GIVING UP THE NUCLEAR PROGRAM DIDN'T FREE THE PEOPLE:

Libya defectors: Pilots told to bomb protesters flee to Malta: As Muammar Gadaffi's ambassadors and most of Libya's UN mission resign, two air force pilots escape rather than obey orders (John Hooper in Rome and Ian Black, 2/21/11, guardian.co.uk)

Two high-ranking Libyan air force pilots have who fled to Malta in their aircraft are reported to have told officials they escaped rather than carry out orders to bomb civilians.

The officers defected as Libyan diplomats in several countries and international organisations resigned in protest at the regime's violent response to the deepening crisis. They included Muammar Gaddafi's ambassadors to China, India, Indonesia and Poland, as well as Libya's representative to the Arab League and most, if not all, of its mission at the United Nations.

(Ex)Libyan Ambassador calls for stronger Obama statement (Ben Smith, 2/21/11, Politico)

Now here's a situation pretty much without precedent: The Libyan Ambassador to the U.S. just called on the Untied States to denounce his country's leaders -- and his employers -- more forcefully.

"I want the U.S. to tell the world and to work with the countries who love peace...they have to stop this," Ambassador Ali Ojli said, suggesting that he had resigned his post, in an interview with Al Jazeera English.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 21, 2011 8:37 PM