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Title: 90% of Libya in Rebel Hands
Source:
Juan Cole
URL Source: http://www.juancole.com/2011/02/90-of-libya-in-rebel-hands.html
Published: Feb 24, 2011
Author: Juan Cole
Post Date: 2011-02-24 15:29:35 by go65
Keywords: None
Views: 8036
Comments: 8
The LAT reports that the rebellion against Muammar Qaddafi’s 41-year dictatorship in Libya headed toward an end-game on Wednesday, as Misurata, the country’s third-largest city (pop. 600,000), fell to the opposition. Significantly, Misurata is in the west of the country, where support for Qaddafi had been stronger. It is only 100 miles east of the capital, Tripoli. Most of the country stretching from the outskirts of Tripoli east toward Egypt is now in the hands of popular committees allied with local security forces that have defected from the dictator. Even to Tripoli’s west, the rebellion had spread to some small towns. Qaddafi is increasingly left only with a sullen and sanguinary Tripoli, about 1 million people, where the streets are ghostly and marauding security forces hotrod it through the streets, sometimes firing indiscriminately. Aljazeera Arabic is making the point that a lot hinges on the Libyan tribes’ response to the crisis. The reporter says that the officer corps is actually an assemblage of tribal notables cultivated by Qaddafi over the years, and in the end tribal loyalties may win out. The BBC concurs. Thus, The city of Az-Zintan 150 km to the southwest of Tripoli is a major tribal center, Including of the powerful Warfala tribe, which has turned on Qaddafi. The az-Zintan tribes are even facilitating the volunteer activities of youth who want to go to the capital and help rescue its besieged population. The former leader of the Awlad Sulaiman tribe, Sheikh Saif al-Nasr, went on Aljazeera and broadcast an appeal to the young people of this tribe and others in the south to join in the protests and end the dictatorship. Likewise, the Tarhun tribe has largely washed its hands of Qaddafi. It is key because about a third of the residents of Tripoli belong to it. And even some members of Qaddafi’s own Qadhadfa tribe are turning on him. On the Libyan-Egyptian border, Members of the Awlad Ali tribe, who trace their origins back to Libya, condemned the iron-fisted crackdown of the regime.
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#1. To: lucysmom, skip intro, godwinson, war (#0)
Imagine the reaction of Republicans if this rebellion happened on Bush's watch?
Since January 3, 2011, Republicans have controlled the power of the purse.
Yes, they are hypocrites through and through.
Yea, but the majority live in that 10% held by the Qaddadfi.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Why didn't it?
Imagine us trying to attack Iran now. ;} And the map of the Ottoman Empire only shows about a 50 mile wide swath of Libya,Tunisia beachfront as viable.
USEMpire collapsing. Our USSA MSM wants Charlie Sheen's head though. See how that works for ya, Imperial City. ;} "This Can't Be Happening , February 24, 2011 Pakistani and Indian newspapers are reporting that Raymond Davis, the CIA contractor in jail in Lahore facing murder charges for the execution-slayings of two young men believed to by Pakistani intelligence operatives, was actually involved in organizing terrorist activities in Pakistan. As the Express Tribune, an English-language daily that is linked to the International Herald Tribune, reported on Feb. 22: "The Lahore killings were a blessing in disguise for our security agencies who suspected that Davis was masterminding terrorist activities in Lahore and other parts of Punjab," a senior official in the Punjab Police claimed. "
Why didn't it? Because 911 happened and people were in shock, and afraid to speak out against the regime.
You have the courage to tell the masses what no politician told them: you are inferior and all the improvements in your conditions which you simply take for granted you owe to the efforts of men who are better than you. Ludwig von Mises in a letter to Ayn Rand
So "they" waited until the magical messiah and closet muslim was installed?
#2. To: go65 (#1)
-------------------------------------
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#3. To: go65 (#0)
#4. To: go65 (#1)
Imagine the reaction of Republicans if this rebellion happened on Bush's watch?
#5. To: go65, lucysmom, skip intro, godwinson, war (#1)
Imagine the reaction of Republicans if this rebellion happened on Bush's watch?
#6. To: All (#5)
#7. To: Ibluafartsky (#4)
Imagine the reaction of Republicans if this rebellion happened on Bush's watch?
#8. To: lucysmom (#7)
Because 911 happened and people were in shock, and afraid to speak out against the regime.
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