanes And Warships

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1630009.php/BACKGROUND-16-NATO-members-taking-part-in-Libya-military-action

Deutsche Prese-Agentur
March 31, 2011

BACKGROUND: 16 NATO members taking part in Libya military action

Brussels: NATO announced on its website Thursday that 16 out of its 28 members were taking part in the mission enforcing a United Nations resolution on Libya, which foresees a no-fly zone, a naval arms embargo and airstrikes….

Albania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia were exposed as the countries not contributing to the military effort.

NATO did not release information on third countries taking part in the operation. Sweden, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed separately that they are involved.

NATO indicated that the United States, France, Britain and Italy were the largest contributors to the ‘Unified Protector’ mission.

The full list of contributions was listed as follows:

Belgium: six fighter jets; Britain: 17 jets and two vessels; Bulgaria: one vessel; Canada: 11 jets and one vessel; Denmark: four jets; France: 33 jets and one vessel; Greece: two jets and one vessel; Italy: 16 jets and four vessels; Netherlands: seven jets and one vessel; Norway: six jets; Romania: one vessel; Spain: six jets and two vessels; Turkey: seven jets and six vessels; United States: 90 jets and one vessel.

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Sweden: NATO’s Loyal Cohort In Libyan, Afghan Wars

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-48A34226-82ACED3B/natolive/news_71925.htm

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 31, 2011

Secretary General Rasmussen praises Sweden as an effective and reliable partner

On 31 March, Secretary General Rasmussen travelled to Sweden to discuss the excellent cooperation between NATO and Sweden. During his visit, the Secretary General met with H.M. King Carl XVI Gustav, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Minister of Defence Sten Tolgfors and members of the Foreign Relations and Defence Committees.

Rasmussen thanked Sweden for its planned contribution of 8 Gripen fighter jets and support personnel to NATO’s Operation Unified Protector to protect the Libyan population against the attacks of the Gaddafi regime. “Without prejudging deliberations in the Parliament, I would like to stress the importance of the Swedish contribution. Across the board, Sweden is an active provider of security and stability”, Rasmussen stated.

The Secretary General also highlighted Sweden’s other important contributions. “Sweden is a valuable partner of NATO. Sweden contributes in a very significant way to a number of NATO led operations, such as in Afghanistan and in KFOR. I express my strong appreciation for that”, said the Secretary General in a joint press conference with the Swedish Prime Minister. Mazar-e-Sharif, the city where the Swedish troops are based, is one of the seven districts and provinces where Afghans are starting to take the lead in the coming months. Sweden also provides an important contribution to NATO’s training efforts to build up the Afghan security forces.

The Secretary General also stressed Sweden’s leading role in calling for more cooperation with the EU. In view of the difficult financial climate, both organisations are trying to spend smarter, and it makes sense to work together. Pooling and sharing is the way ahead, Mr Rasmussen said.

Mr. Rasmussen concluded his visit by delivering a key-note speech on “The New NATO and Sweden’s Security” at the Foreign Policy Institute.

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Libyan War: NATO In Full Charge, Future Remains Uncertain

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/31/c_13807850.htm

Xinhua News Agency
March 31, 2011

NATO in full charge, future remains elusive

BRUSSELS: NATO on Thursday took full command and control of military operations in Libya from the United States, however, the endgame of the military campaigns remains elusive.

“This transfer is completed. NATO is fully responsible for the military efforts. We have more than 100 fighter and support aircraft and more than a dozens maritime assets from several nations under NATO command,” said Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO mission, code-named Unified Protector.

Since NATO took full charge of military operations from 0600 GMT on Thursday, it has conducted more than 90 flying sorties and has more than 20 frigates patrolling in the Mediterranean and several supporting vessels, the Canadian general said via video conference from the alliance’s base in Naples, Itlay.

The general said that he hoped the NATO mission, a 90-day military plan, could last shorter, however, the operation would not end until the Libya civilians are no longer attacked.

NATO members agreed on Sunday to take on the whole military operation in Libya under the United Nations Security Council Resolution, ending a week of squabbling over the command structure mainly involving France, Turkey, the United States and Britain.
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NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told reporters that “NATO will do its utmost” to involve all partners in the Libya mission and invite partners to participate.

The chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, said all NATO members had provided “political support” for the mission, and some allies were willing to contribute and deploy military assets, as well as several none-NATO countries.

In addition, while the disputes over the command have settled down, the endgame in Libya remains elusive as participating countries are divided on a series of questions, the ultimate goal of the mission, whether to arm rebels in Libya, and so on.
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Vatican Envoy To Libya: NATO Air Strikes “Killing Dozens Of Civilians”

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/03/31/2011-03-31_40_civilians_reportedly_killed_in_nato_air_strikes_on_tripoli_defense_secretary_.html

New York Daily News
March 31, 2011

40 civilians reportedly killed in NATO air strikes on Tripoli; Defense Secretary to address congress
BY Lukas I. Alpert

At least 40 civilians have been killed in NATO air strikes on Tripoli, the Vatican’s top envoy to Libya said Thursday.

“They are killing dozens of civilians,” said Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli. “In the Tajoura neighborhood, around 40 civilians were killed, and a house with a family inside collapsed.”

“In the Buslim neighborhood, due to bombardments, a civilian building came down, although it is not clear how many people were inside.”

Martinelli said that he had not seen any casualties himself, but was relying on reports from “contacts” among Tripoli’s residents.
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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is expected to tell congress Thursday that Khadafy will ultimately be removed from power but not solely as the result of military force.
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“In my view, the removal of Colonel Khadafy will likely be achieved over time through political and economic measures and by his own people,” Gates said.

“However, this NATO-led operation can degrade Khadafy’s military capacity to the point where he – and those around him – will be forced into a very different set of choices and behaviors in the future.”
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With News Wire Services

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NATO Could Repeat Balkans (And Afghan, Iraq) Scenario In Libya

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/31/48262650.html

Voice of Russia
March 31, 2011

Will NATO apply the Balkan scenario to Libya?
Pyotr Iskenderov

-Resolution 1973 stipulates the use of all measures against the Gaddafi regime, except an occupation. The transition of the ongoing aerial operation to a multinational mission means, as shown by the Kosovo experience, a shift to an occupation under the peacekeeping slogans.
Similar scenarios have been staged by the U.S., Britain and other Western countries also in Afghanistan and Iraq.
-”An allegedly humanitarian intervention by NATO against Yugoslavia in 1999 ended with the deployment of NATO forces in Kosovo and the setting up of the largest U.S. base Bondsteel Camp in the province. The U.S. and NATO may repeat this scenario in Libya.”

NATO is discussing the deployment of multinational forces in Libya, said Admiral James Stavridis, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee. These forces will be under NATO command and will operate as they did in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

The statement by Admiral Stavridis shifts the possible development in Libya onto a new level. It seems that the U.S. and NATO do not consider rendering assistance to the opposition groups in ousting the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as a priority. The Admiral believes that, clearly, there is a wide range of possibilities organizing a mission for stabilizing the situation in Libya under the aegis of NATO.

The West no longer considers the opposition groups as a means to oust Gaddafi for several reasons. Firstly, the opposition groups are very weak and divided. Secondly, according to Admiral Stavridis, al-Qaeda terrorists and pro-Iranian Hezbolla militants are among the rebels. In an interview with the NBC, President Barack Obama indirectly admitted this. He emphasized that there is no guarantee that there are no people who are unfriendly towards the U.S. and its interests among the rebels.

However, that the U.S. and NATO plan to carry out the operation in Libya in line with that of the Kosovo scenario has nothing to do with the state of affairs in the rebel camp.

A deployment of multinational forces on a long-term basis under the aegis of NATO paves the way for Brussels to bypass the only restriction imposed by the UN Security Council on an operation in Libya.

Resolution 1973 stipulates the use of all measures against the Gaddafi regime, except an occupation. The transition of the ongoing aerial operation to a multinational mission means, as shown by the Kosovo experience, a shift to an occupation under the peacekeeping slogans.

Similar scenarios have been staged by the U.S., Britain and other Western countries also in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Their military presence remains despite of restrictions imposed by the U.N.,” says Alexander Karasev, an expert at the Institute of Slavic Studies in an interview with our correspondent:

“The discussion of problems at the UN Security Council is aimed at finding a decision that will satisfy the international community and at the same time the interested parties. However, the latest developments show that the Western powers have lately learned to bypass formal restrictions imposed on them by the UN Charter and UN Security Council decisions. An allegedly humanitarian intervention by NATO against Yugoslavia in 1999 ended with the deployment of NATO forces in Kosovo and the setting up of the largest U.S. base Bondsteel Camp in the province. The U.S. and NATO may repeat this scenario in Libya,” Alexander Karasev said.

Speaking at the National Defence University, Barack Obama said that “we should not afraid to use our military swiftly and decisively, also unilaterally when there is a need to defend our people, our country, our allies and our innermost interests.”

Commenting on the speech, an expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Stephen Flanagan, emphasized that the President’s speech had reminded him of the one that President Clinton gave during the Kosovo crisis explaining the reasons that led to the launch of the NATO operation in Yugoslavia. Both presidents emphasized the need for defending the American “innermost and other interests and values that were threatened”.

It’s unclear whether all this has anything to do with humanitarian aims and interests of the Libyan people as stated in by the authors of the UN resolution.

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Leading Russia MP: NATO Could Be Defeated In Libyan Ground War

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=233186

Interfax
March 31, 2011

Kosachyov fears coalition forces’ involvement in Libya ground operation

MOSCOW: Duma International Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachyov has not ruled out a ground operation by the coalition forces in Libya.

“Currently, everyone is denying this possibility, however I think that if the coalition continues to lose its soldiers in Libya, sooner or later it could serve as a pretext for invasion,” Kosachyov said in an interview with the Russia Today television channel on Thursday.

Should the ground operation begin, “coalition forces will find themselves trapped, with neither party benefiting from it,” the MP said.

“It will be a defeat for coalition forces. I would not like that to happen, however today this scenario is quite possible,” Kosachyov said.

The terrorist group Al-Qaeda “will attempt to increase its influence in Libya,” he said.

“Such an evolvement of the situation is predictable, and this might become a very serious problem,” the MP said.

“Revolutionaries will not have a chance to quickly take the situation under control after the fall of the regime, which will give external forces a chance to interfere in the situation and seize control. Unfortunately, Al-Qaeda is the most organized among these three regional forces at the moment,” he said.

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NATO Takes Over Full Command Of Libyan War

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-CB7D5874-49B69AA2/natolive/news_71867.htm

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
March 31, 2011

NATO takes command in Libya air operations

On Thursday morning at 0600 GMT, NATO took sole command of international air operations over Libya.

The Alliance has the assets in place to conduct its tasks under Operation Unified Protector – the arms embargo, no-fly zone and actions to protect civilians and civilian centres.
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http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/31/48236881.html

Voice of Russia
March 31, 2011

NATO in charge of Libya operations

NATO has officially assumed command of all operations in Libya, taking over from an international coalition that has been in charge since the 19th of March, a diplomat told the AFP news agency on Thursday.
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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/31/c_13807330.htm

Xinhua News Agency
March 31, 2011

NATO takes over full command of military campaign against Libya

BRUSSELS: NATO has taken over full command and control of military operations against Libya from the United States, a NATO official confirmed here on Thursday.

NATO will make an announcement shortly, the official told Xinhua, adding Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander of the NATO mission, code-named Unified Protector, would hold a press briefing this afternoon via video conference from the alliance’s base in Naples, Italy.

NATO members agreed on Sunday to take full charge of military operations in Libya, including arms embargo, a no-fly zone and protecting civilians and civilian-populated areas, ending a week of squabbling over the command structure mainly involving France, Turkey, the U.S. and Britain.

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Doubts Over Purpose Of Libyan Military Intervention Intensify

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-03/31/c_13807391.htm

Xinhua News Agency
March 31, 2011

Doubts over purpose of Libyan military intervention intensify

BEIJING: With Western-led coalition forces continuing their air strikes in Libya since March 19, doubts over the real purposes and goals of the mission have intensified globally.

The military operation was launched after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on March 17 to enforce a no-fly zone on Libya and to take “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya.

Yet, the military action has raised doubts, despite assurances from Western leaders, such as British Prime Minister David Cameron, who emphasized “the legitimacy, necessity and correctness” of the action.

With the air strikes, launched by major Western powers including France, Britain, the United States, Denmark and Italy, having destroyed Libya’s air defense system and many of the tanks and heavy weapons of Libyan government forces, the doubts have intensified and many believe the mission has gone beyond the U.N. resolution.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa has criticized the international coalition force’s bombing, saying the assaults went beyond the U.N. resolution that endorsed a no-fly zone over Libya.

“What has happened in Libya differs from the goal of imposing a no-fly zone and what we want is the protection of civilians and not bombing civilians,” Moussa said.

African Union (AU) chief Jean Ping has voiced similar disapproved, raising doubts about what would follow after a no-fly zone was “roughly” established.

“What’s the next step? Do you have a roadmap? I don’t see them at all,” he said.

Analysts and observers said the military intervention showed some Western powers were getting involved in the internal conflict in Libya, despite promises they wouldn’t interfere in Libya’s internal affairs.

The Western powers also stressed the importance of finding a political and diplomatic solution to the Libyan crisis, but the so-called “political solution,” which excluded the Gaddafi regime in the first place, was based on the military operation, analysts said.

The plan of the Western powers was to solve the country’s crisis through political solutions and make the North Africa country follow a road they map out for it after forcing Gaddafi out through military means, analysts said.
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The United States, still mired in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, has somehow managed to overcome the jitters over waging another war in Libya.

An article published recently by the Wall Street Journal said the U.S. had transferred command to NATO on two major concerns: neither France nor Britain should take the lead instead of the U.S., and the swift evolution of the Libyan situation prompted Obama to believe the country’s involvement would pay off.

As to Britain, a country that has gradually lost the lead in international affairs, analysts pointed out it had seized the opportunity to expand its global influence. Prime Minister Cameron championed the idea of a no-fly zone from the moment unrest broke out last month.

Germany, a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has adopted a remarkable position on Libya. It has abstained from the U.N. vote on a no-fly zone over the country, refrained from joining forces with other Western powers, and even on some occasions indicated an “opposing attitude” to the West-led intervention. Germany said it actions were not out of support for Gaddafi, but concern military action was “too risky.”

The only Islamic country in NATO, Turkey, has repeatedly voiced its opposition since West-led airstrikes began. However, after days of negotiation, all NATO member states, including Turkey, agreed to take over command of the military operations against Libya. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu nevertheless stressed on several occasions that Turkey would never use military force, worrying about finding in Libya another Afghanistan or Iraq war.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria slammed the military action against Libya as an “adventure” driven by oil interests, the harshest criticism so far from a NATO member state.

Cameron vehemently defended the military intervention in Libya at the opening of the London Conference on Lybia on Tuesday.
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NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Tuesday he could not guess how long the alliance’s military mission would last in Libya….

“I am not going to guess,” he told Reuters when asked how long the NATO mission could last and whether it could become a financial burden for alliance states on top of their long commitment in Afghanistan.
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It is difficult to predict the future of military operations. Obama on Monday warned the United States may once again get drawn into a war.

“We went down that road in Iraq,” Obama told military officers at the National Defense University in Washington.

“Regime change there took eight years, thousands of American and Iraqi lives, and nearly a trillion dollars. That is not something we can afford to repeat in Libya,” he said.

Meanwhile, an article on the website of USA Today said: “U.S. intervention in Libya is a blunder. We intervene in support of an opposition that is unpredictable, at an expense that is unsupportable and with an endgame unknown.”

Some people worry the war may trigger a new wave of terrorism.

“In trying to figure out just what we have gotten ourselves into by applying military force to Libya, one set of consequences that has little comment so far concerns international terrorism,” said U.S. magazine National Interest in its website.

“Any use of Western and especially U.S. military force in a Muslim country runs the risk of energizing Islamist terrorism,” it said.

“The dimension that is hardest to gauge but ultimately may have the broadest impact is the effect on perceptions and resentments of many people far beyond Libya who might be recruited into terrorism, or at least might support or sympathize with it,” it said.

There is enormous financial pressure for Western countries with huge military expenditures. The British army is capable of participating in lightning wars against Libya, but prolonged wars may make Cameron reconsider his plan to cut the national defense budget.

Some countries are worried about their international image.

“Sarkozy wants France to play the hero in Libya, but fears that, if the intervention drags on and becomes muddied in the dirty business of occupying Tripoli or negotiating with Gaddafi loyalists, France could once again look the colonial power,” the U.S. magazine Atlantic Monthly said on its website.

“Italy, which held Libya until 1951, has similar fears. And no country wants to own a long-running, possibly sectarian conflict in Libya the way that the United States owns the war in Iraq and Afghanistan,” it said.

France has been reluctant to hand over command to NATO. Some analysts believe that France does not have enough authority after returning to NATO in 2009 and fears being marginalized. France finally agreed to hand over command to NATO, but insisted on limits to NATO’s power.

On March 24, the United States, Britain, France, and Turkey agreed to put all the Libya operations under a NATO umbrella….

As operations in Libya continue, the international community has become increasingly divided on the issue of intervention. Voices calling for peace have been running high, which puts the allies under great pressure.

Those attending Tuesday’s London Conference clearly reflected the opinion of related countries and international organizations on the military action.

The Arab League’s Moussa, who was courted by Western countries, and the African Union’s Ping, who was expected to attend, did not appear at all.

Meanwhile, more pressure came from anti-war demonstrations in countries such as the U.S., France, Turkey and Spain.

In Washington, protesters gathered outside the White House Saturday to call on the government to quit meddling in the country.

House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said: “The administration has a responsibility to define for the American people, the Congress and our troops, what the mission in Libya is.”

Obama may not have expected that, with the Arabic countries’ support and U.N. Security Council resolution, the military intervention would provoke severe domestic criticism and queries.

Italy’s parliament approved a government resolution involving the country’s participation in the military operations in Libya last Thursday, with 300 “yes” votes and 293 “no” votes.

However, considerable resistance against war is evident.

An opinion poll carried out by Corriere della Serra, the top-selling Italian daily newspaper, demonstrated the public mood, with 53 percent opposing the intervention and only 42 percent approving.

During the London conference, hundreds of Libyans lined outside expressing their opposition to the intervention.

They claimed Libya’s issues could only be solved by Libyans and they had the ability to protect their country without military intervention by any other countries.

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Libya: U.S.-NATO Ground Operations More Likely

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/31/48245163.html

Voice of Russia
March 31, 2011

Land operations in Libya more likely
Alexander Vatutin

US President Barack Obama has authorized secret operations by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Libya to support rebels in their fight against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. This only became known on March 30th, although a document to this effect was signed two or three weeks ago. A leak of information to the American media coincided with the beginning of an offensive by [government] troops against the opposition.

In fact, here we are dealing with supplying weapons to rebel fighters – even if not necessarily right now. However, the US president’s orders point to the need to explore ways to assist the opposition in Libya which is retreating across the country despite air support from the allied forces. Bombings of such a scale are hardly possible without coordination on the ground, military experts claim. This means that CIA agents, along with Britain’s MI6 intelligence service personnel, have long since been deployed on Libyan territory. They apparently not only coordinate air raids but also regularly come into contact with rebel leaders, the New York Times reported.

In practice, the activation of western secret services in Libya implies only one thing – an intervention into that country’s domestic affairs, which runs counter to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 aimed solely at protecting the civilian population. However the document’s vague wording lends itself to expanded interpretation of the scope to use force. This is exactly what generates ambiguity in implementing the resolution after all. Furthermore, the willingness of the western coalition to provide the rebel force with weapons overlooks the lack of coordination inside the opposition, inconsistency and the presence of extremist Islamic elements. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was among those to lay special emphasis on this issue.

“We’ve received disturbing reports about Al-Qaeda involvement. We understand that this evil can spread around the region. I am convinced that a ceasefire and immediate talks are priority tasks. Reforms are needed. But the Libyans themselves should decide what their state will be, without any external interference. It is clear that this will be another regime, a democratic one,” Sergei Lavrov stressed.

Many experts believe that the unilateral interpretation of the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council has little in common with the interests of the Libyan people. This is obviously explicable by entirely different objectives, according to Director of the Center for Comparative Political Studies Boris Shmelev, who does not rule out the possibility of an on-the-ground campaign being prepared by western secret services in Libya.

Despite rather positive relations between Gaddafi and the West that were formed recently, he always seemed to be a person beyond control. And this is the key to understanding what is actually happening in and around Libya. Using resolution 1973, Washington and its allies are attempting to oust Gaddafi and replace him with someone who can be more easily manipulated, Boris Shmelev said.
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NATO Assumes Full Command Of Libyan War Operations

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/north/NATO-Takes-Over-Libya-Air-Operations-118977889.html

Voice of America News
March 31, 2011

NATO Takes Over Libya Air Operations

NATO has assumed full command of all air operations over Libya, taking over from the U.S., which had played a leading role since international forces began enforcing a no-fly zone on March 19.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the transition was completed early Thursday. The NATO operation, called “Unified Protector”, includes enforcing the U.N. Security Council resolution that mandates the no-fly zone along with an arms embargo and airstrikes….

Meanwhile, U.S. media reports say the CIA has sent teams of operatives into Libya to gather intelligence and make contact with anti-Gadhafi forces….

British sources told The New York Times that British special forces and intelligence officers also are in the North African nation.
….
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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Obama Authorizes Covert Operations In Libya, CIA Already There

http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1853204.html

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
March 31, 2011

Report: CIA agents operating covertly in Libya

The CIA has deployed covert operatives into Libya to gather intelligence for military airstrikes and initiate contacts with rebels seeking to oust leader Moamer Gaddafi, dpa cited The New York Times as reporting Wednesday.

Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper reported online that small groups of CIA agents have been in Libya for several weeks seeking to blunt the effectiveness of Gaddafi’s military. The United States and its allies have been trying to learn more about the rebels and their plans for Libya.
….
The New York Times reported that British intelligence officers are also deployed inside Libya to direct airstrikes.

The reports come as the US and other countries in NATO debate whether to arm the rebels, who have suffered a series of setbacks in recent days under attacks from Gaddafi’s better equipped forces. Obama said he has not ruled out providing weapons to the rebels.

NATO formally took command of the international intervention on Wednesday. The US initially led the air campaign, which began on March 19….
————————————-

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110331/163295796.html

Russian Information Agency Novosti
March 31, 2011

U. S. president authorizes covert ops in Libya – media

Washington: U.S. President Barack Obama has a signed a secret order authorizing covert operations in support of Libyan rebels fighting to overthrow Muammar Gaddadi’s regime, the ABC News reported.

The United States is among 13 countries carrying out a military operation against Libya in line with the UN Security Council resolution 1973, which imposed a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s attacks on rebel-held towns.

“The presidential finding discusses a number of ways to help the opposition to Muammar Gaddafi, authorizing some assistance now and setting up a legal framework for more robust activities in the future,” the ABC News said Wednesday citing an unidentified source.

According to ABC News, the order “does not direct covert operatives to provide arms to the rebels immediately, although it does prepare for such a contingency and other contingencies should the president decide to go down that road in the future.”

The report comes amid a debate among coalition members on whether to supply the Libyan rebels with sophisticated weaponry as they are being pushed back by forces loyal to Gaddafi.

The White House press office did not comment on the report but said: “We’re assessing and reviewing options for all types of assistance that we could provide to the Libyan people.”

Although international airstrikes have neutralized Gaddafi’s air force and pounded his armor, rebel forces still lack weaponry and organization to fight the loyalists effectively.

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CIA And MI6 Aiding Libyan War Effort On The Ground

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/31/48231226.html

Voice of Russia
March 31, 2011

CIA and MI-6 helping Libyan rebels

Secret agents of the American CIA and British MI-6 intelligence agencies are operating in Libya.

The U.S. and British spies are collecting information, establishing ties with rebel leaders and aiming Western missiles and bombs at Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s troops and military bases, the New York Times newspaper reports.

It says that CIA spy groups have been in Libya for several weeks after President Barack Obama signed a secret directive on assistance to the anti-Gaddafi insurgents.

The White House has declined to comment on the report.

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Poll: Americans Oppose Obama’s Libyan War, Ratings At All-Time Low

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/31/c_13805909.htm

Xinhua News Agency
March 31, 2011

U.S. survey says majority oppose Libya involvement

WASHINGTON: A survey released Wednesday indicated a majority of U.S. voters oppose the U.S. military campaign in Libya, while President Barack Obama’s approval rating hit an all-time low at 42 percent.

According to poll results released by Quinnipiac University, 47 percent surveyed oppose Washington’s involvement in Libya, while 41 percent support the mission.

The survey also gave Obama negative ratings how he handled the conflict, with 58 percent saying he has not clearly articulated the goal of U.S. involvement. Sixty-one percent of respondents in the poll said removing Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi from power is not worth having American troops “fight and possibly die.”

Obama has taken heat from both Democrats and Republicans for his handling of the Libya conflict. The Congress is worried with both its clarity and duration, while panning Obama for not consulting Congress before taking action. Obama sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Pentagon Chief Robert Gates and top military officer Mike Mullen to explain the campaign to Congress Wednesday.

Also according to the survey, Obama’s approval ratings took a major hit, with just 42 percent of voters approved of what he is doing in office, while 48 percent disapprove of it. What’s more troubling is that fifty percent of voters believe he does not deserve a second term next year while 41 percent said he does. The presidential election is next year.

The 42 percent marks a four percentage-point drop over the past month. A poll released March 3 said Obama had a 46 percent approval rating, while 45 percent of voters said he didn’t deserve a second term.

“President Barack Obama’s approval numbers are at their lowest level ever, slightly below where they were for most of 2010 before he got a bump up in surveys after the November election and into the early part of this year,” said Peter Brown, assistant director at the Quinnipiac Polling Institute.

Brown said federal deficit, economy, foreign policy and healthcare woes are driving Obama’s disapproval numbers up.

The poll surveyed 2,069 registered voters nationwide from March 22 to 28 and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 2.2 percentage points.

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Defense Minister: NATO’s Libyan Operation Costs Greece $9 Million A Month

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=143727

Azeri Press Agency
March 30, 2011

Libya operation costs Greece 6.5 million euros monthly: official

Baku: Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Tuesday that the military operation under way to tackle the crisis in Libya costs Greece some 6.5 million euros ( about 9.15 million U.S. dollars) every month, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Addressing a parliamentary committee over the issue, Venizelos stressed that debt-ridden Greece will continue to undertake its supporting role in the operation….

Meanwhile, Greek media reported that aided by the EU’s border monitoring agency Frontex, Greece is boosting sea patrols in the Mediterranean Sea in face of a new influx of illegal immigrants from troubled North Africa.
….
Over the past few days, at least 5,000 people illegally reached Italy from north Africa and approximately 500 arrived in Malta.

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Venezuela On Libya: No Peace With Bombs, West Eyes Oil Reserves

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/31/c_13806525.htm

Xinhua News Agency
March 31, 2011

Venezuela supports Gaddafi’s resistance to air raids

MONTEVIDEO: Visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said here Wednesday he supports Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s military resistance to air raids by the international community.

Gaddafi “is doing what he has to do,” Chavez said during a joint press conference with Uruguayan President Jose Mujica.

Chavez said he cannot “give answers as to what Gaddafi is doing there, but there is no justification for a group of countries to bomb (Libya).”

The president repeated his proposal to set up a peace commission to mediate between the opposition forces and Gaddafi’s regime as an alternative to military intevention.

“How can we achieve peace with bombs?” Chavez asked. He said the bombing by the United States and other European countries was motivated by “taking the oil and stealing the reserves.”

Chavez met with Mujica earlier on Wednesday to sign a number of agreements on bilateral cooperation and energy. The trip to Uruguay is part of a regional tour which will also take the Venezuelan president to Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.

====

NATO Air Strike Kills Libyan Infant

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1105ap_af_libya_civilian_death.html

Associated Press
March 30, 2011

Libyan toddler dies, family says from airstrike
By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI

KHORUM, Libya: The grieving mother sat on the ground rocking her 2-month old daughter under a blanket on her lap, crying softly and accepting the soft words of condolences from neighbors.

Nizha Abdel-Salam and her family say her 18-month old son Sirajuddin al-Sweisi was killed when debris pierced the wall of their home as NATO airstrikes hit an ammunition [dump?] near their village of Khorum early Tuesday morning.

“The house shook and there was so much dust everywhere we couldn’t see in front of us,” she said.
….
The Libyan government says more than 100 people have been killed by airstrikes since the international campaign began on March 19….

In an interview with the Associated Press, Abdel-Salam, 27, said the blast hit their house at around 6 a.m. Tuesday. She said she rushed to the living room where her son had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor with his father, and she saw that a hot piece of metal had embedded into the side of the child’s face.

She rushed to pick up her crying son.

“His blood was streaming down my arm,” she said Wednesday, choking back tears. “He was crying out, ‘Mama, Mama,’ reaching out with his hand to me.”

A hole was visible Wednesday piercing the outside wall of their home into their living room, and the opposite wall of the room was pockmarked with holes. Parts of the other walls had been broken off in the home, located on the third floor of a four-story building.

The boy’s uncle showed reporters a picture on his mobile phone of the baby on his deathbed. Sirajuddin’s left cheek has a deep dark brown burn mark, his body swathed in a white shroud.

“We took him to the hospital where they treated him for the burns and some broken bones,” said Abdel-Hakim al-Sweisi. “But by nightfall he was dead.”

Neighbors said they heard a large explosion early Tuesday morning and said planes were heard overhead. They said the ammunition depot, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Abdel-Salam’s home, had exploded and a number of homes were damaged by debris.

Some neighbors said there were injuries, but the only death in the town was young al-Sweisi. The impoverished village is tucked away in the mountains near the region’s main town, Gharyan, an area dotted with olive groves and grazing sheep. Its largely unpaved roads were muddy and partially flooded Wednesday from recent rains.

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