NATO's Victory and the victory to the Arab Nations. Now, the real work must begin and only the Libyan people can conduct it.

The good news is that there IS a Rebel Commander.  That is a good thing.

August 22, 2011 6:58 pm

Rebel commander’s prediction comes true (click title to entry - thank you)

By Simeon Kerr in Dubai

Three weeks ago, a Libyan rebel commander said a new offensive would soon push on towards Tripoli, “a gift” for the rebels during the holy month of Ramadan.

Weapons were being smuggled into towns around Tripoli to allow residents to rise up and challenge the forces of Muammer Gaddafi that held strategic entry points to the capital, said Ismail al-Sallabi, operations commander for one of the largest armed groups operating under the Union of Revolutionary Brigades....

Military power and armament is the last thing Libya needs now.  There needs to be much diplomatic work that brings a Constitution to Libya which empowers its people and elects representative government.  The militarization of Libya is the very last priority for these people.


They have a lot of rebuilding to do.  Their children needs schools and their economy needs to be organized to support the people as independent business people with store fronts in the local market place.  Peace and prosperity for all the people of Libya should be the priority of a people that received decades of terror within their own borders as well as being asked to cause harm to others abroad.


The Libyan Rebel Commander should be inviting diplomats, NATO Commanders and Arab League Commanders to tour the country for control of weapons and removal of armaments that carry deadly force in the wrong hands.  The last image Libya needs to the world is one of a hostile and chaotic country.  Libya needs normalcy.  The country needs it now and should be asking for consultation with its allies.  The Libya Rebels now have allies.  Those allies can help end the violence in the country and remove stigma of Rebels gossiped about as terrorists.  Libya needs to disarm in order to guarantee its peace at this point.  It sovereignty need for a national military can be included in the new Constitution which could actually demand a  diffuse placement of Libya's military so no one city has more power over 'the human experience' than another.  


When this battle for Libya began it was due to a one sided military strength against innocent citizens.  That cannot be ignored and while the former leaders and his sons will certainly be held responsible that does not change the reality for the reason for the internal war in the first place.


This was a hard fought war for removal of a dangerous dictator and his sons.  It was not about any one group having military domination over another.  Libya needs to remember its recent history of four decades and seek to never repeat it.  I believe the capacity of these people for a peaceful and productive nation is extremely high as they value the future of their children and the quality of life Libya can provide in good governance. 


If I had a wish today it would be for all nations of the Middle East to realize the power their natural resource called oil has over their lives.  There are remarkable similarities in the hostile dictatorships that caused such pain to the people of those nations.  They were not benevolent dictators.  They caused hardship with overwhelming single handed power.  Why?  Because the world demanded the oil above that of human rights.


If the Battle for Libya means anything it means the people are more powerful than the 'value of their resources.'  People have value.  They have greater value today than at any time in the five previous decades.  Children have hopes for peace and a happy future.  That is what NATO and the Arab League helped bring to bear today.  I thank them all.

"Stand Up for Israel"

I need to explain this and was going to wait until the weekend, but, this is a billboard along Interstate Route 75 that actually witnessed.  


I took offense to it and not because we are allies to Israel, but, because 'the intent' is to negate the Presidency of President Obama.  This has little to nothing to do with the USA's commitment to Israel.  It is political speech intended to rob President Obama of his accomplishments.


This is also very unfortunate as it wasn't really paid for by the Tea Party.  It was paid for by a private citizen that can't afford it according to her own testimony on the Limbaugh Radio Channel.


This 'statement' is irrelevant.  Expensive and irrelevant.  It was placed on Interstate 75 (I noticed it while traveling to Northern Michigan.  I have a cousin that was married on Drummond Island recently.)  to make a fool of the Obama Administration and his international accomplishments.  See, the entire movement affiliated with this 'propaganda' is to INFER an understanding that Israel is in dire needs of friends they cannot find in the Obama Administration.  


That 'tone' of placing negative comment on accomplishments of the Obama Administration has become a hallmark of the Right Wing Extremist Movement.  They believe they can take any accomplishment by this administration by marching through some period of history or philosophy, turn it into propaganda and make President Obama look as if a fool.  See, only the Right Wing Extremists know THE REAL TRUTH about President Obama.  No one else does.


What is more disturbing is that the Tea Party is joined at the hip by extremist media propagandists that reward self-destructive behavior.  It was self-destructive of this woman to place the billboard along Route 75 because she sincerely could not afford it.  Then when she boasted about it on Beck's Radio program on the Rush Limbaugh radio channel she was rewarded with a free membership to GB-TV.  So much for the infamous ability of the Right Wing to be financially responsible even to themselves.  This self-destructive behavior by the listening audience to Rush Limbaugh's Channel clearly illustrates the inability of their audience to discern their best interests because they are moved on a 'Religiously Spiritual' level to justify foolish decision making.  This woman felt compelled to carry this expression of loyalty out because she lived in a Condo with no front yard, etc.  So in order to prove to herself, her religious friends and political affiliates and to the Limbaugh Radio Network that she is a loyal fan and devoted political hack she did what she claims was her only way of providing a 'participatory sign' of 'good faith.'


This is not the first time powerful right wing media has been able to instill self-destructive behavior in the way of financial loss with their viewership.  Repeatedly over the years there have been profound sacrifice by people unable to provide it without financial harm to themselves to deliver messages to the public.  There have been bus tours and all kinds of dynamics that play out without sponsorship to carry the message.  These folks don't realize if there isn't sponsorship for what they claim as 'Good Works' then it is not a concept the 'majority' of Americans can identify with and that is why sponsors are not flocking to their side.  There political message gets lost not because they didn't try, but, because 'the market share' of their 'product - political idea' is NOT THERE !


This billboard is offensive for one reason and one reason only and that is because it takes A TRUTH and makes it into a lie. 


The USA has always been a strong ally to Israel.  The USA has always stood by Israel, during its most difficult times and even when the decision making of Israeli leadership could be questioned.  Israel is important to the USA, has never been abandoned and never will be.  Israel's people have suffered atrocities of humanity that no people and few have.  Rwanda is another country.  Darfur is another.  Where atrocities have forced new nations to grow in order to protect a populous of people from genocide and cultural destruction.  


There is NOTHING new about this billboard.  NOTHING.  Yet the Right Wing Extremists would have everyone believe they have a holy war with President Obama over the USA loyalty to Israel.  


This form of propaganda is an abomination to the First Amendment, not a compliment to it.  The First Amendment can be an enemy to itself and this is one of those instances.


The woman that displayed this billboard was rejected by the first company she asked to display her ad because 'they don't do' political speech.  There is wisdom in that.  There is suppose to be separation of church and state in the USA.  Obviously this extremist political group 'doesn't get it' and seeks to hate President Obama rather than applaud him.