Libya Conflict Article Comparisons

Lede for News as of Right Now:

Government protests in Libya seek refuge from Britain, in the near future, who is sending a team of military experts trained in giving military advice in an effort to aid the struggle to over throw Col. Muammar el-Qaddifi.

New York Times

In a New York Times article, rebels seek solutions to overthrowing Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. Since Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s power has been diminished and not stripped, Libya has been showing an escalating amount of frustration among rebel leaders and is now debating whether to ask for Western help. A group of “lawyers, academics, judges and other prominent figures” seek to find a distinction between an airstrike and foreign intervention. Rebel leaders are strongly opposed to an intervention but still contemplate the use of the United Nations for an airstrike on Libya. Rebel leaders express their concern about el-Qaddafi’s destruction of the army, and a spokesman for the council claimed, “if it is the United Nations, it is not a foreign intervention.” This article immediately grabbed my attention with its headline because it brought the United Nations into the discussion. I think this was effective and would make people more likely to read something that could effect their country, but also to inform the people what the United Nations is doing to help answer the protests in Libya. (See NYTIMES - Libya)

L.A. Times Blogs

The LA Times Blog chose to write a story on Angelina Jolie’s commentary on the conflict in Libya. I thought it was interesting that they author chose to incorporate pop culture into perspective. Quoting Angelina Jolie, the author expresses her concern for the refugees in Libya as a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees: “It is critical that all parties respect the fundamental right of people in danger to flee to safety—whether civilians caught in conflict in their own country or refugees and asylum seeks caught in new conflicts… All I’m asking is that civilians be protected and not targeted or harmed.” It was nice to see an article about celebrities doing their part, however, it’s a very different approach from the New York Times. (See LA Times Blogs - Libya)

The Guardian

In an article dated March 4^th, 2011, Patrick Wintor and Richard Norton-Taylor inform readers about Britain’s plan to send experts to Libya who can offer military advice to the protestors. They continued to explain that this “diplomatic taskforce would not be providing arms to the rebels, as there is an international arms embargo.” I liked this approach to the news and thought this was news that needs to be heard. I would be more inclined to read this article than the article about Angelina Jolie’s statement about refugees. I did not get the sense that they were trying to sway the reader in any certain direction, however I immediately was concerned when I read the story. It was an article that made me thirst for more information, although this information may not be available. (See Guardian - Libya