Robert Fisk today:
Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.
Fisk reminds us it was the Saudis who supported the American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan in 1980 and thereafter. The Saudis, Fisk asserts, also armed and funded the Taliban.
If Washington can get the Saudis to furnish weaponry to the guerrillas of Libya, then Washington can "disclaim" military involvement, though the weapons will be American but paid for by the Saudis. Will the global cronyism and enmeshment of the US military killing machine never end? How long will those involved or not involved try to believe that US involvement has anything to do with the human welfare of the rebels seeking democracy?
So, anti-tank rockets and mortars anyone?
Fisk points out that the Republicans in Congress are beating the drum loudly for a no-fly zone in Libya. Wow. Political pressure on the US and Nato for more WAR WAR WAR. One more country and its people and infrastructure to destroy. But what does one expect from our Congressional and war-addicted sociopaths? As long as it's not Israel, let's bomb the shit out of our global neighbors.
American awac planes are flying aerial missions over Libya and can be, as Fisk explains, used “to search for targets of opportunity.” Slyly and covertly, of course. At least at this point.
But Saudi Arabia has its own worries as Fisk writes, not being democratic. Kinda awkward:
“But Saudi Arabia is already facing dangers from a co-ordinated day of protest by its own Shia Muslim citizens who, emboldened by the Shia uprising in the neighbouring island of Bahrain, have called for street protests against the ruling family of al-Saud on Friday.
After pouring troops and security police into the province of Qatif last week, the Saudis announced a nationwide ban on all public demonstrations.
Shia organisers claim that up to 20,000 protesters plan to demonstrate with women in the front rows to prevent the Saudi army from opening fire.
If the Saudi government accedes to America's request to send guns and missiles to Libyan rebels, however, it would be almost impossible for President Barack Obama to condemn the kingdom for any violence against the Shias of the north-east provinces.
Thus has the Arab awakening, the demand for democracy in North Africa, the Shia revolt and the rising against Gaddafi become entangled in the space of just a few hours with US military priorities in the region.”
What are the craven US military and administration to do as well as their hypocritical cronies, impression management to be considered to buy them time and cover? Shock and awe opportunism is really tricky on this one. A chess game made in hell for the best of the US gamesmen-gameswomen as opposed to US statesmen-stateswomen, a breed now clearly extinct in America.
Keep on torturing Bradley Manning and keep talking the hypocritical talk of American idealism and democracy? I guess. But the corporate media will keep on confusing and covering up the hypocrisy and deadly agendas of US aggression and imperialism. Thank God, huh?
"US Interests" don't include human welfare. I hope desperate global peoples keep this in mind at all times as they fight their good fights. Trust that US help will never be altruistic.
[cross-posted at correntewire and sacramento for democracy]
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