Does This Mean That We Are Going To Also 'Bomb" The Rebels?

Rebel fighters near Ajdabiyah on Thursday. At times when the rebels are gaining ground, the allies fear that the rebels will inevitably try to take loyalist cities by force, and could end up endangering or even killing civilians there. Andrew Winning/Reuters

NATO Warns Rebels Against Attacking Civilians -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Members of the NATO alliance have sternly warned the rebels in Libya not to attack civilians as they push against the government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, according to senior military and government officials.

As NATO takes over control of airstrikes in Libya, and the Obama administration considers new steps to tip the balance of power there, the coalition has told the rebels that if they endanger civilians, they will not be shielded from possible bombardment by NATO planes and missiles, just as the government’s forces have been punished.

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My Comment: The sentence that caught my eye was the following ....

“We’ve been conveying a message to the rebels that we will be compelled to defend civilians, whether pro-Qaddafi or pro-opposition,” said a senior Obama administration official. “We are working very hard behind the scenes with the rebels so we don’t confront a situation where we face a decision to strike the rebels to defend civilians.”

Threatening our friends and allies in a war situation is not going to win us friends and allies when this is all over.

Donald Rumsfeld: 'Kill Team' Afghan Photos Are 'Much Worse' Than Iraq's Abu Ghraib

Donald Rumsfeld Labels 'Kill Team' Afghan Photos As 'Much Worse' Than Iraq's Abu Ghraib -- Daily Mail

The former defence secretary for President George W. Bush has described the Afghanistan ‘Kill Team’ photos as ‘much worse’ than those from Abu Ghraib.

Donald Rumsfeld said the images were more depraved than those taken of U.S. soldiers putting detainees in humiliating positions at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

The Pentagon apologised on Monday after shocking new details emerged of how U.S. soldiers formed a 'death squad' to randomly murder and mutilate Afghan civilians.

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My Comment: I commented on this a few days ago, but former defense secretary Rumsfeld is right, the 'Kill Team's' Afghan photos depicting murdered Afghans is much worse than Abu Ghraib. But while these photos are much worse .... there is no equivalent media coverage on this administration as the case was with Abu Ghraib and the Bush administration .... not even close. Kudos to the Daily Mail (and a few U.S. outlets) to recognize this contradictory news coverage.

Editor's Note

For the past month I have been working on a contract that has been taking a good chunk of my time. While I have been able to keep up with my blogging on War News Updates, I have been quite often late in doing so (like today). This should come to an end by this Monday. Aside from one week in which I will be busy (that is in two weeks from now), I will be free till the end of this year to further develop and expand this blog .... a project that I am very much looking forward to.

Is Libya's Gaddafi Looking For A Way Out?

Supporters of the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi stage a rally in Tripoli. Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Revealed: Gaddafi Envoy In Britain For Secret Talks -- The Guardian

Exclusive: Contact with senior aide believed to be one of a number between Libyan officials and west amid signs regime may be looking for exit strategy

Colonel Gaddafi's regime has sent one of its most trusted envoys to London for confidential talks with British officials, the Guardian can reveal.

Mohammed Ismail, a senior aide to Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, visited London in recent days, British government sources familiar with the meeting have confirmed.

The contacts with Ismail are believed to have been one of a number between Libyan officials and the west in the last fortnight, amid signs that the regime may be looking for an exit strategy.

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My Comment: I am skeptical that Gaddafi is actually thinking of leaving Libya. More likely his strategy is the following.

Ivory Coast Civil War Finally Coming To An End

In Ivory Coast, Gbagbo's Forces Defect En Masse: Reports -- Christian Science Monitor

Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's renegade President Laurent Gbagbo appeared ready to combat Thursday's lightning-quick rebel advance. Instead, thousands seem to have defected.

Celebrations are breaking out across Ivory Coast today as forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara seize city after city in a lightning-fast march to end the reign of renegade incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo.

Mr. Gbagbo has sat in the presidential palace for eleven years, using his army and youth militia to outlast a foiled coup and a 2002-03 civil war while presiding over a decade of economic stagnation and, finally, a Nov. 28 electoral defeat that he refused to acknowledge.

After months of waiting for a concession speech that never came, rebels last week launched an offensive deep into southern Ivory Coast, from whence Gbagbo hails.

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Update: US: Gbagbo Forces in Ivory Coast Begin to Crumble -- Voice of America

My Comment: A few months ago I predicted a civil war and bloodbath that would last for a long of period of time .... fortunately .... it looks like I was wrong.

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- March 31, 2011

Obama Administration Chaos Over 'Boots On The Ground' In Libya -- Thomas Lifson, American Thinker

Testifying before Congress this morning, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates claimed that the United States would put no military "boots on the ground" in Libya, only hours after the New York Times revealed that President Obama had signed an order authorizing CIA agents to operate in Libya, where they have been on the ground for some time now.

The BBC reports:

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

Is the West playing into al-Qaeda's hands? -- Peter Bergen, The telegraph

Obama Self Destructing Over Libya -- Catharine Evans, American Thinker

Can Syria’s dictator reform? -- Washington editorial

Will the U.S. Fail Syria Again? -- Farid Ghadry, Pajamas Media

Why It's Obvious We Are Losing The War On Drugs -- Ed Dolan, Ed Dolan's Econ Blog, Business Insider

The Message of Iran Sanctions -- Rick Richman, Commentary

Yemen's Crisis: The President Who Cried "Al-Qaeda!" -- Erik Stier, Time Magazine

Ivory Coast PM: Gbagbo has until 7pm (an hour ago) to resign -- Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Policy

How Assertive Should a Great Power Be? -- Yan Xuetong, New York Times

The Struggle for a New Japan -- Thomas Berger, The Diplomat

Rampant spending has put U.S. in dire financial shape -- Eric Reguly, Globe And Mail

Is the cost of saving the euro beyond reach? -- Jeremy Warner, The Telegraph

World News Briefs -- March 31, 2011 (Evening Edition)

U.S. Officials, Opposition Warn Libya Could Get Bloodier -- CNN

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- From the halls of Congress to the shell-pocked streets of Libyan cities, intertwined themes rang clear Thursday: Leader Moammar Gadhafi is determined to prevail, and the opposition needs more training and allied airstrikes to have a chance.

"Gadhafi will "kill as many (people) as he must to crush the rebellion," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee.

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MIDDLE EAST

Middle East: Live report.

New tensions along Israel Gaza border.

Syria's Assad under pressure as new protests called. Syria committee 'to study' lifting emergency laws. Anger as Assad fails to reform.

Death toll hits 57 in Iraqi hostage siege.

Bahrain steps up arrests of activists: opposition.

Rival Yemen demos set scene for tense Friday.

A New Palestinian movement: Young, networked, nonviolent.

ASIA

Radiation 10,000 times the health standard at Japan plant. Situation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant still serious. Four of six Daiichi reactors can’t be fixed; Tokyo Electric president hospitalized. Four reactors at Fukushima nuclear complex will have to be scrapped, utility chairman says.

China white paper highlights US military 'competition'.

Pakistani politician survives 2nd assassination attempt in 2 days. Pakistani politician blames assassination attempt on CIA, Pakistan government.

Within Obama’s war cabinet, a looming battle over pace of Afghanistan drawdown.

Indian census puts population at about 1.2 billion. Indian census results: 1.21 billion people or 17 percent of world population.

AFRICA

CIA sends teams of operatives to Libya. U.S. officials, opposition warn Libya could get bloodier.

Libya's Gaddafi not close to breaking point: U.S.. Libya: Nato assumes control of military operation. NATO takes over air operations as CIA works the ground in Libya. Gaddafi will stay in Libya "until the end": spokesman. About 1,000 believed killed in Libya violence: UK.

Weakened Gbagbo faces final showdown in I.Coast's Abidjan. Rebels besiege Ivory Coast's main city of Abidjan. Tension high in Abidjan as rebels advance. Ivory Coast army chief Phillippe Mangou 'seeks refuge'.

Egypt's presidential vote to be held by November. Egypt to elect new president by November.

Southern African leaders meet on Zimbabwe stand-off.

EUROPE

Portugal to choose new govt as debt woes worsen.

Sarkozy's plan for 'poisonous' debate on rising Muslim population in France savaged by religious leaders.

Italy hits out at 'scandalous' refusal of European nations to help with Lampedusa's boatloads of migrants from North Africa.

Dmitry Medvedev: Russian ministers must quit boardrooms.

German firms encouraged corruption: Greek Minister.

Chinese 'euro coin scam' leads to arrests in Germany.

AMERICAS

Mexican cartels get heavy weapons from CentAm, U.S. cables say.

Brazil joins Bolivia anti-drug fight.

Guatemala's alleged No. 1 drug trafficker captured.

In rare visit with Castro, Jimmy Carter attempts to restart US-Cuba relations.

Israeli: Argentina gives commitment to bomb probe.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Are Libyan rebels an al-Qaeda stalking horse?

Arab revolutions will boost Al Qaeda, says radical US cleric Awlaki. Al Qaeda responds to CNN.

Pakistan handles Islamic extremism with kid gloves.

Bali bomb suspect Umar Patek arrested in Pakistan. Official: CIA tipoff led to Pakistan arrest.

Al-Qaeda mag: We heart the Mideast revolts.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Traders worry that April 27 could derail the bull market.

G20 meeting highlights conflicts over currency.

Oil climbs to highest since 2008 on Libya conflict.

Dreamliner becomes a nightmare for Boeing.

Wal-Mart CEO Bill Simon expects inflation.

Microsoft files complaint against Google. Microsoft takes Google complaint to EU.

Geithner: inflexible currencies are biggest monetary problem.

What Really Happened In Wanat?

My Comment: I have done a large number of posts on this subject over the years, and I suspect that CNN and others will be studying (this battle) this battle long after the war in Afghanistan is over.

A Look At The Drug Runners' Jungle-Built, Kevlar-Coated Supersubs

Photo: Christoph Morlinghaus

Authorities in Awe of Drug Runners' Jungle-Built, Kevlar-Coated Supersubs -- Wired Science

The clatter of helicopter blades echoed across the jungles of northwestern Ecuador. Antinarcotics commandos in three choppers peered at the mangroves below, scanning for any sign of activity. The police had received a tip that a gang of Colombian drug smugglers had set up a clandestine work site here, in a dense swamp 5 miles south of Colombia’s border. And whatever the traffickers were building, the tipster had warned, was truly enormous.

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My Comment: I find this story fascinating, and a look at how huge the drug business has become in the Americas.

Mexico's Drug War Continues

Mexico’s Drug Lords Fall, But War Goes On -- Washington Post

APATZINGAN, Mexico — Aided by technology and intelligence from the United States, including overflights by drone aircraft and sophisticated software to eavesdrop on cellphone calls, Mexican forces have hit the La Familia drug cartel harder than any other criminal organization in Mexico.

Now, for the first time, Mexican officials are declaring that a major cartel is on the brink of collapse.

But if the government sees victory at hand, the reality in the hot farmlands and mountain hamlets in the western state of Michoacan feels very different.

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My Comment: Yup .... the war goes on .... especially when I read stories like this one.