"Pray For Us": Libya Issues "Cry For Help" As ISIS Advances On Oil Fields
“We are helpless and not being able to do anything against this deliberate destruction to the oil installations. NOC urges all faithful and honorable people of this homeland to hurry to rescue what is left from our resources before it is too late.”
That’s from Libya’s National Oil Corp and as you might have guessed, it references the seizure of state oil assets by Islamic State, whose influence in the country has grown over the past year amid the power vacuum the West created by engineering the demise of Moammar Qaddafi.
The latest attacks occurred in Es Sider, a large oil port that’s been closed for at least a year.
Seven guards were killed on Monday in suicide bombings while two more lost their lives on Tuesday as ISIS attacked checkpoints some 20 miles from the port. "Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, Libya's biggest oil ports, have been closed since December 2014," Reuters notes. "They are located between the city of Sirte, which is controlled by Islamic State, and the eastern city of Benghazi."
ISIS also set fire to oil tanks holding hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude. "Four tanks in Es Sider caught fire on Tuesday, and a fifth one in Ras Lanuf the day before," Ali al-Hassi, a spokesman for the the Petroleum Facilities Guard told Bloomberg over the phone.
(a fire at Ras Lanuf)
(a smoking storage tank in Es Sider)
Ludovico Carlino, senior analyst at IHS Country Risk says the attacks are “likely diversionary operations” during Islamic State’s takeover of the town of Bin Jawad, a seizure that may enable the group to expand and connect “its controlled territory around Sirte to the ‘oil crescent.’”
Islamic State is pushing east from Sirte in an effort to seize control of the country's oil infrastructure, much as the group has done in Syria and Iraq. As Middle East Eye wrote last summer, "the desert region to the south of the oil ports has been strategically cleared in a series of attacks by IS militants on security personnel and oil fields, where employees have been killed and kidnapped, and vehicles and equipment seized."
“I expect they will try and take Sidra and Ras Lanuf and the oil fields on the west side of the oil crescent,” one oil worker said. “There are few people left to protect the oil fields apart from local security from isolated towns.”
Efforts to protect Libya's oil are complicated immeasurably by the fractious (and that's putting it nicely) political environment.
In short: the country is a modern day Wild West and a strong central government is now a distant memory. This makes administering the country's resources nearly impossible. Oil production is now just a quarter of what it was under Qaddafi. Essentially, both of Libya's two governments have what they call a National Oil Corp. The eastern NOC is run by the exiled government in Tobruk (which is internationally recognized), where the House of Representatives was exiled in 2014 after elections produced an outcome that wasn't agreeable to Islamist elements in Tripoli.
Unfortunately, large foreign oil companies won't work with Tobruk's NOC which sets up the following ridiculous scenario: the internationally recognized government in Tobruk has an NOC no one wants to work with, while Tripoli's NOC (which foreign oil companies will do business with) is run by a government that the world doesn't deem legitimate.
To top it all off, there's every reason to believe that neither Tobruk nor Tripoli actually control the country's oil. Here's Foreign Policy:
On the ground, the conflict involves far more than just the two bickering governments. Libya is composed of dozens of tribes, each with its own shifting interests and allegiances. “There’s a question about the extent to which the political forces actually have control over the important militias on the ground,” said Chivvis. “I think all this comes down to who controls the oil; it comes down to alliances on the ground. Which political forces control which sites within Libya.”
Ibrahim Jadhran is a perfect — and crucial — example. The 35-year-old was a militia leader during the 2011 revolution, and was appointed commander of the Petroleum Defense Guards by the still-unified transitional government in 2012. Originally from the eastern city of Ajdabiya, the rogue militia leader is an outspoken advocate of a federal system for Libya and frequently uses his power to open or close oil ports, shutting off oil exports — and therefore salaries — when he disagrees with either government.
“One of the initial causes for the plummeting of Libyan oil production was the blockade imposed by Ibrahim Jadhran in August of 2013,” said Porter. The commander has continued the tactic of stoppages in defiance of both regimes, even trying to steal a tanker full of crude to sell on the black market. The ship was finally stopped by the U.S. Navy off the coast of Cyprus.
Jadhran’s power is not to be underestimated. In fact, according to local media reports, it was actually him, and not the Tobruk government, that closed the Zuetina port. As Porter points out, it is Jadhran — not Tripoli or Tobruk — who truly controls exports.
Got that? There are two governments and two NOCs, but that doesn't really matter because the whole show is run by a militia leader. “Jadhran is a mystery even to us. We have not yet understood what he really is, apart from an oil thief,” Misrata Military Council head Ibrahim Beitemal told Middle East Eye last year.
Ali al-Hassi (quoted above) is a spokesperson for Jadhran's forces.
Islamic State then, is apparently at war with Jadhran which is interesting for a number of reasons.
First, Jadhran's brother is in ISIS. "ISIS' Libya branch released an online statement earlier in the week claiming to have taken control of the coastal city of Bin Jawed, about 120 miles east of Sirte," CBS reported on Monday. "Bin Jawed is the last city before the oil town of Sidra and the huge oil port of Ras Lanouf, both currently witnessing fierce clashes between ISIS and al-Jadhran's men." And more: "ISIS fighters were reportedly attacking Siddra from three directions, aided by al-Jadhran's own brother, who apparently joined the ISIS camp."
Additionally, some say Jadhran once tried to broker a deal with the group and it's not entirely clear what, if any, relationship he has with the militants. “We have been told that Jadhran proposed some reinforcements to ISIS but on the condition that he kept control of the oil ports and fields, but this was rejected," a source told Middle East Eye.
So Libya's vast oil wealth is effectively up for grabs and the person guarding it has a brother who not only joined ISIS, but is actually participating in the battle for key ports and facilities. Now, Britain is apparently on the verge of sending in thousands of troops to halt the ISIS advance in yet another example of the West engineering regime change only to go back in later in a futile attempt to clean up the mess."Crack SAS troops are in Libya preparing for the arrival of around 1,000 British infantrymen to be sent against ISIS there in early 2016," The Mirror reports. "The operation will involve around 6,000 American and European soldiers and marines - led by Italian forces and supported mainly by Britain and France."
Of course that wouldn't be necessary if the West hadn't thrown out the government in Tripoli back in 2011. Now, the stepped up ISIS attacks threaten to derail the formation of a unitary governing body.
"In December, representatives of Libya’s two rival powers signed a United Nations-brokered power-sharing pact that called for the formation of a national unity government by mid-January," WSJ notes, adding that the violence could "undermine the financial viability of a peace agreement by destroying the country’s main source of revenue."
“I urge the swift formation of a national unity government and the establishment of a unified force structure capable of bringing peace to this country and protecting its natural resources,” Mustafa Sanallah, chairman of National Oil Co., said, in a statement posted on the company’s website on Wednesday.
Now that Russia has begun to dismantle Islamic State's oil operation in Syria and now that the link with the Turks has been revealed, it might very well be that ISIS is turning to Libya as an alternative source of financing. Taking control of the country's oil crescent would be a good start.
Will the country's rival governments unite in time to stop the assault? Will Jadhran resort to some manner of negotiated settlement with ISIS if it means retaining his influence over Libya's oil riches? How will ISIS get its captured crude to market without a cross-border state sponsor?
All good questions that will be answered soon enough. For now, we close with one final quote from Jadhran's spokesperson:
"Pray for us."
* * *
"Miss me yet?"
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we came, we saw, ...
Pray to who? I don't do Allah Who Wannasnackbar.
But sending in Brit & Yank troops... another grand war for our young and disillusioned fighters.
So, is anybody really surprised? Not two weeks ago this very publication reported that the CIA had flown Al-Baghdadi from Mosul to Sirte, suspiciously close to the turmoil. Now why would a US government agency do such a thing? Why, when they had him in their hands would they not have imprisoned him immediately? It's treason isn't it?
Sorry, but this whole thing stinks to high heaven. Nobody can trust the US government anymore, no person and certainly no country. The really sad thing is that brave and valuable soldiers are going to probably die trying to prevent these animals from doing what the CIA WANTS them to do, steal Libyan oil now that Iraqi and Syriand oil is no longer available.
So they apparently have gone completely rogue. And meanwhile, back in Washington, Obama and the entire congress are scared to death for their own lives and do nothing. What needs to happen is for the most elite elements of the US Army be sent to Langley, surround it, cut it off, and arrest every single one of them pending charges.
Because they didn't. Complete bullshit...
Because they didn't fly Al-Bhagdadi to Sirte? Why would ZH publish such a blatant lie then?
Why were the A-10 pilots told NOT to attack ISIS positions? Why were no oil installations taken out? Why? Who is behind this? Because whoever it is is going to spend the rest of their life in jail.
Stealing oil is too expensive with all the chaos, destruction, death, and occupation involved. If the US would have left Iraq and Libya alone oil would would never gone anywhere near $100 plus per barrel. Left on their own they would be pumping flat out. Iraq even with the current problems is pumping over 50% more oil than before the US invasion. Good thing after the war they gave the Chinese most of the oil field contracts. Libya was pumping 1.6 MBPD before NATO now a small fraction of that. With their expanison plans they would be well over 2 MBPD by now if left alone. Syria has great oil potential but the reality is that even before their war they were a very small producer so saying this war is for Syrian oil is naive.
Sooner or later, Egypt will have to occupy Libya.
So that is what Obama meant when he commended the Libyans on their three years of independence
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/28/obama-boasts-libya...
We came, we saw, he died. Hillary C
She was secretary of state, which makes her ever so qualified to be commander in chief. Just look at her resume - ISIS in Libya, ISIS in Syria, ISIS in Iraq. If her goal was to spread ISIS, then she's the balls. If not, she's less than balls. As I say that, maybe the goal really was to spread ISIS, and she's the balls. Balls, Hill, you're the balls.
I wonder if She's the balls?
She is like a god walking amongst mere mortals. She has a voice that could make a wolverine purr and pants suits so fine she makes Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Hillary Clinton is the balls.
pray to Gaddafi, he was the only one to give a shit about you and you murdered him at the behest of that bitch Clinton.
At least we know where the thousands of ISIS that we are evacuating from Syria are headed to. Even the Red Cross is taking bus-loads of ISIS and their families out of Syria.
Another country the U.S. "liberated" that is in absolute chaos.
No wonder Syria doesn't want to be "liberated".
I wouldn't blame Iran for wanting nukes. Look at all the countries who didn't have them.
George Washington's fault.
I don't see the problem here. It was none other than a former Secretary of State who recited, "We came, we saw, he DIED"! (cackle, cackle, cankles cackeling)That was the solution then and now, as has been shown over and over ISIS, IS, ISIL...ISOUR (US) asset! We trained, we funded, we unleashed! Our very own CIA has the plug and if they don't pull it all must be well? The new complication will be getting the oil to Turkey which would no doubt ship in Burak Erdogan's tankers. After refining in Turkey move it to Israel and blend with world supplies. Everyone gets rich! Erdogan's get rich, ISIS gets funded, Clinton Foundations get funded, Israel get rich, and special interests in the US, London, France, Germany, Switzerland...they all get rich as well. Stolen oil has higher octane!
Good thing Hillary "fixed" Libya
"We came, we saw , we killed" Yup, just the kinds of ASSHOLE we need for President.
and Qaddafhi WARNED US about the immigrant crisis. Qaddafhi KEPT the hordes in AFRICA!
almost like they planned it all out to happen this way.
ISIS will easily take Libya as ISIS is more organized than the rag tag remnants of government that Hillary left in place.
It only takes one Toyota pickup truck load of ISIS fighters waving AK-47s to control a town - especially when the rest of the town has no guns!
Recently in Benghazi ISIS had a long parade of black new SUV's flying their flag. Wonder if the US bought these SUV's like they did the white Toyota trucks in Iraq and Syria. Trucks that Hillary's state department bought and gave to them.
Pray for us too, Libya - we still have another year of Obama!
Thanks to France, Italy, the US, GB ... Not for nothing the dark muslim herds enter the lousy EU.
More news from the latest community re-organized by Obama!
What a joke. If the US wanted to stop ISIS making money on selling oil which goes by tanker or pipeline, all they have to do is threaten destruction of same, and the insurers will shut it down overnight. No oil money = no more ISIS on the warpath. Simple. And best of all no American soldier's lives lost. Can you say CinC is a stupid shit? Or how about the oil brokers and end buyers? Even I could threaten their asses with serious shit and get them to stop. So could any of you. Guess what the USA is not serious about stopping them. Gee who could have figured that out on their own?
You're assuming the US wants to stop them. They don't or they would have long ago. ISIS spends big bucks on supplies from Europe which means involving banks and easy for the US to trace but nothing is done.
Putin?
Well,......The only thing I can tell you, is once the oil is all gone, at least you still have lots of sand.......
"We came...we saw...he died!!"
Hilary Clinton
Secretary of State - U.S.A
A truly psycnotic bitch.
But, You Don't have a Central Bank.
This goes against the NZO.
Meanwhile, over at MSM central (CNBC), the OP-ED headline is:
Why you shouldn't panic about North Korea's H-bombhmm. good to know their going to throw that into the mix as well. We might as well kiss all our asses goodbye because the psychopaths are in complete control.
This is getting just to funny.
So... From Iran and Syria... to Libya... bypassing Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt... I wonder who's allies they are...
It's the good old diversification of revenues: If ISIS sell less oil in Syriaq (due to the Russian bombings) they will get all the lost income in Libya or elsewhere !
Meanwhile oil is at 33 handle and USDRUB is at 74 handle maybe a good opportunity to short (and long USD !)
Lets see if I understand the plan.
Step 1) Secretly ferment dissent against the local government.
Step 2) Push the dissent into armed rebellion.
Step 3) Use governments reaction to get involve own military to protect civilians.
Step 4) Protection of civilians as cover, the military attacks government's armed forces tipping the scales 9f conflict in favor of the rebellion.
Step 5) Watch the rebells kill the leaders of the nation and take control.
Step 6) Watch the nation fall into complete turmoil and become home to groups of terrorists and other barbarians.
When steps above are completed and enough time has passed:
Step 7) Use own military to bring peace to a troubled nation. Also take over anything that has value ....oil production for example.
I$I$...last gasp of the Saudi Mercan IOU petroscrip toilet paper dollah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndwYJi4Vzt0
...and in other news:
the Taliban now control more territory than at any time since 2001.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/01/04/mapped-the-taliban-surged-in-2015-b...
Hillary, are you still laughing?
Liberals from the EU and the USA are destroying everything holding this fragile world together.
Vlad must be giggling - he has learnt well as a Judo Master - Bring them down using their OWN weight !
Vlad will tidy up in syria and then to libya.
I doubt it. Russia does what is in their interest. Unless they think that installing a puppet government there will be beneficial to them, the will not go anywhere near Libya.
I think that's the point being made.
Screw ISIS - Go Renewable!
But I tought everything was cool after the "rebels" established a Central Bank of Lybia on about the thrid day of the USSA/NATO invasion ?
As Putin said "... look what you have done."
Barry & HilldaBEAST don't give a flying buck about you Lybia.
Sign,
COMMUNIST DEMOCRATS
<-- All due to Satan America headed by cabal$$LickerLiarAddictObamma
Well, the western oil interests want to take some of the oversupply off the markets, now that ISIS/ISIL/Turkey/Jordan/Israel/NATO et al have filled up their storage tanks, and hasn't this false flag op been going on for quite some time?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOPUcaHujf0
====================
Published on Jan 1, 2016The nightmare is not over for Libya. In fact, it may only have just begun. Sirte, Muammar Gadaffi's birthplace and the last major city to fall to the 'rebels' in 2011, is once again occupied by terrorists. In recent communication with the leadership of Libya's Tribes' Council, US contacts James and Joanne Moriarty were told that the leadership of ISIS (Islamic State), Boko Harim ('ISIS in Nigeria'), Ansar al-Sharia ('ISIS in Libya'), and possibly others, all gathered in Sirte, Libya, for meetings that took place around the 9th and 10th of December 2015.
In their discussion with myself and Joe Quinn on our Behind the Headlines radio show on Sunday December 13th, the Moriartys relayed how Sirte, once a thriving city on Libya's Mediterranean coast, but now a stronghold of cut-throats and bandits, was placed on full lock-down for the mid-December terrorist coven.
while there were media reports about al-Baghdadi's retreat to Sirte, observers on the ground have provided a far more detailed account of what's going on there to James and Joanne Moriarty. According to their sources in the Libyan Tribes' Council, the terrorists in Sirte initiated a complex operation to make safe passage for their leaders - residents were cleared out, a perimeter was imposed, and a communications black-out thrown over the city. The Moriartys even know the exact address at which Baghdadi and friends were gathering.
One would think, given Western leaders' commitment to defeating 'world enemy number 1', the Islamic State terror group, that their media arms would have reported this 24/7, and that their intelligence and security services would have either tracked the world's most wanted arriving in Libya, or capitalized on the Libyan tribal leaders' intelligence to launch an airstrike and take out al-Baghdadi and his cohorts all at once. But then, to believe that, one would have to believe the 'war on terror' really is a 'clash of civilizations' and not a charade managed by Western intelligence...
Here is the real story about the 'Islamic State' you won't hear anywhere else.
Moriartys' website: http://libyanwarthetruth.com/
ISIS is getting closer to Rome.
Next they'll advance towards Spain via Tunisia, then Algeria.