Persian Realm

African migrants sailing from Libya to Italy 'die of thirst'

Fifty four people have died while trying to sail from Libya to Italy in an inflatable boat, the United Nations refugee agency has said.

The only survivor, found by Tunisian fishermen, said the others had died of dehydration during a 15-day voyage.

He told UNHCR officials that they nearly reached the Italian coast, but were driven back by strong winds, and the boat then began to deflate.

Most of the passengers are thought to have been from Eritrea.

The survivor, also an Eritrean national, was rescued by fishermen off the Tunisian cost and is now being treated in a Tunisian hospital.

SILENCE LIKE CANCER SPREADS: A Fair Reminder by Bakhtiar (1984)

Silence Like Cancer Spreads: A Fair Reminder by Bakhtiar to Diaspora Iranians in LA, Paris, London, Washington and elsewhere who have chosen Convenient Neutrality instead of RESISTANCE (1984) 

Related Blogs:

SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE: Iranian Intelligenstia Remembers Shapour Bakhtiar

BEHOLD THE PALE HORSE: French Socialists Pay Tribute to Shapour Bakhtiar

VPK jan

The europeans are smarter and at times more opportunist that we give them credit for. They are just not being pushed hard enough to make the first move and maybe that would be a better criticism of Obama!

I understand your rights as an american citizen and that is absolutely justified. But this has become a moral issue rather than "it is my right" issue for many native born americans. wouldn't you say? even if there is no troops involved.

I think they have been pissed off and getting even more pisssed based on all the facts that have been coming out about the iraq and afghanistan wars, that even the thought of another form of intervention, invasive or non invasive, if you will! would not pass mustard with them. That is just what i think.

With regards to the Noble prize receipient and the selection process and who has authorized whom... It is really baffling. I agree. They make choices that makes you Go... WTF!!???

DM Jan

This thread is veering off the Libyan subject but I am fine with it.

Yes, Europeans did a lot of things before WWII. Many of them very really bad. I think they ran out of breath after WWII.

As for telling Americans you should read my post:

1) I am an American citizen and a tax payer. I get to say what I want. In fact I am far kinder to Obama than many other Americans. I voted for Obama. A mistake I will not repeat.

2) I was very clear no troops are needed. All he needs to do ts to knock out Gaddafi's tanks and planes. It requires no risk of American lives.

3) As for the Nobel prize I think it is a joke. Why should some secret unelected group in Sweden get so much prestige? Please explain to me why?

I say again: No one is asking him to send troops. Please read my post before you respond. There is a difference between sending some missiles to shoot down a bunch of planes or tanks and sending troops.

VPK

aziz 

When did the Europeans stand for anything?
Was it not the germans who Basically invaded the whole europe? Won't you consider that standig for something, as vicious and wrong and hateful and Devilish as it was?
Were the french not the ones who invaded and colonized Algiers?

There are so many similar examples througout the history and now they are just taking the lead on this, since basically they have so much vested interest in Lybia, so naturally the burden will be on american sons and daughters to do the deed? and You don't think that there is even an slight possibility of incurring an casualties? And how is that supposed to be justified this time around?

DO you dare run that by americans telling them that your prez. is in charge of the biggest and baddest powerful army in the world so suck it up and agree to send troops over there? You dreaming up this "minimal casualty" scenario my friend. You can't just suppress this faithful and loyal and organized force without expecting any repercussions. Are you kidding me?

His Noble prize was given to him. He was awarded that. He did not apply for it nor did he demand it. What responsibility?

I know that obama has a soft-landing approach on so many internal issues and he has been blamed so many times for it, But the times are diferent and he is not Johnson and this is not the 60's and congress nowadays fires right back at you when you make a false move or do something they do not approve of. They are not as sheepish as they possibly were back then, The political climate is not the same, that is a Huge factor to consider.

He makes his stance clear, Believe me he does. He has. He initiates things. He is good at that.

 I would dare to say that this time around the only enemies that would make for himself if he chooses to go through with and send troops over there, that would be no one but the american public. Then we will have a more chaotic situation on our hands.

DM Jan

When did the Europeans stand up for anything?

They lack the will and the power to do anything. Obama is in charge of the most powerful military force on the planet. It will take him one phone call to put an end to Gaddafi war machine. 

I am not asking for any big risk. Just knock out his tanks and planes. It will not require Americans to risk anything. The cost is minimal and he will get support. 

I am not blaming him for having the Nobel Prize. However with it comes responsibility. There are people getting killed as we debate. Let him take action then we can argue about the rest. 

My disappointment with Obama goes much further. He has rolled over on every issue that mattered to me. From financial regulation to health care. The man just refuses to stand for anything. Now compare that to Johnson. He managed to push Civil Rights over a very hostile congress. Why: because it was the right thing to do. Johnson was wrong about Vietnam but for Social Justice he was a real hero. 

Nixon for all his faults was brave enough to go to China. Who else would have done that? Obama would have been twiddeling his thumbs. Kennedy stood up to the Soviets and said: no way to nuclear missiles in Cuba. 

Now we may not agree with all their actions. But they had convictions and guts. Obama has not gone beyond the junior senator yet. If you want to be a leader you need to be willing to stand up for something.

Yes it may make you some enemies but better than doing nothing. So now we got a ton of dead Libyans and it is too late. Two weeks ago he may have stopped it; now it is all over for those people.

VPK !!

You are definitely blowing things out of proportion here and wrongfully and unjustifuably blaming everything on one person. the president of The united states!!! why? because he won the noble prize !

You seem to neglect the human cost factor in all this and whetherthis nation is ready to sacrifice another round of soldiers.

It is not right to always hold some foreign leader's responsible for the crimes and savagry that takes place in another country, specially in the case of Lybia with a long history of Military dictatorship.

I agree with the fact that Obama should put his thoughts with other leadres together and come up with an effective measure to deal with the situation but to say that It is him who has the blood of all the martyrs on his hand, is way beyond unfair,

One thing Anyone has to admit that , The public is so outraged, given all the economical problems, unemployment, rampant forclosures they are having to grapple with, that the idea of another military adventure would create massive explosion of protests and it is gonna exact a cost on so many in the political sense.

For once, let the europeans Bear the brunt of this and lead the way!!  

Internal affairs

If your neighbor is raping his daughter is that an "internal affair"? Should we just close our eyes and say "it is none of our business". If we took this philosophy every crime would be allowed. No degeneracy would ever be stopped.

To *** with sovereignty. Gaddafi is killing people. I don't care if there is some imaginary line making it "his" nation. His actions must be stopped and I salute whoever does it. Unfortunately some are so anti American they rather side with Gaddafi.

Azarin

I am a USA tax payer too. And I am all for schools. I pay plenty of tax for our school systems and all my kids use them. In fact maybe the schools should teach more about history and responsibility. To not let mass murder go on.

The schoold argument is a smoke screen. There is enough resources to help the Libyan people and to pay for schools. I absolutely do not buy this argument.

The good thing about USA is that you can have your opinion and disagree with me. If the "peace" types had their way we would not have any of these freedoms. 

By now Obama has done his damage and thousands lie dea. Because of him. He can master*** to his Nobel prize all he wants. I will not be voting for him again. No more fake peace types.

In that case what are you doing on the UN's Security Council ?

The Security Council's five permanent members have the power to veto any substantive resolution:

China

France

Russia

United Kingdom

United States

The US is Not an Ordinary member of the UN and has to live up to it's international obligations or Shut the F@$k Up when it comes to lecturing others on Democracy and Human Rights: 

AUTHENTIC FRONTIER GIBBERISH: Egypt's Rebuffs Washington's Speed Up Calls ;0)

let alone accept the Nobel Peace Prize ...

Oh but do Feel Free to call me a Racist Bigot for It may even increase my chances towards an official Knighthood under this very current "idiotic" American administration:

KNIGHTHOOD: Obama Honors Mel Brooks at Kennedy Center ( X Mas 2009) 

US wastes too much on bad policies

Bavafa high five

"The public fundings should go to our schools"

Amen to that, I have a bumper sticker on my car objecting to the $3 Billion a year ransom we pay Israel and another $1.5B to Egypt.

Mehrdad

Not convinced!

Sorry to disappoint...but I prefer the Americans' tax money spent on education, research and Arts, making roads and building libraries in the US! The public fundings should go to our schools, NPR and NIH, not wasted on Libya! But that's is just my opinion as an Iranian-American living in California!

Azarin Khanom:

I think DK and VPK has this covered up pretty well so I won't repeat why in some cases intervening is a MUST.

"First, I cannot understand why the US should intervene in the internal affairs of Libya. In the case of Iraq, we sent our troupes and the world hated us! Now everyone is hating us because we let the Libyan decide for themselves!! "

Is there any place in the world that US is not intervening? Well beside the friendly dictatorial regime in ME!!!

The case for Iraq was quit different and US was being hated for an illegal invasion of another country where as in Libya case, it can be brought to UN and put for a vote

Mehrdad

One more thing

1) DK jaan you took the words right out of my own mouth about Sadi. 

2) If we followed Obama's logic then USA would still have slavery. Well it *was* an internal state rights matter. So why should Massachusetts tell Mississippi not to have slaves? Obama forgets this. Maybe he needs a history lesson. If it was not for the "intervention" by the north he may be working in a plantation right now instead of the White house. By this shameful coward ignores the obvious. It is much easier to do nothing. Take no risks and no chances. Just sit on his laurels and gloat in the false glory of his Nobel Prize.

"Internal matter"

is nothing but a pile of nonsense dictators use to remain in power. Should the world have let the Nazi murder Jews because it was an "internal affair"?? Oh yes, they did! They waited until it was an "external matter" meanwhile 6 million people got gassed.

There is nothing more cowardly and morally bankrupt than the "peace movement". These folks will gladly sit there and watch millions murdered to pretend to be "peaceful". If we don't deal with this now it will come back to haunt us later. Obama has the  blood of thousands on his hands by his non intervention. His Nobel prize is a joke and not worth toilet paper. I truly do not understand how people like him sleep at night. Knowing that people are being mowed down as they sit back and do nothing.

Azarin Jaan If you truly think that then you truly dissapoint me

"All men are members of the same body,
Created from one essence.
If fate brings suffering to one member,
The others cannot stay at rest.
You who remain indifferent
To the burden of pain of others,
Do not deserve to be called human"

-Sa'adi (1184 – 1283/1291?)

Sa`di's well-known poem decorating the entrance of the United Nations Organization.

Azarin I disagree

This is not just an internal matter. It affects the whole region. Obama is giving Gaddafi the "Green Light" to kill his own people and remain in power. This is a message to IR that it is alright by him to kill the Iranian protesters as they want.

If Gaddafi gets away with thsi the other dictators will take notice. This is the plan of Obama. Sit there and look "good" while dictators do his dirty work. By the way I am not in Europe I am in the USA and find this as relevant as Darius.

Obama is a shameful man and a sorry excuse for a President. I voted for him to my regret. It is a mistake I will not repeat. If Republicans put up another nut job I just won't vote. If they put up a half decent person for them.

Obama did the right thing.

Dear Darius, I know that for those living in Europe Ghaddafi and Libya is a big deal (I see your fb posts..:-) But believe me, the average American doesn't really care. And honestly, I don't care either ...There are more urgent matters like the disater in Japan.

But I think you are wrong about Obama.

First, I cannot understand why the US should intervene in the internal affairs of Libya. In the case of Iraq, we sent our troupes and the world hated us! Now everyone is hating us because we let the Libyan decide for themselves!!

Plus, America is broke. People have lost their jobs..and what they expect from Obama is to take care of the domestic problems. Nobody would agree to waste our tax revenue on bombing another arab country, instead of building schools or improving our economy. Obama did the right thing with taking the side of the ordinary American who is suffering in the current situation. Now he has a chance to be re-elected. 

Azarin 

Obama

is becoming the personification of impotence. A true child of Jimmy Carter. All it took was a phone call from him to a general. The USA would have easily been able to de fang Gaddafi war machine. 

Instead Obama *chose* to do nothing: the only thing he is good at. What a sorry excuse for a USA president. I have never voted Republican: but I see why others would. 

This is why I put no value in the "Nobel" peace prize. It is given on such incomprehensible basis. Why does this guy deserve it? For sitting back and watching Gaddafi goons butcher his own people.

I expect EU to be pathetic. But why America?

Obama: sir you lost my vote next election. You let me down on both domestic and international policies. 

Do us a favor and do not run.

Green light

It seems to me that the superpowers have given Gadhafi the green light to go ahead and massacre the Libyan opposition. Shame on them.

Stop Execution and torture of Iranians in Islamic regime Prisons

I suppose Knighting "Idiots" Makes it Official Then ? ;0)

AP and AFP Reactions at the Time of Nobel Peace Prize

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize: Boost or Bust?

AP:

AFP

Nobel laureate ElBaradei backs Obama's Peace Prize (2009)

This Fellow want's to be Egypt's Next President ?

'Peace Prize to Obama' - big mistake by Nobel commitee

From Russia Today in 2009:

Gadhafi forces gain ground in march toward Benghazi

Gadhafi forces gain ground in march toward Benghazi (cnn)

University Students amongst Rebels fighting arms at hand

against Gaddafi. Saying they are not afraid to die. 

VIDEO: Inside a Rebel Training Camp (cnn)

Inside a Rebel Training Camp

As Gadhafi's forces close in, Arwa Damon visits a rebel training camp to see how the opposition hopes to win the battle.

Huge Risks ? argument against a no-fly zone in Libya

Viewpoint: Libya intervention 'brings huge risks' (bbc)

As debate continues over whether the international community should intervene in Libya, in particular by imposing a no-fly zone, Washington commentator Steve Clemons argues that such a move could bring enormous political risks for little return.

In Libya, a lethally unbalanced leader has decided not to reform his government or heed the calls of his public that he should have been term-limited out long ago, but instead has bombed, machine-gunned, and rolled tanks out against his own citizens.

More Details ? ... How More delusional can they get ?

Unbelievable ...