ADVICE ON TRAVEL TO LIBYA

Last year UN SCR 1973 was twisted out of all recognition and abused to bomb tens of thousands of Libyan civilians to bits, arm and train al Qaeda and eventually assassinate a leader of a sovereign nation who had cooperated with the West in the Global War on Terror and had renounced his WMDs. This was after BSF were in Libya from the start of 2011 fomenting the 'civil war' for al Qaeda.

So if we showed so much interest in helping to destroy Libya, how is our reconstruction, our nation-building going so far?

Nearly a year after Gaddafi was assassinated and Libya is becoming more and more violent and unstable. The US State Department has recently revised its advice for travel to Libya due to this growing instability.

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against all but essential travel to Libya. The incidence of violent crime, especially carjacking and robbery, has become a serious problem. In addition, political violence in the form of assassinations and vehicle bombs has increased in both Benghazi and Tripoli. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated September 22, 2011, and notes the resumption of full consular services to U.S. citizens on August 27, 2012.

Libyans cast ballots on July 7 in elections deemed to be free and fair according to election observers. Libya’s General National Congress replaced the Transitional National Council in August 2012 and will lead the country until elections are held on the basis of a new constitution. Despite this progress, violent crime continues to be a problem in Tripoli, Benghazi, and other parts of the country. In particular, armed carjacking and robbery are on the rise. In addition, political violence, including car bombings in Tripoli and assassinations of military officers and alleged former regime officials in Benghazi, has increased. Inter-militia conflict can erupt at any time or any place in the country. Seven Iranian Red Crescent officials were kidnapped July 31 in Benghazi by local militia members, and as of the date of this warning, they have not been released. There have also been several reports of militias briefly apprehending and detaining foreigners due to perceived or actual violations of Libyan law. The Embassy’s ability to intervene in such cases remains limited, as these groups are neither sanctioned nor controlled by the Libyan government.

U.S. Embassy Tripoli resumed full consular services for U.S. citizens in Libya on August 27, 2012.

U.S. citizens traveling to, or remaining in, Libya should use extreme caution and limit nonessential travel within the country, make their own contingency emergency plans, enroll their presence in Libya through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), and provide their current contact information and next-of-kin or emergency contact information.

[source : Travel Warning U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs Libya, US State Dept, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5762.html, 29/08/2012]

And as for advice to British travellers to Libya? It is virtually the same, but the advice is to only visit certain locations and keep your head down.

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Travel Summary and the Safety and Security section (explosions in Tripoli). The overall level of the advice has not changed. We advise against all but essential travel to Zuwara, Az Zawiya, Tripoli, al Khums, Zlitan and Misrata, and the coastal towns from Ras Lanuf to the Egyptian Border, including Benghazi; we advise against all travel to all other areas of Libya.

...In general, British nationals (including dual nationals) in Libya should keep a low profile and avoid all but essential travel in their local area and to other parts of the country, particularly at night. Law and order in the country is still being re-established and the threat from crime, including carjacking remains high. There is also limited police capacity to prevent or deal with the street crimes, including muggings. Make sure your homes and possessions are secured and valuables kept out of sight. Avoid carrying large amounts of money, valuable jewellery, watches or cameras, and keep mobile phones out of sight as victims may be targeted due to perceived wealth.

There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.

[source : UK FCO, http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/libya, 29/08/2012]

In other words, the place has become lawless. No wonder we haven't seen any photos of Hague and/or Cameron there!

And what these pages of advice fail to state is that al Qaeda flags flutter high in the North African breeze as black Libyans are lynched and executed by al Qaeda.