[El Universal] They share their want of being forever in office; liken themselves to Jesus Christ or Mohammed; they climbed to the top from the military ranks; they vow that leading their revolutions has been a sacrifice "mandated by the people." And while they do not appear in the ranking of Forbes magazine, they own fortunes that compete with those of very important persons in the business world.
Muammar Qadaffy, Hosni Mubarak, ...The former President-for-Life of Egypt, dumped by popular demand in early 2011...Omar al-Bashir, Head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi and eventually appointed himself president. Omar's peculiar talent lies in starting conflict. He has fallen out with his Islamic mentor, Hasan al-Turabi, tried to impose shariah on the Christian and animist south, resulting in its imminent secessesion, and attempted to Arabize Darfur by unleashing the barbaric Janjaweed on it. Sudan's potential prosperity has been pissed away in warfare that has left as many as 400,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. Omar has been indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Court but nothing is expected to come of it. Ben Ali or Jean-Claude Duvalier -each of them have amassed a fortune from USD 10 billion to USD 100 billion, apportioned among the banks of Western powers or invested in highly renowned companies. However, The wishy-washy However... recent uprisings in the Arab world and other nationalist movements in demand of democratic freedoms have caused the Western world to take action, not only because of human rights ...which often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless... abuses, but also with regard to the awesome fortunes that have supported dictatorships of more than 40 years old.
Muammar Qadaffy, confident of his power over the people and infatuated by 42 years in office, once said: "Libya is me." This is quite understandable as experts estimate at USD 170 billion the assets managed by the dictator who was awarded the sword of Venezuelan Independence hero Simón Bolívar. Venezuelan President Hugo Chàvez confessed that he had warned his ideological ally to withdraw the Libyan reserves from "imperialist banks." Nevertheless, outbreaks of protest changed the outlook and sanctions against their assets came swiftly.
The World Bank estimates that every year corrupt dictators and presidents take out of their countries' coffers between 20 billion and 30 billion Euros. It is a large roster, including, in addition to Qadaffy, Haiti's Jean-Claude Duvalier; Zim-bob-we's Bob Muggsy Mugabe Octogenarian President-for-Life of Zim-bob-we who turned the former Breadbasket of Africa into the African Basket Case... ; Teodor Obiang of Equatorial Guinea; Tunisia's Ben Ali; Sudan's Omar al-Bashir; Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, and many others who have stepped down or are dead. Still, their successors and relatives fight for their wealth.
Viewed from a different standpoint
Notwithstanding, grassroots rebellions have brought about behavioral changes in Western powers. While for years they received dictators' investments in their banks, now they are swift to take action on these sums of money. Note the resolution of the United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... Security Council and the European Union to freeze all the assets of the Libyan government, encompassing Qadaffy, his family members and senior government officials. Same applied to Mubarak in Egypt.
Earlier, Switzerland, one of the largest financial centers in the Western world, whose system has counted on laws on protection of the bank secret, enforced the "Duvalier Act." Pursuant to this legal instrument, the bank accounts held by current or former dictators may be blocked without the need for a court action from the country of origin. Likewise, the law will enable affected people to recover part of the fortune stripped by ex dictators and corrupt government officials. The Federal Act on the Restitution of Assets of Politically Exposed Persons was drafted following a lawsuit against former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier and after freezing his bank accounts from 1986. Now, the ex dictator, back to Haiti, together with his family, should prove that their assets were obtained by legal means.
The law effective since February may apply, not only to dictators, but also to anybody labeled as Politically Exposed Person (PEP). Incidentally, some high-ranking officials of the Venezuelan government who have opened accounts in foreign banks have been labeled in this way. Switzerland has taken action against other dictators. This is the case of Zaire's Mobutu, or the millions returned to the Philippines that were swindled out by Ferdinand Marcos, or the 700 million Euros that returned to Nigeria and previously looted by dictator Sania Abacha.
Swiss sociologist and politician Jean Zigler, the current Vice-President of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, estimates that "out of 905 billion in foreign monies in Switzerland, 280 billion come from Asian, Latin American and African countries. In 90 percent of the cases, it is money stolen from the poorest peoples on planet," as quoted by analyst Eduardo Febbro. In reference to Switzerland, his motherland, Zigler has stated: "I live in the richest country in the world, the only primary good of which is the money of anyone else."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/02/2011 00:00 ||
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In which the writer is skeptical that Saif is dead, or that we were targeting both Gaddafi and son, or that they were all together in the bunker. Can't say for sure but he makes an interesting series of points. See if you can connect the dots same way he does.
by Fadel Lamen
The strike that killed the dictators youngest son came nowhere close to killing Gaddafi, says Fadel Lamens Libyan sources , who also cast doubt on whether grandchildren were killed. Plus, Clive Irving on what the killing reveals about NATO's on-the-ground intelligenceand its view of ending the war in Libya.
Forgive me for being cynical, but Ive seen this act before. Yes, the NATO strike on the Gaddafi familyboth the death of Saif al-Arab Gaddafi (not to be confused with Saif al-Islam, as the Libyan spokesman himself initially was) and the reported near-hit on the dictator himselfis important for the message sent and the chaos sown.
But the details on the Gaddafi hit dont add up, and they make meand a half dozen sources I talked with last night, including several in Libyaskeptical about how close we came to hitting the dictator. Or that three grandchildren were actually killed, as Gaddafis embattled government claims.
Musa Ibrahim al-Gaddafi, the belligerent leaders spokesmanand cousinwent straight into propaganda mode after the strike. Mr. Saif al-Arab was a civilian, a student... He was playing and talking to his father and mother and his nieces and nephews and other visitors when he was attacked and killed.
Like most of what the spokesmen there say, the regime has so far failed to provide any proof of its claim, except to guide the Western journalists in a tour of a facility bombed by NATO. The lack of clear evidence of any death, except spots of blood, just increases cynicism.
My Tripoli sources confirm an attack on one of the regimes buildings frequented by another of his sons, Hanibal Gaddafibut not Gaddafi himself, his wife or the other sons. In fact, one of my sources, acquainted with the family's habits, maintained that the family almost never gets together, especially given the current circumstances, which makes the idea of a NATO strike that somehow hit a nest of Gaddafis (sparing the leader, of course) seem a bit far-fetched.
In fact, several sources in Libya insisted to me that Gaddafi and his wife were nowhere close to the building. Rather than stay with family, or in official and military buildings and installations, Gaddafi, these people tell me, instead stays in civilian areas in apartments and other unsuspected buildings and moves constantly.
And consider that Saif-al-Arab, just 29, wasnt married, and didnt have known children of his own, according to my sources. So where did these grandchildren magically appear from?
Its reminiscent of Gaddafi claims exactly a quarter-century ago that a U.S. attack on his compound spared him, but killed his adopted daughter.
Its all reminiscent of Gaddafi claims exactly a quarter-century ago that a U.S. attack on his compound spared him, but killed his adopted daughter, Hana. Many then and now dismiss the story as a propaganda stunt. Mohamed Buisier, a Libyan opposition figure, who returned from Libya a few weeks ago, says he believes that Abdulsalam al-Zadma, one of Gaddafis right-hand men went to the children's hospital right after the attack and took a picture of an already dead baby and fabricated the story. Buisier says he believes, as do many others, that Hana is still alive in Tripoli.
It has been known in the last few months since the Libyan uprising how Gaddafi recycled the dead bodies of the Libyans he killed to claim that NATO killed them. His forces would dig up the graves and collect the bodies just to store them in refrigerators in Tripoli to be used as victims of the Western crusaders.
Perhaps today, hell offer more concrete proof. But many Libyans familiar with Gaddafis behavior worry that, in the quest for propagandaand bloodhe will commit civilian massacres, and then try to pin it on NATO or the Libyan rebels. He telegraphed as much in a long speech on Friday, when he rambled aimlessly: first angry, then helpless, then threatening, then reconciliatory, then defiant. The one thing he kept repeating: Civilian casualties are caused by the West.
Know this: Gaddafi will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to survive. Desperate regimes act desperately; lies and crimes are the last set of tools in the toolbox.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2011 00:00 ||
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Did Gaddafi Exaggerate NATO Attack?
...Crappeth not the bear in the woods?
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
05/02/2011 8:07 Comments ||
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He saw what happened to his buddy Saddam, & behaved pretty well for a while. Then when Obama took office he felt safe. Even when NATO's Europeans attacked him he didn't back down. I wonder how he's feeling today, now that the US has demonstrated some spine with binny biting the dust?
...The story of how we got the terrorist leader will no doubt be the subject of thousands of stories, many books and some great action films. But in the short run, what can we learn from this joyous event? For starters, we need to rethink entirely our relationship with Pakistan, which harbored bin Laden and from whose territory he presumably continued to direct terror operations. (This is certainly an understatement: The discovery that bin Laden had been hiding in a well-populated part of Pakistan, rather than a remote location, raised new questions about the extent to which Pakistan is cooperating with the United States in combatting terrorism.)
Second, this does demonstrate that, despite the presidents efforts to downplay Americas unique standing in the world, there remains one superpower, one indispensable player on the world stage and one magnificent military unparalleled in skill and courage. Obama should consider whether perpetual deference to others and incessant courting the international community are really worthy endeavors.
Third, this is why we went into Afghanistan and why George W. Bush decided that the United States would go on the offensive in the war against Islamic terrorism. We cannot sit home, play defense and hope for the best. It was Bushs insight that we would need to take the fight to the jihadists. Without doing so, we could not have obtained the intelligence needed to kill the man behind Sept. 11.
Finally, we should not be fooled that the war against Islamists is now over. The threats continue, the jihadists still kill ( the latest murder on Muslim soil was the death of 15 in Morocco last week) and our work is not done. Perhaps this success will encourage Obama to match our militarys fortitude and determination.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2011 09:29 ||
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So what suburb is Mullah Omar being pampered in?
The Paks need to pay for their duplicity.
Posted by: Jefferson ||
05/02/2011 10:23 Comments ||
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Mullah Omar was living in Quetta, then moved to Karachi under ISI auspices when the U.S. began publicly and loudly complaining that everybody except the Pak government knew where he was and who is landlord was. I'm guessing he's moved back now, after Mullah Brother was tossed to the wolves.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/02/2011 11:11 Comments ||
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The discovery that bin Laden had been hiding in a well-populated part of Pakistan, rather than a remote location, raised new questions about the extent to which Pakistan is cooperating with the United States in combatting terrorism.
No NEW questions at all. 'Pakistan' only cooperates with the USA because it doesn't want to make war on us. 'Pakistan' is ON THE OTHER SIDE.
#4
The discovery that bin Laden had been hiding in a well-populated part of Pakistan, rather than a remote location, raised new questions about the extent to which Pakistan is cooperating with the United States in combatting terrorism.
Anyone that has "new questions" about it obviously hasn't been paying much attention in the last ten years.
#6
could this have happened with the scaled back military O desires?
Posted by: jack salami ||
05/02/2011 11:37 Comments ||
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some great action films
I seriously doubt that. At best we'll get a Hollywood production fraught with moral equivalence, or maybe a quickly-made movie about BHO's new-found military prowess. There was enough "action" in Fallujah 2004 to provide material for 50 movies, but what we got instead was crap like Lions for Lambs. I don't know why.
Posted by: Matt ||
05/02/2011 12:17 Comments ||
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#7 some great action films
C'mon, it's Hollywood. Expect the SEAL that killed Bin Laden to be gay, and after coming out of the closet, fraught with regret over his actions, to resign his commission and throw his medals over the White House fence
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/02/2011 14:26 Comments ||
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC (Download Content) to be out in 60 days with all the 'good stuff' Hollyweird refuses to do. And will probably gross more than 80 percent of the movies released this year.
Posted by: European Conservative ||
05/02/2011 18:35 Comments ||
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...oops, looks like the boards say either Call of Duty: Black Ops or SOCOM 4 Navy Seals for that DLC and everyone seems to expect a $15 price. May Hollyweird feel the pain.
Debka sez:
The Lebanese Shiite Hizballah has decided the Assad regime is sinking. Military sources report the organization is preparing to pull its heavy, long-range weapons out of storage in Syrian military facilities -- no longer sure they are safe there -- and risk transporting them to Lebanon.
Last year, Syrian President Bashar Assad agreed to store Hizballah's incoming Iran-made Fatah-110 surface missiles and its Syrian equivalent the M-600 and the mobile SA-8 (Gecko) anti-air battery which holds 18 warheads with a maximum range of 12 kilometers. Tehran paid for the upkeep of the Hizballah hardware on Syrian side of the border after Israel threatened to bomb these potential game-changers if they crossed over.
Deployed at Hizballah bases in Lebanon, the Fatah-110 and M-600 would place almost every corner of Israel within range of bombardment, while the SA-8 would seriously restrict Israeli Air Force operations over southern Lebanon and Galilee.
However, as the uprising against Assad rolls ever closer to Damascus, Hizballah see a very real threat of it infecting the Syrian army and has decided that now might be its last chance to get hold of the core arsenal it has standing by for war with Israel before events get out of hand in Syria.
Hizballah's headquarters in Dahya, Beirut, became alarmed when they heard about strong resentment building up in the Syrian 11th Division over the Assad crackdown against the dissidents -- among officers as well as other ranks.
The 11th Division, which is camped outside Aleppo, is the best trained and organized of all Syrian army units, equipped as its strategic reserve with the most advanced weaponry. If the unrest has reached this elite unit, Hizballah reckons there is no time to losing for pulling its missiles out of Syrian military safekeeping.
Meanwhile, top Hizballah and Iranian offices in Tehran are working on the best way to transport the missiles into Lebanon without exposing them to Israeli attack, Iranian sources report.
Some of them calculate that Israel would not venture to strike them while still on Syrian soil because it would lay itself open to interfering, or even getting in the way of, the revolt against President Assad and playing into his hands.
A security emergency might well take the wind out of protest movement's sails.
But already, Tehran's Lebanese surrogate is beginning to distance itself from Bashar Assad, its longtime strategic partner and arms supplier, having decided he has his back to the wall. April 28, the Hizballah-controlled Lebanese Al Akhbar newspaper started criticizing the Assad regime on its op-ed pages.
#3
IMO this Artic essens means that IRAQ will begin to have new, worse troubles even as the US withdraws its Milfors as planned.
Pragmatically, the collapse of BABY ASSAD + REGIME means that there will no longer be an IRAN-SYRIA ALLIANCE OR AXIS - THERE WILL ONLY BE "IRAN" FOR ALL INTENTS + PURPOSES, between Tehran + the Golan Heights.
Iranian state television ran a report on Monday saying Israeli military aircraft were massing at a U.S. air base in Iraq for a strike on Iran.
The report appeared on the website of Press TV. Israel said it had no knowledge of such a strike plan and both the Pentagon and Iraq's air force commander denied the Iranian report.
Press TV quoted what it said was source close to the movement of Moqtada al-Sadr, an Iraqi Shi'ite cleric who opposes the U.S. presence in Iraq and has close ties to Iran's leaders.
Of the articles I've read about OBL's sudden reversion to room temperature, this short one by John Hayward at Human Events is my favorite.
The precision of this strike, deep inside Pakistani territory, i.e., enemy territory
is nothing short of astonishing. The United States military sets some very high bars for itself⦠and dazzles the world by vaulting right over them. Hopefully bin Laden had time to be suitably dazzled before the SEALs sent him to Hell. Don't you wish you had written that sentence?
The defeat Osama bin Laden suffered aboard United Flight 93, on the morning of September 11, is now complete. Another great sentence.
Congratulations are due all the way up the chain of command, from those who carried out the operation to the Commander-in-Chief who authorized it.
Congratulations are also in order for the previous Commander-in-Chief, George W. Bush, whose leadership in America's hour of crisis should never be forgotten. The comments to the article are mainly a spat over how much credit Bush deserves. That's a good thing to see folks debating, although my mind is pretty made up about it.
Posted by: Matt ||
05/02/2011 16:10 ||
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Down and to the right I'm told is from tight gripping the pistol in anticiation of the shot.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
