Libyan Rebels losing

[GHook93]

we don't mean it, so just ignore us

No changing quotes.

~Oddball

 

[Trajan]

Why Gaddafi Has Survived Libya's Rebellion

As the G-8 leaders and the U.N. Security Council continued debating a no-fly zone over Libya on Tuesday, the country's capital erupted in wild celebrations after reports that Muammar Gaddafi's forces had retaken the crucial rebel-held town of Ajdabiyah — the last major obstacle on the road to the rebel capital of Benghazi. The question that may soon face the international community is, What if Gaddafi manages to put down the rebellion and survive in power?

Two weeks ago, journalists were landing in Tripoli, body armor packed, ready to witness the triumphant arrival of the rebels. Around that time, President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had all declared it was time for Gaddafi to go, apparently confident that his collapse after 42 years in power was imminent. Those statements raised expectations of Western backing among rebel leaders and their ragtag fighters, but none has been forthcoming. As Western leaders remain locked in inconclusive debate on how to respond, Gaddafi's forces have blasted the rebels into retreat all the way back to Benghazi. Now, the rebels face impending disaster.

On Monday, as G-8 leaders meeting in Paris remained deadlocked over a no-fly zone, state-run Libyan television said Gaddafi's forces had retaken Ajdabiyah, a critical intersection in eastern Libya, after a day of heavy artillery and rocket fire from ships, planes and ground forces, according to al-Jazeera's reporters in the area. That sent Gaddafi's loyalists into the streets for hours of celebratory gunfire and fireworks, while drivers honked their horns long after dark. Earlier in the day, government forces had also reclaimed Zawarah, the last rebel-held town west of Tripoli.

Lebanon, backed by Britain and France, introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday night to impose a no-fly zone, but if Ajdabiyah falls, that could come too late to save the rebellion. The town sits at the start of two highways, one snaking north to Benghazi, the other cutting east to the rebel-held oil port of Tobruk near Egypt. Rebel leaders disputed government claims that Gaddafi's forces had retaken Ajdabiyah. But with the specter of defeat looming, the rebels face grim choices of whether to flee to the Egyptian border or to dig in for a bloody fight to the finish in Benghazi.

Read more: Libya: Why Gaddafi Has Survived the Rebellion - TIME

Ajdabiyah has fallen he is now pounding Benghazi the 'capital' of the rebels with arty and aircraft now.....its all but over.

 

[Trajan]

Like I didn't see this coming.

As Muammar Gaddafi's forces carried out bloody assaults on rebel-held towns yesterday, those suffering his wrath were increasingly asking a stark question: Why is the West failing to offer help in our desperate time of need?

Two frontline towns held by dissidents came under sustained attack and an oil facility was set ablaze yesterday during ferocious fighting that left dozens dead as Gaddafi forces rolled back opposition military gains. Feeling was growing in opposition ranks that the disorganised and disunited political and military leadership of the protest movement could not withstand much longer the sustained pressure from Gaddafi's forces.

Western powers which wish the rebels well remain divided about the feasibility or desirability of intervention, but the momentum behind Gaddafi's fightback seems undeniable. The Benghazi-based rebel leadership has called for a no-fly zone and airstrikes against the regime.

Former Justice Minister Abdel Jalil, a leading member who had a price put on his head by the regime yesterday, said the West must "help protect Libya's people from Gaddafi's assault and help put an end to his war".

British and American officials were at pains to dampen any hopes of swiftly putting a no-fly zone in place during a Nato defence ministers' meeting in Brussels. "We want to see the international community support it," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

The British and French Governments have said they are drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution banning military aircraft over Libya, but it would be unlikely to pass given Russia and China's opposition.

Hopes that the revolution could bring four decades of dictatorship to an end were being replaced by the fear that the regime will crush its opponents with firepower. The strategic oil port of Ras Lanouf in the east was pounded by an artillery barrage interspersed with airstrikes. Zawiyah, in the west, which became a symbol of resistance, had, according to regime officials, been recaptured.
Why won't you help, Libyan rebels ask West - World - NZ Herald News

Why isn't the West helping?

Maybe cuz these fucks call us the Great Satan?
Maybe cus these people were dancing in the street passing out candies on 9/12?

You must be fucking kidding me about helping these people.

A better question would be; Why aren't other Arab nations helping?

How about

Why aren't other African countries helping?

well they sorta did, first it was no fkly zone, then when it was already to late they said sunday ok we'll agree to a no fly zone....

they have had iot both ways actually, they saw us effing around, then said no then said yes and can now say see, they said ok in what is a bog change for them BUT Algeria said no.....whatever. its just the old rope a dope.

 

[Trajan]

Bahrain is totally different in that their oil reserves are pretty much tapped out. But they are the home port for the 5th fleet, thats a biggy, that why we have not really said squat, oh Obama called the king of Bahrain today, big deal, like they care.

Plus, Bahrain is ruled by sunnis ( as the Saudis are) yet is majority Shiite. The midget in Iran, Ahmadinejad is now saying hey Saudis why are you helping them out and sppting a brutal regime? what a tool he is.
he wants to turn Bahrain not another Lebanon, an Iranian puppet.


IF the shiites really rise up and start getting slaughtered Libyan style in the streets we are in some pickle. It will be, well, a popular uprising ala Egypt, that's the way it will be seen.....then what?

Do we tell or ask the Saudis to pull out? If we did, would they? They are THERE, we are here, they hate the Iranians ala the sunni-shiite rift and , well, its a mess. if this mess reaches critical mass we will in affect have to back the sunni arabs, it won't be said straight out but the battle lines will be drawn. and that will be the ultimate effect. How will Iraq feel about that who are majority shiite?

The shia are a minority In Pakistan, yet Afghanistan is n majority Sunni....etc etc etc..

 

[geauxtohell]

Like I didn't see this coming.

As Muammar Gaddafi's forces carried out bloody assaults on rebel-held towns yesterday, those suffering his wrath were increasingly asking a stark question: Why is the West failing to offer help in our desperate time of need?

Two frontline towns held by dissidents came under sustained attack and an oil facility was set ablaze yesterday during ferocious fighting that left dozens dead as Gaddafi forces rolled back opposition military gains. Feeling was growing in opposition ranks that the disorganised and disunited political and military leadership of the protest movement could not withstand much longer the sustained pressure from Gaddafi's forces.

Western powers which wish the rebels well remain divided about the feasibility or desirability of intervention, but the momentum behind Gaddafi's fightback seems undeniable. The Benghazi-based rebel leadership has called for a no-fly zone and airstrikes against the regime.

Former Justice Minister Abdel Jalil, a leading member who had a price put on his head by the regime yesterday, said the West must "help protect Libya's people from Gaddafi's assault and help put an end to his war".

British and American officials were at pains to dampen any hopes of swiftly putting a no-fly zone in place during a Nato defence ministers' meeting in Brussels. "We want to see the international community support it," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

The British and French Governments have said they are drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution banning military aircraft over Libya, but it would be unlikely to pass given Russia and China's opposition.

Hopes that the revolution could bring four decades of dictatorship to an end were being replaced by the fear that the regime will crush its opponents with firepower. The strategic oil port of Ras Lanouf in the east was pounded by an artillery barrage interspersed with airstrikes. Zawiyah, in the west, which became a symbol of resistance, had, according to regime officials, been recaptured.
Why won't you help, Libyan rebels ask West - World - NZ Herald News

So let me get this straight:

You claim to be a libertarian, but you want us to intervene in Libya?

Our fucking collective amnesia never ceases to astound me.

 

[hipeter924]

The mercenaries are rising like ants:

Israel Company Recruiting Gadhafi Mercenaries – Report « Eurasia Review

Israel doesn't want Libya to become a democracy.

The Zionists want Gadafi to stay in power and to continue to suppress his people.

Gadafi's grandmother was Jewish and despite his political rhetoric.

He is good friends with his Zionist masters in Israel.

Hmmm...Theocracy in Libya and Saudi Arabia vs dictatorship and monarchy? Hard choice, you know what...lets go for straight US/western interests here. If the rebels win they will suppress/persecute the minorities like is starting to happen in Egypt. Is it wrong? Sure. But unfortunately every action is wrong in the middle east.

As for your rebels they were bound to lose, even without the mercenaries, they are poorly equipped, poorly organized, and with no plan. The best option for the west is to negotiate with Gadaffi to end the violence, hopefully a peace deal could be established that means Gadaffi leaves power, better than continuing the war.

Nope. I argued against intervention from the second page onwards. If we were to intervene however, that doesn't say anything about libertarianism, plenty of libertarians support wars if they are justified (especially on moral or ethical reasons), nor are there just right wing libertarians, there are left wing ones like Chomsky too.

 

[High_Gravity]

Why Gaddafi Has Survived Libya's Rebellion

As the G-8 leaders and the U.N. Security Council continued debating a no-fly zone over Libya on Tuesday, the country's capital erupted in wild celebrations after reports that Muammar Gaddafi's forces had retaken the crucial rebel-held town of Ajdabiyah — the last major obstacle on the road to the rebel capital of Benghazi. The question that may soon face the international community is, What if Gaddafi manages to put down the rebellion and survive in power?

Two weeks ago, journalists were landing in Tripoli, body armor packed, ready to witness the triumphant arrival of the rebels. Around that time, President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had all declared it was time for Gaddafi to go, apparently confident that his collapse after 42 years in power was imminent. Those statements raised expectations of Western backing among rebel leaders and their ragtag fighters, but none has been forthcoming. As Western leaders remain locked in inconclusive debate on how to respond, Gaddafi's forces have blasted the rebels into retreat all the way back to Benghazi. Now, the rebels face impending disaster.

On Monday, as G-8 leaders meeting in Paris remained deadlocked over a no-fly zone, state-run Libyan television said Gaddafi's forces had retaken Ajdabiyah, a critical intersection in eastern Libya, after a day of heavy artillery and rocket fire from ships, planes and ground forces, according to al-Jazeera's reporters in the area. That sent Gaddafi's loyalists into the streets for hours of celebratory gunfire and fireworks, while drivers honked their horns long after dark. Earlier in the day, government forces had also reclaimed Zawarah, the last rebel-held town west of Tripoli.

Lebanon, backed by Britain and France, introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution Tuesday night to impose a no-fly zone, but if Ajdabiyah falls, that could come too late to save the rebellion. The town sits at the start of two highways, one snaking north to Benghazi, the other cutting east to the rebel-held oil port of Tobruk near Egypt. Rebel leaders disputed government claims that Gaddafi's forces had retaken Ajdabiyah. But with the specter of defeat looming, the rebels face grim choices of whether to flee to the Egyptian border or to dig in for a bloody fight to the finish in Benghazi.

Read more: Libya: Why Gaddafi Has Survived the Rebellion - TIME

Ajdabiyah has fallen he is now pounding Benghazi the 'capital' of the rebels with arty and aircraft now.....its all but over.

Indeed it is over, the rebels were just riding the momentum when this first started but now Ghaddafis forces have the momentum, all of Libya will be back in Ghaddafis grasp by next month while the rest of the world argues about paperwork for no fly zones. If the rest of the world was never going to help these people, they should have just stayed quiet.