I hope you are right, but the guy survived US pressure for 35 years. Very strong pressure since the mid 80's until a few years ago.
The guy has stolen so much money from his people, that he can buy a lot of protection. In addition, he has stockpiles of weapons at his disposal. So, until the Libyan military fully turns against him, I don't think he is going anywhere.
My guess is that he will pay enough military/mercenaries off to protect him, and try and hold the capital at all costs. A civil war is quite likely I am sad to say. In the end he will lose, but he won't go quietly.
Benghazi, Libya - If Benghazi, Libya's second city, has become the symbolic heart of the revolution in this north African nation, then the battle to overwhelm the military garrison here was the revolt's key turning point.
Over the course of three days, civilians opposed to the 42-rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi managed to outlast and overpower a fortified base guarded by detachments of several Libyan military units, one of them the feared and reportedly highly trained Khamis Brigade - a special forces unit led by Gaddafi's youngest son.
In the end, both anti-government protesters and Gaddafi loyalists lost hundreds dead and many more wounded, and Gaddafi's forces fled the city. Benghazi fell completely into opposition hands and became the seat of the national coalition bent on ending the Gaddafi regime. The once-feared ramparts of Gaddafi's security forces sit smoldering and crumbled, a site for tourists.
Postmedia News has confirmed that JTF2, Canada's elite special forces unit, has been sent to the region. MacKay would not comment on JTF2's movements but did note that some Canadian troops are embedded within the operations centre with British and other allied forces.
JTF2's role in the region might be limited to protecting Canadian transport aircraft or assisting in a French-led plan to deliver aid to parts of Libya now controlled by forces opposed to Gadhafi.
By the way, there is another story other than Libya, other than Japan that is really serious.
That would be Bahrain, and oh I dunno, maybe the 1,000 Saudi troops that crossed the border to help the Bahranian King quell demonstrators by shooting them.
With the media focusing on Japan, rightfully so, these conflicts are going nowhere positive. It seems like some members in Nato prefer Gaddafi, otherwise we probably would have seen some sort of no fly zone. I'm not terribly surprised Saudi went in and backed up the Bahranian government, the Whabbis' there are paranoid about any sort of Shia uprising, especially next to the kingdom and so close to Mecca.
With the media focusing on Japan, rightfully so, these conflicts are going nowhere positive. It seems like some members in Nato prefer Gaddafi, otherwise we probably would have seen some sort of no fly zone. I'm not terribly surprised Saudi went in and backed up the Bahranian government, the Whabbis' there are paranoid about any sort of Shia uprising, especially next to the kingdom and so close to Mecca.
I think your point is a little simplistic. There has not been UN security approval for the establishment of a no fly zone with the Russian's slowing things down. As long as major nations has veto power we're going to see these kind of slow decisions
Right at the moment I would doubt that NATO wants to get involved in another quagmire without UN approval.
There are lots of Arab countries around Libya with Air Forces, while the Arab League has asked for a no fly zone, they should be willing to put their planes into action to enforce it.
At this point though, it looks like Ghadaffi has taken major strides in breaking the rebellion and re-establishing control over most of the key areas of the country.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
From what I read yesterday it was Germany dragging their feet. I would have expected the Europeans to be more proactive considering they buy most of the Libyan oil.
The Following User Says Thank You to burn_this_city For This Useful Post:
LOL! The internet is petitioning the UN for a resolution?
Speaking of the useless asking the useless to do something useless...
Internet = people
UN resolution = somebody wants to do something (they're not going to pass this resolution if they can't enforce it, would make them look bad)
no-fly-zone over Libya = Gaddafi can't use his airforce to bomb the rebels and miscellaneous civilians, and UN relief planes can fly into the area if required.
Yeah "the internet is petitioning"... Talk about the dumb making stupid jokes about stuff they don't understand.
From what I read yesterday it was Germany dragging their feet. I would have expected the Europeans to be more proactive considering they buy most of the Libyan oil.
I had read Germany, and that Russia had been a bit unconstructive, surprisingly China hasn't had much to say.
But this situation again goes to the argument that the UN is incredibly flawd in terms of a ability to provide decisive peace enforcement.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
The Following User Says Thank You to CaptainCrunch For This Useful Post:
Although, I can't really blame western media. Charlie Sheen is much more important than any of these situations.
Sometimes I think we need some of this over here to remind us of what's important and it sure as ###### isn't #tigerblood. We're so fat and self-entitled it's embarrassing... but yes I'll probably just end up playing video games tonight.
The Following User Says Thank You to Coys1882 For This Useful Post:
Sometimes I think we need some of this over here to remind us of what's important and it sure as ###### isn't #tigerblood. We're so fat and self-entitled it's embarrassing... but yes I'll probably just end up playing video games tonight.
Whatever do you mean?
The way the hotel owner talks at 1:25 makes me want to smack the pretentiousness off her. No wonder the terrorists hate us.
Really sad to see how this Libya situation is playing out, especially when it looked so promising for the rebels just a couple weeks ago. Add to that the fact that a massive natural disaster elsewhere has completely taken western eyes away from the Middle East, its just not looking good right now.
Those Bahrain videos worth posted are absolutely crazy. Unbelieveable what they do to their own people.
Things don't look really good for the Libyan rebels right now at all, given the rebels don't have any air support or heavy ordinance... CC is right about the UN... by the time UN decides on something, rebellion might be crushed.
I find it funny that the Arab league would support intervention in Libya when their members, in Yemen and Bahrain for example, are out shooting protesters themselves? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12756874
After several days of diplomatic talks with European and Arab partners, President Ronald Reagan ordered a strike on Libya on April 14. Eighteen F-111F strike aircraft of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying from RAF Lakenheath supported by four EF-111A Ravens of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, from RAF Upper Heyford in England, in conjunction with fifteen A-6, A-7, F/A-18 attack aircraft and EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft from the aircraft carriers USS Saratoga, USS America and USS Coral Sea on station in the Gulf of Sidra, struck five targets at 02:00 on April 15, with the stated objective that their destruction would send a message and reduce Libya's ability to support and train terrorists. Reagan warned that "if necessary, [they] shall do it again."