This post will pull together material on the Libyan crisis. (Libya is next door to Egypt, so it is relevant to this blog.) I am providing a chronology, not an analysis, although arguably my choice of what to read is a form of interpretation. I will pull from Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, and the New York Times. I will also add in information from the Egyptian paper Al Masry Al Youm. I will put up a new post on a weekly basis, or as needed. If you want more detail than I can give you here, check this out Al Jazeera Libya Live Blog WMB
Latest News (Updated Friday, April 1, 2011 12:00 p.m.)
On March 31, the Washington Post broke a story that the CIA gathering intelligence on Libyan rebels. The CIA is gathering intelligence on the identities and capabilities of Libyan Rebels. The Obama Administration has pledged that no Ground troops will be committed to Libya. However, the Obama Administration has not ruled out providing arms or other support to the rebels. There is mixed progress on the ground in Libya. Democracy Now reports that Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has resigned his post and arrived in Britain. The rebels have lost control of Ras Lanuf, and Gadhafi's forces have taken Brega and Jawwad. Democracy Now also reports that a "former Nicaraguan foreign minister has been tapped as Libya’s new envoy to the United Nations. The Nicaraguan government claims to have sent a letter declaring Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann’s new role on Libya’s behalf. The 78-year-old D’Escoto has been an outspoken critic of the United States." An 18 month old civilian infant was killed in Libya by debris from Western shelling on an arms depot.
On April 1st, US Defense Secretary Gates stated in testimony to Congress that continuing coalition attacks should encourage top Libyan government officials to break with Ghadafi. According to the Washington Post, a senior European diplomat argues that what is happening in Libya is no longer a no-fly zone, it has gone beyond that. Gates stated that the Obama Administration aims to use military force to aid the Libyan opposition. A fledgling government has been formed in Libya named the Transitional National Council.
Detailed summary of February 15, 2011 until today on "read more."
Review of Libyan Conflict (Updated March 30, 2011 at 9:19 p.m.)
The unrest in Libya began on February 15, 2011. Libya's official name is "Libyan Arab Jamahiriya." The main reasons for the protests were the lack of political freedom, the spread of corruption under the Qadaffi regime, and the need to expand freedom of speech. (Need Citation) Thousands turned out peacefully in Benghazi holding signs and chanting to challenge Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's 41 year strongman rule. On February 26, 2011, The UN Security council called for a no-fly zone in Libya.
On March 3, 2011, The Arab League asked Qadaffi to stop the bloodshed. "The Arab resolution called on the Libyan government to respond to the "legitimate demands of the Libyan people" and to stop bloodshed. The Libyan authorities must lift restrictions on media and mobile networks and allow the delivery of aid." Libya was suspended from the Arab League. The Secretary General of the Arab League is Amr Moussa, a likely Egyptian Presidential Candidate. Writing in the Post, Fadel, Hendrix and Branigin reported that a no-fly zone had to be made in consultation with NATO. and that "Gaddafi . .. must leave ... the aspirations ofthe Libyan people for freedom, democracy, and dignity must be met.
Reporting on March4, UNICEF reported that a UN assessment team "stated that food, fuel and medicine supply routes have been disrupted between Tripoli and Benghazi." On the Tunisian border, hygiene and sanitation were of concern.
Rebels in Benghazi described a massacre with dozens dead and hundreds wounded by forces loyal to Gaddafi on March 5th as troops shelled residential neighborhoods and rolled into the city in tanks. According to Fadel and Faiola, Obama expressed deep concern about the use of force against civilians. Hendrix, Faiola and Branigin reported on the 8th that in Zawiyah, dozens of people had been killed and hundreds wounded, including women and children. After several hours of lethal urban warfare, reported Hendrix et al, rebels were able to repulse a Gaddafi assault, but reported that civilian buildings were destroyed, and civilian casualties mounting.
On March 12, the Arab League, according to an article by Richard Leiby and Muhammad Mansour, endorsed the concept of a no-fly zone over Libya. The announcement came after over five hours of closed-door deliberations of foreign ministers of 21 nations. Libyan representatives were not present. The Arab League also announced that it was recognizing the rebel movement as that country's legitimate government. Moussa referred to fatal violations and serious crimes at the hands of the Libyan authorities. On March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for military action in Libya.
According to the Nation, in an article entitled Libya and the Dilemma of Intervention published on March 18, 2011, the UN Security Council took some diplomatic steps before authorizing military intervention. The UN Security Council mandated freezing the regime's assets, imposing sanctions on Qadaffi and his associates, and organizing humanitarian assistance.
On March 19, 2011, The US, France and Britain launched air strikes to enforce the no-fly zone. According to Kenya's Nation Newspaper, on March 20,The African Union's panel on Libya on Sunday called for an "immediate stop" to all attacks on Libya.The AU committee on Libya is composed of five African heads of state. But the Nouakchott meeting was only attended by the presidents of Mauritania, Mali and Congo. South Africa and Uganda were represented by ministers
On March 21, Libya Released four New York Times journalists. Stephen Farrell, Tyler Hicks, Lynsey Addario and Anthony Shadid were captured while covering the conflict between Loyalist and Rebel forces in Libya in the eastern city of Adjabiya. The journalists were tied up, all were punched on a daily basis. The female journalist was fondled, groped and beaten. They were threatened with death and denied food. According to the New York Times "Others have died. A Libyan broadcaster was killed Saturday while covering a battle near Benghazi. A cameraman for Al Jazeera was killed in the same area on March 12, the first death of a journalist in Libya during the current conflict."
Al Jazeera reported on March 22, that Libya's pro-democracy fighters had formed an interim government. The new government is headed by Mahmoud Jabril. Opposition spokesman Nisan Gourani told Al Jazeera that the provisional national council is a legislative body, but that an executive body is needed. The rebels recognize Libya as a nation of one unit, and are committed to a vision of one Libya. Pro-Gaddafi forces pressed ahead with assaults on Misurata, Ajdabiya and Zintan. Gaddafi sounded dug-in, stating that he was "ready for battle, be it long or short." He termed the coalition assaults "fascist." On the same day, Elisabeth Bumiller and Kareem Fahim reported in the NYT that Libyan government forces engaged in scattered fighting on Monday, in defiance of the UN resolution demanding a cease-fire.
On the 22nd of March, Bumiller and Fahim reported that China called for a cease fire, India opposed a foreign presence in Libya, and Brazil urged dialogue. India, Brazil, Russia, China and Germany abstained from the UN vote which authorized the intervention. Libyan state TV stated that there had been more attacks by the "crusader enemy," according to Reuters. The UN Security council rejected a request from Libya to discuss the situation. In the Western city of Misurata, Bumiller and Fahim reported that forces loyal to Gaddafi were using civilians as human shields.
NATO continued to wrangle, accordingto Al Jazeera, regarding command of the no-fly zone enforcement. The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, advised that the military campaign should end as soon as possible. Qatar sent four warplanes, and the UAE has offered support. Reportedly, Kuwait and Jordan had agreed to help protect civilians in Libya. Turkey offered four frigates, a submarine, and a support ship to help enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya. Britain, Spain, Greece, Italy, Canada, also offered ships.
On March 24th, according to Al Jazeera, air strikes are not deterring Qadaffi. Western war planes bombed Libya for a fifth night, but Libya is still shelling the opposition. The US said it has successfully established a no-fly zone over Libya's coastal areas. The allies flew 175 sorties in 114 hours, and the US has flown 113 of those. Reporting in the NYT, Kirkpatrick, Bumiller, and Cowell wrote that French fighters fired on Libyan warplanes. The international aide group Doctors Without Borders was able to evacuate 50 wounded to Malta. a rebel spokesman said that 109 deaths had occurred in Misurata over the previous six days but that the rate of death was reducing. Libyan officials acknowledged that Misurata residents had been living for days without water, electricity or telecommunications.
Reporting for Al Jazeera, Andrew Purvis, a UNHCR worker, wrote that thousands of families have fled eastward towards the Egyptian border. Refugees report an "extraordinary outpouring of generosity from their fellow Libyans." According to UNICEF citing the International Organization on Migration, by March 4, 2011, 90,000 people had fled for Tunisia, 80,000 to Egypt, and 2500 to Niger.
The Washington Post reports the US and its allies are straining to maintain Arab support for the conflict in Libya. Egyptian officials are worried that the conflict will spill over the border. Qatar has deployed fighter jets in the region, and could help enforce the no-fly zone in coming days, although no action has actually been taken yet.
A report by Peyton M. Craighill writing in the Post on March 28, 2011 notes that a Pew Research Center Poll shows that 47 percent of Americans polls support military air strikes in Libya. The author notes that the poll results are very sensitive to question wording. A Gallup poll taken a week ago also shows 47 percent approval, lower than the approval level for Afghanistan, or the Gulf War. A CBS poll found 68 percent approval for US action designed to protect civilians from attach by Gaddafi. A CNN poll found 70 percent in support of establishing a no-fly zone with other countries.
On Monday, March 28, 2011, the US military "dramatically stepped up its assault on Libyan ground forces" report Greg Jaffe and Karen De Young. The US launched its first missions with AC-130 flying gunships and A-10 attack aircraft. AC-130s fly low and slow over the battlefield were deployed after a week of sustained coalition attacks on Libyan air defenses and radar sites. They are to be used for strikes on dug-in Libyan ground forces and convoys.
According to an AP report Obama announced that NATO is scheduled to take command of the Libya operation on Wednesday. Two house Republicans, Justin Armash of Michigan,and Timothy Johnson of Illinois,are pushing a bill that would stop the use of military force against Libya until Obama seeks and received authorization from Congress. An NYT report by Carl Hulse states that the House speaker, John A. Boehner pressed Obama to clarify his military goals on March 23, 2011.
According to the Washington Post, Libyan rebels pushed toward Gaddafi’s home town Gaddafi's home town of Sirte on March 29, 2011. Rebels claim to have captured the towns of Nawfaliyah and Harawah in their advance west. Libya’s ground troops are allegedly in retreat, and rebel forces are within 80 miles of Sirte. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron have issued a joint statement that “Gaddafi must go immediately.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Larvrov says the West has exceeded the March 17, 2011 Security Council Resolution. The Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar has become the first Arab country to formally recognize the rebels’ Transitional National Council as Libya’s legitimate government. According to CBS News, Gaddafi's troops are forcing a rebel retreat. Libyan government tanks have blunted an assault on Sirte.
The Misrata battle killed 18 residents on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Tanks were still shelling the city, according to a rebel spokesman. Misrata is the last big rebel stronghold in Western Libya. With regard to humanitarian concerns, On March 30, the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that the situation around Ajdabiya remains unstable. Hundreds of civilians fearing fighting are moving towards Benghazi. According to Democracy Now on March 30, 2011, Libyan rebels have withdrawn from the town of Ras Lanuf, as they are under heavy fire from loyalist forces. The NYT says rebel forces are in retreat and moving Eastward. NATO forces have agreed to continue air raids on Libya until Gadaffi complies with a UN resolution that he stop attacking civilians. (Editors note, that strikes me as odd?) President Obama has not ruled out arming Libyan rebels. An alleged rape victim, Eman El-Obeidi, who accused loyalist forces of a gang rape remains missing, and has not been located for four days.
On March 31, the Washington Post broke a story that the CIA gathering intelligence on Libyan rebels. The CIA is gathering intelligence on the identities and capabilities of Libyan Rebels. The Obama Administration has pledged that no Ground troops will be committed to Libya. However, the Obama Administration has not ruled out providing arms or other support to the rebels. There is mixed progress on the ground in Libya. Democracy Now reports that Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has resigned his post and arrived in Britain. The rebels have lost control of Ras Lanuf, and Gadhafi's forces have taken Brega and Jawwad. Democracy Now also reports that a "former Nicaraguan foreign minister has been tapped as Libya’s new envoy to the United Nations. The Nicaraguan government claims to have sent a letter declaring Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann’s new role on Libya’s behalf. The 78-year-old D’Escoto has been an outspoken critic of the United States." An 18 month old civilian infant was killed in Libya by debris from Western shelling on an arms depot.
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