'International law dead, 'Friends of Libya' up for control & oil'

[The Northerner]

Run time: 01:43 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkSRPrOPMk   Posted on YouTube: September 02, 2011 By YouTube Member: RussiaToday Views on YouTube: 317   Posted on DU: September 02, 2011 By DU Member: The Northerner Views on DU: 850

 
In Libya the rebels are tightening the noose around Colonel Gaddafi's last major stronghold, his hometown - Sirte. The fugitive leader's forces have been given an extended deadline to surrender - which expires next Saturday. But in a defiant audio message aired by Syrian TV, Gaddafi rallied his supporters, urging them to fight on against the rebels and NATO. The Alliance has vowed to continue its air strikes on loyalist forces, saying the UN mandate to protect civilians in Libya still stands. The coalition's also moving to release billions of dollars of Gaddafi's frozen assets, to fund the reconstruction of Libya. But political writer Jean Bricmont thinks the West is just trying to pull the strings of the country's future.

[sabrina 1]

1. Aren't there civilians in Sirte also who need protecting?

Or is NATO only protecting SOME civilians, and why is NATO needed anymore? The rebels are in control now, can't they take care of this themselves?

It sure doesn't look like a 'grass-roots' rebellion if every time they decide to attack a village they call on NATO to bomb it for them.

[Badsam]

2. One thing that has had me scratching my head from the start-

how many Libyans did the NATO alliance think would die if Qaddafi had remained in power? Reports from Libya claim as many as 50,000 are dead already and the real fighting hasn't even started yet.

Are really to believe he would have killed 50,000 people?