Search This Blog

Followers

Thursday, September 1, 2011

No Ground Troops for Libya: Conference of Diplomats / NATO Nations (Juan Cole blog)

posted by U of Michigan Professor Juan Cole at his blog "Informed Comment" (Middle East topics):

A NATO official has told Agence France Presse that it is the “firm view” of NATO member states that they reject the idea of sending any ground troops to Libya. And, they want the UN to authorize any extension of the no-fly zone.
Gee, it doesn’t sound to me as though NATO is the kind of grasping, occupying imperialist power it has been painted by opponents of the UN intervention.
The Friends of Libya are meeting to consider how best to help Libya move forward under the new government. Head of the Transitional National Council Mustafa Abdel Jalil will address the gathering, which includes Russia and China along with Western leaders that were more supportive of the revolution.
China is now moving vigorously to seek a position in post-Qaddafi Libya, even though it was lukewarm about the UN intervention against the former dictator.
The new government says it will honor all legal contracts entered into by the previous regime, which appears to be meant to reassure China and Russia about their investments in the country.

excerpt from September 1 blog entry = http://www.juancole.com/

No comments: