Amnesty International on Libya

From time to time, I check out what Amnesty International has to say about the state of human rights around the world, and in doing so, I've read Amnesty International's page on Libya. You know a country is "interesting" or has "issues of concern" when they get their own page on that organization's site... http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/libya

I've been watching the Senate hearings on Abdelbasset Al Megrahi's release from prison last year on C-SPAN2. While it was done on "compassionate" grounds, it also smacks of something more: Great Britain's desire to enter the Libyan oil market, and deals being made left and right to ensure that happened. An oncologist was not the one to give an opinion on Al Megrahi's health, it was a GENERAL PRACTITIONER. They don't specialize in anything but everything (LOL!). His opinion was used as a pretty strong basis for release. I see why Sen. Menendez of New Jersey is pissed off... because it looks like a convicted man, whether rightfully so or based on circumstantial evidence (I reserve judgment, due to my lack of close examination of the evidence and/or trial transcripts), but he was FOUND GUILTY, had been given a LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE sentence, and was released after serving only eight years because he supposedly had terminal cancer and six months to live. It's been a year and Mr. Al Megrahi is still alive and looks as healthy as he ever did. Now British Petroleum (BP) is digging an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Sirte, which is obviously a feather in their caps. I hope this well is being drilled in an environmentally safe and sound way, and "cost cutting" measures are NOT being employed at any level. I DO NOT want Mediterranean states to face what the Gulf states of the U.S., and the Caribbean nations are facing now and will be facing for some time. $20 billion dollars is a nice step, but I'm betting it will cost far more than that in actuality.

As a cheeky note, I'm surprised that OBL is NOT taking credit or talking smack about the "Disaster in the Gulf". Nothing about how this was the "will of Allah, due to Americans' evil terrorist government."

I was told by my new friend Halim that some Libyan classmates of his at uni in Malaysia attacked a fellow student, from Iran, in Kuala Lumpur recently. I don't understand that, but I guess it's because I'm a non-violent person under 95% of circumstances. Around certain times of the month, yes, I'm a bit less relaxed (especially if I NEED my chocolate!) Unless the dude had talked smack against their mothers, or something of that nature, then they should've behaved like the MEN they are instead of immature children. Iranians and Libyans are both Muslims, even if the battle between Shia and Sunni is even longer than the one between Catholics and Protestants or Catholics and Orthodox Christians (yeah, at one time or another, the Church has been against everyone-- hellllllllllllo, Spanish Inquisitions!). I wish they'd have solved their differences in a less destructive, violent way. Violence solves nothing. It only tends to breed MORE violence and hostility. Don't use your fists, don't use your words to accomplish hurtful actions, for our God is not pleased by either... I believe both Christians and Muslims can agree on that one.