U.S. Personnel Evacuate Libya — Again
Anti-government militias have damaged Tripoli Airport — which is close to the United States Embassy compound
Add Libya to the list of places around the world that are on fire. Over the weekend, U.S. embassy personnel — including the U.S. Ambassador — were quickly evacuated from the country amidst growing instability caused by militias battling the Libyan government.
Heavy clashes in Libya between army troops loyal to a renegade general and Islamist-led militias have killed 38 people—including civilians—in the country’s restive east, health officials said Sunday.
A security official said the fighting involved forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hifter and militias in the eastern city of Benghazi. The clashes started Saturday and continued through early Sunday morning.
The official said commando forces regained control of four military camps captured by Islamist militias in the past few days. Health officials said rockets fired during the fighting hit civilian homes, causing casualties and wounding dozens of people.
BREAKING: 158 Americans evacuated from U.S. embassy in Libya amid spiraling militant violence http://t.co/QQPbDZdmIo
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 26, 2014
Secretary of State John Kerry announced during an overseas trip on Saturday that the United States is temporarily suspending its diplomatic activities in Libya. Diplomats were quickly moved to locations in nearby Tunisia after the militias attacks had struck Tripoli’s airport which is close to the U.S. embassy:
The evacuations of American personnel in Tripoli come on the heels of evacuations from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, as the ISIS Islamist army advances in that country. This begs the question from Republican lawmakers — has United States’ influence collapsed across the Middle East?
“Unfortunately, this development was predictable, given the lack of direction and leadership from this administration since it ousted Moammar Gadhafi,” said Rep. Ed Royce (R., Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) held a similar view.
“I am pleased our diplomats are safe,” he said, while adding regional security is faltering across much of North Africa, the Middle East and Eurasia. “This is what happens when the United States is not engaged and lacks a clear foreign policy that includes strong U.S. leadership.”
U.S. diplomats from Libya will continue their work in Tunisia while the situation in Tripoli is monitored closely, according to Secretary Kerry.
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Comments
“Smart diplomacy”…a hiss and a by-word.
What a sad and dangerous time, the Obamic Decline.
How many lives will be ended, ruined, or made tragic by this folly?
I agree. “Smart Diplomacy” doesn’t work with 9th century barbarians(no insult intended to Conan. OTH good ol’ Gunboat Diplomacy does. At least after you kill off the worst ones.
It works no better with KGB trained oligarchs, NORK psychopaths, or run-of-the-mill South American Collectivists.
Human nature didn’t change with the Millennial fireworks. We can be as good and civil as could be, and behind that we always have to remember that human nature STILL means you have to project and use force when mandated. Which is mostly often…
Obama’s biggest boondoggle, unilaterally deciding to bring change by military force to Libya.
I could be in error but, didn’t all the wars going on, in that part of the world have their beginning with:
http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-tells-mubarak-that-transition-must-begin-now-115068399/134370.html
Barry’s Arab Spring Thing.
Valerie was wrong. That was Arab Fall, we are now in Arab Winter and it looks to be a long harsh one.
“Smart Power!”
i’m so glad we got that stupid cowboy Boooosh out of office and some adults in charge for a change.
now, where is my reset button?
About 10 years ago, my mother travelled to Libya as a tourist. She said it was incredibly safe, and you could go anywhere at any time without worrying about being robbed or attacked because Gadhafi had decided to cooperate with the west and open the country to tourism. Yes, he was a dictator, but he kept the peace, and Libya was modernizing. Everything Obama touches turns to crap. Everything.
How did they know there were problems? Did they see it on T V?
Why was it necessary to remove a neutered Gaddafi, only to create a new and progressive human crisis? It’s not like he invaded a sovereign nation. Did Obama want a far left Islamic regime in Libya? I would have thought rejection of the Obama doctrine was plainly expressed in Egypt, Syria, and Ukraine. Perhaps not.
Whatever happened to Libya’s 48 billion known foreign reserves ? Italy France & GB were the most aggressive in going for OperationKillghadaffi so I presume they shared it out . Strangely it was just at the time they needed an injection .
All the other nations that joined in were pathetic. There were 5 absentias in the UN vote Brazil a Russia India China & Germany . China & Russia did not veto but they. Learnt their lesson . never trust the West .
I’m going to stray from the general tone of this comment tree to send out a shout of heartfelt thanks to the Marine Corps which provided the MV-22s carrying medics and a quick reaction force to cover the evac, and the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines who provided the muscle-on-the-ground needed to make this op a success. And to the USAF which provided air cover and tanker support. And to whoever was flying the “surveillance” drones.
How sad the difference between this and Benghazi. One news report said that when the evac began, those leaving included 80 “heavily armed” Marines.
See: http://www.navytimes.com/article/20140726/NEWS08/307260049/New-details-emerge-Libya-embassy-evacuation
Thank you to the men and women who work so hard to serve this country.
It is also seen as a humbling departure for US marines . Is Tripoli this where the Marines began their fave? Don’t they have a rally cry about it?
Was not Tripoli where the Marines fame began ? I am not fully up to all US military origins but this is the general impression..
Of course I could look it up , but the point is as a general impression seen by the world ( & other militaries) .
All in all not good at all being run out of town by the new Barbary Coast t guys.
Please… no more giving Nobel Peace prizes to presidents for what they will probably accomplish. I don’t think the world can handle it.