CRISIS IN LIBYABy Miguel Gutierrez

Gus BidwellRyan Wilkinson

Gadhafi + Background• Muammar Gadhafi has ruled Libya for more

than 40 years by banning and brutally opposing any individual or group opposing the ideology of his 1969 revolution, criminalizing the peaceful exercise of expression and association, refusing to permit independent journalists' and lawyers' organizations, and engaging in torture and extrajudicial executions, including the 1,200 detainees killed in Abu Salim Prison in June 1996. Libya took formal responsibility for the terrorist attack that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, 189 of whom were U.S. citizens and high-ranking Libyan officials have indicated that Muammar Gadhafi personally ordered the attack.

The Issue• The demands of the Libyan people

began much like those of their neighbors in North Africa and the Middle East--for the protection of their universal rights, for greater political freedom and representative government, for justice and opportunity. But the response of Qadhafi and those still loyal to him stood in stark contrast to the inspiring events of what some called the Arab spring. Qadhafi unleashed a merciless campaign of violence against the Libyan people, including civilian noncombatants, using every tool at his disposal, from artillery barrages, to airstrikes, to the employment of foreign mercenaries.

U.S Involvement• The White House meeting with 18 lawmakers came as Obama delivered

an ultimatum to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi that he must immediately implement a ceasefire in all parts of Libya and allow international humanitarian assistance, or risk military action against his regime.

• The president is mindful that the American public is weary of war, and that the world community casts a skeptical eye at American plans to take military action against yet another Muslim country. Obama has tried hard not to feed into Gadhafi's megalomaniacal worldview by making this confrontation about him versus Obama, or the United States versus Gadhafi, officials say.

• The United States has very much been leading the charge behind the scenes, but the White House has deferred public action to the State Department and the United Nations. The administration has also worked furiously to put a European and Arab face on the opposition to Gadhafi's action.

Cause and effect• Crude oil prices hit a two-week high as the crisis

in Libya continued to push prices higher, while gold is struggling to find direction between competing influences from risk sentiment trends.

• The Japanese Yen outperformed amid broad-based risk aversion as escalating violence in Libya pushed oil prices above 6/barrel to a new 29-month high.

• The US Dollar and Swiss Franc may rebound from Asia-session losses as FX markets digest G7 intervention while the crisis in Libya returns to the spotlight.

Recent Events• By 04 March 2011, fighting in Libya was well into its third

week with both sides claiming successes. Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have launched air strikes and engaged in ground fighting with rebel forces advancing from the eastern part of the country. Around the central town of Bin Jawwad, fighting intensified Sunday as government forces pushed back rebels who previously had gained ground. Outside the port city of Ras Lanuf, rebel fighters were in control. The fighters said they had repelled several attacks by fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Ras Lanuf is a major oil facility and rebels manning anti-aircraft weapons said they will defend their positions against any attack by government forces. In the city of Zawiyak, west of the capital, Tripoli, there were reports that rebel groups have repelled government counter offensive.

• The Libyan Human Rights League estimates at least 6,000 people had died in the two-week old uprising.

Works Cited• (1) "Lybian War 2011." global security. • N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2011.

<www.globalsecurity.org/military>.• (2) "stratfor Lybian war." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2011.

<www.stratfor.com/analysis/2011Lybianwar>.• (3) "Lybian War 2011." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2011.

<enwikipedia,org/wiki/category>.• (4) "cause and effect Lybia." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2011.

<www.forexborn.com/search/cause+effect+lybia>.• (5) "Lybian War 2011." N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May 2011.

<fires.com.pl/picture/lybianwar>.