Libya and Syria join Turkey’s flagship military exercise in historic firsts

Turkey, a NATO member, run by Ottoman sultan Erdogan!

"In a pair of milestones that underscore Ankara’s growing ambitions as a regional military player, Libya and Syria have deployed forces to Turkey’s EFES-2026 Combined Joint Live-Fire Field Exercise — the first time either country has participated in a military exercise on foreign soil.

The live-fire phase of EFES-2026 ran through May 21 along the Aegean coast near İzmir, making it one of Turkey’s largest combined and joint exercises to date. Conducted under the Aegean Army Command, the drill spanned two phases — a computer-assisted command post phase in April and the live-fire field phase — drawing over 10,000 personnel from 50 nations to the İzmir Gulf and Doğanbey training ranges.

The Libyan participation carries particular symbolic weight. A total of 502 Libyan troops — 331 from the country’s eastern forces and 171 from the west — are training side by side under a single Libyan flag. It is the first time the two rival factions have jointly deployed abroad. ...

Syria’s participation is smaller but arguably more important diplomatically. Approximately 50 Syrian military personnel took part, making the newly reconstituted Syrian army’s first-ever exercise outside Syrian territory. ..."

Libya and Syria join Turkey’s flagship military exercise in historic firsts

Libya: Global Oil Giants Return for First Time Since the Fall of Gaddafi

Good news!

(267) Libya: Global Oil Giants Return for First Time Since the Fall of Gaddafi | Firstpost Africa | N18G - YouTube

Libya's Military Chief Killed in Plane Crash Near Turkey's Ankara with Palki Sharma

Was it an assassination? What will happen in Libya, a divided country?

Pakistan Strikes $4 Billion Arms Deal with Libya for joint developed Pakistani-Chinese fighter jets with Palki Sharma

Recommendable! Serious stuff! Pakistan wants to be the defender of the Muslim world. Libya is already a divided country at war with each other.

Muammar Gaddafi: From Desert Nomad to Libya’s Fallen Strongman

Recommendable!

Western Oil Giants Set for Libya Return Amid Proxy Battle with Palki Sharma

Recommendable! Was it a mistake by the West to help overthrow dictator Gaddafi in 2011?

Is Donald Trump really planning to move 1 million Palestinians to Libya?

Good idea! Or why not Sinai peninsula?

Did France’s Sarkozy take $52 Million from Libyan Dictator Gaddafi? with Palki Sharma

What a corrupt politician!

Russia-Printed Counterfeit Notes in East Libya Devalue Dinar

The megalomaniac and war criminal Putin the Terrible at work!

Putin Vows to Enhance Capabilities of Khalifa Haftar's Libyan Forces

Putin the Terrible at work!

Libya Dams Were in Danger according to previous warnings

Don't blame Climate Change for the horrendously high death toll in Libya. Utter government failure is one of the primary causes!

This for many years war torn country failed to properly maintain its infrastructure. Since the assassination of flamboyant dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, this country has been a mess.

"... Torrential rains were not new. Decade after decade, they had pounded the area, washing away the soil that helped soak up water as it ran down from the dry hills above town. ...

Then, there were the decades of neglect by officials — who knew the dams needed repairs — in a country so torn by years of civil war that it still has two opposing governments: one in the west and another in the east, where Derna lies. ...

The two dams that towered over the city had been built [in the late 1970s] with the help of engineers from the former Yugoslavia, according to experts. The larger one, known as Abu Mansour, stood 74 meters high and could hold up to 22.5 million cubic meters of water. The smaller one, al-Bilad, or simply Derna dam, was built on the city’s outskirts.

During the long, autocratic reign of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, floods came and went, but the dams stood. In 1986, a major storm convulsed the region, damaging the dams and shearing soil from the ground. The structures were damaged, ... but again they held. ..."

Libya Dams Were in Danger, Engineer Warned - The New York Times “The state wasn’t interested,” said an engineer who published a paper on why Derna’s dams, after decades of postponed repairs, might fail under the stress of a powerful storm.

Why Libya Could Split into Two Countries

Recommendable!

BBC: Libya's 'Game of Drones'

Very recommendable! Great detective/forensic story! This an example of great journalism employing latest technology!



Libya is the world's largest war theater for drones.

UAE and Egypt are also actively involved in the war in Libya.

Libya: The Ancient Chariots Of Libya with David Adams

Very recommendable!

Libya And Germany’s Abstention An Abdication Of Responsibility

Background

I originally posted this blog post in late March of 2011, but withdrew it later.

Germans Do Not Live Up To Their Vow Never Again (Nie Wieder!)

If any country in this world has an obligation to come to the rescue of people who are brutally attacked by their ruthless dictator it is Germany. Instead Germany’s leader choose election year tactics over responsibility.

Germany Voted With China And Russia

It is shocking and appalling, Germany still refuses to take international Responsibility. Not only was the UN Resolution on Libya very late, but Germany voted with China and Russia. Germany is not another Switzerland. German foreign policy is still conducted by talking and money, but not by action. History waits for no one!

Germany Likely Undermined NATO Decision

Given this incredible abstention, it is quite likely that Germany also delayed decisions at NATO. Why did Germany not decide to act together with France and the UK or Italy? Was Germany complicit why the US President hesitated so long? An abstention like this is an insult to Germany’s allies.

Libya Was Absolutely Critical

The case of Libya was straightforward: A belligerent, brutal dictator with a 40 year history of mayhem using foreign mercenaries to kill his people. A dictator, who incited war in neighboring countries and abroad. A dictator who frequently trained, paid, supported and who ordered terrorist attacks.

Now Syria and Iran can continue and have nothing to fear.

German Government Failed To Sense Urgency

Given the fact that the current US President is an indecisive community organizer it was upon Germany, France or the UK to show leadership and to assure all freedom loving people of our commitment.

Immediate Resignation Of The Government Government

Mr. Westerwelle it is time to resign! Ms. Merkle it is time to resign! You have tarnished the reputation of Germany and violated your oath! These two German leaders sorely lack Zivilcourage (moral courage).

Two German presidents (the Bundespraesident and the Praesdient of the Bundesbank) have already resigned!

Libya Ought To Redress The Jews For The Atrocities They Suffered

A Bit Of Recent History

As happened in other Arab countries, a large number of Jews were murdered or forced to leave Libya in the 20^th century. These pogroms were officially condoned. These pogroms happened at the end of World War II, 1948, and around 1967.

Here is the personal account of such atrocities committed against Jews in Libya. It is a blog written by David Harris at the HuffingtonPost.com headlined “A Neglected Anniversary” dated 7/8/2012.

Here are some excerpts from this blog (Emphasis added):

·         “Here [in Libya] was a community that had lived on the soil for more than two millennia, long predating the occupation by invading armies from the Arabian Peninsula. And Jews, numbering nearly 50,000 at their peak, had contributed in every way imaginable to the area’s development. Libya went to work to erase every trace of Jewish existence.”

·         “The link with the country today known as Libya - believed to date back to the tragic 15th-century exodus of Jews from Spain, in the case of my wife's maternal lineage, and 2,000 years to the involuntary Roman transport of Jews from Palestine in the case of her paternal lineage -- was severed.”

·         “What happened to the brave soul who saved my wife's family? He survived, but begged the family never to disclose his name. He feared retribution from fellow Libyans who might do him harm for the "crime" of saving ten Jews.” (Will Israel one day add the name of this brave Arab to Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among The Nations?)

Libya never showed any remorse for what happened neither did the other Arab countries to my knowledge.

How To Redress?

Now that the first free elections since independence were held in Libya, it would be recommendable that Libya engages in the Mid-East peace process by first telling the Arabs in Gaza and West Bank to get real and to abandon violence against Israel.

Second, like Germany, Libya should compensate Jewish survivors for their suffering.

Third, Libya ought to welcome back any Jews who wish to return etc.