Posted on 02/21/2011 10:26:25 AM PST by Zakeet
Is this one of those "who could have possibly seen it coming" moments? As events in Libya overnight spiralled out of control, with dozens if not hundreds killed, the parliament buildng in Tripoli on fire, and output at one of the country's oil fields reported to have been stopped by a workers' strike, BP has said it will soon begin evacuating some of its personnel from the 9th largest producer of oil. And just to complete the total chaos, Iran warships are now going to pass the Suez on Tuesday instead of today, to the full glory of a fully open US stock market. The result: gold over $1,400; silver over $33.50; Crude front month over $93; Brent over $105; etc. Luckily, the US stock market is closed, meaning all this will be "priced in" by tomorrow, and the HFT levitation can resume tomorrow as if today never happened...
Some of the key overnight highlights:
Dozens of people were reported killed in Tripoli overnight as anti-government protests reached the Libyan capital for the first time and the building where the country's parliament meets was ablaze on Monday.One of Muammar Gaddafi's sons said the veteran leader would fight the popular revolt that has shaken his 40-year rule until "the last man standing."
Anti-government protesters rallied in Tripoli's streets, tribal leaders spoke out against Gaddafi, and army units defected to the opposition in a revolt that has cost the lives of more than 200 people.
Output at one of the country's oil fields was reported to have been stopped by a workers' strike and some European oil companies withdrew expatriate workers and suspended operations.
Al Jazeera television quoted medical sources as saying 61 people had been killed in the latest protests in Tripoli.
It said security forces were looting banks and other government institutions in Tripoli and protesters had broken into several police stations and trashed them.
The building where the General People's Congress, or parliament, meets when it is in session in Tripoli was on fire on Monday morning, a Reuters reporter said.
The eastern city of Benghazi, where the protests began last week after the arrest of a human rights lawyer and where scores of people have been killed by security forces, was said by some residents to be effectively in the hands of the protesters.
Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi appeared on national television in an attempt both to threaten and to calm people, saying the army would enforce security at any price to put down one of the bloodiest revolts to convulse the Arab world.
"We will keep fighting until the last man standing, even to the last woman standing.
Wagging a finger at the camera, he accused Libyan exiles of fomenting the violence. But he also promised dialogue on reforms and wage rises.
In an indication of disagreement inside Libya's ruling elite, Mohamed Bayou -- who until a month ago was chief government spokesman -- said the leadership was wrong to threaten violence against its opponents.
Bayou called on Saif al-Islam to start talks with the opposition.
On imminent evacuations:
BP says it is "very likely" some of the oil company's employees in Libya will be evacuated in the coming days as the violent unrest in the north African country spreads.A spokesman for BP PLC said the company is drawing up plans for evacuating staff "in the next couple of days."
Anti-government violence has spread from Libyan cities such as Benghazi to the capital, Tripoli. Protesters are clashing with police and demanding the ouster of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.
BP has about 140 employees in the country, of which less than a third are expatriates, spokesman David Nicholas said.
After passing $105 briefly, Brent has since retreated to $104.30.
Also just in: British Foreign Minister Reports Gaddafi On Way To Venezuela (With Libyan Gold Presumably In Tow)
... but fortunately, you Freepers don't need to worry because the Wee Wee is preoccupied with more important matters like protecting Wisconsin teachers' unions
Wild Ride Ahead..
Giddyup!
All this just when we have an a##hat in office with his clown posse in tow, very comforting
All this just when we have an a##hat in office with his clown posse in tow, very comforting
All this just when we have an a##hat in office with his clown posse in tow, very comforting
Hi ho, silver!
Gold $1,407.70/oz. +$19.50 +1.40%
“Mohamed Bayou “
Didn’t Linda Ronstadt do that song?
$5.00 per gallon gas coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
$50 silver? Ya never know.. It’s holding solid in the $30s dollar range and likely headed higher
Silver Climbs Near 31-Year High
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704900004576152313786856684.html
The word “unexpectedly” will end up being this administration’s legacy.......and epitath.
California is well on its way to 5 buck gas. we average 3.40 around here of late.. not good for Obammy, or consumers and businesses who pay more along with everyone else.. It’s enough to make ya scream.. eventually. :-]
I wonder if Obama have any contact with the oppostion or he only does that with friends of the US who are getting overthrown?
...its 3:00 am, is anybody there?...anyone?
“As BP Prepares To Evacuate Staff From A Burning Libya, Commodities Are Exploding”
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Hehe..it would be deliciously ironic if the oil price goes to new highs, but BP can’t produce from their Libya fields. The new sheets there might just nationalize the whole thing and tell BP tough chit.
Maybe that horse chit deal BP made to free al-Megrahi won’t pan out.
It's not like Obama didn't campaign with the promise to have European level gasoline prices here.
Everyone needs to send a letter to the whitehouse
thanking Obama for becoming the president of the US. the world is a much safer palce. i mean look BP is basically broke in the US, it is fleeing Libya and a Russian Petroleum comapy has purchased many of its assets in Europe. Nokia of Finland is basically done for as a company.
getting back to the US, a moratarium on oil drilling.
When sending a letter to obama encourage him that he is really doing a great as Nobel Peace Prize wineer. Fomenting descent in Wisconsin, Eqypt, Bahrain. and so on and so forth. So Obama how is that Peace Prize working for you.
Basically Obama needs to lift the moratarium on oil drilling and he needs to put a moratarium on his mouth.
Lets all give him an ultimatum.
.
Moochelle Obama is chowing down bigtime on ribs and arugula salad with her two daughters on their mucho needed skiing vacation
Expect Moochelle to again appear soon before Congress and demands another 2 billion dollars be spent on Obesity-TV ads, school lunches, and harrassing McDonalds and grocery stores
How many calories did Moochelle consume in her frugal meal of ribs and all the fixins?
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