The Question is : Who has Won ?

WHO HAS WON ? looks like its The world's leading powers yesterday were scrambling to prevent the violent overthrow of the Gaddafi regime from descending into chaos, even as they quietly jostled to benefit from oil and economic reconstruction contracts to be handed out by a new government in Tripoli.
Libya's oil network: click here to download graphic (50k)

Last night Western diplomats had a host of concerns, ranging from how Colonel Muammar Gaddafi should be dealt with to post-revolution security and whether the rebel alliance, represented by the Transitional National Council (TNC), would hold together now that its immediate and unifying goal has been achieved.

The TNC, said President Obama, should avoid civilian casualties and pursue a transition to democracy that was "just and inclusive" for all of the people of Libya. A season of conflict, he said, "must lead to one of peace".

In London, David Cameron warned of "undoubtedly difficult days ahead" but said that ordinary Libyans were "closer to their dream of a better future".

But signs of disagreement over the fate of Colonel Gaddafi were an early hint of possible problems. Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary general, insisted that all UN member countries (of which Libya is one) should comply with the decisions of the International Criminal Court. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Colonel Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and Abdullah al-Senussi, his head of intelligence – who was last night reported dead – for crimes against humanity. But the rebels, who have already captured Saif and possibly two other Gaddafi sons, have indicated that they should face trial in Libya, before a Libyan court.

Similar tensions may emerge over a transitional role for the UN as a new government ....

source :
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...stake-in-future-of-the-new-libya-2342212.html


For now , down on the ground its .Out with the old, in with the new: click here to download graphic (300k)

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00639/libya-old-new-graph_639185a.jpg

See the Rebel Leaders and the potentional troubles ahead .

Religious extremists /tribe and regional differences.


TIME WILL TELL , Great Expectations has often led to Great Disappointments. When young Colonel Gaddafi overthrew King Idris 1969 - the Libyan went bananas in their support for the young colonel - Gaddafi and called him :"Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution"


TIME WILL TELL what fate awaits Libya, will it survive as a single state ?

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Everyone wants to have Libyan oil. This is the main reason.

 

I just want stability and a pro-US government, or at least a neutral one that won't allow it's people to engage in Islamic Jihad against the West. We had that with Qadaffi.

 

Libya has a tiny oil production.. Look up the numbers.. if you haven't done that yet.

 

U.S. again feed the monster - al-Qaeda.

 

As of this afternoon the rebels are fighting INSIDE Khadafi's 4 square mile compound.. Its nearly over.

 

It doesn't matter who wins in Libya. America gains nothing from this civil war. America shouldn't be involved. There is business at home of the most urgent variety.

 

Yes, we had that with Qadaffi - but at the cost of the hatred from the people of the Middle East for supporting a dictator.

Someday, Americans are going to have to learn that the blatant hypocrisy of protecting our own profits by sanctioning murder and dictatorships while piously wailing about "supporting freedom" wins us NOTHING except being hated.

 

You know as well as I that there is no "us." Your president Obama should go the way of Gadhafi.

 

Have you been following Khadafi's stupidity, impulsiveness, defiance and chicannery since 1969?

 

Is it only about gains? Does it always have to be about gains? Wouldn't it be nice to get involved just to help out?

 

Well that has also not led to the US having a good image abroad because people always assume the worst. It is a no win situation - the US and West is (*)(*)(*)(*)ed if it does and (*)(*)(*)(*)ed if it doesn't.

 

USA only uses 2% of Libian Oil. Other nations like Turkey use more.

 

Kudos to the rebbels. they beat the odds and now they are going to find Kadaffi in a couple of weeks. Once they secure Omar's main area and assure the snipers and loyalists are managed, they should find Kadaffi soon.

As far as I know, his loyal obedient followers are still occuping the Kadaffi area, so there is always a chance Kadaffi could be smuggled out. Only problem is, not may nations in the area want to deal with damaged goods. If Kadaffi does escape, he will need to hide the rest of his life. IMO he is too arrogant and a coward to kill himself. Hence, the angry Rebbles may just do a fatal beat down on Kadaffi when they catch him. However, it would be better to bring him to trial so that he can be shamed and humiliated by the people. After all, that would be more devistating for Kadaffi. His pride and image will be dragged through the dirt and the people will throw shoes at him like they did Booooosh.

 

Nope he wants to die a martyr. He has made that much clear. I don't think a nutter like him would feel shame of humiliation anyway, otherwise he would have stepped down long ago.

Thing is he seems to chicken to show himself, thereby becoming such martyr. What to do?

I guess, like Sadam he is going to live in a cave and let his people die for him.

No more purple outfits for him though, if that's a consolation.

 

'Altruism' is missing from US government dictionaries. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/altruism

 

Did you see the masses of Libyan's thronging the streets and celebrating in the main square of Tripoli to the extent that the Egyptians celebrated their revolution?...I did. I counted them - 50. Who are these "rebels" and who or what do they represent? Gadaffi is undeniably a thug and brutal dictator but until recently is was "our" compliant thug and brutal dictator. In other words, he's the West's latest boogeyman.

 

I would say our tsunami aid a few years ago was altruistic.

I don't think there's any doubt that the majority of interventionism is self-serving (including this conflict), but that's not limited to American government. Europe has done plenty of self-serving interventionism for years and still retains influence over many of its former colonies.

Russia does plenty in its former Soviet Republics.

China does plenty in neighboring countries and has expanded its influence into Africa and South America.

It's a human problem more than it is an American one.

 

Only 2 ? Let me know how much US expect to use in future ?

It not just the oil consumtion, its the potential profits to be made by corporate USA. not only in drilling etc., but also dividends earned by US shareholding in foreign registered companies involved in oil industry.
and with the present sad state of US economy , every little helps , right ?


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Clint-torres. I've learnt that several US companies have been operating in Libya since 2005 and looks like anticipating expansion with the new regime - according to some former Libyan Ambassador + Libyan UN Representative have been in talks with US companies for some months.

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ConocoPhilips, Marathon Oil and Amerada Hess had their exploration contracts suspended in the 1980s after the US imposed sanctions on Libya.

But since the US lifted its embargo on Libya last year, other oil giants including ExxonMobil have returned.

The three firms, under a partnership venture called Oasis Group, will pay $1.3bn (£753m) to resume operations


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4568642.stm



cheers....

 

There are plenty of oil
you can see it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Libya
or here http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/libya-oil-price/640

 

At the end of the day The United States government is here to serve the American people, not the Libyan people, not the Iraqi people, not the Syrian people, not the Pakistani people, and not the people in Gaza. When these people decide they don't want to support terrorist and extremest rulers the American government will help them where they can if these people can convince the American people they are genuine in their wants for democracy and a better life out from under the bootstraps of Islam.

Otherwise, we have learned a long time ago that un-westernized Muslims can't be trusted. Remember, one of the MAIN reasons for the formation of the US navy was to protect our trade ships from Muslim pirates and that only happened AFTER we tried to PAY them to stop and they continued to lie to us and demand more, of which that tradition (of lying and betraying) has continued to this day.

The American people are some of the most generous in the world, btw.

 

And Santa will be coming down my Chimney next christmas and the fairies are doing just fine in the sunshine at the bottom of my garden. Sorry about the myopic fantasy but I didn't start it.

 

Why have East Asians succeeded where Arabs have failed?

 

It's all in the genes.