Libyan Revolution Day 33 (Misurata potentially falls, the march to Ajdabiya)

[joshcryer]

Links to sites with updates: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-22">AJE Live Blog March 22 (today) http://blogs.aljazeera.net/twitter-dashboard">AJE Twitter Dashboard 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=439x703444">Day 32 part 2 here.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/21/libyan-rebellion-chaos-civilians-war">Libyan rebellion reveals chaos of civilians at war
The planes were barely out of earshot when the charge of the ad hoc motorised cavalry began.

The young fighters, the "shabab" as they proudly proclaim themselves, piled on to scores of pick up trucks with mounted machine guns and squeezed in to saloon cars with their Kalashnikovs hanging out of the windows. Some had no more than old hunting rifles. One man was waving a bayonet as his only weapon.

With threats to kill Muammar Gaddafi and cries of "God is great", vehicles packed with hundreds of men sped off to liberate the town of Ajdabiya, under siege by the Libyan dictator's forces five miles down the road.

Minutes later the charge was in terrified retreat after a clash that not only revealed the weaknesses of the rebel forces, not least their lack of discipline, but raised a question for the countries leading the air strikes on Libya: do they intend to fight the revolutionaries' war for them or are they prepared to accept the division of Libya?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/mar/21/libya-conflict-mps-unease-military-action-gaddafi">Libya conflict: MPs voice unease over military action
Deep unease about military action against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi was voiced on both sides of the House of Commons yesterday as a series of MPs registered reluctant support for Britain's involvement in the campaign.

In contrast to David Cameron and Ed Miliband, who voiced strong support for the action, Conservative and Labour backbenchers warned of the dangers of Britain's third major military campaign in a decade and spoke out against the media for romanticising the horrors of war.

The concerns were raised in the Commons as the foreign secretary, William Hague, was told in private of deep fears among Conservative MPs about the possible length of the military campaign. Tories who had threatened to challenged the prime minister during his speech, ended up registering their concerns in the Commons by putting pointed questions to Miliband as he offered strong support for the government.

Kris Hopkins, a former soldier who was elected as Conservative MP for Keighley last year, was heard in near silence as he said that Britain, the US and France were struggling to find the moral high ground for military action.

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
Canada will contribute six CF-18 fighter jets to help enforce a no-fly zone in Libya, sources have told CTV News.

Norway:

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFOSN00509220110318">Norway to join military intervention in Libya
OSLO, March 18 (Reuters) - Norway will join the international military action against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, a Norwegian daily quoted the defence minister as saying on its website on Friday.

"We will contribute to the operation," Grete Faremo told the daily Verdens Gang. "But it is too early to say exactly in what way. Sending air capabilities would be natural."

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
Our country is available to take part in a military operation in Libya, following the UN vote authorizing the use of force against Gaddafi. The government has observed, in Parliament yesterday, a broad consensus in the Belgian political class on the need to prevent the Libyan leader to crush the rebellion in Benghazi.

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
France and the United Kingdom, which spearheaded the diplomatic push in the Security Council for the implementation of a no-fly zone, received unusual but certainly very welcome support. According to a further unnamed AFP source, the Council confirmed that Qatar and the UAE will join the international effort.

Denmark:

http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/51229-denmark-ready-for-action-against-gaddafi.html">Denmark ready for action against Gaddafi
Espersen will discuss the resolution “as soon as possible” with the other political parties.

“We’re ready to take action immediately, and that includes ensuring prompt treatment of the resolution in parliament, so that Denmark can deploy its four F-16 fighter jets,” she said.

France:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/19/world/africa/19libya.html?src=twrhp">Following U.N. Vote, France Vows Libya Action ‘Soon’
UNITED NATIONS — Only hours after the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and impose a no-flight zone to try to avert a rout of rebels by forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. French officials said on Friday that military action would start “within a few hours” and news reports said British and French warplanes would spearhead the attack.

Italy:

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE72G2HE20110317">Italy to make bases available for Libya no-fly zone-source
TUNIS, March 17 (Reuters) - Italy is ready to make its military bases available to enforce a U.N. Security Counci resolution imposing a no-fly zone on Libya, an Italian government source told Reuters on Thursday.

United Kingdom:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12770467">Libya: UK forces prepare after UN no-fly zone vote
UK forces are preparing to help enforce a no-fly zone over Libya after the UN backed "all necessary measures", short of an invasion, to protect civilians.

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
The United States, France and Britain were making plans Friday to prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from attacking Libyans after the U.N. Security Council authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

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'
Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will join international forces ready to enforce the no-fly zone, US Congress and UN diplomatic sources say.

Spain:

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/19/2801s627320.htm">Spain Expected to Join NATO No-fly Zone Enforcement over Libya Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is expected to confirm Spain's contribution of two air force bases at a summit in Paris to discuss the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya Saturday.

"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://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 leaves behind a wife who is with child.

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

[joshcryer]

1. Current time in Libya, 12:06am Tuesday, March 22

[pinboy3niner]

2. K&R

[joshcryer]

3. The Guardian has an interactive map, also:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/08/libya-nato-no-fly-zone-interactive-map

[pinboy3niner]

4. BREAKING, CNN: Live fire over Tripoli NOW nt

[joshcryer]

5. rebel commander is in touch with coalition in order to co-ordinate air strikes #libya

http://twitter.com/#!/robcrilly/status/49934118229786625">@robcrilly
Rob Crilly
rebel commander is in touch with coalition in order to co-ordinate air strikes #libya
1 hour ago

[Change Happens]

10. About time...nt

[pinboy3niner]

6. UN rejects Libyan request for emergency Sec. Council meeting

The Guardian's news blog reports:

10.10pm:

The UN Security Council has rejected a Libyan request for an emergency meeting to halt what Muammar Gaddafi's regime called "military aggression", saying it would wait for a briefing on Thursday from the secretary-general.

The Associated Press news agency reports:

Council members held closed-door discussions in response to a letter dated Saturday from Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kousa who claimed that "an external conspiracy was targeting ... (Libya) and its unity and territorial integrity."

According to the letter, obtained by The Associated Press, Kousa accused France and the US of bombing "several civilian sites" in violation of the UN Charter and called for "an emergency meeting in order to halt this aggression."

...


India's UN Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri said the resolution requires Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report to the Security "within seven days" on the implementation of its provisions, which also include a more robust arms embargo and additional Libyan individuals, companies, banks and other entities subject to travel bans and asset freezes.

"That seven days is on Thursday, so people didn't want to get into a discussion on who represents whom and what the letter is," Puri said. "They want to have a discussion on substance which will be on Thursday."

[joshcryer]

7. 'Voice of Free Libya' silenced by sniper's bullet (Mohammed Nabbous)

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/20/voice-of-free-libya-silenced-by-snipers-bullet/">'Voice of Free Libya' silenced by sniper's bullet
"A true hero, Mohammed Nabbous of Sawt Libia al-Hurra, the Voice of Free Libya, was killed in fighting in Benghazi today."

It was a stark, raw tweet from Ben Wedeman with a big impact on our newsroom Saturday morning.

One of our first and most-trusted sources of information on the conflict in Libya had become a victim of the very civil war he in some ways had helped to spark.

In the first few days of the conflict back in February, "Mo" as we called him had become an inspiration, friend and "go-to" source as well as a regular witness on CNN's shows.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Fierce battle at Zintan today: "Women and children hid in the caves in the forests"

From The Guardian's news blog:

10.01pm:

Witnesses have told Reuters that the western Libyan town of Zintan faced heavy shelling earlier today from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, forcing residents to flee, including to caves in the mountainous region.

"Several houses have been destroyed and a mosque minaret was also brought down," Abdulrahmane Daw told the news agency by phone from the town.

"New forces were sent today to besiege the city. There are now at least 40 tanks at the foothills of the mountains near Zintan."

Swiss journalist Gaetan Vannay, also reached by telephone, said the shelling was the heaviest in three days. "Today this very strong battle started on the eastern front. Women and children hid in the caves in the forests."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/21/libya-military-action-live-updates

[joshcryer]

9. Indiscriminate shelling.

:puke:

[pinboy3niner]

12. I'm going to take a break, Josh

Be back in an hour or two. :hi:

[joshcryer]

13. No worries. You did a lot today.

Geez man. :hi:

[David__77]

11. The minarets have been often used for military logistics.

They are issuing military commands from the minaret. The mosques have become military installations.

[Iterate]

40. I get the impression you think these are two armies fighting each other.

Is that true?

[joshcryer]

14. MPs have passed a motion supporting the Governments decision to commit British armed forces to Libya

10.30pm: MPs have passed a House of Commons motion supporting the Government's decision to commit British armed forces to Libya

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/21/libya-military-action-live-updates

[joshcryer]

15. Poll Finds Tentative Support, Potential Risks for Obama on Libya

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/poll-finds-tentative-support-potential-risks-for-obama-on-libya/">Poll Finds Tentative Support, Potential Risks for Obama on Libya
CNN has released a poll, conducted Friday through Sunday, that asked people for their views on President Obama’s handling of Libya. Initial reactions are more favorable for Mr. Obama than not, but the numbers are close enough that one can easily imagine some political downside for the president.

There are several different questions in the poll. For instance, when CNN asked people about the establishment of a “no-fly zone”, and provided a fairly lengthy description of it, support registered 70 percent, up significantly from last week. But support dropped to 54 percent when CNN asked a more targeted question about about airborne attacks on Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces. And there was strong opposition to any use of ground troops, which president Obama has pledged not to employ.

I would caution, however, against interpreting these results overly literally. Some questions use relatively technical jargon like “no-fly zone”; others ask about hypotheticals, which are notoriously difficult to poll. Still other questions in the CNN poll ask about the “importance” of achieving various objectives, like removing Mr. el-Qaddafi from power, but the scholarly research suggests that “importance” is a relatively abstract concept that tends not to make for highly useful survey questions.

[bobbolink]

16. I'm guessing that some of this reflects the agonizing nature of this predicament.

Room for a lot of conflicted emotions and thoughts on this.

[joshcryer]

17. Radar installations at two air defence bases east of Benghazi have been hit by coalition air strikes

10.54pm: Radar installations at two air defence bases east of Benghazi have been hit by coalition air strikes, Al Jazeera is reporting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/21/libya-military-action-live-updates#block-29

[joshcryer]

18. 1:30AM: Brazil’s foreign ministry has spoken out about the events in Libya, saying in a statement:

“Brazil laments the loss of life occurring in the conflict in the country. The Brazilian government has the expectation of the implementation of an effective ceasefire as soon as possible, with the capacity to guarantee the protection of the civil population, and create conditions for the path for dialogue”.
“Brazil reiterates her solidarity with the Libyan people and their participation in the future politics of the country in an environment that protects human rights.”

http://feb17.info/general/live-libyan-unrest-revolutionaries-aim-is-to-capture-tripoli-without-foreign-offensive-action/

[joshcryer]

19. China Flexes Military Muscle In Mediterranean Sea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlU6WeAVfSE

[CJvR]

20. List of Libyan military gear.

Libyan Army

MBT:
145 T72 (Sov)
280 T62 (Sov)
460 T54/55 -250 in reserve (Sov)

AFV:
740 BMP1 (Sov)
540 BTR50/60 (Sov)
100 OT-62/64 (Cze/Pol)
118 EE11 URUTU (Bra)
35 M113 (USA)

Armored cars:
242 BRDM2 (Sov)
370 EE9 CASCAVEL (Bra)
100 FIAT 6616 (Ita)
200 FIAT 6614 (Ita)
AML90 (Fra)

AA-guns:
110 M53/M59 (Cze)
450 23mm (Sov)
CROTALE -SAM (Fra)
SA6/7/9/13 (Sov)

Artillery:
18 M109 155mm (USA)
158 PALMARIA 155mm (Ita)
55 2S3 AKATSIA 152mm (Sov)
120 DANA 152mm -wheeled vehicle (Cze)
The towed artillery is a mix of 650 US and Soviet antiques mostly.

Army aviation:
5 AB206 (USA)
8 Alouette III (Fra)
16 CH47C (USA)


Libyan Navy

Frigates:
2 KONI (Sov)

Corvettes:
3 NANUCHKA II (Sov)

Light Forces:
9 COMBATTANTE II (Fra/FRG?)
12 OSA II (Sov)

Minewarfare:
8 NATYA (Sov)

Amphibious:
3 POLNOCNY -LCT (Sov)
4 Ibn Al Idrissi (Pol)
20 C107 -LCT (???)

Naval aviation:
12 Mil4 -ASW (Sov)
12 SA.321 Super Frelon -ASW/SAR (Fra)


Libyan Airforce

Combat:
15 SU 24 Fencer -Strike (Sov)
80 MIG 23 (Sov)
40 SU 20/22 (Sov)
16 MIG 21 (Sov)
20 Mirage F1 (Fra)
26 J1 Jastreb -COIN (Yug)

AF-Transport:
7 C130H (USA)
15 L-410 (Cze)
1 Boeing 707 (USA)
10 AN 26 (Sov)
14 IL 76 (Sov)

AF-Helicopters:
4 Alouette III (Fra)
7 MI 8 (Sov)
40 Mi 24/35 (Sov)
12 A109 (U-K)
42 MI 4 (Sov)

AF-Training:
15 MIG 23U (Sov)
6 Mirage F1B (Fra)
84 GALEB (Yug)
4 MIG 25U (Sov)
12 CM 170 MAGISTER (Fra)
136 L39 ALBATROS (Cze)
80 SF-260W (Ita)

SAM:
CROTALE -SAM (Fra)
SA2/3/6/10/13 (Sov)

[joshcryer]

21. Can you help with some of those acronyms?

Thanks!

[CJvR]

25. Witch ones?

MBT - Main Battle Tank
AFV - Armored Fighting Vehicle (not a tank)
AA - Anti Air (artillery)
SAM - Surface to Air Missile
COIN - COunter INsurgency
LCT - Landing Craft Tank

[joshcryer]

28. Thanks a bunch, those are the ones.

[joshcryer]

22. Robertson: This allegation is outrageous and it's absolutely hypocritical (journos as human shields)

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/21/robertson-this-allegation-is-outrageous-and-its-absolutely-hypocritical/">Robertson: This allegation is outrageous and it's absolutely hypocritical
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this allegation is outrageous and it's absolutely hypocritical. You know, when you come to somewhere like Libya, you expect lies and deceit from the dictatorship here. You don't expect it from the other journalists.

...

They sent a member of their team. He was non-editorial. He was non-technical, not normally a cameraman. He was given a camera by the team and told to come out and come on - come on the bus with the 40 other journalists who were there, who were free to get on the bus, free to get on the bus when they wanted, told us, when he was on the bus, that even he - this member of this Fox team, was surprised that their correspondent and the normal cameraman weren't coming out, that he was being sent - this isn't his normal job - that he was being sent.

So that's why I say what Fox is saying is outrageous and hypocritical.

Note: there's a larger thread on this, I am posting it here because this thread and series of threads is effectively an archive for everything that is happening in Libya.

[druidity33]

23. K&R, nt.

[Iterate]

24. Fighting Gaddafi - BBC Panorama 2011-03-21

I posted it in PVids. I've been looking forward to it and would say it is definitely worthwhile.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x565699

It's also posted at
http://www.libyafeb17.com/

[joshcryer]

27. Wow, I hope more people see this.

[joshcryer]

26. Yemen’s Saleh Faces Rebellion From Within as Generals Defect

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-21/yemen-s-saleh-faces-rebellion-from-within-as-generals-defect.html">Yemen’s Saleh Faces Rebellion From Within as Generals Defect
March 22 (Bloomberg) -- Thousands of Yemenis spent the night on streets across the country to maintain pressure on President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is facing a growing internal revolt by army leaders, ministers and diplomats.

Military officers including Ali Muhsin al-Ahmar, commander of the first armored division, and Mohammed Ali Muhssein, commander of the eastern region, abandoned the regime yesterday. Their move was a result of the crackdown three days ago that left dozens dead, said Mohammed al-Sabri, an opposition leader.

“The defections will certainly speed up Saleh’s ouster,” Susanne Dahlgren, Academy of Finland research fellow at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, who wrote “Contesting Realities: The Public Sphere and Morality in Southern Yemen,” said in a phone interview. “It’s not possible to turn back now.”

Tanks and military vehicles belonging to the Yemeni Republican Guard, headed by Saleh’s son Ahmed, were deployed around the presidential palace. Army units took up positions around key government buildings and bank offices in the capital, Sana’a, without intervening against protesters.

OMFG Saleh better step the fuck down. :(

[joshcryer]

29. Is Muammar Gaddafi a target? PM and military split over war aims

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/21/muammar-gaddafi-david-cameron-libya">Is Muammar Gaddafi a target? PM and military split over war aims
A breach within Britain's political and military leadership has opened up as David Cameron argued the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, may be a legitimate target while the Chief of the Defence Staff, Sir David Richards, said he was "absolutely not".

The clash fed a growing concern on the third day of the air assault against Gaddafi that the hastily assembled international alliance is struggling to paper over disagreements about its ultimate war aims in Libya, the future role of Nato and the legitimacy of the rebel groups.

There was also cabinet anxiety that the scale of the initial heavy bombardment may strengthen popular support for Gaddafi in Tripoli and be seen in the Middle East as exceeding the UN security council goal of protecting civilians.

Gaddafi's compound was hit by British missiles on Sunday night in an attempt to weaken his command structure as fighting continued across the coastal towns of Libya.

[joshcryer]

30. VIDEO: Libya conflict: Rebels visit attack site near Benghazi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12814541">Libya conflict Rebels visit attack site near Benghazi
Rebels from Benghazi have left the city to inspect the charred remains of military vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.

The attack on the convoy travelling on the road between Benghazi and Ajdabiya is believed to have been inflicted by French planes.

Ian Pannell caught up with the rebels, just as they came under tank fire.

[joshcryer]

31. VIDEO: Gaddafi says to lay down your arms, we have no arms!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/video/news/sky-news/3481259/Gaddafi-building-destroyed.html

[bobbolink]

32. April Fool!

[joshcryer]

34. That was a quote from a protester btw, watch the video.

90% of them are unarmed crazy people (yeah I think it's crazy to be hanging out with armed milita and having no weapons!).

[bobbolink]

36. sorry I got it wrong... I can't watch a video where I am.

Sorry... I would take out that post, but the time is up.

:blush:

[joshcryer]

33. Gunmen have stormed the offices of Al Jazeera in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, seizing broadcast equip.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/yemen-live-blog-march-22#update-18201">2:52am Gunmen have stormed the offices of Al Jazeera in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, seizing broadcasting equipment. More information soon.

Wow.

[joshcryer]

35. Yemen's ambassador to France is one of several to sign a letter to President Saleh, re stepping down

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/middle-east/yemen-live-blog-march-22#update-18216">3:39pm Khaled Ismail al-Akwa'a, Yemen's ambassador to France, is one of several to sign a letter to President Saleh, urging him to resign. He says that unless there is a quick and peaceful transition of power, Yemen will go into a "very serious situation".

[MedleyMisty]

37. I wanted to say thanks to you guys for keeping up with these threads

Especially in the current climate on here.

Reading through some of the articles you posted, I'm beginning to think that maybe I can't get a bead on motives or what might happen because there are all sorts of motives and plans and the lack of plans around. It kind of sounds like the UN may have rushed into this - which also goes against the whole well thought out and long-planned conspiracy to install a puppet idea.

Oh well. Still waiting and watching, not making any hard and fast judgments yet. Hoping so hard that the Libyans get their freedom, and thinking of them so much. If the US does end up occupying and installing a puppet - I don't know how I'll react.

I wonder if Iraq and Afghanistan would have been different if we'd had the connectivity we have now, with Twitter and live video feeds and everything. If we'd been able to emotionally connect with Iraqis and Afghans the way we've emotionally connected with Libyans.

[pinboy3niner]

38. G's State TV blames the DANES for attack on his compound (It started with the cartoons, lol!)

4:02am:

Libyan state television has accused Denmark of carrying out Sunday’s attack on Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli, BBC Monitoring reports. "The offensive on Bab al-Aziziya has been commanded by Denmark,” the station said in a rare English-language bulletin at about 0120 GMT. The newsreader went on to accuse Denmark of having “for several years” led a “campaign against Muslims” through cartoons insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

http://feb17.info/news/live-blog-libya-unrest-march-22-2011/

[Iterate]

39. 04:48...situations in Jalo, Misratah and Benghazi

04:48 We received an email from a very credible source which details the situations in Jalo, Misratah and Benghazi as of the end of 21st March. We relay the email to you as we received it:
Currently there there are 120 tanks from Gaddafi troops surrounding Jalo, a small town 400 km south of Benghazi threatening the people there and preparing to invade the city . Gaddafi troops have been indiscriminately bombing civilian buildings in every city they entered with mass civilian casualties. We expect the same outcome in Jalo if that was to happen.
Misrata: The situation in Misrata (200 km East of Tripoli) is very critical. Gaddafi’s troops shelled the city all day till 6:00 pm local time; Gaddafi troops positioned snipers on high building and occupied the main square to raise Gaddafi’s flag and his people to take pictures. Local towns people came down to the street in peaceful protests and Gaddafi’s snipers killed 50 of the protesters (the revolutionaries). There were more than 100 injured in Misrata today.
Misrata electricity station was bombed today by Gaddafi troops and now 80% of Misrata is without electricity. Also, Misrata radio station that is controlled by the revolutionaries has announced that the cities drinking water has been contaminated by sewage by Gaddafi’s troops. Currently, the revolutionaries have succeeded in pushing back Gaddafi’s troops to the outskirts of Misrata where they are now surrounding the city and the revolutionaries are controlling the city proper. The current situation is very critical and more civilian lives are being lost with every incursion by Gaddafi’s troops.
Benghazi: In Benghazi, the situation is calmer today than the last two days. The revolutionaries are searching the city for Gaddafi’s sleeper cells that based themselves at schools (schools have been out since the beginning of the uprising) where they hid weapons (including RBGs) and money. Gaddafi’s sleeper cells in the city have been attempting to create chaos and shoot at citizens. Local telephone communication in Benghazi is controlled by Gaddafi’s apparatus in Tripoli and remains very sporadic and un-reliable.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/

[tabatha]

41. CBC.ca talks about Mo

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/Connect_with_Mark_Kelley/1305591601/ID=1852336808

Edit: starts 24:00 and includes interview with his wife.

[joshcryer]

43. :(

[pinboy3niner]

42. There are decades when nothing happens--and weeks when decades happen

I saw this tweet flash by in fast traffic on a live twitter feed site (AJE's twitter dashboard).

I was too slow to copy it or capture the image, but it seemed worth sharing now...

[joshcryer]

44. Interesting and very sobering quote.

Thanks for posting it (I googled to try to find the tweet, found your DU post about it, gave it a rec...).

[pinboy3niner]

45. The 'road of death' links Libya's Benghazi to Tripoli--AJE report

5:25am

The 'road of death' links Libya's Benghazi to Tripoli, as Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reports. Watch here:


'Road of death' links Benghazi to Tripoli (3:15)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phhraAK1i2Q&feature=player_embedded

[MedleyMisty]

46. I wanted to add this

A discussion on the NFZ and the future from a Libyan on Twitter. It's long, so I'll just link the Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/Tripolitanian

I really do not think this account is a sock puppet. I wish more people on DU would actually look at the human side of this, get to know the Libyans and what they think and feel. And see - Tripolitanian even addresses the thing with Gaddafi sending fighters into Iraq.

Decided to copy and paste a bit, since who knows how far down it will be when people click on the link. Read from the bottom up.





Libya will achieve it's desired freedom at the ideal way in the current circumstances

will not be different than Iraq, and so I believe that if we consider what the end strategy is (one that doesn't include Gaddafi in power)

The last few comments I've made I kept to myself for a while, but I feel that if I don't make them, if I don't let ppl know, then things ...

Hopefully we will need very limited help to do this, we are definitely determined, we have the will and if there's a will there's a way

However, I assure you, #Libya will do everything it can to topple the oppressive regime of Gaddafi

in my opinion, "taking out Gaddafi" is not an option, there are 7 more Gaddafis - the regime needs to be broken from the bottom up

I'm not speaking on behalf of the rebels, maybe not even Libyans in general, just my opinions

to do more, targeting Gaddafi is one way, but what about helping the rebels? and I will not define what helping means, not my job

What happens to a country in a humanitarian crisis + war? not good things, in other words, we could be facing another Iraq if we don't plan

do they think it will end quickly? just NFZ for a few weeks and we're done? what happens to the resolution?

If the coalition is not considering targeting the war criminal nor are they considering aiding the revolutionaries, what are they expecting?

that's not to say I'm against a NFZ - but we need to consider an important question, how will we end it without leaving the garbage behind?

the NFZ in Libya will halt the entire economy, a humanitarian disaster can easily be a consequence of this

In Iraq, the NFZ, which wasn't even stretch over the entire country, lead to mass starvation as food shipments stopped

It's necessary that we learn from issues with #NFZ of the past

[pinboy3niner]

47. Council official tells BBC people in #Libya view the internat'l action positively

Abdul Kerim, of the Libyan Transitional Council, tells BBC that people in #Libya view the internat'l action positively. http://t.co/m4QPUNF
30 minutes ago

[pinboy3niner]

48. Pope Benedict Stays Neutral On Libya Attacks

Source: Religious News Service

Pope Benedict Stays Neutral On Libya Attacks


First Posted: 03/21/11 10:39 PM Updated: 03/21/11 10:39 PM


VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI voiced "fear and trepidation" about the "disturbing news coming from Libya" in a carefully worded statement that neither endorsed nor condemned U.S. and European attacks against Libyan dictator Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

Benedict made his statement on Sunday (March 20), following his weekly recitation of the Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, saying he was praying "for those involved in the dramatic situation" in Libya.

The pope also made an "urgent appeal to all political and military leaders, that they take to heart, above all, the safety and security of the citizenry and ensure access to humanitarian relief."

...


The Vatican strongly opposed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, in part because that invasion lacked the authorization of a United Nations resolution. But the Vatican has not taken a position on the attacks on Gaddafi, which were approved last week by the U.N. Security Council, responding to the longtime Libyan leader's use of violence against civilians in his efforts to put down a rebellion.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/21/pope-neither-condemns-end_n_838737.html

[pinboy3niner]

49. Buoyed by strikes, Libya rebels try to advance

Source: AP

Buoyed by strikes, Libya rebels try to advance


By RYAN LUCAS
The Associated Press
First published Mar 21 2011 01:23PM
Updated 53 minutes ago Updated Mar 21, 2011 09:47PM



Zwitina, Libya • Coalition forces bombarded Libya for a third straight night Monday, targeting the air defenses and forces of Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi, stopping his advances and handing some momentum back to the rebels, who were on the verge of defeat just last week.

...


The air campaign by U.S. and European militaries has unquestionably rearranged the map in Libya and rescued rebels from the immediate threat they faced only days ago of being crushed under a powerful advance by Gadhafi’s forces. The first round of airstrikes smashed a column of regime tanks that had been moving on the rebel capital of Benghazi in the east.

Monday night, Libyan state TV said a new round of strikes had begun in the capital, Tripoli, marking the third night of bombardment. But while the airstrikes can stop Gadhafi’s troops from attacking rebel cities — in line with the U.N. mandate to protect civilians — the United States, at least, appeared deeply reluctant to go beyond that toward actively helping the rebel cause to oust the Libyan leader.

...


Regular citizens — residents of the “liberated” areas — took up arms and formed a ragtag, highly enthusiastic but highly undisciplined force that in the past weeks has charged ahead to fight Gadhafi forces, only to be beaten back by superior firepower. Regular army units that joined the rebellion have proven stronger, more organized fighters, but only a few units have joined the battles while many have stayed behind as officers struggle to get together often antiquated, limited equipment and form a coordinated force.

...



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/51474814-68/gadhafi-forces-rebels-libya.html.csp

[Waiting For Everyman]

50. The Atlantic: 35 Powerful images of #Libya Air Strikes

@SultanAlQassemi Sultan Al Qassemi
The Atlantic: 35 Powerful images of #Libya Air Strikes http://bit.ly/gpO6Mr via @christindim (graphic images feature alerts)
1 hour ago via web

Other series on this Atlantic page are worth checking out too - among the best pics on the uprisings that I've seen anywhere, for instance the ones from Egypt are very good. (Sort box at the top of page)

[pinboy3niner]

51. TOON on targeting Gaddafi...

By The Guardian's Steve Bell:




And this twitpic was posted by @globalcartoons:

[Waiting For Everyman]

52. Evan Hill's ongoing Google doc on coalition's target, force, and casualty data

evanchill Evan Hill
Trying to keep an up-to-date Google doc on coalition forces at work in #Libya. Feel free to tweet/email me with new info. http://ow.ly/4jizV
10 minutes ago

Hill is with Aljazeera English, btw.

[Waiting For Everyman]

53. Another source: BBC's "Country by Country Involvenment" chart

With nifty thumbnails too :) ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12806112

[pinboy3niner]

54. Libya: Col Gaddafi goes to ground after missile attacks

Source: The Telegraph

Libya: Col Gaddafi goes to ground after missile attacks


Col Muammar Gaddafi's location could not be established on Sunday night after missile attacks prompted the Libyan leader to go to ground.


By Damien McElroy, Tripoli 5:57PM GMT 20 Mar 2011



The only response from Col Gaddafi to scores of missile strikes and air force bombing raids came in phone calls to state television in which he vowed to distribute arms to all Libyans and turn the Mediterranean into a battleground.

Col Gaddafi disappeared from view after cancelling a planned speech to loyalists at his Bab al-Azizia compound in central Tripoli late on Saturday night.

News of the missiles strikes marked the first chink in Col Gaddafi's fortified sanctuary, as the chanting crowd, which had vowed to die with the leader, slunk away.

...


However the show of solidarity backfired on its organisers. The first missile barrage demonstrated Libyans' loyalty to the battered regime was not unconditional as many melted away. "The colonel's support is ten dinars deep," said one onlooker. "These people could be ripping this place apart in a week, denouncing him for having deceived them."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8393910/Libya-Col-Gaddafi-goes-to-ground-after-missile-attacks.html

[PufPuf23]

55. Wonder if there has been strikes against the Ghadames, Ghat,

and Sabha airbases or if there are plans? There must be.

I have been surprised by the intensity and USA involvement vis a vis prior attack rhetoric by POTUS Obama and SOS Clinton.

My perception is that Obama was cornered by SOS Clinton and other Hawks and the French and Brits.

Gates did not appear to be in favor of the course of action (and personally I have had a hard time accepting his past as an Iran-Contra slickster and Bush family associate).

Also the rebels are weak without weapons or other Arab nations help.

Hope Libya works out well and fast..

[pinboy3niner]

57. The first B-2 strikes were on Ghardabiya Airfield:

"The B-2s struck combat aircraft shelters at Ghardabiya Airfield in Libya, and, based on post-strike photos that the Pentagon displayed, precisely hit them."

Odyssey Dawn Units Identified:
http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Pages/default.aspx

[PufPuf23]

60. Thank you Pinboy, I was surprised to see stealth B-2's even used

(and the cruise missles) after POTUS Obama and SOS Clinton initial statements. That said, when military is used, I recognized there is a necessary brutality, surprise, and efficiency employed or else the decison to go military is moronic.

[Waiting For Everyman]

56. Gaddafi has a network of tunnels under Tripoli

ChangeInLibya Halwasa Guy
"PLEASE NOTE: German Co. Bilfinger built over 5km of tunnels 4 Gaddafi in Tripoli. Bilfinger MUST publish maps now. #OdysseeDawn " @maxwilar
5 hours ago

[Waiting For Everyman]

58. Background on who Libya's rebel leaders are - by a Democracy Now correspondent

A good article:
http://bit.ly/gsEZrd

The writers' twitter:
@anjucomet Anjali Kamat
@ahmadshokr Ahmad Shokr (co-author)

Another by Kamat about a Libyan American student rebel who was killed on Saturday...
http://is.gd/xin0sc

[pinboy3niner]

59. Here's another from BBC ~ Key figures in Libya's rebel council

Key figures in Libya's rebel council
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12698562

[joshcryer]

61. Pakistan's foreign office appears to be opposed to military action:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-22#update-18296">9:28am Pakistan's foreign office has issued a carefully-worded statement on the intervention but appears to be opposed to military action:

Pakistan is following, with serious concern, the developments in Libya in the wake of the military strikes. The loss of precious human lives is indeed regrettable. Peaceful political solution needs to be evolved by the Libyan people themselves in the spirit of mutual accommodation and national reconciliation.

The statement also gives credence to the regime's claim of civilian casualties, calling such reports "extremely distressing."

[joshcryer]

62. Air attacks on Libya are likely to slow, a US general has said

8.16am: Air attacks on Libya are likely to slow, a US general has said, as Washington holds back from being sucked into the Libyan civil war.

"My sense is that - that unless something unusual or unexpected happens, we may see a decline in the frequency of attacks," General Carter Ham, who is leading US forces in the Libyan operation, told reporters in Washington.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/22/libya-no-fly-zone-air-strikes-live-updates#start-of-comments#block-2

[joshcryer]

63. China has called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya, AP is reporting.

8.31am: China has called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya, AP is reporting.

The agency said foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference Tuesday that China wants an immediate cease-fire and talks to end the violence.

China was one of five countries that abstained from last week's vote on the UN resolution.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/22/libya-no-fly-zone-air-strikes-live-updates#block-3

[joshcryer]

64. Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya complex, which was hit on Sunday night, had been struck again

8.43am: I've just been speaking to the Guardian's Middle East editor Ian Black, who is in Tripoli.

Ian said it appeared Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya complex, which was hit on Sunday night, had been struck again, but says there "seemed to be less air activity last night than on the previous two nights" in the capital. "Maybe that reflects the international aspect of this crisis, where we're hearing so much about divisions and squabbling about exactly what this war is supposed to be about, and what it's supposed to achieve," Ian said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/22/libya-no-fly-zone-air-strikes-live-updates#block-4

AUDIO: http://audioboo.fm/boos/309172-guardian-s-ian-black-reports-on-third-night-of-airstrikes-in-libya

[joshcryer]

65. Libya: work abandoned on Lockerbie bomber's residence

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8393877/Libya-work-abandoned-on-Lockerbie-bombers-residence.html">Libya: work abandoned on Lockerbie bomber's residence
Work has been abandoned on a new residence for Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, who was reported to have been evacuated from Tripoli before an international bombing campaign was launched.

A heavy police presence was deployed in the Damascus district of Tripoli, the upmarket suburb where Mr Megrahi lives, after an overnight bombing raid destroyed the city's air defences.

Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime is in lockdown as a result of the UN-backed attacks and key figures have been evacuated from the city for their own safety.

Mr Megrahi, 58, was returned to Libya in August 2009 following compassionate release from prison in Scotland. He is said to be gravely ill. However he was given just three months to live on his release from prison after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Aww, cry me a river!

[joshcryer]

66. Footage showing the martyrs and injured amongst Misratah’s residents on the 20th of March. GRAPHIC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GfBDIRHT98

Hey Gaddafi, this is what bombed victims look like, not like your bullet ravaged corpses (that were likely protesters) that you showed. :puke:

[joshcryer]

67. A doctor in Misrata, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells the BBC (re: Misurata shelling)

0858: A doctor in Misrata, who wanted to remain anonymous, tells the BBC: "This is the fifth or sixth consecutive day of shelling the city. Our clinic is full of patients. We have no more beds to treat the patients. There is no light in the city. There has been no communication for 10 days and no water for more than one week. And still the heavy shelling continues. The situation is so serious. The international community must take responsibility. Since yesterday we have received 125 injured including an entire family with four children, shot in their car while trying to leave. Even my medical resources are running out. We can't sustain this any more."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

THIS IS WHAT BENGHAZI WOULD HAVE BECOME

[joshcryer]

68. richardengelnbc tweets (damn):

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc

[joshcryer]

69. back in eastern libya.. rebels looking more confident.. grateful for westen help..

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49539782472237057">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya.. back in eastern libya.. rebels looking more confident.. grateful for westen help..
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

70. rebels still need a lot more help beyond air and missile strikes. they remain disorganized

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49540528685060096">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya.. rebels still need a lot more help beyond air and missile strikes. they remain disorganized, leaderless, undisciplined
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

71. one man told me thanks for the western support is "like a drowning man grasping

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49540870566973440">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya.. one man told me thanks for the western support is "like a drowning man grasping at anything he can to stay afloat."
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

72. ...at anything he can to stay afloat."

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49540870566973440">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya.. one man told me thanks for the western support is "like a drowning man grasping at anything he can to stay afloat."
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

73. man whose cousin died told me qaddafi's troops kept the body.

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49560022123945984">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya. man whose cousin died told me qaddafi's troops kept the body. he believes bodies of fighters used 4 propaganda, to show civ victims
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

74. he believes bodies of fighters used 4 propaganda, to show civ victims

http://twitter.com/#!/richardengelnbc/status/49560022123945984">@richardengelnbc
richard engel
#libya. man whose cousin died told me qaddafi's troops kept the body. he believes bodies of fighters used 4 propaganda, to show civ victims
20 Mar via web

[joshcryer]

75. Heavy shelling on Ajdabiya (no military targets, all civilian attacks):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PRU5lKMTgs

[joshcryer]

76. Brazil calls for ceasefire in Libya

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/uk-libya-brazil-idUKTRE72L0YY20110322">Brazil calls for ceasefire in Libya
(Reuters) - The Brazilian government called late on Monday for a cease-fire in Libya, where air attacks by the United States and its allies sought to stop the advance of Muammar Gaddafi's forces on rebel-held towns.

The goal of a cease-fire should be to protect civilians and pave the way for dialogue between the Libyan government and its opponents, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement made just hours after a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Brazil.

"After regretting the loss of lives because of the conflict in the country, the Brazilian government hopes that an effective cease-fire be implemented as soon as possible to allow the protection of civilians and the start of dialogue," the statement said.

Last week, Brazil, China, India, Germany and Russia abstained from passing a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force to impose a no-fly zone in Libya.

[joshcryer]

77. India says no place for external powers in Libya

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/uk-india-libya-idUKTRE72L1IT20110322">India says no place for external powers in Libya
(Reuters) - The U.S.-led international coalition has no right to interfere in Libya's affairs, India said on Tuesday, stepping up its condemnation of the military strikes on Muammar Gaddafi's forces to establish a no-fly zone.

India, which abstained from a U.N. security council vote to authorise military action, followed fellow BRIC countries China and Russia in condemning the air strikes led by the U.S., U.K. and France that have severely weakened Libya's air defences.

"What is happening in a country, within their internal affairs, no external powers should interfere in it," Pranab Mukherjee, India's finance minister and leader of the lower house of parliament, told lawmakers on Tuesday.

China and Russia also abstained from the resolution.

[joshcryer]

78. Turkey objects to NATO Libya role beyond U.N. limits

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/22/uk-libya-nato-turkey-idUKTRE72L1MV20110322">Turkey objects to NATO Libya role beyond U.N. limits
(Reuters) - NATO member Turkey says it is unable to agree to the Western military alliance taking over enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya if the scope of the operation goes beyond what the United Nations had sanctioned.

NATO officials were due to resume talks in Brussels on Tuesday after failing to reach an agreement on Monday.

"There are U.N. decisions and these decisions clearly have a defined framework. A NATO operation which goes outside this framework cannot be legitimised," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told news channel CNN Turk on Monday evening.

Turkey, a Muslim member of the Western alliance, said a summit in Paris on Saturday between international leaders had led to military intervention that went outside the U.N. framework.

[joshcryer]

79. U.S. to transfer control of Libya force in days - Obama

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/uk-libya-usa-idUKTRE72K6X620110321">U.S. to transfer control of Libya force in days - Obama
(Reuters) - The United States will cede control of the assault on Libyan forces in days, President Barack Obama said on Monday, even as divisions in Europe fuelled speculation U.S. leadership would be protracted.

Obama faces criticism at home over the U.S. role and goals in the U.N.-mandated aerial attacks that began on Saturday -- from charges he failed to act decisively to fears the United States will get bogged down in yet another Muslim country.

The missile strikes have already destroyed most of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's air defenses. Obama said U.S. action would be limited and its mission command would be brief.

"We anticipate this transition to take place in a matter of days and not in a matter of weeks," Obama told a news conference during a visit to Chile. He did not spell out which nation or organisation would take charge of the operation.

[joshcryer]

80. Factbox - Military assets in play in Libya crisis

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/uk-libya-forces-factbox-idUKTRE72K72R20110321">Factbox - Military assets in play in Libya crisis
(Reuters) - European and U.S. forces have unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Libyan targets under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorising action to protect civilians from leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces.

U.S. and British ships and submarines fired more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan targets to take out their air defences, although no U.S. aircraft were flying over Libya.

Following are assets that are being used, or could be used.

List at link, OCD won't let me just post half of one. ;)

[pinboy3niner]

81. Odyssey Dawn Units Identified:

Source: Air Force Magazine (Formatting mine, as all text originally was in a single paragraph.)

Odyssey Dawn Units Identified:

The Air Force has identified units that participated in the attacks against Libyan military targets in the opening salvos of Operation Odyssey Dawn this past weekend.

In addition to B-2 stealth bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., the Air Force sent F-15Es from the 492nd Fighter Squadron and 494th FS at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, as well as F-16CJs from the 480th FS at Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

The B-2s struck combat aircraft shelters at Ghardabiya Airfield in Libya, and, based on post-strike photos that the Pentagon displayed, precisely hit them. The F-15Es and F-16CJs attacked ground forces loyal to Libyan ruler Muammar Gadhafi that were advancing on opposition forces in Benghazi and threatening civilians.

KC-135s of the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, Britain, refueled the strike aircraft en route to an unnamed forward air base. C-130Js from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, moved ground equipment and personnel to the forward base, as did theater-based C-17s.

Pentagon officials also said EC-130 Commando Solo psychological operations aircraft participated. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard's 193rd Special Operations Wing in Middletown operates these aircraft. (Ramstein release) (See also our initial coverage)

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Pages/default.aspx


Also, the 126th Air Refueling Wing, an Illinois National Guard Unit based at Scott AFB in southern IL, is joining the mission. The unit flies the KC-135R Stratotanker.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-libya-illinoisair,0,5321308.story

[pinboy3niner]

82. Video purporting to show results of Battle for Misurata:

New video purports to show the results of the battle for the western town of Misurata, home to a major oil refinery, where the Gaddafi regime and the opposition disagree about who is currently in control. The government claims Misurata was "liberated" three days ago, but the rebels claim they retain control. This video shows at least three abandoned Gaddafi tanks and an armoured personnel carrier.

Misurata 21-03-2011 (Freedom Group) (6:37)
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-22

[joshcryer]

83. Go back to sleep pinboy3niner.

:hi: :rofl:

Not bossing. :)

[pinboy3niner]

89. Heh heh

I dozed off for a while there. I'd brought home a burger, fries and coffee from Mc D's. The burger and fries worked, the coffee...not so much. :)

P.S. When my mouse disappears, I usually leave out some cheese or peanut butter. :)

Actually, I've had the same problem at times, on certain pages only. The cursor disappears, right?

:hi:

[joshcryer]

91. Yeah, apparently it's caused by flash sending a "hide cursor" thing.

It's a flash thing not a web browser thing. I couldn't find the culprit flash link that was doing it (happens on AJE blog even without YouTube embeds, etc) so I just blocked plugins completely on AJE blog.

Glad you got some rest. I actually passed out for about 6 hours there (thus the gap in posting), still am not able to get a good nights sleep after losing Mo. They just keep replaying his same video over and over, no one has stepped up (understandably) to fill in the void. I hope that Libya Alhurra comes back once this thing is over, trove of information came from it.

Stay well, won't fault you for that terribly unhealthy food (I myself grab a couple of dollar menu items at least 2-3 times a week). :hi: :)

[joshcryer]

84. Wow at that video! Those high rise aparments are clearly armed rebellion strongholds.

Direct link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wop3C4zrPXI

I missed it because I have plugins turned off on AJE Blog, it causes issues with my mouse disappearing. :P

[pinboy3niner]

85. Three missing journos now known to have been arrested by Gaddafi troops

10:06am

Three journalists who went missing in eastern Libya more than 72 hours ago have been arrested by Gaddafi troops, the AFP news agency reports. AFP reporter Dave Clark and photographer Roberto Schmidt were arrested along with Getty photographer Joe Raedle, their driver says.

The team drove from Tobruk, near the border with Egypt, to Ajdabiya, which had fallen under the regime's control. They encountered a convoy of military jeeps and transport vehicles "a few dozen kilometres" from Ajdabiya and were arrested by regime soldiers, along with other civilians who came down the road.

Apparently, the journalists told AFP editors they were going to head around 35km outside of Tobruk to speak with refugees. Ajdabiya is 403km from Tobruk via a straight, inland road that runs between two towns.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/live-blog-libya-march-22

[joshcryer]

86. A presenter on al-Libya holds weapons and pledges to fight till his "last drop of blood"

0922: A presenter on Libya's pro-Gaddafi TV station al-Libya is shown holding an automatic weapon in the studio and pledging to fight till his "last drop of blood".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

Can you imagine a FOX News teabagger doing that? :rofl:

[joshcryer]

87. Two choice BBC news Have Your Say posts:

0939: Khaled, originally from Zawiya but who now lives in Manchester, tells the BBC: "To put things into prospective, Gaddafi state TV keeps showing what mounts to no more than a few hundred people and claiming these are the Libyan masses supporting him. There are around 1.5 million people living in Tripoli, so if they were pro-Gaddafi, then we would expect to see them in the streets every day and every night to prove his point. Truth is that all honest Libyans have had more than enough of this dictator who values nothing in this world but himself."

0934: Othman writes: "My family are in Tripoli right now, and I can tell you that the vast majority of the Libyan people are united against Gaddafi and his murderous regime. We are in full support and appreciative of current international action, and hope that they don't hesitate in targeting him. People in Tripoli are frightened to express this though due to a complete lockdown by Gaddafi thugs. When this is over I can guarantee that the streets of Tripoli will be full of people celebrating."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

[joshcryer]

88. BREAKING, US plane DOWN, rebels claim to have pilot in their safety. Live now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

0959: The Telegraph now says that the crashed US warplane is an F-15E Eagle.

0955: Journalist Rob Crilly from The Telegraph currently in Libya tweets: "just found a crashed US warplane in a field. believe a mechanical failure brought it down #libya" a tweet a few minutes later added: crew believed safe #libya

[pinboy3niner]

102. African Command: Indications are that crash not caused by hostile action

12:31pm:

African Command’s Kenneth Fidler tells the BBC the indications are that the crash was not caused “by hostile action”. He says that one crew member has been recovered, and an operation is currently under way to recover the other serviceman. Mr Fidler also confirms that the warplane – F-15E Strike Eagle – crashed overnight. It was not immediately clear where the jet went down.

http://feb17.info/news/live-blog-libya-unrest-march-22-2011/

[joshcryer]

90. Tanks are firing shells at Libyan rebel-held city of Misrata, Reuters reports.

09.49 Tanks are firing shells at Libyan rebel-held city of Misrata, Reuters reports.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8390035/Libya-Live.html#

[joshcryer]

92. Air strikes keep pressure on Gaddafi

There was something familiar in the night-time television images of broken concrete and twisted metal from Col Muammar Gaddafi's Tripoli compound - the shadow of Iraq.

The largest military intervention in the Middle East since the Iraq war is now well under way, and to many the goal looks the same - regime change.

Even as the Pentagon was saying the Libyan leader is not a target, American missiles had just struck his heavily protected compound - for a second time in 25 years.

Two weeks ago, US President Barack Obama made his objective clear. Col Gaddafi, he said, "must leave".

[joshcryer]

93. Warning, graphic image, but I thought it merited posting, given the signal it sends:

[pinboy3niner]

94. ICC finds cases of ppl shot in early days of protests: cd constitute crimes against humanity

From The Telegraph:

09.32

Prosecutors have identified at least seven incidents of demonstrators being shot in the early days of the Libyan uprising which could constitute crimes against humanity.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo said he aims to report on his investigation to the United Nations Security Council on May 4, before submitting a case to the court's judges.

But Mr Moreno Ocampo acknowledged that the evidence may not be available to get dictator Muammar Gaddafi's name on to the charge sheet, and prosecutors will face a "challenge" to ensure suspects are detained and delivered to the court. He said:

We are collecting evidence, focusing on the first 12 days, which is a clear-cut situation where there were unarmed civilians in demonstrations. We are confirming that they were shot. We have evidence that they were shot. The issue for us now is to find who shot them and who ordered the shooting.

We are identifying at least seven incidents which could constitute crimes against humanity and we are trying to get evidence of that and of who made the decisions and who did the shooting."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8390035/Libya-Live.html

[joshcryer]

95. +1, good news.

[pinboy3niner]

97. I hope witnesses don't suddenly start 'disappearing' nt

[joshcryer]

98. Me too. But there were a lot of 'em. As long as Benghazi stays safe I think they'll be OK.

Got to take a smoke break (one thing Catherina and I had in common), will start thread 2 soon.

[joshcryer]

96. The death toll from Monday's fighting in Misrate has now reached 40, a town resident tells Reuters.

1018: The death toll from Monday's fighting in Misrate has now reached 40, a town resident tells Reuters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

[joshcryer]

Doctor live now in Misurata:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

[joshcryer]

100. transcription, damn, breaks my fucking heart :(

condition is so hidious

since last night no lught in hospital, working with generator

yesterday was disaster more than 130 injured/patients

more than 22 this morning, several kids, 2 boys 2 girls

they're still shelling the city

situaiton is so serious you could not sustain more

in two days we go home we can do no more

my doctors said we need more supplies

situation so serious

what does NFZ mean? 1973 resolution says protect civilians, what does it mean nfz?

this entire family one family of our staff, ALL OF HIS KIDS DIED, only he and his wife left

he's working with us, while coming to work, they shooted them, his kids dead 4 of them

indiscriminate shelling everything please please imply that resolution 1973, please protect the civilians

stupid question: any contact with UN humanitarian forces?

no no communication with UN forces, yesterday we asked for international forces free passage for medical supply, we have sea port here, we can't use it, without guarantee for anyone willing to help us other than that people will die

Q: are people trying to leave?

SURE no water no food no communications still they're stealing food, I don't know how I can reach my family, no safe zone in misrata, no one secure, I cannot leave hospital, cannot reach my family, don't know how they are

Q: do you know where gov. forces are

they are shelling from main street, triploi street, snipers everywhere, shooting indiscriminately, shelling, bombarding everything

[pinboy3niner]

99. Meanwhile, DOW is back above 12,000--all must be right with the world! nt

[pinboy3niner]

101. Good link: .#Feb17 #Libya A Libyan Fight for Democracy, or a Civil War? http://f.ast.ly/pxrD5

feb17libya
.#Feb17 #Libya A Libyan Fight for Democracy, or a Civil War? http://f.ast.ly/pxrD5

Worth reading. An excerpt:

...

Libyan officials say that 12,000 Libyans now receive government scholarships to study abroad each year and about another 12,000 pay their own way to do the same. Although those numbers may seem small in a country of 6.5 million, George Joffe, a Cambridge University scholar who has studied Libya and its tribal politics, argued that it is just the leading edge of a larger Westernized elite — fed on Libya’s oil money — that adds a degree of worldly sophistication lacking in other tribal countries like Somalia and Yemen.

“For a sophisticated person, it is just difficult to cope with the Qaddafi regime,” he argued. “For many, many people in Libya, the Qaddafi regime is cruel, uncouth, and morally offensive.” He added, “One of its characteristic is that it has always had a real contempt for form, so you look at these people and you realize that they have power but you don’t really respect them for it.”

Whether the current rebellion will prove any different will depend in part on whether it can transcend its tribal backdrop, beginning with the test of drawing new support from the West.

In the nights after the rebels first took Benghazi, residents of the biggest cities of the west — not just Tripoli but also Misurata, Zawiyah, Zawarah — rose up against Colonel Qaddafi as well.

After weeks of reprisals and propaganda, the allied airstrikes so far do not appear to have emboldened any of opponents to take to the streets once again. But on Monday night, the sound of airstrikes echoed over the capital, as the Western allies placed another bet that it truly was a democratic impulse that kindled the uprising.

Kareem Fahim contributed reporting from Benghazi.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/world/africa/22tripoli.html

[joshcryer]

103. Excellent, definitely a link for Day 34.

[joshcryer]

104. Day 33 part 2 here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x713840

[tabatha]

105. deleted