It has been a few days since we checked in on the pro-democracy freedom movement in the Middle East, so here is an update of the most recent losses and gains and other news in the Arab Spring:
The lead story is Saudia Arabia's claim that it will extend voting rights to women in local elections in 2015:
News of womens' voting rights came as quite a surprise and believe it was King Abdullah playing preemptive CYA, ABC News blogs.
Some say voting rights for women will not really happen, CNN reports.
The Wall Street Journal says it is great that women will be able to vote, but ponders when they will be able to drive. Women drivers continue to be prosecuted.
Clean and open elections are not part of the anti-democracy government's plan in Bahrain, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, the Associated Press reports.
Things are getting nasty again in Yemen:
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's return to Yemen, after recovering from burns and other wounds in an assassination attempt on his life three months ago, has re-invigorated his political opponents, enemy tribes and pro-democracy freedom fighters, Reuters reports.
Tribesmen killed one of Saleh's top generals in a bold attack on a government army base, Voice of America reports.
The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council were blindsided by the return of Saleh, whom they had hoped would just retire in Saudi Arabia, The New York Times Reports.
It is as bad as ever in Syria:
Bashir al-Assad's tanks blockade northwestern city Al-Rastan as crackdown continues elsewhere, CNN reports.
Assad's loyalist followers flexed some mischievous brainpower and hacked into as website at Harvard University, the BBC reports.
It might have been payback for anti-Assad hackers who attacked government websites, according to The Washington Times.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeaks to China to join the anti-Assad movement, Agence France Presse reports.
Turkey and the re-emegence of the Ottomans across the Middle East, remains a key to the fall of Assad, The New York Times reports.
The mainstream media has become bored with the Libyan revolution, but it is far from over:
Residents are fleeing the hometown of Moammar Gadhafi amid food and medicine shortages. Meanwhile, the provisional government declares an end to court that was used by the former dictator to prosecute his enemies, the AP reports.
Like Sirte, the revolutionary army presses on in Bani Walid, the BBC reports.
For the latest Afghanistan and Iraq news, please read longtime colleagues Stephanie Gaskell and Rich Sisk at The War Report.
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Egyptian Mob Storm and Loot Israeli Embassy
Angry Egyptian demonstrators ransacked the Israeli embassy in Cairo, looting anything they could grab including files and torching Cairo police cars that were sent there to protect the building, CNN reported.
Israeli diplomats had long cleared out, fearing such an attack after Israeli Defense Forces killed five Eqyptian soldiers last month when Sinai gunmen launched an attack on Isreali settlers.
President Obama spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu today expressing his "great concern about the situation at the Embassy, and the security of the Israelis serving there," a White House statement said.
"(Obama) reviewed the steps that the U.S. is taking at all levels to help resolve the situation without further violence, and to call on the Government of Egypt to honor its international obligations to safeguard the security of the Israeli Embassy," the statement said.
In the West Bank, Jewish hardliners this week attacked mosques in two separate Palestinian villages. The Israeli and U.S. governments condemned those attacks as provocative incidents meant to trigger more violence in that powder-keg of a region.
The U.S also called on Turkish and Israeli officials to tone down the fiery rhetoric between those two erstwhile allies over a humanitarian aid flotilla destined for Gaza. Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and vowed to send Turkish warships along with the next flotilla to protect the humanitarian mission.
Israel and Turkey have long been silent partners, but that relationship has deteriorated since Israeli commandos last year boarded a Turkish ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, killing nine civilian passengers.
Netanyahu has refused to apologize for the massacre on the Turkish ship.
Israeli diplomats had long cleared out, fearing such an attack after Israeli Defense Forces killed five Eqyptian soldiers last month when Sinai gunmen launched an attack on Isreali settlers.
President Obama spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu today expressing his "great concern about the situation at the Embassy, and the security of the Israelis serving there," a White House statement said.
"(Obama) reviewed the steps that the U.S. is taking at all levels to help resolve the situation without further violence, and to call on the Government of Egypt to honor its international obligations to safeguard the security of the Israeli Embassy," the statement said.
In the West Bank, Jewish hardliners this week attacked mosques in two separate Palestinian villages. The Israeli and U.S. governments condemned those attacks as provocative incidents meant to trigger more violence in that powder-keg of a region.
The U.S also called on Turkish and Israeli officials to tone down the fiery rhetoric between those two erstwhile allies over a humanitarian aid flotilla destined for Gaza. Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and vowed to send Turkish warships along with the next flotilla to protect the humanitarian mission.
Israel and Turkey have long been silent partners, but that relationship has deteriorated since Israeli commandos last year boarded a Turkish ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, killing nine civilian passengers.
Netanyahu has refused to apologize for the massacre on the Turkish ship.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Top Military Brass Resign in Turkey (NATO's Second-Biggest Force)
Call it the uncoup d'etat -- at least for now.
Turkey's conservative civilian government appeared today to prevail over the secularist generals who stepped down in protest of the arrest of scores of military officials accused of plotting a coup dating back to 2003.
Gen. Isik Kosaner, Turkey's equivalent of the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs, stepped down last night along with the commanders army, navy and air force commanders.
The mostly symbolic resignation, as all four generals were slated to retire in the next year, was to protest the jailing of about 250 officers on charges of conspiring against the civilian government.
The government alleges the initial coup was to be disguised as war games known as "Sledgehammer," but the military contends the evidence against them and their compatriots was trupomed up and meant to strip the military of its standing in Turkish society.
"Along with losing their freedom, 14 general-admirals and 58 colonels lost their right to be evaluated in the upcoming Supreme Military Council and were punished beforehand even though there have been no definitive judicial decisions against them," Kosaner said in his resignation statement.
The civilian government stressed continuity for Turkey, which boasts of being NATO's second-largest military, after the U.S. The only top commander who did not resign, Gen. Necdet Ozel, who heads the military police, was appointed acting chief of general staff after Kosaner stepped down.
"Nobody should view this as any sort of crisis or continuing problem in Turkey," said President Abdullah Gul. "Undoubtedly events yesterday were an extraordinary situation in themselves, but everything is on course."
Gul added the government "asked Gen. Kosaner to stay, but he wanted to retire of his own volition... As you see, everything proceeds on its own course and there is no gap in chain of command."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants a constitution he argues reflects a democracy in a civilian-run era, not a document overshadowed by four coups since 1960, including the overthrow of an Islamist government in 1997. The current constitution was drafted after a 1980 military-driven coup.
Critics of Erdogan, who has served as prime minister for eight years, claim he will rewrite the constitution to strengthen his already strong position. He and his conservative -- and some would say budding Islamist party -- cleaned house in elections in June, giving three straight victories to the Justice and Development Party, better known as AKP.
Anthony Shadid in The New York Times highlights what may the end to another end to a military culture that is presumed to be above the law. "The days of the military calling the shots are over," said Turkish newspaper columnist Cengiz Candar.
Victor David Hanson warns today on National Review online that there may be longterm political, diplomatic and military concerns from the downfall of Turkey's generals, especially for Greece, Israel, the EU and U.S.
"Turkey has emerged from the shadow of military power, a breakthrough of historic proportions. Whether it is moving toward an era of European-style freedom or simply trading one form of authoritarianism for another is unclear," journalist Stephen Kinzer observes in The New York Review of Books.
Turkey's conservative civilian government appeared today to prevail over the secularist generals who stepped down in protest of the arrest of scores of military officials accused of plotting a coup dating back to 2003.
Gen. Isik Kosaner, Turkey's equivalent of the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs, stepped down last night along with the commanders army, navy and air force commanders.
The mostly symbolic resignation, as all four generals were slated to retire in the next year, was to protest the jailing of about 250 officers on charges of conspiring against the civilian government.
The government alleges the initial coup was to be disguised as war games known as "Sledgehammer," but the military contends the evidence against them and their compatriots was trupomed up and meant to strip the military of its standing in Turkish society.
"Along with losing their freedom, 14 general-admirals and 58 colonels lost their right to be evaluated in the upcoming Supreme Military Council and were punished beforehand even though there have been no definitive judicial decisions against them," Kosaner said in his resignation statement.
The civilian government stressed continuity for Turkey, which boasts of being NATO's second-largest military, after the U.S. The only top commander who did not resign, Gen. Necdet Ozel, who heads the military police, was appointed acting chief of general staff after Kosaner stepped down.
"Nobody should view this as any sort of crisis or continuing problem in Turkey," said President Abdullah Gul. "Undoubtedly events yesterday were an extraordinary situation in themselves, but everything is on course."
Gul added the government "asked Gen. Kosaner to stay, but he wanted to retire of his own volition... As you see, everything proceeds on its own course and there is no gap in chain of command."
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants a constitution he argues reflects a democracy in a civilian-run era, not a document overshadowed by four coups since 1960, including the overthrow of an Islamist government in 1997. The current constitution was drafted after a 1980 military-driven coup.
Critics of Erdogan, who has served as prime minister for eight years, claim he will rewrite the constitution to strengthen his already strong position. He and his conservative -- and some would say budding Islamist party -- cleaned house in elections in June, giving three straight victories to the Justice and Development Party, better known as AKP.
Anthony Shadid in The New York Times highlights what may the end to another end to a military culture that is presumed to be above the law. "The days of the military calling the shots are over," said Turkish newspaper columnist Cengiz Candar.
Victor David Hanson warns today on National Review online that there may be longterm political, diplomatic and military concerns from the downfall of Turkey's generals, especially for Greece, Israel, the EU and U.S.
"Turkey has emerged from the shadow of military power, a breakthrough of historic proportions. Whether it is moving toward an era of European-style freedom or simply trading one form of authoritarianism for another is unclear," journalist Stephen Kinzer observes in The New York Review of Books.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Libyan Rebels Strike As Turkey Prepares to Offer Ceasefire Plan
Rebels were active in western and eastern Libya today on the eve of a 40-nation meeting in Istanbul where Turkey planned to propose a political "roadmap" for ending the Libyan civil war.
Insurgents in Western Libya halted an offensive within 50 miles of Tripoli to regroup, while the main opposition army in the east set its sights on the oil town of Brega, which has gone back and forth between forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and the rebels.
"We have been focused on the west of the country but now we will move," a rebel military source told Agence France Presse.
"We are preparing to enter Brega. The attack will come soon," another rebel fighter told the French wire service.
But Gadhafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim claimed loyalist forces successfully repelled the initial attack.
"It was a full scale attack and it was heavy and merciless," Ibrahim told reporters. "We were successful in combating this attack and we did defeat both NATO and the rebels and we killed many rebel forces and captured a good number of them as well."
The Libya Contact Group, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will meet tomorrow in Istanbul to discuss the next steps for removing Gadhafi from power and how to proceed in the post-regime era.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu will offer the proposal that apparently will begin with a ceasefire.
"The main aim is to find a political solution to accelerate efforts to end the bloodshed," a spokesman told The Guardian of London.
Insurgents in Western Libya halted an offensive within 50 miles of Tripoli to regroup, while the main opposition army in the east set its sights on the oil town of Brega, which has gone back and forth between forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and the rebels.
"We have been focused on the west of the country but now we will move," a rebel military source told Agence France Presse.
"We are preparing to enter Brega. The attack will come soon," another rebel fighter told the French wire service.
But Gadhafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim claimed loyalist forces successfully repelled the initial attack.
"It was a full scale attack and it was heavy and merciless," Ibrahim told reporters. "We were successful in combating this attack and we did defeat both NATO and the rebels and we killed many rebel forces and captured a good number of them as well."
The Libya Contact Group, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will meet tomorrow in Istanbul to discuss the next steps for removing Gadhafi from power and how to proceed in the post-regime era.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu will offer the proposal that apparently will begin with a ceasefire.
"The main aim is to find a political solution to accelerate efforts to end the bloodshed," a spokesman told The Guardian of London.
Monday, June 20, 2011
White House: Talk is Cheap When it Comes From Assad's Mouth
The White House yawned at Syrian President Bashir al-Assad's rambling, delusional hourlong address at Damascus University today, saying the dictator must embrace a transition to democracy "or get out of the way."
"There needs to be concrete action. There needs to be, first and foremost, a cessation of violence against innocent Syrians. There needs to be actual action towards political dialogue so that this transition to a more democratic Syria can take place," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
"What's required in Syria is action, not words, not promises that reform will come in some period in the future, or that dialogue will happen after some review... Hey, look, I'm not saying that words are meaningless, but he needs to act on them. He needs to actually do something to fulfill the sentiment expressed in the desire for dialogue because that needs to happen. But first he needs to stop the violence," Carney added.
Assad promised amnesty, reforms and general good times ahead in a speech that prompted critics to describe the devious despot as delusional, out of touch and merciless.
"Syria’s destiny is to face crises; but it is also its destiny to be proud, strong, resistant and victorious. Its destiny is to come out of crises stronger thanks to the solidarity and cohesion of its society, its deeply rooted values and the determination of its people who are endowed with intelligence, civilization and openness," Assad said.
"It is you who prevented the confusion between the greed and designs of superpowers, on the one hand, and people’s desire for reform and change on the other. It is you who protected the flower of youth from being sacrificed to the greed of international powers. It is you who prevented all attempts of sectarian sedition scrambling at the gates of the homeland and cut off the head of the snake before it could bite the Syrian body and kill it," Assad said.
Critics everywhere shook their heads at the tone-deaf butcher Assad, who ordered the crackdown that has led to an estimated 1,300 death and sent 10,000 refugees to the Turkish border, all but ending an alliance between the Syrian and Turkish governments.
"Assad should clearly and precisely say: 'Everything has changed. We're transforming the system into a multi-party one. Everything will be organised according to the Syrian's people will, and I will be carrying out this process'," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said.
Others were not as polite.
"He’s trying to contain the situation, but it’s helpless," Yoni Ben-Menahem, Israel Radio director and chief editor, told The Jerusalem Post. "No one believes him anymore. He’s slaughtering his people, more than 10,000 refugees – and the massacres are continuing."
"There needs to be concrete action. There needs to be, first and foremost, a cessation of violence against innocent Syrians. There needs to be actual action towards political dialogue so that this transition to a more democratic Syria can take place," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
"What's required in Syria is action, not words, not promises that reform will come in some period in the future, or that dialogue will happen after some review... Hey, look, I'm not saying that words are meaningless, but he needs to act on them. He needs to actually do something to fulfill the sentiment expressed in the desire for dialogue because that needs to happen. But first he needs to stop the violence," Carney added.
Assad promised amnesty, reforms and general good times ahead in a speech that prompted critics to describe the devious despot as delusional, out of touch and merciless.
"Syria’s destiny is to face crises; but it is also its destiny to be proud, strong, resistant and victorious. Its destiny is to come out of crises stronger thanks to the solidarity and cohesion of its society, its deeply rooted values and the determination of its people who are endowed with intelligence, civilization and openness," Assad said.
"It is you who prevented the confusion between the greed and designs of superpowers, on the one hand, and people’s desire for reform and change on the other. It is you who protected the flower of youth from being sacrificed to the greed of international powers. It is you who prevented all attempts of sectarian sedition scrambling at the gates of the homeland and cut off the head of the snake before it could bite the Syrian body and kill it," Assad said.
Critics everywhere shook their heads at the tone-deaf butcher Assad, who ordered the crackdown that has led to an estimated 1,300 death and sent 10,000 refugees to the Turkish border, all but ending an alliance between the Syrian and Turkish governments.
"Assad should clearly and precisely say: 'Everything has changed. We're transforming the system into a multi-party one. Everything will be organised according to the Syrian's people will, and I will be carrying out this process'," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said.
Others were not as polite.
"He’s trying to contain the situation, but it’s helpless," Yoni Ben-Menahem, Israel Radio director and chief editor, told The Jerusalem Post. "No one believes him anymore. He’s slaughtering his people, more than 10,000 refugees – and the massacres are continuing."
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Turkey Has Mystery Deal for Gadhafi Exit?
There has been a flurry of NATO activity and announcements over the past 24 hours, from a cryptic deal announced by Turkey that would supposedly "guarantee" that Moammar Gadhafi can leave Turkey, to Norway's decision to pull out of the Libya mission later this summer.
Canada also plans to end its roll in the AWACS surveillance missions over Afghanistan and Libya to save money, though Ottawa has signaled it intends to see through the combat mission until the end.
The Dutch, meanwhile, committed to another three months in their mostly support role in the Libya air campaign.
But it was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who caught some people by surprise when he said in an interview with NTV that he is waiting to hear back on Gadhafi on an offer for him to leave Tripoli. Erdogan, however gave no further details, other than Gadhafi has no other options.
"We have given him this guarantee. We said we will help you leave for where ever you would like," Erdogan said.
Norway, meanwhile cut back the number of fighter jets it has in Libya from six to four, and it will end its role Aug. 1. Norway was one of the NATO members Defense Secretary Robert Gates singled out yesterday for its stellar contribution to the Libya campaign.
Canada was another country Gates said has stepped up its combat role in Libya. Ottawa is expected to give approval next week to seeing the current NATO mission through to it September deadline.
Canada, however, is expected to pull out of the NATO Airborne Warning And Control System details over Afghanistan and Libya. The Canadians have about 100 military personnel in the AWACS program.
The Netherlands said it would stay in Libya through September, as well, but the six Dutch F-16s will continue to not participate in any bombing raids, instead flying only to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly-zone.
Canada also plans to end its roll in the AWACS surveillance missions over Afghanistan and Libya to save money, though Ottawa has signaled it intends to see through the combat mission until the end.
The Dutch, meanwhile, committed to another three months in their mostly support role in the Libya air campaign.
But it was Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who caught some people by surprise when he said in an interview with NTV that he is waiting to hear back on Gadhafi on an offer for him to leave Tripoli. Erdogan, however gave no further details, other than Gadhafi has no other options.
"We have given him this guarantee. We said we will help you leave for where ever you would like," Erdogan said.
Norway, meanwhile cut back the number of fighter jets it has in Libya from six to four, and it will end its role Aug. 1. Norway was one of the NATO members Defense Secretary Robert Gates singled out yesterday for its stellar contribution to the Libya campaign.
Canada was another country Gates said has stepped up its combat role in Libya. Ottawa is expected to give approval next week to seeing the current NATO mission through to it September deadline.
Canada, however, is expected to pull out of the NATO Airborne Warning And Control System details over Afghanistan and Libya. The Canadians have about 100 military personnel in the AWACS program.
The Netherlands said it would stay in Libya through September, as well, but the six Dutch F-16s will continue to not participate in any bombing raids, instead flying only to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly-zone.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Turkey's Call for Gadhafi to Go a Boost for NATO
On any other day, Turkish leader's pronouncement that he was shedding a neutral posture and calling for Moammar Gadhafi to step down "for the sake of the country's future" would have been bigger news. The White House would have seen to that, if it were not otherwise occupied.
But blown away by the death of Osama bin Laden, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stunning reversal of course was barely mentioned on the cables and was relegated to the inside of most American newspapers, if it appeared at all.
"The people of Libya should determine their future in solidarity and unity, it is a priority for us. Hence, we will stay in touch with National Transitional Council to ensure that the elements in our road map can be carried out," the BBC quoted Erdogan as saying.
Turkey's news was welcomed as preparations were made for today's meeting in Rome of the Libya Contact Group made up of NATO, Arab and African foreign ministers. The group aims to come up with a plan to get money to the Transitional National Council for food and medicine.
The about-face is a big deal for Turkey, on the diplomatic front, and it comes not a moment too soon. Conditions have worsened in Misurata, as Gadhafi loyalists, including snipers, are now taking aim at relief shipments. Erdogan also announced Turkey had closed its Tripoli embassy and withdrawn its employees, but maintained its embassy in rebel-held Benghazi.
Turkey does $2 billion worth of trade with Libya and 25,000 Turks are employed in that country. The Turkish government has the ears of the Arab League, Gulf States and African Union -- and it is the only secular Muslim member of NATO. If Turkey goes all-in for regime change in Libya it brings added diplomatic clout and potential military firepower with it.
A move by NATO to put boots on the ground is still not expected in the immediate future, but if the alliance ultimately determined that it must put an armored column in front of the rebel army, the Turks would make a logical and powerful spearhead (with European forces protecting their flanks and rear and American A-10s above their heads).
But blown away by the death of Osama bin Laden, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stunning reversal of course was barely mentioned on the cables and was relegated to the inside of most American newspapers, if it appeared at all.
"The people of Libya should determine their future in solidarity and unity, it is a priority for us. Hence, we will stay in touch with National Transitional Council to ensure that the elements in our road map can be carried out," the BBC quoted Erdogan as saying.
Turkey's news was welcomed as preparations were made for today's meeting in Rome of the Libya Contact Group made up of NATO, Arab and African foreign ministers. The group aims to come up with a plan to get money to the Transitional National Council for food and medicine.
The about-face is a big deal for Turkey, on the diplomatic front, and it comes not a moment too soon. Conditions have worsened in Misurata, as Gadhafi loyalists, including snipers, are now taking aim at relief shipments. Erdogan also announced Turkey had closed its Tripoli embassy and withdrawn its employees, but maintained its embassy in rebel-held Benghazi.
Turkey does $2 billion worth of trade with Libya and 25,000 Turks are employed in that country. The Turkish government has the ears of the Arab League, Gulf States and African Union -- and it is the only secular Muslim member of NATO. If Turkey goes all-in for regime change in Libya it brings added diplomatic clout and potential military firepower with it.
A move by NATO to put boots on the ground is still not expected in the immediate future, but if the alliance ultimately determined that it must put an armored column in front of the rebel army, the Turks would make a logical and powerful spearhead (with European forces protecting their flanks and rear and American A-10s above their heads).
Friday, April 8, 2011
NATO: Nobody Told Us The Rebels Had Tanks
Updated 7:30 p.m. edt
NATO bombed Moammar Gadhafi's weapons depots near the town of Zintan on Friday, an eyewitness told The Jerusalem Post.
It was a timely strike for NATO, which is under fire from all sides over its questionable handing of the air campaign in Libya. Earlier today NATO refused to apologize for strikes that killed rebels in tanks, though the alliance did issue a statement of regret for the friendly-fire casualties.
The rebels are going to try to mark their vehicles so NATO will not hit them in the future, blogs Laura Rozen at Yahoo!
"Soldiers in the rebel campaign have now started to paint the roofs of their vehicles bright pink in order to alert NATO air forces that they are not allied with the Gadhafi regime--and therefore should not be singled out for attacks from the air," she writes.
Here's hoping Gadhafi does not have any pink paint.
end update
---[
A defiant NATO spokesman said today the alliance will not apologize for allegedly killing five rebels when striking their tanks because NATO was unaware those opposition forces even had tanks.
"I'm not apologizing," said British Royal Navy Rear Adm. Russell Harding, the deputy NATO mission commander. "The situation on the ground is fluid, and we had no information the opposition forces were using tanks."
The rebels were once again pinned down today in Ajdabiya by artillary fire from forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, according to CNN. If the rebels cede Ajdabiya to Gadhafi they will be forced to pull back to their nominal capital of Benghazi.
And then what?
Turkey is floating a ceasefire plan that calls for Gadhafi with withdraw his troops from Misurata and Brega and embrace democratic reforms, The Gardian reports.
Closer to home, the price of oil hit a 2 1/2-year high today, "spurred by signs of stalemate in Libya and concerns that violence in other oil-producing nations," MarketWatch reported.
The price of crude went above $112 a barrel amid the unrest in the Middle East oil patch.
Scottish officials, meanwhile, confirm they have met with and interviewed Libyan defector Musa Kusa, grilling him over his knowledge of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103, but they are not saying much more than that about the former Libyan foreign minister and intelliogence chief.
NATO bombed Moammar Gadhafi's weapons depots near the town of Zintan on Friday, an eyewitness told The Jerusalem Post.
It was a timely strike for NATO, which is under fire from all sides over its questionable handing of the air campaign in Libya. Earlier today NATO refused to apologize for strikes that killed rebels in tanks, though the alliance did issue a statement of regret for the friendly-fire casualties.
The rebels are going to try to mark their vehicles so NATO will not hit them in the future, blogs Laura Rozen at Yahoo!
"Soldiers in the rebel campaign have now started to paint the roofs of their vehicles bright pink in order to alert NATO air forces that they are not allied with the Gadhafi regime--and therefore should not be singled out for attacks from the air," she writes.
Here's hoping Gadhafi does not have any pink paint.
end update
---[
A defiant NATO spokesman said today the alliance will not apologize for allegedly killing five rebels when striking their tanks because NATO was unaware those opposition forces even had tanks.
"I'm not apologizing," said British Royal Navy Rear Adm. Russell Harding, the deputy NATO mission commander. "The situation on the ground is fluid, and we had no information the opposition forces were using tanks."
The rebels were once again pinned down today in Ajdabiya by artillary fire from forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, according to CNN. If the rebels cede Ajdabiya to Gadhafi they will be forced to pull back to their nominal capital of Benghazi.
And then what?
Turkey is floating a ceasefire plan that calls for Gadhafi with withdraw his troops from Misurata and Brega and embrace democratic reforms, The Gardian reports.
Closer to home, the price of oil hit a 2 1/2-year high today, "spurred by signs of stalemate in Libya and concerns that violence in other oil-producing nations," MarketWatch reported.
The price of crude went above $112 a barrel amid the unrest in the Middle East oil patch.
Scottish officials, meanwhile, confirm they have met with and interviewed Libyan defector Musa Kusa, grilling him over his knowledge of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103, but they are not saying much more than that about the former Libyan foreign minister and intelliogence chief.
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