Pro-Gadhafi forces try to retake strategic city

[pinboy3niner]

Pro-Gadhafi forces try to retake strategic city

By MAGGIE MICHAEL
The Associated Press
Tuesday, March 1, 2011; 3:29 AM

TRIPOLI, Libya -- Government opponents in rebel-held Zawiya repelled an attempt by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi to retake the city closest to the capital in six hours of fighting overnight, witnesses said Tuesday.

The rebels, who included defected army forces, are armed with tanks, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. They fought back pro-Gadhafi troops, armed with the same weapons, who attacked from six directions. There was no word on casualties in Zawiya, 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli.

"We will not give up Zawiya at any price," said one witness. "We know it is significant strategically. They will fight to get it, but we will not give up. We managed to defeat them because our spirits are high and their spirits are zero."

Gadhafi, Libya's ruler of 41 years, has already lost control of the eastern half of the country since protests demanding his ouster began two weeks ago. He still holds the capital Tripoli and nearby cities.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030100796.html

[necso]

1. Defensive efforts sound magnificent, skilled. /nt

[necso]

3. It's useful to understand

how these regimes typically operate. The "leader" gathers around him certain people he thinks he can trust. And they and their sons form the core of the best-armed military units, the secret police, the intelligence service, etc; and their families are clustered around his strongholds.

And if these leaders and their immediate circles are vicious, ruthless killers with a taste for vengeance, then those families are essentially hostages.

But once the spell is broken, once the inner circle breaks, it can all quickly fall apart.

And that's what we're looking for.

The rest should follow.

[joshcryer]

4. Exactly. Except here's where Gaddafi messed up. He dearmed his military.

His military wasn't getting the love and care that it wanted, so, naturally, when the time came the shiny coins and dollars bills weren't flipping inside their eyelids, and they were able to more easily see humanity, to see their fellow human.

Of course more corrupt countries where the inner circle and the entire army and military branch is bought and paid for? Well, not so much. I'm not saying Libya wasn't corrupt, mind you, I'm saying Gaddafi neglected his military, and the military itself was not as corrupt as it could've been had Gaddafi been feeding it bribes this whole time.

[joshcryer]

2. You cannot bribe revolutionaries. Something dictators need to learn.

[pampango]

5. Pro-Gaddafi forces battling to retake strategic city of Zawiya

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8354412/Libya-Pro-Gaddafi-forces-battling-to-retake-strategic-city-of-Zawiya.html

Libyan rebels have repulsed an attempt by a crack military unit loyal to Muammar Gaddafi to retake the strategically-vital city of Zawiya.

The rebels exchanged fire for several hours with the elite Khamis Brigade, commanded by one of Col Gaddafi's sons, who attacked simultaneously from six directions using tanks, armoured vehicles and machine guns. There was no word on casualties in Zawiya, 30 miles west of the capital, Tripoli. "We damaged a tank with an RPG," a rebel fighter said. "The mercenaries fled after that."

Mohammad al-Maktouf, an influential tribal leader in Zawiya was reported to have received a call from Col Gaddafi, warning of air strikes if rebels do not vacate the city centre today.

"We will not give up Zawiya at any price," said one witness. "We know it is significant strategically. We managed to defeat them because our spirits are high and their spirits are zero."