Changes

[[Stephen Lendman]]: Libya assault planned months ahead; See interview: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSlXO_X_fE&feature=related in Youtube.]

[[Stephen Lendman]]: Libya assault planned months ahead; See interview: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSlXO_X_fE&feature=related in Youtube.]

===Petrodollars and oil===

===Petrodollars and oil===

According to a Russian article titled ''Bombing of Libya - Punishment for Qaddafi for His Attempt to Refuse US Dollar,'' Gaddafi initiated a movement to refuse the dollar and the [[Euro]] as payment for Libya's oil, and called on [[Arab]] and African nations to use a new currency, the gold dinar. Gaddafi proposed establishing a united African continent, with its 200 million people using this single currency.  The initiative was viewed negatively in the United States and the [[European Union]], with French president Nicolas Sarkozy calling Libya a threat to the financial security of mankind. But Gaddafi continued his push for the creation of a united Africa. As early September 9, 1999, the first steps towards the formation of the [[African Union]] were taken by the Heads of State of the Organisation of African Unity.<ref>[http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/au_in_a_nutshell_en.htm The AU in a nutshell]</ref>

According to a Russian article titled ''Bombing of Libya - Punishment for Qaddafi for His Attempt to Refuse US Dollar,'' Gaddafi initiated a movement to refuse the dollar and the [[Euro]] as payment for Libya's oil, and called on [[Arab]] and African nations to use a new currency, the gold dinar. Gaddafi proposed establishing a united African continent, with its 200 million people using this single currency.  The initiative was viewed negatively in the United States and the [[European Union]], with French president Nicolas Sarkozy calling Libya a threat to the financial security of mankind. But Gaddafi continued his push for the creation of a united Africa. As early September 9, 1999, the first steps towards the formation of the [[African Union]] were taken by the Heads of State of the Organisation of African Unity.<ref>[http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/au_in_a_nutshell_en.htm The AU in a nutshell]</ref>

''Bloomberg News'' reported in September 2010 that China and Russia planned to start trading in each other's currency as the world's second-biggest energy consumer and the largest energy supplier seek to diminish the dollar's role in global trade.  Bhanu Baweja commented {{Cquote|Given the risk to the dollar and U.S. assets from their fiscal position they want to reduce their dependence on the dollar as an invoicing currency....It makes sense for two large economies to exclude a third, overly dominant economy from their trading equation.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/china-russia-push-yuan-ruble-trading-to-diminish-dominance-of-u-s-dollar.html</ref>}}

''Bloomberg News'' reported in September 2010 that China and Russia planned to start trading in each other's currency as the world's second-biggest energy consumer and the largest energy supplier seek to diminish the dollar's role in global trade.  Bhanu Baweja commented {{Cquote|Given the risk to the dollar and U.S. assets from their fiscal position they want to reduce their dependence on the dollar as an invoicing currency....It makes sense for two large economies to exclude a third, overly dominant economy from their trading equation.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-08/china-russia-push-yuan-ruble-trading-to-diminish-dominance-of-u-s-dollar.html</ref>}}

===The African Union===

===The African Union===

An observer spelled out one of Gaddafi's motivations for proposing an African Union:

An observer spelled out one of Gaddafi's motivations for proposing an African Union: