The application of economic sanctions, notably the suspension of the activities of oil companies operating in Libya, was outlined yesterday as one of the measures that the U.S. administration and other governments of the world can be considered as a response to the decision of Muammar Gaddafi to drown in blood the protests against his regime.
An initiative in this direction was requested public yesterday by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations, John Kerry, and is being considered also by some members of the Security Council of the UN, which met yesterday behind closed doors in New York discuss ways to avoid killing even more in Libya.
Kerry, who works closely with the Administration on foreign policy issues and has completed several assignments for Barack Obama in this area, said in a statement that oil companies should stop all business in Libya "until the cessation of violence against civilians" . The Democratic former presidential candidate also proposed that "Obama would reimpose economic sanctions were lifted in 2004 by former U.S.
President George Bush, after an agreement last year on the Gadhafi regime agreed not to export the terrorism or nuclear weapons. In 2005 the U.S. oil majors returned to Libya, which also operate most large international companies in this sector. Libya produces about 1.6 million barrels of oil per day.
United States, the largest importer in the world, do not get oil from that country, but U.S. companies have contracts with the government of Tripoli for the extraction and exploration of reserves of Libya, which ranked seventh in the ranking of OPEC . Obama Administration has not yet responded to the request of Kerry or even news emerged about the intentions of the Security Council.
In both cases, the situation created in Libya, where Gadhafi's unpredictability and its state of total mental and political isolation they fear any response, represents a daunting challenge. For the U.S., which, unlike the cases of Egypt and Bahrain, has no direct instruments of pressure on Gaddafi, is involved as risky as staying over on the sidelines.
Libyan oil it does not matter, America is suffering more than anyone the consequences of rising prices is crude oil experiencing as a result of that conflict. Therefore, it is most interested in finding a solution as soon as possible. But at the same time, Libya is not within what is considered the U.S.
sphere of influence. It's more a problem of Europe and the Arab world. And in that sense, does not assume a role that quickly to excuse anti-American arguments. "We want to work with the international community is speaking with one voice in condemning the violence. We believe that in so far as the international community speaks with one voice, will be more effective," said spokesman yesterday White House, Jay Carney.
Obama, who yesterday did not address the situation in Libya in a speech on the economy delivered in Cleveland, has not yet ruled on this crisis personally since last Friday, issued a statement condemning the violence in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya . At some point will have to do, but this is not a case like that of Egypt or Bahrain where the president can call for and influence events.
The roads are blocked with Libya. Even the Libyan ambassador in Washington has resigned. The only card in the hands of Obama is to act with retaliatory actions, and these are strongly affected by the difficulty and effectiveness. Economic sanctions, as they are thinking now may have a moral value, but it would take to do real damage to the regime.
Other suggested actions as a military blockade of Libya, require effort and a degree of international consensus for the moment, not make it very likely. 
An initiative in this direction was requested public yesterday by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations, John Kerry, and is being considered also by some members of the Security Council of the UN, which met yesterday behind closed doors in New York discuss ways to avoid killing even more in Libya.
Kerry, who works closely with the Administration on foreign policy issues and has completed several assignments for Barack Obama in this area, said in a statement that oil companies should stop all business in Libya "until the cessation of violence against civilians" . The Democratic former presidential candidate also proposed that "Obama would reimpose economic sanctions were lifted in 2004 by former U.S.
President George Bush, after an agreement last year on the Gadhafi regime agreed not to export the terrorism or nuclear weapons. In 2005 the U.S. oil majors returned to Libya, which also operate most large international companies in this sector. Libya produces about 1.6 million barrels of oil per day.
United States, the largest importer in the world, do not get oil from that country, but U.S. companies have contracts with the government of Tripoli for the extraction and exploration of reserves of Libya, which ranked seventh in the ranking of OPEC . Obama Administration has not yet responded to the request of Kerry or even news emerged about the intentions of the Security Council.
In both cases, the situation created in Libya, where Gadhafi's unpredictability and its state of total mental and political isolation they fear any response, represents a daunting challenge. For the U.S., which, unlike the cases of Egypt and Bahrain, has no direct instruments of pressure on Gaddafi, is involved as risky as staying over on the sidelines.
Libyan oil it does not matter, America is suffering more than anyone the consequences of rising prices is crude oil experiencing as a result of that conflict. Therefore, it is most interested in finding a solution as soon as possible. But at the same time, Libya is not within what is considered the U.S.
sphere of influence. It's more a problem of Europe and the Arab world. And in that sense, does not assume a role that quickly to excuse anti-American arguments. "We want to work with the international community is speaking with one voice in condemning the violence. We believe that in so far as the international community speaks with one voice, will be more effective," said spokesman yesterday White House, Jay Carney.
Obama, who yesterday did not address the situation in Libya in a speech on the economy delivered in Cleveland, has not yet ruled on this crisis personally since last Friday, issued a statement condemning the violence in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya . At some point will have to do, but this is not a case like that of Egypt or Bahrain where the president can call for and influence events.
The roads are blocked with Libya. Even the Libyan ambassador in Washington has resigned. The only card in the hands of Obama is to act with retaliatory actions, and these are strongly affected by the difficulty and effectiveness. Economic sanctions, as they are thinking now may have a moral value, but it would take to do real damage to the regime.
Other suggested actions as a military blockade of Libya, require effort and a degree of international consensus for the moment, not make it very likely.
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