Senator Kerry calls on oil companies to suspend Libya operations in response to violence there

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/02/22/kerry-gadhafi-is-irredeemable/

His idea to use pressure from the oil companies is interesting as the US government does not have a lot of leverage - unlike in Egypt. It is also interesting that he is warning the senior military commanders that they could be charged with atrocities.

The Boston Globe has pretty much the same story - their headline " Kerry calls for international condemnation of Khadafy's government"

Here's an excerpt:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2011/02/kerry_calls_for_2.html

Just heard CLinton's statement (I assume the official administration statment?), the key word was "alarming". Way too weak.

(been incommunicado today until very recently, so I may be way beyond the curve with what's happening)

Senator John Kerry, a Democratic Party figure who the White House has sometimes tapped to float possible foreign policy strategies, led those calls today.

Here's what the Associated Press News agency filed earlier:

Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the violent crackdown was "cowardly" and "beyond despicable." He urged U.S. and international oil companies to suspend their Libyan operations immediately until attacks on civilians stop.

He also urged the Obama administration to consider re-imposing sanctions against Libya that were lifted by President George W. Bush after Gadhafi renounced terrorism and abandoned development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. He said the Arab League and the African Union should investigate reports of atrocities.

"These are concrete steps that must be taken now and in the days ahead to show that the world will respond with actions, not just words, when a regime wields reprehensible violence against its own people," said Kerry.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/feb/22/libya-gaddafi-speech-reaction-live-updates