So the US/NATO backed 'rebels' want to represent Libya at OPEC with Libya's traitor oil minister leading them. Ahem!

Shukri Ghanem, former Libyan Oil Minister who has turned against his own country, joined the US/NATO mercenaries and seeking now to turn Libya's wealth and petroleum over to the invader/occupier.

There is plenty of between-the-lines reading in the two brief reports republished below. For weeks the corporate media has been reporting rumors that the Libyan Oil Minister, Shukri Ghanem had defected from the Libyan government. Now it appears to be true with Ghanem gallantly (my sarcasm dripping) stating, "I have left my country and my work to unite myself with the choice of young Libyans to fight for a democratic country." To the same music and in the same waltz, the US/NATO-backed Libyan 'rebels' the same period state that they want to represent Libya in the June 8 OPEC meetings. Meanwhile, the only legitimate representative of the Libyan government will be sent in lieu of the Ghanem, the traitor. It will be interesting to hear what OPEC members have to say about that, most notably, Venezuela's Oil Minister, Rafael Ramirez; Wilson Pastor, Ecuador's Oil Miinister; Shamseddin Hosseini who will be representing Iran and on the other side of the political spectrum, Ali Naimi, representing Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, against the wishes of capitalist regimes in Washington and European capitals, it looks like OPEC will resist increasing supply to bring the price of petroleum down below the $90-$100 range. Center for Global Energy Studies reported:

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries won’t announce any supply increase and will keep its formal quota unchanged for an eighth consecutive meeting at the June 8 gathering, 27 of 30 analysts said. Brent crude rallied 22 percent this year as conflict halted Libyan exports. The International Energy Agency, an adviser to importing nations, said on May 19 that there is “an urgent need” for more oil.

It should now be clear to all that the US/NATO war against the people of Libya has been designed not only to gain control of Libya's petroleum and water but also to get a foothold in OPEC itself to influence the price of oil or even to dismember NATO as they have done to the countries they invade. It's difficult to imagine that the Libyan traitor, Shukri Ghanem, representing the US/NATO backed mercenaries will become the old/new representative for Libya at NATO. We say - not if countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, Iran and Algeria have anything to do with it! But if the U.S. can plant one malignant cell in the organ, they'll have reached their objective in the "war to save civilians" in Libya.

- Les Blough, Editor

Libya Oil Minister to attend June 8 OPEC meeting

Libya’s deputy foreign minister says the country’s oil chief will attend the upcoming OPEC meeting, appearing to debunk reports that National Oil Corp. head Shukri Ghanem had defected.

Khaled Kaim told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Ghanem, who in his capacity as the NOC’s head serves as the country’s oil minister, would attend the scheduled June 8 meeting of the 12-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Ghanem left for Tunisia on May 16 in a move that several of his close Libyan colleagues called a defection. The news was seen as a blow to Muammar Gadhafi, whose forces are locked in a bloody battle with rebels in the east.

While saying Ghanem would represent the government at OPEC, Kaim also stressed that he was free to resign.

Source: Nogtec Oil and Gas News

May 18, 2011

Rebels want to represent Libya in OPEC June meeting

Libya's rebel National Transitional Council wants to represent the oil-rich country at June's OPEC meeting, spokesman Mahmud Shammam told AFP Wednesday, amid reports that the oil minister has defected.

"We want to attend, and will study the legal procedure," said Shammam, media spokesman for the TNC.

"We still do not know if OPEC will invite us," he said.

Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem, a veteran of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's regime, crossed in the weekend from Libya into neighboring Tunisia, a Tunisian official told AFP, though it was not clear if he defected from the autocratic regime that is battling a NATO-backed rebellion.

Ghanem had been due to travel to Vienna for the next meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on June 8.

Source: AFP/NOW Lebanon