Another U.S. Foreign Policy "Triumph": Libya Edition

[cali]

Libya is a a horror show. saying that is NOT supporting Gadhafi Is it any better than it was under Gadhafi?

Not really.

At least 42 people were killed and almost 400 wounded in gun battles between Libyan militiamen and armed residents in Tripoli on Friday in some of the worst street fighting in the capital since the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi.

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan is struggling to control rival militias, Islamist militants and other former fighters who refuse to surrender their arms two years after helping to oust Gadhafi in a NATO-backed revolt.

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http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/15/21484827-dozens-dead-in-clash-with-libyan-militiamen-in-tripoli

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/11/state-emergency-declared-libyan-capital-20131116221716364104.html


Libya: on the brink of abyss

The deterioration of the political and security situation in Libya has been worsening throughout the year, stocking fears that the country risks total anarchy and civil war. Violence and instability have increased in parts of the country, while the level of insecurity, particularly in cities such as Tripoli and Benghazi, has worsened. Indeed, a simple survey of headlines such as "Libya: Going wrong", "Libya on the brink", "Premier's brief 'arrest' highlights anarchy", or "Deepening crisis in Libya", all tell the story of a failing Libya.

The latest violent incident which occurred on November 15, epitomises the gravity of the crisis. In the worst street fighting between one of the revolutionary brigades in Tripoli and residents of the city, at least 32 people were killed and about 400 wounded.

One of the legacies of the rushed military campaign against former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was the dismantling of the security sector and the looting of the weapons stockpiles of the country. The various armed formations and revolutionary brigades that waged the war that toppled Gaddafi, are not integrated into a unified national security architecture. Instead, granting official recognition to a large number of armed groups under the National Transitional Council encouraged the consolidation of the brigades. The recognition brought many of them under the "nominal" authority of either the defence or interior ministry and allowed their proliferation. Yet, the brigades, known locally as Katibas, for the most part, act independently. While only an estimated 50,000 Libyans fought in militias against Gaddafi, the number of brigades has grown and the country's Warriors Affairs Commission believes that currently, there are 250,000 militiamen under arms.


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http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/11/libya-brink-abyss-201311131174190342.html

[Maedhros]

1. Hey - sometimes Freedom means gun battles between militiamen and armed residents.

Just ask the NRA. Would you deny our Libyan brothers and sisters their Freedom?

[cali]

2. kick

[riderinthestorm]

3. Great summary cali. Thanks for this. Bookmarking nt

[cali]

4. thanks. we tend to have turned away from our foreign policy issues

it's still important

[FarCenter]

5. Libya is an unnatural colonial construction

It is a combination of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and Cyrenaica put together by the Italians.