America’s Oil War On Libya

Muammar Al-Kaddafi came into power in Libya in 1969, ousting King Idris. Kaddafi nationalized some of the foreign oil facilities immediately and threatened to nationalize the rest in 2009.

[Global Commentary: Libya]

President Barack Obama, a man of African descent, bombing an African Country, Libya, killing innocent African people under the false pretense of stopping President Muammar al-Kaddafi from killing his own people, is unconscionable and unacceptable.

Let’s be very clear, President Obama is merely a mouthpiece for a racist imperialistic American foreign policy controlled by generals and corporate elites. The over 162 tomahawk missiles fired from American ships killed more innocent Libyan people than the Civil War between Kaddafi and the so-called rebels killed.  By the way, it costs American tax payers over 1 million dollars per missile –over $162 million– and over $600,000 to launch each missile.

The Black community can use that money to respond to the myriad of economic issues that plague our communities.

President Obama had the audacity to come to Harlem last Monday for a $30,000-a-plate fundraiser and not meet with the people of Harlem and address their pressing issues. Harlem’s median income is about $30,000 and Harlem’s poverty rate is about 30% – and this was the president’s first trip to Harlem since being elected. Shame on him!

Here are facts on Libya that the President didn’t address in his speech to the nation while trying to rationalize his bombing of Libya:

The real deal is that America wants to control Africa’s oil supply.  Obama says that he is only in the war for a “limited amount” of time. He says the war is now turned over to NATO. 

Mr. President we are not stupid – NATO is run and controlled by America.  In fact, NATO is America and we all know that the president and his European coalition are really out for regime change, even if it means killing President Muammar Al-Kaddafi. 

America’s plan is to import 25% of its oil supply by the year 2015 from Africa.  Libya holds about 47 billion barrels of proven reserves, which is the highest in Africa and the country has a population of only 6.5 million and in recent years it’s average income per person was higher than some European countries’. Other African countries with top proven reserves are: Nigeria 37.5 billion barrels; Angola 13.5 billion barrels; Algeria 13.4 billion; and, the Sudan 6.8 billion barrels. Thus, The War for Oil!

In 2007 then President George W. Bush and his Secretary of Defense Robert Gates –this is the same Gates that’s in the Obama Administration– set up AFRICOM, the unified command for military action in Africa. Its main base is in Stuttgart, Germany and it has a base in Djibouti as well, a small African country of a half million people at the very tip of the horn of Africa. These facts are highlighted in an article by Emile Schepers entitled “Africom and the Libya War.” America’s foreign policy for Africa is to set up military bases, to re-colonize Africa and exploit Africa for its oil and rich resources. America is in competition with China to control the oil, land, and rich mineral resources of Africa. This madness must stop.

Muammar Al-Kaddafi came into power in Libya in 1969, ousting King Idris. Kaddafi nationalized some of the foreign oil facilities immediately and threatened to nationalize the rest in 2009.

It’s no wonder that America, France, Italy, England, and others are bombing his country in 2011. U.S. oil companies and others are presently invested in Libya; these companies include Marathon, Hess, Conoco, Gulf, Occidental, British Petroleum (BP), Repasol from Spain, Eni from Italy, Total from France and others. 

This is what it’s really about–profits over people. Who really thinks America is concerned about African people dying in Africa?  They don’t care about Black people dying in America.  Remember New Orleans. Remember the M.O.V.E bombing in Philadelphia.  Remember Sean Bell, 50 bullets. Remember Amadou Diallo, 41 bullets. Remember Timothy Stansbury, a bullet to the heart–all by the New York Police Department (NYPD), and countless others. 

Let’s get real. This is about oil and power, not saving people.  It’s about maximizing profits.

Marcus Garvey said: “Africa for the Africans those at home and those abroad.” Dr. Kwame Nkrumah called for a Unites States of Africa, and President Muammar Al-Kaddafi is continuing that call.  Obama is Wrong. U.S. out of Libya. Africom out of Africa. The Struggle Continues.

Barron is a New York City Councilmember from Brooklyn

“Speaking Truth To Empower.”

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