Michael T. Klare on Libya, A Perfect Storm for Oil, People, and Corporations

Talk Nation Radio for February 24, 2011
Michael T. Klare on Libya, its People and its Oil
A Perfect Storm for Oil, People, and Corporations

To what extent will the Obama administration be focusing on human rights for Libyans versus the need for oil?

World markets have become volatile in response to the uprising in Libya. The price of Brent oil, derived from the MidEast, was at $120.00 per gallon and rising when a rumor began to circulate that Gaddafi had been shot. Instantly, the markets began to recover, the first time they rose since the start of the week. Thus, the uprisings that began in Tripoli and surged through Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, and Libya, have had a resounding impact world wide. Stock prices have plummeted as it became clear that Libyan oil in particular might not be available to the industry. We discuss the impact of oil on the global economy in context with potential scenarios impacting Libyans and others.



TRT: 29:00
Produced by Dori Smith
Download at Pacifica’s Audioport here
or at Radio4all.net and Archive.org

Michael T. Klare joins us to raise questions about US policy and what organizations might be able to help the people of Libya. There are growing challenges to the Obama administration and other major world powers to take action in response to violence in Libya.

(11:00 a.m. 2024-2011) There were gun battles in the industrial town of al-Zawiya and other towns in the southwest. Opposition members are now looking for Gadhafi whose loyalists are using force to try to hold on to territory.

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Michael T. Klare has specialized in documenting the impact of resource wars on societies and US foreign and military policy. In January he warned of a global food and energy crisis. He is the author of thirteen books including Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet, Blood and Oil and Resource Wars, and a contributor to Harper's, Foreign Affairs, the Los Angeles Times.

Michael T. Klare is also the defense analyst for The Nation and director of the Five College Program in Peace and World Security Studies at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.

URL list for background, news on "Muammar Gaddafi"

See The Guardian
Libya: David Cameron and Barack Obama discuss how to depose Gaddafi. Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama on Thursday promised to "coordinate on possible multilateral measures on Libya," Mr Cameron's office said in a statement. 12:53AM GMT 25 Feb 2011

Of Interest:
NYT story, October 11, 2006, ...this seems significant all of a sudden: All Libyan school children got a laptop through a special program set up by the brother of U.S. diplomat and military intelligence official, John Negroponte: "The project, which is intended to supply computers broadly to children in developing nations, was conceived in 2005 by a computer researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nicholas Negroponte. His goal is to design a wireless-connected laptop that will cost about $100 after the machines go into mass production next year."

"To date, Mr. Negroponte, the brother of the United States intelligence director, John D. Negroponte, has reached tentative purchase agreements with Brazil, Argentina, Nigeria and Thailand, and has struck a manufacturing deal with Quanta Computer Inc., a Taiwanese computer maker."

Journalist Heiko Wimmen on Lebanon: Transitional Political Figures

Talk Nation Radio for February 2, 2011
Journalist Heiko Wimmen on Lebanon, Transitional Political Figures

Scholar and journalist Heiko Wimmen provides an overview of the political landscape. He has covered Lebanese politics for German print and broadcast media since the late 1990s and is author of “The Long, Steep Fall of the Lebanon Tribunal,” published in Middle East Report Online, December 1, 2010.



TRT:28:59
Produced by Dori Smith, Storrs, CT
Download at Pacifica's Audioport here: Or at Radio4all.net and Archive.org

Lebanon is fracturing along sectarian lines in wake of transition from Hariri to new PM Najib Miqati who is still putting together his cabinet. The process is heavily impacted by the special tribunal set up with US support. Leaks abound, so does confusion.

Next time on Talk Nation Radio, another feature on Lebanon. An interview with Marc J. Sirois, who has been covering the Middle East, based in Lebanon, since 1997. Over many years as managing editor of The Daily Star newspaper in Beirut, he has trained dozens of journalists now working around the world. Currently a freelancer and consultant for several organizations, he’s also available for training seminars and public speaking engagements.

Relevant links: Middle East Desk, Middle East Report
Background: Robert Fisk, Civil War in Lebanon

National Guard Troops deploy to Egypt, Phyllis Bennis, John Pike of Global Security on US Military and Egypt

Talk Nation Radio for February 3, 2011
CT Guard Troops to Egypt, Phyllis Bennis, John Pike
of Global Security

(Photo by Ben Curtis, AP) Plus an interview with Col. John Whitford of the Connecticut National Guard. He discusses the deployment of US troops to Egypt for reconnaissance and resupply missions. They are based in Egypt and will join guard members from other states. We get Updates on Egypt, Israel and Palestine. John Pike of Global Security dot org talks about the US Military's joint operations with Egypt over the years. We go over the headlines.



TRT: 29:24
Produced by Dori Smith in Storrs, CT
Download at Pacifica's Audioport here or at Radio4all.net and Archive.org

We are seeing media coverage about popular uprisings in Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, and Yemen. When it comes to occupied Palestine, though, very little coverage over many years. We discuss headlines about the new protest movement in context with existing efforts in Palestine. And we talk about the meaning of the Wikileaks documents, plus, what the Obama administration should do about Israel and Palestine.

Phyllis Bennis is a Steering Committee member of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies as well as the director of the New Internationalism Project. Her most recent books include Understanding the Palestinian Israeli Conflict, and Understanding the US-Iran Crisis. See Palestine Papers at Al Jazeera here.