Mounting Libyan death toll from US-NATO bombings

[Hannah Bell]

The death toll in Libya from US, French and British air strikes continues to mount and promises to rise sharply as the imperialist powers escalate their attacks on both military and civilian targets.

One day after the US deployed Predator drones armed with Hellfire missiles and NATO warned civilians to “distance themselves from Gaddafi regime forces and equipment,” Libyan state television reported that nine people were killed overnight in a NATO air attack on Sirte, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown. The news bulletin of al-Jamahiriya said that some of those killed in the air strike were workers at the state water utility.

This followed a report Thursday that seven civilians were killed and 18 wounded in a NATO air raid against the southwestern Tripoli suburb of Khellat al-Ferjan late Wednesday night, and a further report that NATO warplanes struck the town of Bir al-Ghanam, about 30 miles southwest of the Libyan capital, killing four civilians.

The deployment of US missile-armed drones follows the announcement by Britain, France and Italy that all three former colonial powers in North Africa will send military “advisers” to aid the so-called rebel forces based in Benghazi and headed by the Transitional National Council. It also follows the open letter from US President Obama, British Prime Minister Cameron and French President Sarkozy declaring that the war in Libya will continue until Gaddafi is removed from power.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/apr2011/liby-a23.shtml

[Ramulux]

1. So we must kill civilians to save civilians

Genius idea. This entire war is so fucked up and its only worse when you realize how many supposed liberals support it.

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Unlike the hypothetical deaths had Qaddafi been unhindered in front of Benghazi,

these are real deaths. The interventionists need to take some responsibility for this, but to do so would point out their culpability and show their rationalizations in the clear light of day.

Rebellion has responsibilities: to actually have the wherewithal of manpower and weaponry to pull it off, and a sense of responsibility for the weak. The latter seems wholly lacking with this group as they fight within civilian populations without making concerted efforts to evacuate non-combatants. Still, as they do this, they complain about loyalists doing the same thing. Hypocrisy literally shrieks amid their cries of victimhood, while decrying the government's "human shields".

Drone strikes are especially evil, since there's no warning; at least in more conventional land warfare, a civilian has a reasonable chance to sense it coming and get the hell away. Drones are terrifying and only as perfect as the brave pilot sitting in that air-conditioned cubicle in Nevada.

Those who defend their political positions regardless of any evidence or changes in situations are enough of a bother, but the ones who cheer on this war out of dumbstruck, defensive adulation for the President or out of an emotional sympathy with the supposedly imperiled citizens of Benghazi will have to come up with some mighty convoluted excuses for the crap to come. I have no doubt they'll rise to the occasion.

[Gravel Democrat]

5. Once again, PoE, you have spoken unvarnished truth

and it cuts like a knife, if one takes the time to think it through.

But we both know that is not a regular phenomenon circa 2011

Hypocrisy literally shrieks amid their cries of victimhood, while decrying the government's "human shields".

Ouch! Hypocrisy: The New Plague. It's everywhere and almost everyone is catching it. Tragic.



Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
George Washington

[Prometheus Bound]

12. "Hypocrisy literally shrieks" - Yes, it's the hypocrisy. It just can't be any more blatant.

[SDuderstadt]

3. "the imperialist powers"

LOL!

[eridani]

4. There's another word for a power that has 800+ military bases around the world?

The Romans only needed 40 or so.

[Azathoth]

6. Gee...Socialists and Trotskyites are now regurgitating Libyan State Television. Whodathunkit. n/t

[joshcryer]

7. I'm a socialist and I don't agree with the totalitarian loving Trotskyites.

[BOG PERSON]

13. i thought you were an "anarchist"

[classysassy]

8. "Its a mad ,mad,mad ,mad world"

Sanity is on holiday.

[malaise]

9. Oh the humanity of it all

They don't give a flying fuck about human beings - this is about preventing the Chinese from getting that oil.

[Distant Observer]

10. BINGO! Its all about COMPASSION. That is why the focus has to be droping bombs on Tripoli

That is where most civilians are.

[bvar22]

11. The USA only uses "humanitarian" bombs in Libya.

What can possibly be more "humanitarian" than a Spooky Gunship or a Warthog? :shrug:




If you're not FOR the New OIL WAR in Libya,
you're WITH The Communists AlQaeda The Terrorists Saddam Qaddafi!!!

[meow mix]

14. well its a good thing our rebels are making excellent progress.

so that this will be finished soon as possible.. really impressed with the rebel bravery.
and its a good thing they have the air cover for which they pleaded.

[BOG PERSON]

15. yeah, if i had to make a list of things i love about insurgencies

"not dragging out" would be at the top of it.

that's what's weird about this war/campaign/whatever imo. it's the rebels who have time constraints, because their western backers eventually have to answer to their electorates, who are (presumably) wary of long wars. gaddafi's government doesn't have that problem; in fact, they're the ones who seem to be happy to wait out NATO.

so it's the rebels that face a deadline for success, and gaddafi has the advantage of time that typically goes to insurgent forces