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Officials of NATO countries on Wednesday told Reuters that NATO’s stated mission of protecting civilians in Libya is not over, but the international military body will not contribute to the manhunt for Gaddafi. With Libya under the control of the rebels and their Transitional National Council, or TNC, the controversy in the US over whether foreign involvement was appropriate has given way to assigning credit for the so-called victory. In op-eds and on news networks Libyans are praised for ultimately winning the battle by beginning the fight, but the US and NATO have won the public relations war. US Congressman Keith Ellison known for his progressive politics, wrote “America had to get involved. US Policy toward Libya was effective.” While the absence of Gaddafi does not ensure an end to the civil conflict in Libya, it has reportedly signaled that the nation will soon be safe for foreign investors. By all accounts the country needs rebuilding, and leaders in the private and public sectors are eager to stake a claim amid the rubble. The Independent/UK reports that the Libyan British Business Council is preparing to send a trade mission to Libya in the next two months. Trade negotiations between the Libyan TNC and officials in France and Germany are underway. If they have not already begun, the Obama Administration will likely follow on the heels of its European allies, as free trade between the US and middle eastern nations is a key pillar of Obama’s vision for new relations, outlined in his May speech. Journalist Robert Fisk wrote this week that power players in the West are already ensconced in Libya. Fisk dubbed Benghazi a wall-less version of Iraq’s Green Zone, populated by “Western oil diplomats, oil-moguls, highly paid Western mercenaries, and shady British and French servicemen.” Less than 7 million people live in the small North African state, which rests above 46 billion barrels of crude oil reserves, the continent’s fourth largest natural gas reserves, and holds $8.6 billion in gold bullion. However $100 billion of Libya’s assets are currently frozen and its oil fields are only operating at 10% production capacity. The total failure to reconstruct Iraqi infrastructure after the fall of Saddam Hussein is fresh on the minds of the international community and all sides are warning against a repeat. The TNC says an infusion of funds is required to keep the government functional, and its allies, including the Obama administration and leaders of the UAE, Turkey and Italy, are pushing for a deal. CNN reports the US, which holds two-thirds of the captive assets, wants $500 million released to the nascent governing body through a UN resolution.

GUEST: Vijay Prashad, Professor of International Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut