Is the Libyan opposition mostly revolutionaries or mostly rebels?

[joshcryer]

Note: I am fully aware that one persons revolutionary or is another persons rebel, you do not have to explain this to me.

[rug]

1. Mostly they're people who don't want to get blown up.

[Posteritatis]

2. This poll screams for a define-your-terms sort of thing. (nt)

[ixion]

3. They are human beings

the rest is relative.

[joshcryer]

5. I fixed the poll, I meant to ask about the opposition, my bad.

[jpgray]

4. I know this one! Revolutionaries always tell the truth, but rebels always lie...

So if you come upon two fellows at a fork in the road, one revolutionary and one rebel, and can only ask one question to find the right road to Tripoli, you have to ask "Which way would the other guy say is not the way to Tripoli?"

Nailed it.

[joshcryer]

6. Heh.

Just trying to get a sense of what people believe the Libyan opposition is (my polls don't get many hits because I think I'm on a crapload of ignore lists).

[Iterate]

7. The more activist ones call themselves revolutionary,

and I suppose they are, since, to the extent it's possible to find original sources discussing it, they favor a constitutional democracy similar to what they once had, united and free as they say.

By far though, they simply refer to themselves as "Libyan people", which makes sense because the best estimates by careful observers puts anti-Gaddaffi support at about 90%.

[joshcryer]

8. I don't know if you saw it...

...but the original poll said "people." I think that ultimately Gaddafi's support is in the low 20% tops, within the non-mercenary population.

[Iterate]

9. One thing we can be absolutely sure of...

-there will be no polls or elections in Gaddafi's Libya. All we can do is go by the best estimates. Would be interesting to have one in Benghazi though, now that it's possible. Wouldn't that be a PR coup, a referendum or election to city offices?

[joshcryer]

11. I don't think they should do that yet because it might signal a split state solution.

[upi402]

10. Other: Humans fed up with being oppressed

I have no way of knowing, but that's what my gut tells me.

[DuaneBidoux]

12. Other: unemployed guys with guns who can't get laid.

Which incidently is the heart of the downfall of all prior civilizations (well, it used to be swords).

[JVS]

13. I don't think that they're unarmed civilians who have a right to expect a nonviolent response.

[joshcryer]

14. Count all of the armed civilians in this video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12814541