Friends of McCain, standard bearers for democracy in Libya, recognised by 30 nations as sole legitimate representatives of the Libyan people, this rabble in disarray look certain losers: only a failing empire would place their bets with this lot.

Kim Sengupta and Solomon Hughes

Independent

29th July, 2011

One of Washington’s most influential senators has warned Libya’s opposition administration that they risk alienating US and international support unless they take “decisive action” to halt human rights abuses by rebel fighters.

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Sergei Balmasov

Pravda

27th July, 2011
The head of the British Foreign Ministry William Hague, following his French counterpart, Alain Juppe, has noticeably softened his stance in relation to Muammar Gaddafi. They no longer demand that he appears before the Hague tribunal. They graciously allowed him to stay in Libya. However, on the condition that the Colonel relinquishes his power.

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Unfortunately NATO are bad losers: what wild, criminal schemes will they come up with next?

Craig Murray

27th July, 2011

Gaddafi now controls 20% more territory than he did before we started this odious bombing campaign. He has been able to hold more and better attended rallies of more genuine supporters in recent days than he ever could before we started bombing. Exactly as I predicted, the effect of NATO bombing has been to rally nationalist support around Gaddafi, whom we have stupidly put in a much stronger position than he was when he only faced genuine internal rebellion.

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This is a realistic assessment of the situation on the ground. Obviously NATO is not negotiating from a position of strength: they have the option of either escalating the war, invading Libya and overthrowing Gaddafi or giving way to his demands. As in the stand- off over the US debt crisis we seem to be facing the ineptitude of western elites but this ineptitude is based in hubris, in the inability to accept the end of empire. The absence of a leadership in Anglo-america able to put forward the necessary programme, ending all military campaigns, closing all overseas basis, sanitising the financial system and replacing it with one geared to national investment and reconstruction means that there can be no orderly end to empire. Rather it is becoming like the retreat of an undisciplined rabble army hitting out wildly as they give ground.

Kim Sengupta

Independent

27th July, 2011

Fresh diplomatic efforts are under way to try to end Libya’s bloody civil war, with the UN special envoy flying to Tripoli to hold talks after Britain followed France in accepting that Muammar Gaddafi cannot be bombed into exile.

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