Looks like the West's evil in Libya is being checked. Bout bloody time too!
Russian Mercenaries Have Entered Libya's Largest Oil Field To Block Output https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/russian-mercenaries-have-entered-libyas-largest-oil-field-enforce-haftars-blockade Despite that Gen. Khalifa Haftar's year-long offensive to take the capital was recently was defeated and ultimately pushed back, his Libyan National Army (LNA) still controls most of the country's major oil fields. The Benghazi-based commander has for years secured all oil fields especially in the eastern half of the country, even as Libya's official National Oil Corporation (NOC) is based in Tripoli and operates under the aegis of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). Haftar has long used this "oil weapon" by threatening to impose a total blockade on exports. Recall that in late January and into February of this year he did just that, declaring a "catastrophic" blockade of oil fields taking output down to almost zero in order to starve Tripoli and the NOC of vital state revenues, which has continued to now. Oil production makes up over 90% of Libya's national revenue, via Reuters. With his dream of seizing Tripoli dashed, thanks in no small part to Turkey's providing significant military support to the GNA, the oil blockade appears to in force more severely than ever, but this time reportedly with Russian help. Since last year it's been widely reported that Russian mercenary firm, the Kremlin-based Wagner Group, is embedded with pro-Haftar forces. But this latest development via Reuters on Friday will certainly raise eyebrows in Europe and Washington. The NOC is now charging that Russia is meddling in its domestic production: ... On Sun, Aug 07, 2016 at 11:58:01PM +1000, Zenaan Harkness wrote: > If the following were not true, we'd be incredulous that someone would > propose such an unbelievable and lame movie plot. > > Sadly, this is what North America and NATO stand for. > > > > > I Thought NATO “Liberated” Libya in 2011? > http://journal-neo.org/2016/08/04/i-thought-nato-liberated-libya-in-2011/ > > “Operation Unified Protector is one of the most successful in NATO’s > history… We have done this together for the people of Libya, so they can > take their future firmly and safely into their own hands. Libyans have > now liberated their country. And they have transformed the region. This > is their victory” - Former NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh > Rasmussen, speaking in October, 2011. > http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_80052.htm > > “In Libya, the death of Muammar al-Qaddafi showed that our role in > protecting the Libyan people, and helping them break free from a tyrant, > was the right thing to do” – US President, Barack Obama, speakingin > October, 2011. > http://www.reuters.com/article/us-obama-foreignpolicy-idUSTRE79L0MH20111023 > > “I am proud to stand here on the soil of a free Tripoli and on behalf of > the American people I congratulate Libya. This is Libya’s moment, this > is Libya’s victory, the future belongs to you” – Former US Secretary of > State and Democratic Nominee for President, Hillary Clinton, speaking in > October, 2011. > https://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/19/172519.html > > On August the 1st, US warplanes bombed Islamic State (IS/ISIS/ISIL) > targets in the Libyan city of Sirte, almost exactly five years after > Western imperialists declared NATO’s 2011 war in Libya a complete > success. > http://journal-neo.org/2015/10/17/nato-s-humanitarian-intervention-in-libya-exacerbated-humanitarian-suffering/ > > These strikes are not the first conducted by the US in Libya this year, > in a broader campaign that is officially aimed at defeating an enemy > that the US had a major hand in creating in the first place (I’m sure > the military-industrial complex isn’t complaining however). > > Peter Cook, the Pentagon’s Press Secretary, said in a statement released > on the 1st of August in relation to the strikes that: > http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/881794/statement-by-pentagon-press-secretary-peter-cook-on-us-air-strike-in-libya > “Today, at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord > (GNA), the United States military conducted precision air strikes [which > is Orwellian/Pentagon-speak for dropping bombs (not uncommonly on > civilians)] against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support > GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold > in Libya… The U.S. stands with the international community in supporting > the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya.” > > Wait a minute though, have I missed something? I thought Libya was > “liberated” in 2011 and the country is now a beacon of ‘freedom and > democracy’ for the Middle East and North Africa? Are the Libyan people > not enjoying being “free from a tyrant;” similar to the liberty the > Syrian people will experience if Assad the ‘tyrant’ is overthrown and > the country is handed over to al-Qaeda? > > Since the future belonged to the Libyan people in 2011, is the country > not a vibrant and prosperous democracy today? Is Libya not one of the > major hubs of the Mediterranean, with trade booming and flocks of > tourists travelling from across the world to sample the delights of the > country – from the fascinating culture of the indigenous people to the > stunning (I must admit) Roman ruins? > > I thought the standard of living for the average Libyan was much higher > than it was before the tyrant was deposed? Is Libya not helping to build > the African continent up to try and alleviate the millions of people who > live in poverty? > > I thought the “most successful” campaign in NATO’s history meant that > terrorism could not gain a foothold in the country, considering the > Western alliance spends the majority of its time (after antagonising > Russia that is) talking about fighting terrorism? I thought NATO’s > love-bombs only hit the baddies, and never killed or maimed any > civilians? > > Are the Libyan people not enjoying the fruits of another Western foreign > policy success story? Are the Libyan people not enjoying the stability > that always follows a Western war of aggression? I thought the Libyan > “kinetic military action” was yet another triumphant imperial endeavour, > just like Afghanistan, Iraq and the numerous other countries that were > lucky to be the targets of Western ‘humanitarian’ forces? > > Steven MacMillan is an independent writer, researcher, geopolitical > analyst and editor of The Analyst Report, > http://www.theanalystreport.net/ > especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”. > http://journal-neo.org/