Bernard-Henri Lévy made the Libyan rebels INNOCENT LAMBS. Now he defends the CHARACTER of DSK

[Distant Observer]

Bernard-Henri Lévy (BHL) was the chief architect of the humanitarian rationale for Western intervention in Libya.

He also has been the mouthpiece for the rebels, proclaiming for example how the tribal leaders in Libya strongly support the rebel cause -- not noticing, it seems, that most of the tribal leaders he met were from the rebel enclaves and by definition would support the rebels. No wonder the Guardian's David Swanson referred to Levy -- and his fellow humanitarian apologists for the "defenseless" rebel fighters -- as "useful idiots" naively serving hidden agendas.

Now Bernard-Henri has come to the defense of accused rapist Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), a "devoted and competent servant" to whom the world is "deeply indebted." It is "absurd" says Berhnard-Henri that DSK could act out the brutal and violent crime of which he is being accused.

BHL convinced Sarkhozy that the rebels were "good people" . . who . ."hold the same values as we do" . . . ., and that "they’re going to die to the last one" if Gaddafi had his way.

Wonder if he will be as successful rescuing DSK from NY Judge Melissa Jackson.

http://www.bernard-henri-levy.com/defense-de-dominique-strauss-kahn-18909.html

[tabatha]

1. Funny thing

I do not support DSK but I do support the freedom fighters of Libya.

Because in my mind DSK is as bad a Gaddafi.

They both like to impose their wills on others to get what they want.

You know how many people live on this planet? They are all welcome to their opinions.

However, a court will decide the guilt of DFK and hopefully a court will decide the fate of Gaddafi.

So I don't give a flying fig about what BHL thinks.

You love to apply guilt by association. Cheap shot.

On edit:

By the way, the evidence gathered by the ICC indicates that they were innocent lambs in Libya, especially the children bombed with grad missiles. You may not like fact and evidence, but sorry, that is the way civilized nations are supposed to work.

[JDPriestly]

12. There are always two sides in a controversy.

We have heard the allegations of the hotel maid. We have not yet heard Strauss-Kahn's defenses. Don't jump to conclusions. Respect justice. Strauss-Kahn like every other defendant, has the right to tell his story, the right to be heard.

Go to a courtroom and sit and listen to some of the presentation of evidence and argument at a trial. Deciding who is telling "the truth" and who is "right" is not easy. Sometimes the truth is in the middle somewhere. You are assuming that the maid's allegations are absolutely true. They may be, but they may not be. Please.

[tabatha]

14. Did you not read that I said a court will decide his guilt.

I have another post further down; read that, too.

[Distant Observer]

18. Not FUNNY! Libyan rebels raped black women before Levy cleaned up their image

LIBYA: Rebels execute black immigrants while forces kidnap and rape others

http://somalilandpress.com/libya-rebels-execute-black-immigrants-while-forces-kidnap-others-20586
UN High Commission for Refugees: accounts of intimidation and rape by rebel insurgents coming from people who had fled both eastern and western areas of Libya.
http://www.unhcr.org/4d7658719.html
Rebel rule of Benghazi included terror, rape and murder of black civilians
http://www.barutiwadaily.com/afrocapitalist/article.php?story=61

[Starry Messenger]

2. k&r

[blondeatlast]

3. Funny, noted uber-capitalist Ben Stein is defending DSK in much the same way.

Enjoy!

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/05/17/presumed-innocent-anyone

[inna]

6. wow, i think this is the first time i actually completely agree with Stein:

Presumed Innocent, Anyone?

...

I don't know Mr. Strauss-Kahn. I have never laid eyes on him in person. He may well, in the future, be found guilty of atrocious conduct towards the complainant and maybe towards others. But, so far, he's innocent, and he's being treated shamefully. If he's found guilty, there will be plenty of time to criticize him and imprison him. But nothing has been proved yet except that the way this case has been handled so far is an embarrassment to this country.

[LadyHawkAZ]

11. He's being treated like an accused rapist

The presumption of innocence does not mean you don't get arrested, charged or jailed. Stein needs to go soak his head in a vat of Clear Eyes.

[JDPriestly]

13. I am with you, Inna. I think there may be more to this story

than we have heard.

I can think of a lot of scenarios in which the maid would make these claims although he would see things quite differently.

Maybe he thought he saw her steal something -- such as the cell phone that he "left behind" because he was in such a hurry.

[maddezmom]

4. reading the article, it's not far off from what a lot of people are saying

:shrug: Just another person with an opinion, imo. He'll have his defenders and detractors IRL and on DU.

[seabeyond]

5. after these men wink wink, nudge nudge the man on his behavior in past, they now come out

declaring him a saint.

sounding a lot like polinski defense raping the 13 yr old with her consent.

not rape rape, ya know

[Distant Observer]

17. Remember Levy's Libyan rebels were also charged with systematic rape of Black immigrants

[OHdem10]

7. The Cultures are so vastly different.here and in France.

[tabatha]

9. Yep, I witnessed the different culture in France.

and Rome and Austria and Belgium, a number of times.

That is why the maid's story sounds plausible - but as stated in my previous post, guilt will be determined by a court, regardless of the opinions of anyone else on the planet.

[seabeyond]

19. yes, rape is not rape in france. they are sophisticated in these manners. americans such prudes

to insist a man cannot just take.

[Distant Observer]

20. OH really? But Levy's Libyan rebels are "SO LIKE US" -- like who, I wonder

[cprise]

8. A must-read:

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MD14Ak02.html

[tiny elvis]

10. very good. thanks nt

[Distant Observer]

16. Yup: Dealing with PROTECTING WORLD FINANCE from Libya to Greece trumps rape

[tabatha]

15. Lawyer: 'Nothing consensual' in IMF chief's sex case

Such tough measures were ordered so that "we don't put him in any danger. We do not allow any inmates to come into contact with him. (We) protect him from anyone who may want to make a name for themselves, take a swing at him," Seabrook said.

And when Strauss-Kahn heads to court on Friday to hear if a grand jury has ruled whether there is enough evidence to indict him, he will be placed under extraordinarily tight security.

...

The maid is "scared, incredulous" and "doesn't know what her future will bring", her lawyer Shapiro said, but she was still willing to help build a case.

"She feels she can't go home. She feels she's been excised from her life," he said, adding she was now being held "in a safe place" with her 15-year-old daughter.

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-05-18-lawyer-nothing-consensual-in-imf-chiefs-sex-case

[dynasaw]

21. BHL is just a big a cad

He may be the darling of the socialist intellectual set but he is just another caddish alpha male who thinks he can eat his cake and have it.
Thrice married, and openly involved with Guinness brewery heiress Daphne Guiness. He has a widely known reputation as an unabashed narcissist.

A person may be a socialist or progressive but there is always room for nasty personalities.

[Distant Observer]

22. Agree -- and does not care that 1000's die in civil war from his egotistical interference

Obviously he is a pawn of the powers that be in Libya, but he is extremely careless and quick to announce his judgements