Libyan Revolution Day 44 (ceasefire offered by rebels, rejected by Gaddafi)

[joshcryer]

Links to sites with updates: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2">AJE Live Blog April 2 (today) http://blogs.aljazeera.net/twitter-dashboard">AJE Twitter Dashboard http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418">BBC Live Blog http://feb17.info/">feb17.info http://www.livestream.com/libya17feb?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks">Libya Alhurra (live video webcast from Benghazi) http://www.libyafeb17.com/">libyafeb17.com

Twitter links: http://twitter.com/#!/aymanm">Ayman Mohyeldin, with AJE http://twitter.com/#!/bencnn">Ben Wedeman, with CNN http://twitter.com/#!/tripolitanian">tripolitanian, a Libyan from Tripoli http://twitter.com/#!/BaghdadBrian">Brian Conley, reporter in Libya http://twitter.com/#!/freelibyanyouth">FreeLibyanYouth, Libyan advocate http://twitter.com/#!/LibyaFeb17_com">LibyaFeb17.com twitter account http://twitter.com/#!/ChangeInLibya">ChangeInLibya, Libyan advocate

Useful links: http://audioboo.fm/feb17voices">feb17voices http://www.google.com/search?q=time+in+libya">Current time in Libya http://www.islamicfinder.org/cityPrayerNew.php?country=libya">Prayer times in Libya

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x787986">Day 43 part 2 here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixwx_B38678">Marching On in Libya, for the revolutionaries!

Revolutionaries headed for cover from artillery fired on them by pro-Gaddafi troops near Brega (March 31)

Photograph: Finbarr O'Reilly/Reuters

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/video-and-audio/detained-female-journalist-interrogated-libyan-television-2011-04--0">Detained female journalist interrogated on Libyan television - video
One of the many subjected to enforced disappearances in Libya during the uprising that started on February 17 2011, 'Rana' reappeared on Libyan television being questioned why she supported the revolution.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/1/libyan-opposition-sets-conditions-cease-fire/">Libyan opposition sets conditions for cease-fire
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) — Libya’s rebels will agree to a cease-fire if Moammar Gadhafi pulls his military forces out of cities and allows peaceful protests against his regime, an opposition leader said Friday as rebels showed signs that their front-line organization is improving.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, head of the opposition’s interim governing council based in Benghazi, spoke during a joint press conference with U.N. envoy Abdelilah Al-Khatib. After meeting government officials in Thursday, Al-Khatib was visiting the rebels’ de facto stronghold of Benghazi in hopes of reaching a political solution to the crisis embroiling the North African nation.

Abdul-Jalil said the rebels’ condition for a cease-fire is “that the Gadhafi brigades and forces withdraw from inside and outside Libyan cities to give freedom to the Libyan people to choose and the world will see that they will choose freedom.”

The U.N. resolution that authorized international airstrikes against Libya called for Gadhafi and the rebels to end hostilities. Gadhafi announced a cease-fire immediately but has shown no sign of heeding it. His forces continue to attack rebels in the east, where the opposition in strongest, and have besieged the only major rebel-held city in the west, Misrata.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141134110527219.html">Libyan government rejects rebel ceasefire
A Libyan government spokesman has termed the conditions set by the opposition for a ceasefire "mad", and asserted that troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, will remain stationed where they are.

"They are asking us to withdraw from our own cities. .... If this is not mad then I don't know what this is. We will not leave out cities," said Mussa Ibrahim, the government spokesman, on Friday.

Fighting raged on Friday near the key oil town of Brega, in the country's east, and the towns of Misurata and Az Zintan in the west.

Earlier, the opposition had said it would agree to a ceasefire as long as Gaddafi pulled his military out of opposition-held cities and allowed peaceful protests against his government.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/01/gaddafi-talks-west">Gaddafi regime starts talks with the west to end conflict
The regime of Muammar Gaddafi has initiated a concerted effort to open lines of communication with western governments in an attempt to bring the conflict in the country to an end.

Libya's former prime minister Abdul Ati al-Obeidi told Channel 4: "We are trying to talk to the British, the French and the Americans to stop the killing of people. We are trying to find a mutual solution."

As rebel leaders offered a ceasefire if Gaddafi withdraws his military from Libya's cities and permits peaceful protests, senior British sources said they were open to dialogue.

"If people on the Gaddafi side want to have a conversation we are happy to talk," one said. "But we will deliver a clear and consistent message: Gaddafi has to go and there has to be a better future for Libya."

Video of the convoy sent to take Benghazi, taken from a dead soliders cell phone (shows how massive the operation was): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwWwOeZqz6M

Sky News went with Gaddafi minders to find a "civilian town bombed" only they were never shown any such thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O5KJavfiQo

TNC presser talking about various details of the revolution (thanks to Waiting for Everyone): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=730234&mesg_id=731532

Topic on the women of the revolution, dispels myths that they are treated poorly: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x594751

Videos to bring the Libyan Revolution into context:

The Battle of Benghazi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0vChMDuNd0

BBC Panorama on Libya Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyaPnMnpCAA

BBC Panorama on Libya Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMzwQvcx62s

Tea of Freedom Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD5tu5bJWKc

Latest indiscriminate shelling in Misurata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wop3C4zrPXI

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397">Text of the resolution.

How will a no fly zone work? AJE reports: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWEwehTtK2k

Canada: http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110317/cf-libya-canada/20110317/?hub=WinnipegHome">Canada to send six CF-18s for Libya 'no-fly' mission Norway: http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFOSN00509220110318">Norway to join military intervention in Libya Belgium: http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/monde/2011-03-18/la-belgique-prete-a-une-operation-militaire-en-libye-828970.php">Belgium ready for a military operation in Libya Qatar and the UAE: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/776/?SID=e80884adc09a37d26904578a9b5978cb">Run-up for Western world’s next military commitment ... with unusual support Denmark: http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/51229-denmark-ready-for-action-against-gaddafi.html">Denmark ready for action against Gaddafi France: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19libya.html?src=twrhp">Following U.N. Vote, France Vows Libya Action ‘Soon’ Italy: http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE72G2HE20110317">Italy to make bases available for Libya no-fly zone-source United Kingdom: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12770467">Libya: UK forces prepare after UN no-fly zone vote United States: http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/nations-draw-up-plans-for-no-fly-zone-over-libya-1.2765122">Nations draw up plans for no-fly zone over Libya Jordan: http://www.smh.com.au/world/military-strikes-on-libya-within-hours-20110318-1bzii.html?from=smh_sb">Military strikes on Libya 'within hours' Spain: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/19/2801s627320.htm">Spain Expected to Join NATO No-fly Zone Enforcement over Libya

"One month ago (Western countries) were sooo nice, so nice like pussycats," Saif says in a contemptuous sing-song tone."Now they want to be really aggressive like tigers. (But) soon they will come back, and cut oil deals, contracts. We know this game." - http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058389,00.html">Saif Gaddafi

(Yeah, Saif, as if you weren't "cutting oil deals, contracts" with western states. Who are the 'tigers' now? Bombing your own people.)

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-10-0">March 10 7:28pm Saif al Islam Gaddafi says "the time has come for full-scale military action" against Libyan rebels. He goes on to say that Libyan forces loyal to his family "will never surrender, even if western powers intervene".

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/2011/03/2011328194855872276.html">Libyan Karzai? Chalabi? Forget it
Fortunately, the Council wasn't made-in-the-USA or manufactured by another foreign power. Rather it came into existence, a month ago, at Libyans' own initiative, soon after the winds of revolutionary change blew Libya's way, and after its people rose to the occasion with pride and courage.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/31/getting_libyas_rebels_wrong">Getting Libya's Rebels Wrong
Don't buy Qaddafi's line: The rebels aren't al Qaeda.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2011/04/04/110404taco_talk_anderson#ixzz1HvS7iW22">Who Are the Rebels?
During weeks of reporting in Benghazi and along the chaotic, shifting front line, I’ve spent a great deal of time with these volunteers. The hard core of the fighters has been the shabab—the young people whose protests in mid-February sparked the uprising. They range from street toughs to university students (many in computer science, engineering, or medicine), and have been joined by unemployed hipsters and middle-aged mechanics, merchants, and storekeepers. There is a contingent of workers for foreign companies: oil and maritime engineers, construction supervisors, translators. There are former soldiers, their gunstocks painted red, green, and black—the suddenly ubiquitous colors of the pre-Qaddafi Libyan flag.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/29/vision-democratic-libya-interim-national-council">A vision of a democratic Libya
The interim national council, formed by opposition groups in Libya, has said it will hold free and fair elections and draft a national constitution. Here is its eight-point plan in full.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/25/world/middleeast/map-of-how-the-protests-unfolded-in-libya.html">Click here for updated map

Military Installations



Oil Map



http://bit.ly/fe3P">Google Earth DL here to see positions of army and patrolling route of mercenaries

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=212059469427545728757.00049c4df2474b6543347&ll=31.203405,30.058594&spn=96.173452,183.867188&z=3">MAP of Protests across the Middle East

Mohammed Nabbous, killed by Gaddafi's forces while trying to report on the massacre in Benghazi

"I'm not afraid to die, I'm afraid to lose the battle" -Mohammed Nabbous, a month ago when all this began

I'm struggling to come up with something to say about this man. I was not aware of the Libyan uprising until I saw Mo's first report, begging for help, posted here on DU. I was stricken. Here was a man giving everything he had to explain a situation that clearly terrified him, I would not call him a coward in that moment, but you could see the fear in his eyes, and desperation in his voice. For 30 days Nabbous would spend many hours covering the uprising in Benghazi. For many nights I would go to sleep with the webcast of Benghazi live on my computer screen, looking to it occasionally to be sure it was still 'there.' Mo treated the chat room as if we were his friends, and in some way, we were. I never signed up to LiveStream to thank him for all his work and it seems somewhat shallow to do so now, given that I was a lurker for so long. Ever since I took over posting these threads "Libya Alhurra" has been linked as a source of information. It wasn't until last night, when I posted, and twitter posted on Mo's adventures out into Benghazi to try to determine the truth of the situation, that Mo's webchannel became a hit, over 2000 people were watching him stream live. This was curious to him because he'd done many reports like this in the past but he appeared somewhat bemused that the view count exploded as it did. Last night Mo became a star. This is a man who first started out with a webcast replete with fear and desperation finally overcoming that aspect of himself and losing that fear, to become someone who was a fighter for the resistance just as much as those who held the guns. Reporting on the front lines of Benghazi became his final act, and for that he should never, ever be forgotten. I'm so sorry Mo that I never got to know you better.

Mo's first report, which many of you may remember, begging for help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EXALI60hg

Mo's last report, a fallen hero trying to spread the word to the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecu_iWLn-rg

Mo leaves behind a wife who is with child, she had http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/23/a_bright_voice_from_libyas_darkness">this to say about the No Fly Zone and R2P UN resolution:

We started this in a pure way, but he turned it bloody. Thousands of our men, women, and children have died. We just wanted our freedom, that's all we wanted, we didn't want power. Before, we could not do a single thing if it was not the way he wanted it. All we wanted was freedom. All we wanted was to be free. We have paid with our blood, with our families, with our men, and we're not going to give up. We are still going to do that no matter what it takes, but we need help. We want to do this ourselves, but we don't have the weapons, the technology, the things we need. I don't want anyone to say that Libya got liberated by anybody else. If NATO didn't start moving when they did, I assure you, I assure you, half of Benghazi if not more would have been killed. If they stop helping us, we are going to be all killed because he has no mercy anymore.

[joshcryer]

1. Current time in Libya, 2:04am Saturday, April 2

[pinboy3niner]

2. Welcome back, Josh!

I'm taking a break--be back later. :hi:

[joshcryer]

3. Have a good rest!

:hug:

I have to lay down but I'll be back to update. Unrecs are already in force. I think they watch for this thread to be posted, tbh. How anyone could dislike a general news thread is beyond me. Would they prefer dozens upon dozens of news threads be posted in LBN?

[joshcryer]

4. Libyan revolution is worth the fight, say battle-torn families

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/01/libyan-revolution-battle-torn-families">Libyan revolution is worth the fight, say battle-torn families
"People find it very hard," said Iman Fannoush, with her two children in tow and a husband she knows not where. "They are up all night shooting because of good news. We hear the UN is coming to help us or our fighters have taken Brega or the air strikes have destroyed Gaddafi's tanks. Then everyone is afraid again when they hear Gaddafi's army is coming and they all want to know where is France, where are the air strikes, why is the west abandoning us?"

Against that, Libyans have surprised themselves with a solidarity and consideration for others many said they didn't know they had because the regime poisoned relationships with suspicion.

The families who fled Ras Lanuf, Brega and Ajdabiya as Gaddafi's forces advanced found a welcome in the houses of strangers in Benghazi. When that city then came under attack, and those families fled again along with their new hosts, they were taken in at homes along the coast all the way to Tobruk.

Fannoush, 25, was among them. She last saw her husband, Mohammed, three weeks ago as he left their home in Ajdabiya, about 90 miles south of Benghazi, to fight Gaddafi's advancing army. Days later, as the Libyan leader's forces bore down on Ajdabiya, Fannoush could no longer wait for Mohammed to return and fled with much of the town's population, leaving a note for her husband. "It said I have gone to Benghazi but I do not know if I can stop there. It said we might not stop until Egypt," she said.

[defendandprotect]

17. LIBYA HURRA -- !!

[MedleyMisty]

18. Bought Huey P. Newton's Revolutionary Suicide tonight

Definitely thinking about the Libyans as I read it, and the quote that's going around Twitter - "There are six million Libyans, and five million of us are willing to die so the other million can live in dignity."

A quote from a bit of the book that really made me think of Libya:

Something remarkable was taking place during every prayer service. When people in the congregation prayed for each other, a feeling of community took over. They were involved in each other's problems and trying to help solve them. Even though it was entirely directed to God and did not go beyond the meeting, it suggested how powerful and moving it can be to have a shared sense of purpose. People really related to each other. Here was a microcosm of what ought to have been going on outside in the community. I had the first glimmer of what it means to have a unified goal that involves the whole community and calls forth the strength of the people to make things better.

That's just praying in church. Imagine fighting and dying for your country's freedom together.

I think the Libyans have been utterly changed. Like I said in a previous thread - I think they have found a strength and a sense of common humanity that is rare on this planet. Anyone trying to impose an outside government, trying to split the country, or trying to get the TNC to bend to their will is going to have an extremely hard fight on their hands. Also like I said before - the Libyan revolution is the most complete revolution. There's no military junta like in Egypt, no upper middle class that wants things to go back to normal, no apathetic people who just want stability, who are willing to give up freedom for security. Security is long gone, for the whole country. It's freedom or death now, for everyone.

In the women of the Libyan revolution video (yes, I'm linking it again) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvMtCp8cgtE - a woman says that the Gaddafi regime has affected everyone, every category of Libyan society. Except the top 1%, the ones who kept him in power and were well-paid.

And now the other 99% have found their strength, lost their fear, and risen up against him as one.

The present is terrible and bloody (we will find out how bloody, but the people who aren't listening now won't listen then either - I'm terrified of what they'll find in Tripoli - I keep hearing about mass arrests and then shooting and screaming heard in the military barracks and Gaddafi's compound, although no one seems to be putting the two together), but I have hope that their future is bright.

Sharing this poem by a Libyan again, titled Now That We Have Tasted Hope - http://abudai.tumblr.com/post/4225202196/now-that-we-have-tasted-hope

[joshcryer]

5. Libya: Defections and dilemmas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/02/libya-defections-dilemmas-editorial">Libya: Defections and dilemmas
From the beginning of the intervention in Libya the encouragement of defections has played an absolutely central role. Indeed it has been the constant refrain of prime ministers, presidents and foreign ministers as they sought to explain how they thought the coalition would achieve its aims in north Africa. Libyan civilians of course had to be protected from attack. But otherwise the military measures, the economic sanctions and even the threat of international legal proceedings were not ends in themselves.

They were instead means, as William Hague, Hillary Clinton, Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama repeatedly made clear, to signal to Libyan soldiers, civil servants and high functionaries that the regime had no future – and nor would they, if they stuck with it. The important thing was to peel away from the Gaddafis the supporters without whom they could not maintain their rule. The defection of the Benghazi garrison in the early days of the protests brought about the swift collapse of the Gaddafi government's authority in the east, while the resignations and declarations of many Libyan diplomats undermined what little was left of the regime's legitimacy abroad. Defections were the way to go, and the prospect of more was relished.

When it was a matter of barely known military officers changing sides, or western-educated diplomats whose unease at representing the regime had long been noted, or even of Gaddafi ministers migrating to the Benghazi camp in Libya itself, all was grist to the mill. But there was a contradiction looming. When defection is vital to success, can amnesty be far away? This is the problem dramatised by the defection of Moussa Koussa to Britain this week. Koussa has both harmed and helped Britain in the past, with the emphasis in recent years more on the latter than the former. And, with his knowledge of the workings of the Gaddafi inner circle, he can still help us now by pinpointing its weaknesses and identifying other figures who might come over soon.

[joshcryer]

6. Gunfire in Tripoli near Gaddafi's compound

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/uk-libya-tripoli-gunfire-idUKTRE73054H20110401">Gunfire in Tripoli near Gaddafi's compound
(Reuters) - Sustained gunfire rang out near Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's heavily fortified compound in Tripoli on Friday and residents said they saw snipers on rooftops and pools of blood on the streets.

It was not clear what triggered long bursts of machinegun and automatic gunfire that echoed around the city centre for about 20 minutes and stopped before dawn.

Cars were heard speeding along central Tripoli streets, their tyres screeching on the asphalt. Distant shouting or chanting also was heard.

"There were pools of blood on the streets. You will not find anything now. It's been hosed down and cleaned by the fire trucks," a Tripoli resident said.

This is probably where a lot of the tweets earlier were coming from. Not sure what to think about it. Sorry all, I must sleep, been up 38 hours straight. Met a Libyan today at the laundry mat, very surreal talking to him.

[MedleyMisty]

19. Oh wow, what was that like?

Talking to the Libyan man?

And yeah - I saw the flurry of tweets and the hope of Tripoli rising, but I think Gaddafi is doing everything he can to keep that from happening.

I like the end of that article:

"We are not scared of any bombings," said Ashred Mohammed al Rahani, one civilian volunteer, thumping himself on the chest with a fist. "France, Britain and Qatar are the enemy."

But I thought this was the US invading Libya for its oil? Nice for so many countries to help us this time, even Qatar. Dang. I guess they all learned when we started calling French fries freedom fries, that they'd better go along next time we asked for help on invading a country to get its oil.

[joshcryer]

72. It was really interesting. He had MSNBC on the TV.

I've been in that laundry mat many times and when he told me he was the owner (I'd asked) I was surprised that it went through "three owners." Apparently they are all joint owners and he works in the 13 other stores he has here. Apparently the laundry mats don't make much money, basically break even as long as nothing breaks down. He spent some of that time repairing some of the broken washers.

What prompted me to ask him if he was Libyan was the fact that his accent sounded very Arabic, and he had MSNBC on and they were covering Libya. First time I've ever seen those TVs on a news channel.

He joked about how Gaddafi was only coming to power for 10 years and how everyone thought he was going to reform the country, but how he held on to power for 42. I joked back, "Yeah, king goes to Britian, and Gaddafi just waltzes right into power, pretty slick!" He smiled and appeared encouraged that someone was paying attention to things.

I'm going to Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt, I have decided. It's only a matter of time.

[pinboy3niner]

7. BREAKING: A NATO airstrike hit a rebel convoy today

CNN's Ben Wedeman said minutes ago on AC360 that he had just learned a NATO airstrike hit an "anti-Gaddafi convoy" today. He said a truck and a tank were hit, and that there were fatalities. No further details.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Will D'Escoto--now named Nicaragua's dep. ambassador to UN--speak for Gaddafi regime?

More on the Nicaraguan - Libyan diplomatic twists. First it was announced that Miguel D'Escoto, a former Nicaraguan foreign minister, would be the Gaddafi administration's new representative to the UN - after beteran Libyan diplomat Ali Treki was reportedly denied a visa.

Then US officials poured cold water on the idea, saying D'Escoto, a 78-year-old former Catholic priest and ex-Sandinista revolutionary, was only in the United States on a tourist visa - which didn't allow him to work, let alone work as a national envoy to the United Nations.

Now president Daniel Ortega has appointed D'Escoto as Nicaragua's deputy UN ambassador, which could pave the way for D'Escoto to legitimately speak at the international body, potentially using his position to speak up for Gaddafi's regime.

UN officials have said they have yet to recieve official communication from Tripoli naming Libya's new representative.

1:40am:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2

[tabatha]

9. I am sure Tunisia and Egypt will be happy to let them through.

from #libya fbook group: "This just in from a friend in Tripoli:I got this information from 3azza I was in today.... all passports belonging to the families of Geddafi's entourage have been confiscated, one woman whose husband is working with Geddafi was telling how they came to collect her passport and found out that the same is happening to others....I guess they are trying to cut down on more defections, next he'll be closing the Boarders I expect !!! "

http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/IbnOmar2005/~gSDIE

[pinboy3niner]

10. It's pretty bad when you need minders/armed guards to keep your own officials from escaping

Gaddafi's actions will only increase their desperation--possibly even pushing someone to extreme measures...if possible...

[pinboy3niner]

11. The Libya liquidation strategy

David Ignatius
Opinion Writer


The Libya liquidation strategy


By David Ignatius, Friday, April 1, 8:26 PM


Col. Moammar Gaddafi has always depended on one strategic resource to hold his loopy government together, and that’s cash. But as the U.N.-backed coalition tightens its squeeze, Gaddafi is slowly running out of money — and his inner circle is showing early signs of collapse.

White House officials described a pressure campaign that is seizing Gaddafi’s assets, pounding his military and establishing covert links with both the rebels and members of his government. As this chokehold tightens, U.S. officials believe that Gaddafi’s regime is likely to implode around him or he’ll be forced to flee.

This Libya strategy is based on hopes and expectations, rather than a detailed endgame. And in that sense, it still lacks the kind of strategic clarity that President Obama’s critics would like to see. But compared with the other tempests swirling through the Middle East — in Syria and Yemen, especially — this one at least seems to be heading in the right direction.

The clearest sign that the squeeze is working was the defection Wednesday of Musa Kusa, Libya’s foreign minister and longtime intelligence chief for Gaddafi. He fled to Britain after what an intelligence source said was a ruse in which Kusa claimed to be heading to Tunisia to make a secret sale of refined oil products. The cover story illustrates Gaddafi’s desperate need for funds.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-libya-liquidation-strategy/2011/04/01/AFTD1wJC_story.html

[tabatha]

12. Good night, stalwart reporter.

Hope you have a good weekend, and that the news gets better for Libya each day. I am still hoping it will all be over on day 50.

:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

13. Goodnight, Tabatha

Fingers crossed...


:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

14. Fighting in north Libya continued through the night...

...with reports of explosions in Homs and ongoing shelling in Misurata.A resident of Homs, 120km east of Tripoli, told the AFP news agency he heard explosions coming from a local naval base, which had earier been targeted by NATO forces.

As I post, it is 6:20am in Libya.

[pinboy3niner]

15. For Obama, a carefully calculated delay on justifying Libya air strikes

Source: Los Angeles Times

For Obama, a carefully calculated delay on justifying Libya air strikes


The timing was deeply controversial, but was designed to be a major part of the message itself, unfolding as the U.S. chalked up a measure of achievement in Libya and appeared to back away from lead management of the international military effort there.


By Christi Parsons, Washington Bureau
April 1, 2011, 9:08 p.m.


Reporting from Washington— As President Obama made his way to South America aboard Air Force One two weeks ago, he and his staff began planning a sweeping address to the American people that would explain in depth the airstrikes about to begin in Libya.

But it would be 10 days before he delivered his full justification for the attacks on the defenses of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi.

The timing was deeply controversial, but was designed to be a major part of the message itself, unfolding as the U.S. chalked up a measure of achievement in Libya and appeared to back away from lead management of the international military effort there.

The delay helped to underscore the key ideas Obama wants to drive home: that the commitment differs dramatically from the deep investment of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars he inherited, largely because the U.S. shares responsibility for it with a broad coalition of international and regional partners.

...


"At base, this is a very pragmatic approach," said Mark Quarterman, director of the Program on Crisis, Conflict and Cooperation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "In effect, the administration saw a potential humanitarian catastrophe and a possible need for military action, and decided to go about it with a few principles in mind."


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-messaging-20110402,0,140351,full.story

[pinboy3niner]

16. Report: 28 people died in Misurata in the past three days of fighting...

A spokesman for the anti-Gaddafi fighters in Misurata told AFP that 28 people had died in the city in the past three days of fighting. He denounced the "disproportionate use of force", saying:

The criminal's <Gaddafi's> forces fired at the city with all kinds of shells, rockets and bombs.

Today they tried to reach the port, destroying everything on their path.

The Libyan foreign ministry said Monday that an anti-rebel offensive in Misrata had been stopped after security was restored.

3:19am
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2

[defendandprotect]

33. There are reports by doctors caring for the wounded ...

will try to pick it up --

doctor operating on two little girls --

[reggaehead]

20. Now I see why the teabaggers

oppose no fly zones and military aid. They actually sympathize with ghadaffi's regime. They use it as a modelagainst political rivals.

[MedleyMisty]

21. I've had that thought myself

The more I learn about Libya - like for instance, their health care and educational system totally suck. The Libyans who can afford it go to Tunisia or Egypt for health care. And their wages are very low.

Oh, Gaddafi once said in a speech that unions are for the weak.

There is a lot of oil wealth. It's all in Gaddafi's hands. And he uses it to fund and train terrorists.

Man - why doesn't anyone use that spin instead of saying that it's the Libyans who are the terrorists? I've heard the Libyans say that winning the war on terror starts with taking out Gaddafi, that he's given all their money to terrorists.

But then - winning "the war on terror" was never the idea, just like "the war on drugs".

[Mimosa]

22. Spare us this propaganda.

Is the poster of this stuff there? has he lived there? *rolling eyes*

[MedleyMisty]

23. Beautiful collection of photos

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=146585425407282&set=a.146585418740616.34407.133738650025293&theater

I know in my heart that Libya will be free.

Libya Hurra!

Oh - gotta tweet the women of the revolution video to an Egyptian feminist columnist with a big audience - go go viral!

[defendandprotect]

27. Thanks -- beautiful and courageous people -- amazing!!

Can't help relating to our situation here now --

"We are all Libya" -- !!

Libya has suffered a horrific number of deaths and woundings -- especially if you

compare it to Egypt's struggle -- and their population being only ... something

under 7 million, I think?

Trust that this is all unraveling now for Gaddafi and he will be out soon!!

[Amonester]

24. Online petition for 500,000 signatures to ask Turkish PM to help save Iman

From Avaaz.org: http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_iman_al_obeidi/?vl

Dear friends,

Last Saturday, Iman al-Obeidi burst into a Tripoli hotel, telling reporters she had been gang-raped by 15 of Qaddafi's men. She was dragged away by regime thugs, and no one has seen her since. Let’s raise a massive outcry for Turkey, which has helped free other Libyan hostages, to help save Iman. Sign now and forward this email:

Sign the petition
Last Saturday, a young woman lawyer named Iman al-Obeidi burst into a Tripoli hotel and pleaded with foreign journalists for help, showing bruises and crying that she had just been gang-raped by 15 of Qaddafi's men. She screamed as she was dragged away by Libyan agents and has not been seen since.

Words cannot express the courage Iman showed in speaking out -- and we can only imagine the terror she must be facing right now in the hands of Qaddafi's infamous thugs. Her life is in danger, but we can help, if we act fast.

Qaddafi will ignore most international outrage, but he listened to the Turkish government when they asked him to release foreign journalists. Let's urgently raise a massive global call to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to help save Iman -- sign the petition and forward this email to everyone - it will be hand-delivered to the Turkish consulate in Benghazi, and through ads in Turkey, as soon as we reach 500,000 signatures:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_iman_al_obeidi/?vl

Link to the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/free_iman_al_obeidi/?vl

[defendandprotect]

25. OK -- but you are going to post this separately in GD?

[Amonester]

26. I'd prefer someone else does it, and to GDP also.

Can you do it, please?

[defendandprotect]

28. Of course --

and GDP is GD "political" I'm assuming.

[Amonester]

29. Thank you, I have to go sleep some.

I meant General Discussion: Presidency

O8)

[defendandprotect]

30. OK ...

done for GD and will do GD/Presidency now --

:)

[Turborama]

31. Thanks a lot to you and D&P for bringing this to everyone's attention. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

32. He's bAAAAaaack!

I'm sorry to be away lately. I'm having computer probs--I formatted one article to post four times, and lost it each time when my computer shut down or it froze up and refused commands and I had to pull the plug.

But I'm back now, and will try to keep posting until my next 'event.'

Nice to see so many kept the thread kicked...:grouphug:

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[defendandprotect]

36. Good to see you back --

[pinboy3niner]

38. Thanks, d&p

Luckily, my forced hiatus was in the wee hours. Now it's coming up on 10am in Libya, so things will be heating up...

:hi:

[defendandprotect]

34. Reports that Colonel Abdelrahman AlSaid defected ...

LibyaFeb17.com
On Friday 1st April 2011, @LibyaFeb17_com said:

RT @ChangeInLibya: BREAKING: Reports that Colonel Abdelrahman AlSaid defected and IS NOW BESIEGING BAB AL-AZIZIYA Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli #libya #feb17


http://www.twitlonger.com/show/9k1q1s

--------------------

OK -- if what I've posted is done incorrectly -- stop me, fast!

[pinboy3niner]

35. Another report on Gaddafi forces adapting to threat of airstrikes

Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee, reporting from Benghazi, says his team was told that Gaddafi's forces have stopped using tanks, because they can be easily spotted by NATO airplanes.

Instead they are using pick-up trucks with mortars on the back which look a lot more like the rebel forces.

Both sides now are basically mired in this stretch about 200km wide on the southeast tip of the Gulf of Sirt and that situation - it seems increasingly - can't change <...> So they have - despite all the bluster and the bravado - to find some sort of accommodation <...> Something's got to give.

9:30am:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2

[defendandprotect]

37. Wife of defecting Foreign Minister Moussa Kousa captured by Gaddafi forces -

Wife of defecting Foreign Minister Moussa Kousa captured by Gaddafi forces - #libya #feb17 - http://t.co/LrZP9Ef



"being interrogated by his internal security officials" --

Interesting article on other aspects of what's going on at G compound -- !!

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/04/wife-of-defecting-foreign-minister-moussa-kousa-captured-by-gaddafi-forces/

[defendandprotect]

39. Gaddafi supporter pledges suicide attacks in Britain --

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/04/gaddafi-supporter-pledges-suicide-attacks-in-britain/

[defendandprotect]

40. Video: Report on medical situation Misratah Hospital -- Subtitles --

Video: Comprehensive report on the medical situation in Misratah Hospital

A comprehensive 13 minute report on the medical situation in Misratah hospital. In-depth and long, it serves to paint an accurate picture for the difficult conditions and what doctors and nurses are going through, let alone the patients.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/

[pinboy3niner]

41. Born leader' from Va. gives Libya rebels hope

'Born leader' from Va. gives Libya rebels hope


Gadhafi dismisses rebel offer of ceasefire and rebel-held Misrata comes under heavy bombardment

msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 52 minutes ago 2011-04-02T07:50:27


A battle-hardened Libyan general who defected to the United States two decades ago has returned to his homeland to lead the rebel forces, NBC News reported late Friday.

Gen. Khalifa Haftr, who NBC Washington said was known as a "born leader," has lived in Fairfax County, Va., with his family for the past two decades.

In the 1980s, he commanded Libyan forces when Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi attempted to invade and conquer the country of Chad.

"Gen. Haftr is well known," Ashraf Tulty, an area Libyan-American activist, told NBC Washington. "He is a man of dignity and decency."


http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42388589/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[pinboy3niner]

42. Editorial: Speaking Out Against Crimes in Libya (Eman al-Obeidi)

Editorials


Speaking Out Against Crimes in Libya


Ms.al-Obedei's desperate revelations appear to be a determined decision to free herself from the fear and terror that her abusers hoped would silence her.


04-01-2011

...


A Libyan government spokesman has accused Ms. al-Obeidi of being a drunkard, a mental case, and a prostitute. He also announced she will be charged with slander.

In a television interview, Ms. al-Obeidi's mother, draped in the flag of the anti-Gadhafi opposition, said her daughter is a lawyer, and that she herself had been offered money to induce her daughter to retract her story, which the mother refused to do.

Ms. al-Obeidi's story of rape and abuse, and reports that she may have been targeted because of anti-regime sympathies or connections, cannot be confirmed. But the fact that she spoke out is telling.

...


Ms.al-Obedei's desperate revelations appear to be a determined decision to free herself from the fear and terror that her abusers hoped would silence her. She deserves to be released from the injustices of the Gadhafi regime.


http://www.voanews.com/policy/editorials/Speaking-Out-Against-Crimes-in-Libya-119098599.html

[defendandprotect]

82. LIBYA HURRA -- !!! Brave people -- !!!

[pinboy3niner]

43. US pulling Tomahawk missiles out of Libya combat

AP-US-Libya Update
April 02, 2011 04:18 EDT


US pulling Tomahawk missiles out of Libya combat


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The official U.S. combat role over Libya all but comes to a halt tomorrow.

The Pentagon will stop firing Tomahawk cruise missiles and U.S. attack planes are being pulled out of the international air campaign.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the announcement in congressional testimony Thursday.

They made no mention of the missile stand down but U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Pentagon won't fire the powerful long-range Tomahawks unless the situation changes.


http://www.wgme.com/template/inews_wire/wires.national/25776e12-www.wgme.com.shtml

[pinboy3niner]

44. 'Friendly fire': NATO warplanes bomb Libyan rebels: 13 killed, 7 injured

Al Jazeera's correspondent reports that 13 Libyan rebels were killed and seven others were injured when NATO aircraft bombed four cars of rebels west of the city of Ajdabiya. The Libyan government says the air strikes killed six people and wounded 12 others.

9:58am:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2?sort=desc


Post #7 references the first mention of this 'friendly fire' incident by CNN's Ben Wedeman.

[pinboy3niner]

46. Libya: Coalition air strike near Brega kills rebels--BBC

Soource: BBC

2 April 2011 Last updated at 05:35 ET


Libya: Coalition air strike near Brega kills rebels




At least 10 Libyan rebels are reported to have been killed when a coalition plane enforcing the no-fly zone fired on their convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya late on Friday night.


A BBC correspondent at the scene said the attack came after rebels in five vehicles fired an anti-aircraft gun into the air.

...


The rebels were on their way to Brega when they fired into the air with an anti-aircraft gun, the BBC's Nick Springate says.


The reason for the gunfire is unclear but it may have been in celebration, our correspondent says.


A coalition plane then opened fire on the convoy, destroying the five vehicles, the rebels said.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12944905

[pinboy3niner]

45. Gaddafi's sons show psychological warfare is not all on the western side

Source: The Guardian

Gaddafi's sons show psychological warfare is not all on the western side


Whitehall says the brothers may be ready to abandon their father - but their 'war of nerves' suggests otherwise


Simon Tisdall guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 April 2011 21.30 BST


As the Libya conflict enters its third month, Whitehall is full of whispered talk of secret defections and cloak-and-dagger deals with more "reasonable" elements within the much-weakened Tripoli regime. The embattled sons of Muammar Gaddafi are looking for a way out, and may even be prepared to dump their father to save their own skins – or so the grapevine has it.

...


The revamped approach apparently scored a big success this week with the defection of Moussa Koussa, Gaddafi's foreign minister. But two can play at this game. Gaddafi's most prominent sons, Saif al-Islam and Mutassim, the national security adviser, were also waging their own "war of nerves", the sources said. They appeared to be calculating that the Nato-led coalition will run out of time, split apart, and forfeit crucial Arab and domestic support.

Far from genuinely looking for a solution, the brothers' strategy comprises unofficial "back door" offers of time-consuming talks, floating vague ideas of an "honourable" exit for their father, and impracticable suggestions that they could help form a unity government, the sources suggested.

...


"It may also be an attempt to divide the coalition and knock out the Arab countries. The Arabs are hardly involved already. What the regime is saying to the Arab world is that there could be a reasonable deal on the table and the west won't take it. They want to turn the conflict into the west versus the Arabs."


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/01/libya-muammar-gaddafi-defections-sons

[pinboy3niner]

47. Gaddafi troops execute doctor (won't chant, "Long live Gaddafi")

Check out this chilling footage coming from a pro-rebel YouTube channel. According the website it shows a doctor lying on the ground injured and whom Gaddafi soldiers demand to repeat:

"Long Live the Fatah, Long live Gaddafi." But the man answers instead: "Allah Akbar, Al Hamdillilah."

A round of bullets is being fired and then the body of the same man is seen thrown at the back of a pick-up truck surrounded by some soldiers.

Al Jazeera cannot verify the authenticity of the video. WARNING: this graphic footage may not be suitable for all viewers:

YouTube: قتل طبيب ليبي وكان اخركلامه لااله الا الله
(0:46)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-2sS1riAL0&feature=player_embedded


11:20am:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2?sort=desc

[pinboy3niner]

48. NATO probing reports of airstrike on Libya rebels

NATO probing reports of airstrike on Libya rebels


(AP) – 19 minutes ago

AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) — NATO said Saturday that it was investigating Libyan rebel reports that a coalition warplane had struck a rebel position that was firing into the air near the front line of the battle with Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

Rebels told The Associated Press that a group of opposition fighters was hit by an airstrike about 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of the town of Brega Friday night.

Mohammad Bedrise, a doctor in a nearby hospital, said three burned bodies had been brought in by men who said they had been hit after firing a heavy machine gun in the air in celebration. Idris Kadiki, a 38-year-old mechanical engineer, said he had seen an ambulance and three cars burning after an airstrike.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the coaliton was looking into the reports.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110402/af-libya/

[tblue37]

111. The stupid, stupid practice of firing guns into the air to celebrate

anything has always made me want to slap people silly.

I suspect that most of the weddings in Afghanistan and Iraq that ended up getting bombed (and then covered up) by US forces were situations where the men in the wedding party or at the reception were firing guns into the air in celebration, thus drawing the unwantedattention of speed-pumped, trigger-happy American fighter pilots.

[joshcryer]

112. Don't get me started on the holding the finger on the trigger while just walking around with the gun

[pinboy3niner]

49. CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 1 PM SATURDAY, APRIL 2

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, GMT +2 hours

[pinboy3niner]

50. Rebel fighters pray at the grave of fellow rebels killed in coalition air strike:

Rebel fighters pray at the grave of fellow rebels who were killed in what they say was a coalition air strike (Photo: Reuters)

[dipsydoodle]

51. Classic own goal

It was the "rebels" firing the anti aircraft gun.

Mugs.

[joshcryer]

Robert Fisk: Let the images of war speak for themselves

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-let-the-images-of-war-speak-for-themselves-2260019.html">Robert Fisk: Let the images of war speak for themselves
I hate being called a war reporter. Firstly, because there is an unhappy flavour of the junkie about it. Secondly, because you cannot report a war without knowing the politics behind it.

Could Ed Murrow or Richard Dimbleby have covered the Second World War without understanding Chamberlain's policy of appeasement or Hitler's Anschluss? Could James Cameron – whose reporting on Korea was spectacular – have recorded the live test-firing of an atom bomb without knowledge of the Cold War?

I always say that reporters should be neutral and unbiased on the side of those who suffer. If you were covering the 18th-century slave trade, you would not give equal space to the slave-ship captain. At the liberation of an extermination camp, you do not give equal time to the SS. When the Palestinian Islamic Jihad blew up a pizzeria full of Israeli children in Jerusalem in 2001, I did not give equal space to the Islamic Jihad spokesman. At the Sabra and Chatila massacre in Beirut in 1982, I did not give equal time to the Israeli army who watched the killings and whose Lebanese allies committed the atrocity.

But television has different priorities. "Al Jazeera English" – as opposed to the Arabic version – manages to get it about right. Yes, I occasionally make an appearance on Al Jazeera and its reporters are good friends of mine. But it does say who the bad guys are; it does speak out, and it puts the usually pusillanimous BBC to shame. What I am most struck by, however, is the quality of the reporting. Not the actual words. But the pictures.

Great article by a good man, Robert Fisk (very anti-war in Iraq, neutral in Libya, though was against the airstrikes / NFZ).

[joshcryer]

52. Obama doctrine? If only

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/02/libya-muammar-gaddafi">Obama doctrine? If only
In his speech on Monday night, President Obama articulated his rationale for the ongoing military campaign in Libya, claiming that a failure to act would have permitted humanitarian catastrophe that would have "would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world". His argument was essentially one of moral emergency, implying that anyone chastened by the failure of the US and European governments to act in Rwanda and similar cases should recognise the necessity of acting in Libya.

But as recent events have demonstrated, a compelling moral case does not equate to a coherent strategy. Indeed, it is charitable to call this strategy muddled. Initially committed to only to defensive operations to stop the advance of the Libyan military into cities like Benghazi, the Obama administration quickly began working with the rebels to coordinate air strikes to push back Gaddafi's forces. This turned the US, Britain and France into combatants in a civil war; no matter how much they claim only to be engaged in "kinetic military action" or some other Orwellian euphemism, the facts are plain. There are now CIA officers present in Libya to coordinate air strikes with rebels, and the US has flown over 1,600 sorties. While the American public may be fooled by the dissembling language, Gaddafi and his regime will have no illusions about who is bombing them.

[joshcryer]

53. UK to help over 10,000 displaced Libyans (Ajdabiya)

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2011/UK-to-help-over-10000-displaced-Libyans-/">UK to help over 10,000 displaced Libyans
Britain will provide emergency shelter for more than 10,000 people driven out of their homes by ongoing fighting in Libya, the International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced today.

As a matter of urgency, 2,100 tents will be flown out from UK stocks in Dubai to provide potentially life saving shelter during cold desert nights. The tents will be distributed by the Libyan Red Crescent to those most in need - including women, children and the sick – particularly around the Ajdabiya area in the conflict-affected North East of Libya.

As well as meeting urgent needs within the country, British aid will help to ensure that conditions at the borders remain under control by extending the work of two air operations experts.

[joshcryer]

54. Libya: Gaddafi's inner circle split three ways

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8422152/Libya-Gaddafis-inner-circle-split-three-ways.html">Libya: Gaddafi's inner circle split three ways
Col Muammar Gaddafi's inner circle has split its loyalties three ways as the Libyan dictator relies on his sons to mount a last ditch defence of his regime.

Some of his longest serving acolytes have been brushed aside and subsequently looked to bail out from regime. His eight sons have overseen a brutal and ruthless response to the popular uprising.

[pinboy3niner]

55. Libyan intelligence chief denies defection rumors

The Associated Press April 1, 2011, 6:31AM ET

Libyan intelligence chief denies defection rumors

TRIPOLI, Libya

Libya's chief of intelligence is knocking down rumors that he is among the government insiders who have abandoned their embattled leader, Moammar Gadhafi.

Libyan state TV aired a phone interview with the official, Bouzeid Dorda, who denied that he defected and said he will not "betray the people or the leader."

He said he never thought to the leave the country and will remain steadfast with Gadhafi "despite everything."


http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MAQIOO2.htm

[pinboy3niner]

56. Opposition fighters have taken control of most of Brega--Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that Libyan pro-democracy fighters have taken control of most the Libyan city of Brega after having engaged in clashes with Gaddafi forces.

2:40pm:
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2?sort=desc

[meow mix]

57. K&r

go rebels

[joshcryer]

58. Wow! That's awesome news.

Now, the question is how much airstrikes played a role in this and how much the freedom fighters got their shit together.

[pinboy3niner]

59. CNN reports rebels took Brega; now rooting out loyalist stragglers in the town

Gaddafi forces have been pushed back to the West.

[joshcryer]

60. Gadhafi forces still pound city of Misrata

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110402/ap_on_bi_ge/af_libya">Gadhafi forces still pound city of Misrata
AJDABIYA, Libya – Government forces killed six civilians in the city of Misrata on Saturday in an unrelenting campaign of shelling and sniper fire aimed at driving rebels from the main city they hold in western Libya, medical officials said.

Doctors said that 243 people have been killed and some 1,000 wounded in more than a month and a half of fighting between Moammar Gadhafi's forces and rebels in Misrata. Most of those slain Saturday were hit by snipers, they said.

One said government forces appeared to be trying to wound civilians.

"The weapons that the Gadhafi brigades use are not meant to prevent movement in the city, but to cause also deformation or paralysis so the suffering of the people endures all their lives," the doctor told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

[pinboy3niner]

61. 'Hundreds killed' in Cote d'Ivoire violence

'Hundreds killed' in Cote d'Ivoire violence

At least 800 people reported killed in one town alone, Red Cross says, as battle for commercial capital rages on.

Last Modified: 02 Apr 2011 06:06


At least 800 people have been reported killed in one town in Cote d'Ivoire, according to the Red Cross, as fierce fighting continues to grip the country.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the deaths reportedly took place during intercommunal violence in the western town of Duekoue on Tuesday.

Dorothea Krimitas, an ICRC spokeswoman, said on Saturday that the violence likely erupted the day after the town was taken by fighters loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the country's internationally recognised leader.

"This event is particularly shocking because of the magnitude and because of the extent of its brutality," Krimitas told Al Jazeera.

"We strongly condemn direct attacks against civilians and we would also like to take this opportunity to recall the obligations of all parties to the conflict to ensure in all circumstances the protection of the population on the territory they are controlling."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201141232021597365.html

[joshcryer]

62. 90% of Gbagbo's forces defected, at least.

Which means this shit will end soon.

[joshcryer]

63. Video: aftermath of NATO fighter jet raid on revolutionaries - video

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/04/video-aftermath-of-nato-fighter-jet-raid-on-revolutionaries/">Video: aftermath of NATO fighter jet raid on revolutionaries - video
At least 12 people are reported to have been killed when a coalition plane enforcing the no-fly zone fired on a rebel convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya late on Friday night. Doctors at a hospital in Ajdabiya told the BBC that three medical students were among the dead.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

64. Allied message to Gadaffi naval forces

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x_XengNvcAA

Advisory to Gadaffi naval forces from allied forces. Recorded earlier this week by HF monitor in Italy(?). Not unusual for the circumstances.

[pinboy3niner]

65. Where the latest fighting has taken place in Libya:

Al Jazeera illustrates where the latest fighting has taken place in Libya (0:34)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lckXwGM2oGM&feature=player_embedded

[joshcryer]

66. Transitional National Council spokesman told Al Jazeera that the loss of lives is regrettable

4:46pm Mustafa Gheriani, a Transitional National Council spokesman, told Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee that the loss of lives is very much regretted.

However we understand that collateral damage may also take place and we do accept it, because we look at the big picture which saving more lives.

So a few people being victims of circumstances or of being at the wrong time or the wrong place it is more or less very bad luck.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2#update-22726

[joshcryer]

67. Al Jazeera's James Bays describes the situation in Ajdabiya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ey3hYFE_nk

Robert Fisk did a good article about Bays' reporting on this, it was a good article, I might repost it.

[joshcryer]

68. Deadly mistakes in the battle for Libya - video

The NATO strike that hit a pro-democracy convoy outside of the eastern town of Brega killing at least 10 people may have been a mistake.

Although the population in the country's east is prepared to forgive the mistake, there is less sympathy is other parts of Libya.

Such incidents may have just given Muammar Gaddafi's spokespeople propaganda ammunition.

Al Jazeera's Laurance Lee reports from Benghazi. (02 April 2011)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOmr2znqZTc

[tblue37]

113. The idiots were shooting an anti-aircraft gun into the air "in celebration."

They should have thought about the airplanes up there bombing perceived hostiles.

[tabatha]

69. I am your faith, I am your youth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKHf9FKKfbI

(in and out)

[joshcryer]

70. That was beautiful, I especially like the transition to Arabic at the end. Thanks.

[joshcryer]

71. By His Own Reckoning, One Man Made Libya a French Cause (Levy)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/africa/02levy.html?_r=1">By His Own Reckoning, One Man Made Libya a French Cause
BERNARD-HENRI LÉVY, 62, is such an inescapable figure in France — of mockery, admiration, amusement, envy — that he is by now unembarrassable. Making his mark young as a philosopher, he was satirized neatly by a critic with the words: “God is dead, but my hair is perfect.”

But in the space of roughly two weeks, Mr. Lévy managed to get a fledgling Libyan opposition group a hearing from the president of France and the American secretary of state, a process that has led both countries and NATO into waging war against the forces of the Libyan leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

It was Mr. Lévy, by his own still undisputed account, who brought top members of the Libyan opposition — the Interim Transitional National Council — from Benghazi to Paris to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy on March 10, who suggested the unprecedented French recognition of the council as the legitimate government of Libya and who warned Mr. Sarkozy that unless he acted, “there will be a massacre in Benghazi, a bloodbath, and the blood of the people of Benghazi will stain the flag of France.”

Mr. Lévy, a celebrated philosopher, journalist and public intellectual, gives Mr. Sarkozy sole credit for persuading London, Washington and others to support intervention in Libya.

[joshcryer]

73. An EPA image shows a pro-democracy fighter brandishes homemade grenades (nice pic)

6:40pm An EPA image shows a pro-democracy fighter brandishes homemade grenades in the colours of the Libyan rebel flag near Brega in Libya.



http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2#update-22741

[joshcryer]

74. American and Egyptian special forces are training rebels in Eastern Libya.

7:09pm Rebel forces tell Al Jazeera's Laurence Lee that American and Egyptian special forces are training them in Eastern Libya.

A rebel fighter said that he underwent training in a secret facility in Eastern Libya where he received training by American and Egyptian secret forces.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-april-2#update-22746

[joshcryer]

75. Video: Tank destroyed by coalition jets in Misratah yesterday reduced to pieces

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/04/video-tank-destroyed-by-coalition-jets-in-misratah-yesterday-reduced-to-pieces/

[joshcryer]

76. CNN: Misrata under siege - video

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2011/04/01/exp.tsr.pleitgen.misrata.fight.cnn.html

[defendandprotect]

83. How much easier this would have been for Libyans had UK, France, Russia not armed Gaddafi -- !!

How much fear of our own MIC -- more of a threat to us and our liberties than

to any enemies!!

[joshcryer]

77. Moussa Ibrahim: How Libya's voice was shaped in Britain

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12918246">Moussa Ibrahim: How Libya's voice was shaped in Britain
...

What British audiences watching may not realise is that this Gaddafi advocate, with his neatly-trimmed goatee beard and open-neck shirts, spent 15 years in the UK gaining his education.

Ibrahim, who has a German-born wife and a young son, studied politics at the University of Exeter in the early 2000s and worked on a PhD in media arts at Royal Holloway, University of London, completing his final exam in May 2010 - although he has not formally received his doctorate as supervisors are awaiting a small number of required amendments to his thesis.

Those who knew him in his student days describe a serious, friendly but short-tempered young man who caused a diplomatic incident on a university trip and attracted the attentions of the police in an ice cream-throwing incident.

"I lived in London for 15 years," he told Sky News in a recent interview. "I know every street in London. I know how decent the British people are."

[joshcryer]

78. Another music vid: Libyan Revolution song 2011: The Front Line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXokeJK7uI

[joshcryer]

79. French hit an army tank near Misrata

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/04/02/97001-20110402FILWWW00502-l-armee-francaise-frappe-un-char-libyen.php">French hit an army tank near Misrata
The French combat aircraft engaged in over Libya to enforce UN resolution 1973 conducted an airstrike on a tank of Libyan forces Friday in western Misrata, announced today the state Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Four patrols Rafale, Mirage 2000D and Super Etendard modernized (SEM) conducted on the evening of support missions and reconnaissance. "During one such mission, a strike on a car was conducted in the Al Khums, west of Misrata," wrote the staff report into the operations.

Crappy translation.

[Waiting For Everyman]

80. UN official says: "This is the end" for world involvement in Afghanistan.

MichaelMechanic
Regarding slaughter incited by Terry Jones, UN official says: "This is the end" for world involvement in Afghanistan. http://mojo.ly/hi6Ozh

Tweeter is a senior editor for Mother Jones. Link goes to short post there, all of it below:

"This is not the beginning of the end for the international community in Afghanistan. This is the end. Terry Jones and others will continue to pull anti-Islam stunts and opportunistic extremists here will use those actions to incite attacks against foreigners. Unless we, the internationals, want our guards to fire on unarmed protestors from now on, the day has come for us to leave Afghanistan."

— Una Moore, an international development professional based in Afghanistan, in a post for the UN Dispatch titled “This Attack Is Different.”

Link to full UN dispatch:

http://www.undispatch.com/this-attack-is-different

[joshcryer]

81. Fuck. :(

[kenny blankenship]

84. But not the end for US involvement sadly

Ms. Moore is right that the UN and other intl.s are all done there. I wish we were done, but Obama staked everything on Afghanistan, whether he thought he was doing it or not.

[joshcryer]

86. Yep, Obama should've done what we elected him to do. Leave. Period. Full stop.

If Afghanistan fell to chaos after that point then the United Nations could involve itself. But unilaterally we had no obligation to build their state.

[defendandprotect]

85. We should have never been there to begin with -- !!

The Reichstag Fire in NYC destroyed much more than the World Trade Center Buildings!!

[Iterate]

87. Translated: Comprehensive update from the city of Az Zawiya

Translated: Comprehensive update from the city of Az Zawiya
Posted on April 2, 2011 by admin
Almanara Media has posted a comprehensive update from Az Zawiya. We have translated it for you and hope that it will illustrate what the city has been going through over the past period since its recapture by Gaddafi’s forces

Translation:

May Peace, Blessings and Mercy Be upon you

In a call I had with some of the freedom fighters in the city of Az Zawiya, they told me what they have from information regarding the latest events in the city. The city has been overrun with troops from Gaddafi’s battalions, most of them are foreign mercenaries and some Libyans also. In every street there are tens of them, some above buildings and roofs of houses which have become empty from their residents.

The northern area of the city is near empty of residents. The majority of them fled southwards after their houses were shelled by Gaddafi’s tanks and rocket launchers. Houses are deserted and have been broken into, looted and robbed by Gaddafi’s mercenaries. Many of the stores and shops have been burned and looted also.

Anyone who goes outside from the youth is either killed or kidnapped to an unknown location. The number of people kidnapped has exceeded 3000 and the martyrs 500 so far. Killings, rapes and transgression, I swear the situation does not require any exaggeration.

The city of Az Zawiya has been destroyed and its residents live in a state of fear, horror, murder and kidnappings. Basic food supplies are near non-existant, children’s milk is not available at all. The youth and elderly are being kidnapped and even women have not been spared from this. The number of kidnapped and missing women has reached 88 so far. I swear by God that the martyrs are being buried in people’s back gardens/yards.

There are many many reports which illustrate Az Zawiya’s painful and terrible situation. No food supplies are permitted to enter the city and checkpoints are extremely thorough. Gaddafi wants to cleanse Az Zawiya from its free and liberated citizens, and despite all this, the revolution is still ongoing in the city. There are nightly attack by the freedom fighters even though their ammunition is limited and mercenaries are present on mass. The freedom fighters have not stopped struggling and defending their city, even if it means their operations are small.

We are awaiting for the Transitional National council to put pressure on NATO so that it can perform air strikes on Gaddafi’s forces in Az Zawiya so that the revolutionaries can control it once more. The revolutionaries are in a ready state and only ask for Gaddafi’s forces to be bombed.

The council needs to make it clear to the media and press what the city of Az Zawiya is going through. What has been mentioned is only some of what is happening in the city, and may Libya live free forever. Freedom is coming soon by the will of God.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/04/translated-comprehensive-update-from-the-city-of-az-zawiya/

[joshcryer]

88. They held on for THREE WEEKS. THREE. Bless Az Zawiya!

I'm glad that there does seem to be a fighting force there, still, though. Gaddafi couldn't have disappeared all of the protesters. Alex Crawfords heroic report from there is a must see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lQY7PuH7M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymCYt-UP6XE

[Iterate]

104. Watched them both again. Originally posted 08.03.2011,

but it seems like so much longer than that. Someday someday someday the world will have an accounting.

Thanks, and for everything thanks again.

[Waiting For Everyman]

91. TY for that, the west needs help so badly.

I tweeted it and saw that it was also tweeted at the same time by @ShababLybia, so it's getting picked up and circulated around.

I'm afraid to see what the video reports of the west are going to look like, when reporters finally can get there.

NATO should be hitting Gaddafi in these western areas - then the opposition would have him squeezed from both sides, east and west. I hope it's done soon.

[joshcryer]

89. Libyan rebels 'receiving covert training' - video

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201142172443133798.html">Libyan rebels 'receiving covert training'
US and Egyptian special forces have reportedly been offering covert armed training to rebel fighters in the battle for Libya, Al Jazeera has been told.

An unnamed rebel source related how he had undergone training in military techniques at a "secret facility" in eastern Libya.

He told our correspondent Laurence Lee reporting from the rebel-stronghold of Benghazi that he was sent to fire Katyusha rockets but was given a simple, unguided version of the rocket instead.

"He told us that on Thursday night a new shipment of Katyusha rockets had been sent into eastern Libya from Egypt. He didn't say they were sourced from Egypt, but that was their route through.

Video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jL4v7x36UU

[pinboy3niner]

90. The first warplanes from Sweden have joined the NATO mission--AJE:

On Saturday, the first three Swedish fighter jets landed in Italy as the Nordic country joins the NATO-led no-fly zone operation over Libya on Saturday.

Five more will leave for the mission on Sunday, Rickard Wissman, an air force spokesman, said.

Wissman said the JAS 39 Gripen planes arrived at the base in Sicily after leaving from their base in Blekinge in southern Sweden earlier on Saturday.

The pilots were initially instructed to fly to Sardinia, but was informed by NATO after take-off that the destination had been moved to the Sigonella base on Sicily in Italy.


Libyan rebels 'receiving covert training'
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/04/201142172443133798.html

[joshcryer]

92. Welcome back pinboy3niner! I hope you got some well needed SLEEP!

:hug:

[pinboy3niner]

93. Hey, Josh!

I got about 4 hrs.(thought I was going to sleep for 12! :) ).

Also resolved some computer issues, but not all--I'm just having to pull the plug and start over less frequently now. It's still a pain because I not only can't post, I can't scavenge for news, either, when it happens. Still, it's much better than before, so I'm counting my blessings.

I'm really happy to see you here today! :hug:

[joshcryer]

94. Yeah I got about 12 hours. Have you tried Google Chrome?

I switched my mom to it because she uses a rather old computer and Internet Explorer and Firefox just don't treat it well.

I've been keeping posts up all day but it's been a rather slow news day overall.

[pinboy3niner]

100. I'm still using IE

The problems began after I downloaded and installed Firefox--which may or may not be coincidental. Things improved after I used some diagnostic tools to I.D. and repair some issues and went to a restore point before some other things were installed. I held off on uninstalling Firefox so far, but I'm not using it.

re: slow news day--when things are slow it just means you have to work harder to find things to post. :)

[Waiting For Everyman]

95. A news agency (Bahrainian) has been caught trying to implicate Israel.

@acarvin (an NPR guy) used twitters to gather info which debunks a fabricated report that Isareli missiles were being used in Libya.

@acarvin and @sultanalqassemi are tweeting now the tv report on now announcing the result of an investigation which said Carvin was in fact right. That's in case anyone wants to follow.

No report yet, it's happening now.

SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
by W8ing4Everyman
@
@acarvin Bahrain govt accused Al Wasat of fabricating news, Bahrain news agency provided a detailed report, now BTV show slamming Al Wasat.
25 minutes ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply
»
News in Libya
NewsInLibya News in Libya
by W8ing4Everyman
NPR Reporter Has Twitter Followers Debunk Libyan-Israeli Missile Rumors : Some reports... http://dlvr.it/MGvw1 #NewsinLibya #Libya
15 minutes ago

[Waiting For Everyman]

97. Found a little more by A. Carvin on this.

acarvin Andy Carvin
Dedicated to my tweeps: "Israeli weapons In Libya? How @acarvin and his Twitter followers debunked sloppy journalism" http://bit.ly/gU17Qy
16 hours ag

[joshcryer]

99. The Sultan is implying that it's a pretty big shakeup.

Thanks for notifying me of this, I haven't been following twitter, been a slow ass news day.

[Iterate]

102. That's quite the detective story.

Whoa, have you read it all? I wonder what the permissions are for a C&P.

I vaguely remember seeing the story in GD. I suppose it's time to refute it. Per doctor's orders though, I'm only permitted one visit per day, never after dark, and never alone.

[pinboy3niner]

96. One more thing about the NATO airstrike on the rebel fighters:

A CNN live feed report about 20 minutes ago from Reza Sayah said the strike happened after the rebels heard airstrikes and went forward to see where they hit.

So it appears that they moved to or near an area where NATO warplanes had already targeted and struck Gaddafi forces.

Not only had the rebels fired in the air, they did so from an area that NATO apparently had already identified as held by Gaddafi forces.

[joshcryer]

98. *shakes head*

Lessons learned the hard way. A very hard way. From the POV of the pilot it may have looked at rescuers coming to their aid while attempting to shoot down a plane.

[gateley]

101. Kick! Rec! Fistbumps to joshcryer and pinboy3niner! nt

[MedleyMisty]

103. I think it's okay to listen to expats here

It's not like Iraq, where they were comfortable and had questionable motives.

Gaddafi kills dissident expats.

I've seen it mentioned a fair bit on Twitter, and here's an article from 2004 - http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/mar/28/politics.libya

Notice how Gaddafi was using the Al Qaeda propaganda then too. Also notice about the sweet deals for British companies - under Gaddafi.

International human rights organisations have expressed serious concerns that the Libyan regime will use the cover of the 'war on terror' to crack down on opponents inside the country and settle scores with prominent exiles by claiming they are connected to al-Qaeda.

Amnesty International, which visited Libya last month on the invitation of Gadaffi, said there were signs the regime was open to reform but there was a tendency to label all opponents as terrorists.

Claudio Cordone, Amnesty International Senior Director for International Law who led the delegation said: 'We welcome any steps to support initiatives to improve human rights in Libya. But in our experience 'war on terror' rhetoric was used to justify unacceptable practices.'

It still is being used for that. And a lot of people are swallowing it whole.

[pinboy3niner]

105. AJ's Hoda Abdel Hamid reported on rebel radio equipment

"High frequency radios and GPS devices are hastily being installed in cars," she said. Before, information was being passed by word-of-mouth.

There have been other reports from multiple sources about the new radio equipment. One correspondent noted new "shiny antennas" on some rebel vehicles. In one report on this, a reporter also observed some "western-looking" men in the background with the rebel fighters--but if they were approached by journos, they melted away...

[joshcryer]

106. GPS indicates communication with allied forces.

That's good, no more risk of accidental attacks.

[pinboy3niner]

107. Misrata: Inside a city under siege--first-hand look at carnage in Misrata

This is one of several excellent reports from Misrata by CNN's Frederik Pleitgen:

Frederik Pleitgen offers a look at the carnage occurring as opposition and pro-Gadhafi forces battle for control (4:22):
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/04/01/exp.tsr.pleitgen.misrata.fight.cnn?hpt=T2

[defendandprotect]

110. LIBYA HURRA -- !! K/R

[pinboy3niner]

108. CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:01 AM SUNDAY, APRIL 3

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, GMT +2 hours

[joshcryer]

109. Day 45 here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x798103