Libyan Government of National Accord gives EU permission to train its Coast Gurard

Libya has given the European Union permission to begin training its coast guard to help stem the flow of immigrants from Libya to Europe.

Frederica Mogherini, foreign policy chief of the UN, said the training "will be very important to control Libya's territorial waters, together with our Libyan partners, as well as to control the migrant influx." She made the remarks as she arrived in Brussels, Belgium for talks with EU foreign ministers. The talks will discuss how to move ahead with training as well as other issues. This would include the fight against the Islamic State, Mogherini noted: .

Following up on our useful talks last Monday in Vienna to discuss an array of issues relating to Libya, the Libyan Prime Minister Serraj has written to request rapid EU support contributing to the training of the Libyan Navy and Coast Guard, as well as the security service. This is an important development that I will discuss with Ministers at tomorrow's meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with a view to making this operational as soon as possible so as to support the Libyans with the many challenges that need facing.

The EU has a Mediterranean naval operation in waters outside of Libya and the EU has been hoping for approval by the new GNA government that would allow operations to combat smugglers within Libyan territorial waters. UK Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said: “The Libyan coast guard is the basis on which we have to build security in the coastal waters of Libya. The key thing is that we’ve now got the Libyan government asking us for that help,”Hammond said that a more effective coast guard would cut down arms smuggling along the coast, and also reduce illegal immigration along the coast. This shows how useful the GNA is in terms of EU aims and why the EU was so supportive of its formation.

Nothing is said about the position of the HoR on the issue. The HoR may not take kindly to a Coast Guard affiliated with the GNA along with foreign naval vessels patrolling the eastern coast which it controls.

The European Council released a statement after the Serraj request that said in part:the Council underlines the need to enhance the capacity of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and trafficking networks and to contribute to broader security in support of the legitimate Libyan authorities. In this regard, the Council welcomes the expressed readiness of the President of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord, Mr Serraj, to cooperate with the EU on the basis of these conclusions.EUNAVFOR MED stands for European Union Naval Force in the Mediterranian or Operation Sophia. The Council agreed to extend the mandate of Sophia for a year with two added tasks: - capacity building and training of, and information sharing with, the Libyan Coastguard and Navy, based on a request by the legitimate Libyan authorities taking into account the need for Libyan ownership;- contributing to information sharing, as well as implementation of the UN arms embargo on the High Seas off the coast of Libya on the basis of a new UNSC Resolution.

The Council urged that preparatory work be begun without delay. The Council also stressed the need for coordination with the UN and NATO.

In other Libyan news, militia from Misrata recaptured territory from the Islamic State but now seem stalled at Abu Grein claiming they lack the weapons and ammunition to advance furthers. The militia suffered numerous casualties and were faced with a number of deadly suicide attacks in their advance. While a recent meeting of foreign ministers and the US government are in favor of allowing exceptions to the UN arms embargo to allow arms and ammunition to be sent to GNA-approved forces to fight IS, it may take time for supplies to actually start flowing.

Jurgen Habermas, famous German philosopher and sociologist on the European Union

Berlin - Jurgen Habermas is a famous German philosopher and sociologist now 86 years young. He still believes in the possibility of rational discourse on issues and rejects post-modernist views.

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Unlike many modern thinkers Habermas does not reject the Enlightenment but considers it an "unfinished project" to be corrected and added to rather than discarded as a basis for understanding. Although Habermas was influenced by the Frankfurt School of Marxism he moved beyond it and rejected postmodernism as well considering it too pessimistic and radical. He was influenced by American pragmatism, and the analysis of speech acts in philosophers such as John Searle, and John Austin and numerous other groups. One of his talents is to meld together diverse threads of thought into some type of unity. Habermas has always spoken out on important issues of the day often in language that is much simpler and clearer than in his academic writing.

Lately he has been speaking out on the issue of Europe. He sees what he thinks of as the European ideal as being destroyed by inept politicians and forces of the market. In a discussion at the Goethe Institute in Paris Habermas says:"I'm speaking here as a citizen. I would rather be sitting back home at my desk, believe me. But this is too important. Everyone has to understand that we have critical decisions facing us. That's why I'm so involved in this debate. The European project can no longer continue in elite modus."

Habermas finds that the EU dictating debt terms to Greece violating its sovereignty "simply unacceptable". He lashes out at politicians complaining that they have no political substance and aspire to nothing except to be re-elected. He accuses EU politicians of cynicism and rejecting European ideals. He recently wrote a booklet on the issues facing Europe "On Europe's Constitution".

Habermas argues that under the pressure of markets the essence of democracy has changed. As a result political power has shifted from the people and voters to bodies that have questionable democratic legitimacy such as the European Council. One might add the European Central Bank. Habermas claims that power has been usurped by technocrats. This is seen in Greece where in return for a bailout Greece must bend to the will of the Troika with the legislature simply being an instrument to legitimize what is commanded.

Habermas argues that an agreement between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011 gave political supremacy to the European Council creating what he calls "post-democracy" in Europe. The European parliament he sees as having little influence. Habermas sees a Europe driven by markets with the EU technocrats exerting huge influence on formation of governments in Italy and Greece. Habermas seems to have forgotten the most elementary aspects of Marxist analysis. It is not markets that are driving the changes but the needs of capital. The power structure is meant to serve the interests of the ruling class. When these interests are seen as deregulating labor markets, reducing welfare costs and social programs etc. then this is what is demanded using debt as leverage. The technocrats are simply servants of these interests. Of course there are opinion differences on what these interests are with some liberal economists wanting to save capitalism from itself and anti-austerity programs that they regard as against the interests of capital. It has nothing to do with markets per se. Indeed free trade agreements have as a key feature enforcement of intellectual property rights that are intended to reduce market competition not foster it.

Habermas is a voice in the wilderness with his continuing belief in reason and the power of public uncoerced discourse in the public sphere. He is not one to try make himself a spectacle or a performer as with a philosopher such as Slavoj Zizek. He believes people discussing political issues and then being able to act within a democratic framework can make things better. He is angry that this is not happening and feels he must speak out with others as a way of eventually changing the situation. He offers no magic bullet to a better future, the only way forward is through discourse and the creation of structures that make the democratic will powerful again.

CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar completes coup in Libya

General Khalifa Haftar, often called a "renegade," now has the support of the internationally-recognized Libyan government in Tobruk. His coup has been successful.

Haftar's coup began earlier this year. Hafter was supposed to have taken over control of Libya's main institutions on the 14th of February. He managed to appear on TV announcing that the parliament, the General National Congress(GNC) and the government had been suspended. He claimed that he was not attempting a coup but "a correction to the path of the revolution." He claimed also that there were troops loyal to him in Tripoli. 
Then-Defence Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni claimed that Haftar had no legitimacy and that there were no forces loyal to him in Tripoli. He also noted that there was a warrant out for Haftar's arrest for plotting a coup. While Haftar forces did not attack the GNC at this time, neither was the warrant for his arrest ever carried out. Abdullah Al-Thinni is prime minister of the new government in Tobruk. Al-Thinni now supports General Haftar and his second round of attacks on Islamist militias who have controlled Benghazi for several months. 
The first round in the present clash of what until now had been described as conflicts between militias loyal to Haftar and Islamist-dominated militias, began on May 16 when Haftar's forces began what he called Operation Dignity, as he attacked two Islamist bases in Benghazi. Later on May 18 the Zintan brigades, his allies, attacked the parliament and ransacked the legislature and declared the body suspended again. While Haftar has denied seeking power, he has indicated that he would be interested in running for president. 
A few — but very few — commentators have bothered to piece together what was transpiring with the actions of Haftar. An excellent summary of the career of Haftar is given in a long article in theWashington Institute issued in August. The author, Barak Barfi, has advice for the US near the end:"Washington and its partners should persuade the new Libyan government to appoint Haftar as chief of staff. Respected by his troops, he has the military skills and combat experience necessary to create a modern army. But most important, he is the sole Libyan willing to take on the Islamist militias that are preventing the establishment of a modern state"Another instructive commentary in early June this year is by Dr. Theodore Karasik, Director of Research and Consultancy at the Institute for Near East and Guly Military Analysis(INEGMA) in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Karasik has a PH.D in history from the U. of California in Los Angeles. Karasik speaks of Hafter making small but important gains in his Operation Dignity. He notes that his forces have struck the Libyan parliament as well as Islamist groups. Attacking and burning the elected parliament does not elicit any disapproval from Karasik but is part of the small but important gains that Haftar was making. Karasik also makes the interesting observation that among Haftars' loyal followers are a group of 500-1000 special forces troops who received training somewhere in Eastern Europe according to an Arab official.
Karasik suggests that Haftar's actions will curry favor with those who want a future state like that in Egypt and that Egypt could very well help Haftar by sending in Egyptian special forces to help out against Islamist militias. Mysterious air night bombings during the Islamist takeover of Tripoli were attributed to the UAE and Egypt by the rebels and at first also by the US. Recent air attacks in Benghazi against Islamist militias are also attributed to Egypt. Karasik was prophetic. Near the end of the article Karasik writes: Will General Haftar be the next charismatic, nationalist leader of Libya? General Haftar’s vision for Libya seems to be already in place and his appeal to a good number of Libyans is evident. With additional victories and the wiping out of the opposition, General Haftar’s portrait will soon be posted not only on buildings and streets but across cyberspace. General Haftar has already congratulated President Sisi for his victory. Will President Sisi congratulate a President Haftar in the near future? Only time will tell, especially with a pending legislative election on June 25, 2014.This would all be to the good according to Karasik since Egypt along with Haftar he claims are reversing Libya's decline with back-up support from the US. Haftar's militia have suddenly dissolved and in effect he is now the recognized Libyan army. He even has a green light to "liberate" Benghazi and Tripoli:Libya’s internationally recognized government ordered on Tuesday its military, led by renegade General Khalifa Haftar, to advance on the capital Tripoli and called for a civil disobedience there against armed Islamist groups. Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani’s cabinet said in statement posted on Facebook that the armed forces have the green light to “liberate” Tripoli “and state institutions from the grip of armed groups.”Apparently, the arrest warrant issued against Haftar for his attempted coup is now void.The European Council recently set out its position on the current conflict.The EU urges all parties to urgently observe an unconditional ceasefire. The EU is convinced that there is no military solution to this conflict. Only a political solution can provide a sustainable way forward and contribute to peace and stability in Libya.Don't expect the Council to now condemn the attacks ordered by the Tobruk government on Benghazi and Tripoli. Most of the document is meant to provide legitimacy to that government. The peace process is all a sham and most of the Council document is rhetorical garbage. There is a civil war which will be turned into a war against terrorism by the media and by western officials and their allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.