by Prof Michel Chossudovsky
Part II
Part I Insurrection and Military Intervention: The US NATO Attempted Coup d'Etat in Libya?
The geopolitical and economic implications of a US-NATO led military intervention directed against Libya are far-reaching.
Libya is among the World's largest oil economies with approximately 3.5% of global oil reserves, more than twice those of the US.
"Operation Libya" is part of the broader military agenda in the Middle East and Central Asia which consists in gaining control and corporate ownership over more than sixty percent of the world's reserves of oil and natural gas, including oil and gas pipeline routes.
"Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, possess between 66.2 and 75.9 percent of total oil reserves, depending on the source and methodology of the estimate." (See Michel Chossudovsky, The "Demonization" of Muslims and the Battle for Oil, Global Research, January 4, 2007) .
With 46.5 billion barrels of proven reserves, (10 times those of Egypt), Libya is the largest oil economy in the African continent followed by Nigeria and Algeria (Oil and Gas Journal). In contrast, US proven oil reserves are of the order of 20.6 billion barrels (December 2008) according to the Energy Information Administration. U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves)
Note
The most recent estimates place Libya's oil reserves at 60 billion barrels. Its gas reserves at 1,500 billion m3. Its production has been between 1.3 and 1.7 million barrels a day, well below its productive capacity. Its longer term objective is three million b/d and a gas production of 2,600 million cubic feet a day, according to figures of the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
The (alternative) BP Statistical Energy Survey (2008) places Libya's proven oil reserves at 41.464 billion barrels at the end of 2007 which represents 3.34 % of the world's proven reserves. (Mbendi Oil and Gas in Libya - Overview).
Full article http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23605
Stumble It!
I can well imagine there is a scenario in some computer somewhere that deals with "unrest" in any major oil-producing region. The question might well be: is the computer in the US -- or in China?
http://middleeast.about.com/od/thisdayi ... alabja.htm
And yes, it's business-as-usual.
And yes, it's business-as-usual.
Well, which is it, that's business as usual? A NATO plot to depose Gaddaffy or a NATO plot to let Gaddaffy win and do business with him?
You mean you can't see this for yourself??!!
Sometimes things happen in the world that have nothing to do with any American or Western influence. This would be one of them.
This begs a few questions, namely:
- how did the "protesters" in Libya get hold of the firepower they do have;
- why the only oil-rich country in N. Africa was also the only place where the
"protest" flared into a full-fledged rebellion;
- do the oil exports Ghadafiduck depends on for his existence still find their way to markets, or have they come to a grinding halt;
I am sure there re more, but these will do for now, to decide whether or not the west has done nothing.
This begs a few questions, namely:
- how did the "protesters" in Libya get hold of the firepower they do have;
- why the only oil-rich country in N. Africa was also the only place where the
"protest" flared into a full-fledged rebellion;
- do the oil exports Ghadafiduck depends on for his existence still find their way to markets, or have they come to a grinding halt;
I am sure there re more, but these will do for now, to decide whether or not the west has done nothing.
Many soldiers deserted and joined the rebels. Once they had taken over a city, they would have access to all the govt weaponry there. Note pics of rebels using the AA that was installed in the city. And if other middle east countries are anything to go by, everybody and his dog has a gun anyway.
This is the only country where the military put up a full scale assault on the citienzry instead of bargaining. And Libya is riven by tribal conflicts, more so than
Egypt.
The rebels themselves were making sure that oilshipments were getting out of their area, which is where the oil is. And they were apparently collecting the money for it to use for arms etc.
You sound like one of those "the west can do no right" types. The west does many idiotic or greeding things, but in this case you are damning them if they do and if they don't. I'm not sure what would satisfy you here?
What would "satisfy" me here is if the west for, for once, stand up for the democratic ideals it keeps saying it upholds and wishes for every region of the world. But, it is only a paper tiger in this regard. The west acts more like Jabba the Hutt than it does Obi-Wan Kenobi.
So you're for NATO getting involved militarily in Libya? I thought you were against that?
And yes, it's business-as-usual.
Well, which is it, that's business as usual? A NATO plot to depose Gaddaffy or a NATO plot to let Gaddaffy win and do business with him?
NATO?
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wo ... ervention/