Senator Kerry calls on oil companies to suspend Libya operations in response to violence there

[karynnj]

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry called for the ouster of Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi amid an uprising in which armed supporters have fired on crowds of protesters.

The Massachusetts Democrat also said in a statement Tuesday that U.S. and other oil companies should “immediately cease operations in Libya until violence against civilians ceases,” and that the United Nations Security Council should condemn violence directed at the protesters and remove Libya from the Human Rights Commission.

“The Qadhafi government’s use of deadly force against its own people should mean the end of the regime itself,” Mr. Kerry said. “It’s beyond despicable, and I hope we are witnessing its last hours in power.”
<snip>
“While Qadhafi himself is irredeemable, his senior military commanders need to know that their acquiescence in atrocities could open them to future international war crimes charges,” Mr. Kerry said

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/02/22/kerry-gadhafi-is-irredeemable/

His idea to use pressure from the oil companies is interesting as the US government does not have a lot of leverage - unlike in Egypt. It is also interesting that he is warning the senior military commanders that they could be charged with atrocities.

[DJ13]

1. 1 hour ago... Libya Declares Force Majeure On Oil Exports

02/22/2011 11:36

Reuters reports that Libya has just declared force majeure on its oil exports. As a reminder, Libya exports (under non-force majerue conditions) about 1.5 million barrels per day. That's a lot of barrels, especially for Italy which relies on 425,000 barrels a day from Libya to keep its economy going.


http://www.zerohedge.com/article/libya-declares-force-majeure-oil-exports-15-million-barrels-day

[dipsydoodle]

2. He's a bit late off the mark

"oil companies should “immediately cease operations in Libya". I think he might find that's already happened.

[karynnj]

3. Boston Globe Coverage

The Boston Globe has pretty much the same story - their headline " Kerry calls for international condemnation of Khadafy's government"

Here's an excerpt:

Oil companies – both American and foreign – should withdraw until violence ends, he said, and the U.S should also impose new sanctions. Kerry also said Libya should be dropped from the Human Rights Commission, a United Nations body widely seen as a fig-leaf for human rights abusers, and called for action from the Arab League and the African Union, both of which count Libya as a member. The Arab League is having an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss Libya.

“Today, the world is watching how the region’s leaders will respond to Libya. The Arab League can demonstrate that after the popular uprisings across the region, the old rules of impunity no longer stand. And the African Union can vigorously investigate reports that African mercenaries are involved in the atrocities in Libya,” Kerry said.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/02/kerry_calls_for_2.html

[ProSense]

4. More

Gadhafi remains defiant; Kerry urges re-imposing sanctions

Posted in LBN: US Senator Kerry calls for global pressure on Libya

[dipsydoodle]

5. Would that be

so that China could buy their entire output of oil ?

[ProSense]

6. What the hell are you talking about? n/t

[dipsydoodle]

8. The US could impose their own sanctions

but the Chinese would veto a UN sanction.

[karynnj]

7. So, I guess buying their oil is better because not doing so is letting the Chinese do so?

Didn't you just attack him for being "late" to suggest a response?

He did call on the world to join that action.

I don't get what you want the US to do - there are very few things that we have any power to do - and Kerry is arguing using sanctions and working with every regional and international organization.

[dipsydoodle]

9. If you search you'll find that the subject was yesterdays news

with all links dated 21st February. Exactly what is clever about Kerry reiterating yesterdays news other than opportunism ?

[karynnj]

10. Kerry is the first US official of any prominence to call for re-imposition

of sanctions, the UN's involvement and the involvement of the Arab League and the African League. The only way in which he "reiterates" yesterday's news is to repeat and expand his comments on Libya. If you mean that the issue of oil was yesterday, it was still flowing then.

As of yesterday, the only thing I find from an American company is that Marathon evacuated the families yesterday - but NOT the employees. In the article it says:

"The company said it is unaware of any impact on its oil production there. "

That was dated 2/21.

If you bothered to read the articles, what you see is Kerry calling for action based on yesterday's and today's events. As to opportunism, this is part of what he should be doing as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.