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False pretense for war in Libya?

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
On March 15, Reuters quoted a Libyan opposition leader in Geneva claiming that if Khadafy attacked Benghazi, there would be “a real bloodbath, a massacre like we saw in Rwanda.’’ Four days later, US military aircraft started bombing. By the time Obama claimed that intervention had prevented a bloodbath, The New York Times already had reported that “the rebels feel no loyalty to the truth in shaping their propaganda’’ against Khadafy and were “making vastly inflated claims of his barbaric behavior.’’

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/04/14/false_pretense_for_war_in_libya/



EVIDENCE IS now in that President Barack Obama grossly exaggerated the humanitarian threat to justify military action in Libya. The president claimed that intervention was necessary to prevent a “bloodbath’’ in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city and last rebel stronghold.

But Human Rights Watch has released data on Misurata, the next-biggest city in Libya and scene of protracted fighting, revealing that Moammar Khadafy is not deliberately massacring civilians but rather narrowly targeting the armed rebels who fight against his government.

Misurata’s population is roughly 400,000. In nearly two months of war, only 257 people — including combatants — have died there. Of the 949 wounded, only 22 — less than 3 percent — are women. If Khadafy were indiscriminately targeting civilians, women would comprise about half the casualties.

Obama insisted that prospects were grim without intervention. “If we waited one more day, Benghazi . . . could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world.’’ Thus, the president concluded, “preventing genocide’’ justified US military action.

But intervention did not prevent genocide, because no such bloodbath was in the offing. To the contrary, by emboldening rebellion, US interference has prolonged Libya’s civil war and the resultant suffering of innocents.
 

Steve

Well-known member
this is one of those wars where there are no real good guys, and alot of innocent people thrust into the middle..

UPDATE 1-Two Benghazi tribes support Gaddafi-Libyan TV

* Both tribes previously believed to support rebels

* Rebel spokesman in Misrata denies TV report

* Govt forces advancing towards Benghazi

TUNIS, March 16 (Reuters) - Two major tribes in the rebel-held city of Benghazi told Libyan state television they supported Muammar Gaddafi, the television said on Wednesday, but a rebel spokesman denied the report.

"In a call to the Libyan satellite channel the tribes of Tarhuna and Warfalla in Benghazi confirmed their support for the leader," the television said.

Government forces were closing in on Benghazi, Libya's second city, which has been the main stronghold of the rebellion against Gaddafi's four-decade long rule.

Both tribes were previously believed to have thrown their weight behind the rebels.

A rebel spokesman in the western city of Misrata denied the TV report.

"This is false news. They are lying. They want to create division among tribes. Gaddafi lies about everything," the spokesman, called Abdulbasset, told Reuters. (Reporting by Mariam Karouny, writing by Silvia Aloisi, editing by )

if people were not being killed the report would be funny..
 
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