WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday called for a halt to “dangerous” levels of violence in Libya after militia clashes in Tripoli closed the country’s main airport, destroyed most planes parked there, and prompted the United Nations to evacuate its staff.
In some of the worst violence in months, at least 15 people have been killed in clashes in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi since Sunday, and a Libyan official said several Grad rockets hit the Tripoli International Airport on Monday, damaging the control tower.
With its new government struggling to impose order since the 2011 rebellion that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is sliding deeper into turmoil with rival brigades of former rebels battling for political and economic power. (more…)

The freedom coalition = Netanyahu, el-Sisi and Harper

The Israeli military launched a ground operation into Gaza late Thursday, the government said.  The much-anticipated operation follows some of the most intense fighting in the 10 days of bombings and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas.

FULL STATEMENT – press release issued by #Israeli military announcing it's initiation of ground operation in #Gaza pic.twitter.com/tnfpUfOpOR

— POWER987News (@POWER987News) July 17, 2014

Just now on @Channel2News: Egypt announces that Hamas is reponsible for this conflict.

— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) July 17, 2014

https://twitter.com/DannyNis/statuses/489861421568512000
With Egypt’s el-Sisi supporting Benjamin Netanyahu against Hamas this time things might be substantially different. If Israel is allowed time to work through the border region used by Hamas terrorists the IDF can fully dismantle and destroy the network of underground border tunnels.

A recent report into the inside contacts surrounding a Hamas / Israeli negotiated ceasefire confirms –with exact precision– what we predicted was happening at the time.

(Via WFB) Secretary of State John Kerry offered numerous times to fly to Cairo or Jerusalem to assist in cease-fire negotiations but was told that the sides “didn’t need American mediation,” according to an account of events by Haaretz.
Senior Israeli officials told Haaretz that Kerry offered to come to directly join the talks in each and every call during the attempted brokering of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas on Monday, but was “politely rejected” by all sides.
Egypt wanted to prove that it could play its traditional diplomatic role with regards to Gaza without U.S. assistance. Israel thought that a visit by Kerry would make it look like the United States pressured Israel to make a deal, which would have been a public relations victory for Hamas. (more…)

#BREAKING #Hamas armed wing rejects #Egypt ceasefire proposal as 'surrender': AFP

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) July 15, 2014

No doubt the fact that Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s Egyptian government was the peace-broker for this deal had something to do with Hamas refusal to engage. Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood despise el-Sisi.

BREAKING NEWS: Hamas reportedly rejects proposed Gaza cease-fire http://t.co/b9JgqwAznv

— Fox News Alert (@foxnewsalert) July 15, 2014

https://t.co/b9JgqwAznv

Al Marj is located just North of Benghazi on the road to Darnah…
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) — Faraj al-Shibli, who was suspected of involvement in the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, has been found dead, a Libyan source and locals in the town of Marj said.

Al-Shibli, whose name is also spelled Chalabi, was last seen being detained by local militia in Marj two days ago, a Libyan source said.

It is unclear what happened to al-Shibli since then, but his body was found on Monday in Marj, which is in eastern Libya.

  Locals in Marj also confirmed that al-Shibli’s body was found Monday.  (read more)

Cleaning up Zero Footprint ?

This question highlights the actual substance of the policy issue.
Who would be the best broker, considering each side’s position, for peace?

USA’s Obama/Kerry, or Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ?

[polldaddy poll=8185601]
(more…)

The dynamic and contrast could not be more stark.   The majority secular Egyptian people continue to spotlight freedom principles and identify terrorists as just that, terrorists.

Admittedly there are ideological elements inside Egypt, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood, which are aligned and supportive of Hamas.   Fortunately, they are in the minority and being diminished daily.   The bright light comes from the majority Egyptian people who worked diligently to remove the terror network from their own political constructs, and now continue to push back against the terror in surrounding countries, including Hamas. 
Egyptian people intelligently know who the terrorists are; they have lived through them. This makes them uniquely well skilled at putting the sunlight upon the shadow dwellers because they have lived through survived the propaganda.    In addition, were it not for the Western trained and secular Egyptian military, the Brotherhood would still rule over them.
Watching the evolution of Egypt in the past 4 years has been the single brightest ray of hope for a region severely lacking in it.    (more…)

(Via The Hill) A federal judge on Wendesday ordered that the suspected ringleader in the 2012 Benghazi attacks be held in prison without bond.

…“did knowingly and intentionally conspire and agree with other conspirators, known and unknown to provide material support and resources to terrorists, that is personnel including himself and others.”  (link)

Federal prosecutors said Ahmed Abu Khattala needed to be detained because of his extremist connections and his expressed desire to harm U.S. citizens.
“Given the defendant’s proclivity for violence as well as his ability to readily communicate with other similar-minded individuals, as demonstrated by his status as a commander of an extremist brigade, his detention is the only means available to neutralize that threat,” prosecutors said in a court filing late Tuesday.  (more…)