Embed CodePlays: 3089 (Embed: 0)


— script

Original Script Date: August 24 10:53 (22 hours ago)

Modified Script Date: August 24 13:27 (19 hours ago)

Headline: Activist: NATO's intervention in Libya was 'war crime' Location: Washington, DC, USA

Dates Shot: August 23, 2011

Duration: 1:34

Intro Libyan rebel forces have seized control of most of the capital, Tripoli, and have stormed the compound of leader Muammar Gaddafi, which had been severely damaged by NATO air strikes.

Brian Becker from the “Answer” anti-war coalition says NATO's actions in Libya constitute a war crime, and that Western powers were motivated by oil interests. Shotlist 1. SOUNDBITE, Brian Becker, national coordinator, answer coalition (speaking English):

“This is the grossest violation of human rights. Whether the United States or the colonizers and enslavers of Africa intervene in Africa or the Middle East or anywhere, they assign their mission a noble cause: to protect freedom, to protect democracy, civilians, in the case of Resolution 1973. But this is a long-standing policy of the US government to overthrow the government of Libya, the country that possesses the largest oil reserves in Africa. It has nothing to do with human rights. And in fact, when you bomb Tripoli, when you drop 7,500 bombs and missiles in a country that did nothing to the American people, that’s an act of aggression. That’s a war crime, that’s a crime against humanity, that’s the complete opposite of defense of human rights.

It sends a dangerous message to others who want to be independent. I don’t think the battle is over yet. I think, inside of Libya millions of people, contrary to the media assertions, don’t want foreign occupation.

I think what’s coming next is that the US, if they do succeed in overthrowing Gaddafi and conquering Libya, bringing it back into an American-British-French sphere of influence, they will try to do the same in Syria. So, I think, we see an expanding level of intervention. They are always saying it’s for humanitarian good, to protect civilians. We are going to see more intervention. That’s why this snowball is getting bigger and bigger. I think it is going to lead to additional conflicts. So you have Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan. It’s just like Dick Cheney said, endless war, but with a new administration.” 00:00 - 01:34 Story Becker says the NATO intervention is "the grossest violation of human rights", and has nothing to do with protecting civilians.

"This is a long-standing policy of the US government to overthrow the government of Libya, the country that possesses the largest oil reserves in Africa. It has nothing to do with human rights", he said.

"When you bomb Tripoli, when you drop 7,500 bombs and missiles in a country that did nothing to the American people, that’s an act of aggression. That’s a war crime, that’s a crime against humanity."

He believes the conflict has alarming implications for Syria.

"I think what’s coming next is that the US, if they do succeed in overthrowing Gaddafi and conquering Libya, bringing it back into an American-British-French sphere of influence, they will try to do the same in Syria... I think it is going to lead to additional conflicts.”



Other links on this topic:
http://t.co/HYnTWH3
http://t.co/OuII17O
http://t.co/FWTMbp6
http://t.co/hhDaEAU
http://t.co/uGBl9iL