Libya: Benghazi unrest, to Civil War, to a new government and Gaddafi's death.

[ZuWo]

Splendid, we have three dead kids, it seems.

Very bad PR.

No, no, they were evil Gaddafis, right?  They were 'killing civilians', right?

This intervention is another in a long list of travesties on the part of the imperialists.  I'm sure the Libyans well understand the sacrifice the Gadaffi family is making for their freedom.  Even if the effort is quixotic, it is a fight for freedom.

Gadaffi's spokesman couldn't have put it more eloquently. Are you vying for his job?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Splendid, we have three dead kids, it seems.

Very bad PR.

No, no, they were evil Gaddafis, right?  They were 'killing civilians', right?

This intervention is another in a long list of travesties on the part of the imperialists.  I'm sure the Libyans well understand the sacrifice the Gadaffi family is making for their freedom.  Even if the effort is quixotic, it is a fight for freedom.

Huhahahuhahaha, good one !

[opebo]

Actually, I never got why you don't sympathize with Al-Qaeda's struggle against imperialism.

I do, profoundly (is that allowed?).  I just don't like their religion (is that allowed?). 

No, no, they were evil Gaddafis, right?  They were 'killing civilians', right?

This intervention is another in a long list of travesties on the part of the imperialists.  I'm sure the Libyans well understand the sacrifice the Gadaffi family is making for their freedom.  Even if the effort is quixotic, it is a fight for freedom.

Gadaffi's spokesman couldn't have put it more eloquently. Are you vying for his job?

That would be a dream!  Of course it would have been much better to join the team 40 years ago. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Splendid, we have three dead kids, it seems.

If you believe Libyan state TV.

[2952-0-0]

So much for that bullshiat about the opposition being infiltrated by Al Qaeda fighters.

[opebo]

So much for that bullshiat about the opposition being infiltrated by Al Qaeda fighters.

What?  There's been no disproving of that claim.  They may very well be Al Qeuda or other varieties of Bearded Men.

[Cincinnatus]

So much for that bullshiat about the opposition being infiltrated by Al Qaeda fighters.

What?  There's been no disproving of that claim.  They may very well be Al Qeuda or other varieties of Bearded Men.

I think there may very well be some Al Qaeda fighters in the opposition.  I just don't think it's as wide-spread as some people seem to believe.  I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when these new governments are formed in the Middle East.

[Lief 🗽]

I'm confused, opebo. If the rebels really are infiltrated by al-Qaeda, and al-Qaeda are anti-imperialist (true) and Qaddafi is anti-imperialist (don't really agree with you on this one, but for the sake of argument), then what's the problem?

[opebo]

I'm confused, opebo. If the rebels really are infiltrated by al-Qaeda, and al-Qaeda are anti-imperialist (true) and Qaddafi is anti-imperialist (don't really agree with you on this one, but for the sake of argument), then what's the problem?

I like the cut of his jib.

[Antonio the Sixth]

...and the imperialist West is, of course, allied with anti-imperialist Al Quaeda. Makes perfect sense.

[opebo]

...and the imperialist West is, of course, allied with anti-imperialist Al Quaeda. Makes perfect sense.

Well, after all, Al Quaeda is the creation of the Western imperialists, either intentionally or unintentionally, (and most likely both).

Yin and Yang, Police and Theives, etc.  And when an honest patriot gets caught in the middle, his grandkids get blown up. 

Anyone ever read Catch-22?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

8 Libyan Navy ships destroyed by NATO: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43106115/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

That's 38% of the entire Libyan Navy actually.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Death of the War Powers Act?

By Bruce Ackerman and Oona Hathaway, Published: May 17

This week, the War Powers Act confronts its moment of truth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/death-of-the-war-powers-act/2011/05/17/AF3Jh35G_story.html

[Nhoj]

Nut job appears on Libyan state tv. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvSeIjeAzjA&feature=player_embedded#at=421

[CARLHAYDEN]

Obama: U.S. Involvement in Libya Action Would Last 'Days, Not Weeks'

http://abcnews.go.com/International/libya-crisis-obama-moammar-gadhafi-ultimatum/story?id=13164938

[Middle-aged Europe]

Obama: U.S. Involvement in Libya Action Would Last 'Days, Not Weeks'

http://abcnews.go.com/International/libya-crisis-obama-moammar-gadhafi-ultimatum/story?id=13164938

I suppose we are to assume that you're making the case that this didn't happen or something?



To quote from that article:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Granted, it's a bit mushy were "active involvement" ends and where "more of a supporting role" starts. It can mean pretty much anything.

However, the US-led "Operation Odyssey Dawn" has officially ended on March 31, when operational command was fully transferred from the U.S. Africa Command to NATO. As far as I know, the major burden for military operations in Libya is still carried by France and the UK anyway.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why don't we just call it Operation Mission Creep?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Well Russia just flipped and now supports Gaddafi's ouster. Sounds like they're viewing the writing on the wall.

And France the UK have gone so far as to threaten a complete Apache bombardment on Gaddafi's main compound if Zuma's peace negotiation tomorrow fails (which we know it will.)

[Mr. Morden]

US officially recognizes the TNC in Benghazi as the government of Libya:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/world/africa/16libya.html?_r=1

[Antonio the Sixth]

LOL, better late than never...

Not a fan of French diplomacy, but we recognized it even before UNO's resolution.

[GMantis]

Apparently they are still claiming that the aims of the operation is protecting civilians. When will they understand that crude propaganda usually has exactly the opposite effect?

[The Mikado]

Rebels attempting to seize Brega (again).  If successful, Qaddafi will be limited to pretty much just Sirt and Tripoli.

[GMantis]

Rebels attempting to seize Brega (again).  If successful, Qaddafi will be limited to pretty much just Sirt and Tripoli.

And everything but Misrata in between, as well as the coast from Tripoli to the Tunisian border and the western part of the Fezzan.

[The Mikado]

Rebels attempting to seize Brega (again).  If successful, Qaddafi will be limited to pretty much just Sirt and Tripoli.

And everything but Misrata in between, as well as the coast from Tripoli to the Tunisian border and the western part of the Fezzan.

I meant in terms of population centers.  There's not many people (outside rebel-controlled Misrata) between Tripoli and Sirt, let alone down in Fezzan.

In many ways, it would make sense (if the attack on Brega succeeds) for the rebels to cut off and bypass Sirt rather than try to take it.  It's Qaddafi's most loyal city in the country.

[Verily]

Rebels attempting to seize Brega (again).  If successful, Qaddafi will be limited to pretty much just Sirt and Tripoli.

And everything but Misrata in between, as well as the coast from Tripoli to the Tunisian border and the western part of the Fezzan.

I meant in terms of population centers.  There's not many people (outside rebel-controlled Misrata) between Tripoli and Sirt, let alone down in Fezzan.

In many ways, it would make sense (if the attack on Brega succeeds) for the rebels to cut off and bypass Sirt rather than try to take it.  It's Qaddafi's most loyal city in the country.

Well, there's also the cities along the coast west of Tripoli, which Gadaffi does control. Of course, it's clear by the initial success of the rebels there that they don't support Gadaffi (nor does Tripoli, of course), but he has the military advantage there.