http://news.antiwar.com/2012/12/16/libya-closes-borders-declares-much-of-south-a-military-zone/
The LNC decree went on to give the Defense Ministry the power to impose a military governor on each of the six provinces, with unchecked power to arrest people and deport “illegal immigrants.”
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2012/12/17/Report-NBCs-Richard-Engel-Missing-in-Syria
and......
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/12/17/1344111/national-security-brief-syrians-turning-to-extremists-amid-food-shortages/?mobile=nc
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Syrians, particularly in the embattled city of Aleppo, are facing a food shortage as since November, “bread has been scarce, with a lack of fuel and flour shutting most bakeries.” The Times reported that extremist groups like Jibhat al-Nursa, a group with close ties to al-Qaeda that the U.S. just recently designated a terror group, are stepping in to fil the void. “The so-called terrorists are the ones who have been giving us bread and distributing it fairly,” said Tamam Hazem, a spokesman in Aleppo’s news media center, reached via Skype. “Free Syrian Army battalions have been trying to help, but they just don’t have the same kind of experience.” Local council members pleaded for more outside help to counter the jihadits’ efforts. “They are offering bread to people to obtain their sympathy and respect,” said the Aleppo council president. “Prolonging the Syrian crisis will allow the extremist cells in Syria to grow and become more difficult to remove in the future.”
Sharaa, the top ranking Sunni in the Alawite-dominated Syrian government, says that the virtual stalemate in the civil war necessitates an “historic settlement” that would include an end to fighting and a unity government.
Libya Closes Borders, Declares Much of South a ‘Military Zone’
Military Given Supreme Authority in Six Provinces
by Jason Ditz, December 16, 2012
The Libyan National Congress (LNC) has announced that it is closing its southern and eastern borders for an indefinite period of time, and that it is declaring six provinces, covering the bulk of the south, a “closed military zone.”
The LNC decree went on to give the Defense Ministry the power to impose a military governor on each of the six provinces, with unchecked power to arrest people and deport “illegal immigrants.”
Southern provinces have been increasingly embroiled in tribal clashes in recent months, and many of the southern representatives to the LNC were boycotting the body when it declared their regions under military rule.
The government’s official statement cited an increased flow of “illegal immigrants in the expectation of eventual international military action in Mali” as the justification for its move, though it isn’t clear how much of the fighting has anything to do with factions in Azawad.
and Iraq is boiling.......
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2012/12/16/disputed-areas-of-iraq-rocked-by-bombs-19-killed-80-wounded/
Disputed Areas of Iraq Rocked by Bombs: 19 Killed, 80 Wounded
by Margaret Griffis, December 16, 2012
About 19 Iraqis were killed, and 80 more were wounded, mostly in northern Iraq. Nearly all of today’s casualties occurred in cities claimed by both the central and Kurdish government. Tensions between the two governments heated up with Baghdad created a new security force for a heavily Kurdish region not yet subsumed by the autonomous government.
As many as 10 people were killed and 61 more were wounded when several bombs were detonated in Kirkuk. Some of the blasts targeted a Shi’ite mosque, while the others exploded outside a TV station. Separately, a sticky bomb killed a policeman, while mortars wounded four civilians.
A blast in Jalula killed two recruits and wounded 15 more near a Kurdish political party office. A crowd had gathered to enlist in the Kurdish security force.
Gunmen killed three policemen and wounded four more in Tarmiya.
In Abu Saida, a roadside bomb killed one civilian.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a civilian.
Gunmen killed the brother of Qadisiya’s governor as he was traveling in Diwaniya.
Several schoolteachers were kidnapped in Rashad.
Two bombs were defused in Mussayab.
- 4 Killed in Iraq – December 15th, 2012
- Iranian Pilgrims Among 14 Killed in Iraq – December 14th, 2012
- Twelve Killed Across Iraq – December 13th, 2012
- Security Personnel and Students Among 17 Killed in Iraq – December 12th, 2012
- Six Security Personnel Killed in Iraq – December 10th, 2012
and Syria still in its death struggle....
REPORT: NBC REPORTER RICHARD ENGEL MISSING IN SYRIA
by JOHN NOLTE 17 Dec 2012, 8:43 AM PDT 289POST A COMMENT
Let's hope and pray this is a false alarm:
A Turkish reporter working for the NBC TV news network is said to have been missing in Syria since Wednesday, Turkish media reported on Monday.Turkey’s NTV news channel reported that Turkish correspondent for NBC, Aziz Akyavas, went missing in Syria and has not been reached for four days.Along with Akyavas, NBC is unable to reach its Middle East bureau chief Richard Engel, who was also reporting from inside Syria.Full story here.
and......
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/12/17/1344111/national-security-brief-syrians-turning-to-extremists-amid-food-shortages/?mobile=nc
National Security Brief: Syrians Turning To Extremists Amid Food Shortages
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Syrians, particularly in the embattled city of Aleppo, are facing a food shortage as since November, “bread has been scarce, with a lack of fuel and flour shutting most bakeries.” The Times reported that extremist groups like Jibhat al-Nursa, a group with close ties to al-Qaeda that the U.S. just recently designated a terror group, are stepping in to fil the void. “The so-called terrorists are the ones who have been giving us bread and distributing it fairly,” said Tamam Hazem, a spokesman in Aleppo’s news media center, reached via Skype. “Free Syrian Army battalions have been trying to help, but they just don’t have the same kind of experience.” Local council members pleaded for more outside help to counter the jihadits’ efforts. “They are offering bread to people to obtain their sympathy and respect,” said the Aleppo council president. “Prolonging the Syrian crisis will allow the extremist cells in Syria to grow and become more difficult to remove in the future.”
In other news:
The Washington Post reports: Syria’s vice president called Sunday for a negotiated end to the war that has raged for almost two years, saying neither the regime nor the rebels battling it can win on the ground. Farouk Al-Sharaa, in an interview to be published Monday in the Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, suggested that keeping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power is not necessarily a prerequisite for ending the war.
Iran’s economic minister reportedly told an Iranian newspaper that the country’s oil revenues have been cut in half, as compared to last year. Meanwhile Reuters reports that Iran’s foreign minister said on Monday that “the two sides (Iran and world powers) have reached a conclusion that they must exit the current stalemate.”
and...The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday: The U.S. military in Afghanistan is shifting its focus next year from fighting the Taliban to advising and enabling Afghan forces, senior U.S. officials say, noting that this could allow sizable cuts in the 66,000-strong U.S. troop contingent over the spring and the summer.
http://news.antiwar.com/2012/12/16/syrian-vp-neither-side-can-win-militarily/
Syrian VP: Neither Side Can Win Militarily
Urges 'Historic Settlement' to End Civil War
by Jason Ditz, December 16, 2012
In an interview today with a Lebanese newspaper, Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa said he believes neither rebels nor regime can win the ongoing civil war militarily, and says he believes a settlement is necessary.
Sharaa, the top ranking Sunni in the Alawite-dominated Syrian government, says that the virtual stalemate in the civil war necessitates an “historic settlement” that would include an end to fighting and a unity government.
Though some reports presented this as the regime giving up on the idea of winning the civil war, Sharaa has remained quiet for months at a time, and it isn’t clear if his comments reflect the sentiment of the rest of the Assad regime’s leadership.
Such a settlement would likely benefit Sharaa significantly, as he has often been presented by pro-rebel governments, including Turkey, as a possible interim successor within the regime who would be tolerable until the eventual elections for a new government. It isn’t clear how rebels will react to the statement, however, as many continue to insist their own military victory is inevitable.
- Syrian Rebels Seize Infantry Base in Aleppo, Rebel Commander Slain - December 16th, 2012
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