Libya

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Wed, 2011-02-16 08:02

Caissa

Libya

Hundreds of Libyan protesters took to the streets Wednesday in the country's second largest city to demand the government's ouster in the first sign that the region's unrest has spread to the Arab nation in North Africa.

Witnesses say protesters in the port city of Benghazi chanted slogans demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi. The crowds, however, did not appear to direct their anger at Moammar Gadhafi, who has ruled the nation for more than 40 years.

Wed, 2011-02-16 08:42

Enduro Man Enduro Man's picture

Qaddafi has his coterie of female bodyguards to protect him!

There's one man long overdue for retirement.

Wed, 2011-02-16 09:31

Snert

Quote:

Qaddafi has his coterie of female bodyguards to protect him!

Hehe. I'd have said it if you didn't. Dude thinks he's Charlie, with 97 extra Angels.

Wed, 2011-02-16 10:33

Enduro Man Enduro Man's picture

Snert wrote:

Quote:

Qaddafi has his coterie of female bodyguards to protect him!

Hehe. I'd have said it if you didn't. Dude thinks he's Charlie, with 97 extra Angels.

LOL!

Wed, 2011-02-16 11:23

Snert

To be fair, I don't know that they aren't good bodyguards. I'm not questioning the women's abilities. But when a guy makes a show of surrounding himself with a hand-picked team of bodyguards comprised (evidently) solely of young, attractive women, that guy shouldn't have to be Silvio Berlusconi before it's pretty obvious that something in the milk ain't clean.

Wed, 2011-02-16 11:46

al-Qa'bong

Quote:

Hundreds of Libyan protesters took to the streets Wednesday in the country's second largest city to demand the government's ouster in the first sign that the region's unrest...

The first sign? Shucks, I reported on this last week already.

Hey Ma, I scooped the CBC!

Wed, 2011-02-16 13:38

Enduro Man Enduro Man's picture

al-Qa'bong wrote:

Quote:

Hundreds of Libyan protesters took to the streets Wednesday in the country's second largest city to demand the government's ouster in the first sign that the region's unrest...

The first sign? Shucks, I reported on this last week already.

Hey Ma, I scooped the CBC!

Golf clap.

Wed, 2011-02-16 13:57

al-Qa'bong

Yeah yeah.

I know; it's no big deal scooping the western press when it comes to reporting on The Mysterious Orient.

Thu, 2011-02-17 07:15

Enduro Man Enduro Man's picture

al-Qa'bong wrote:

Yeah yeah.

I know; it's no big deal scooping the western press when it comes to reporting on The Mysterious Orient.

Eric Margolis was one of the few who could see the true volatility of the situation. He's not far off in this op-ed.

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/eric_margolis/2010/04/23/13...

Thu, 2011-02-17 20:29

#10

safetysue

al-Qa'bong wrote:

Yeah yeah.

I know; it's no big deal scooping the western press when it comes to reporting on The Mysterious Orient.

Egypt is not in the orient. It is in Africa. And there is nothing mysterious about it. it's a capitalist system just like ours.

Thu, 2011-02-17 21:21

#11

Fidel

That's okay, just so long as you don't refer to Egypt as being in Africa, too. It's in "the Middle East" according to the John Foster Dulles proteges lurking about. Apparently the imperialist lingo trumps an entire continent.

Thu, 2011-02-17 21:33

#12

al-Qa'bong

safetysue wrote:
Egypt is not in the orient. It is in Africa. And there is nothing mysterious about it.

Fri, 2011-02-18 14:48

#13

Caissa

They say three people were killed in the city's el-Kish area and at least a dozen others elsewhere. The claims cannot be independently verified.

Benghazi has been the scene of protests in recent days, with reports that at least 15 people were killed in clashes with security forces on Thursday.

Reports are also coming about clashes in the neighbouring city of Al-Bayda.

Two exile groups told Reuters news agency that al-Bayda was now "out of the control of the Gaddafi regime".

It has been impossible for the BBC to verify this information on the ground.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12506787

Fri, 2011-02-18 23:30

#14

safetysue

al-Qa'bong wrote:

safetysue wrote:
Egypt is not in the orient. It is in Africa. And there is nothing mysterious about it.

Would you pls rmove that guy hitting his head. That's an occupational health and safety hazard and I don't want to be associated with it.

Fri, 2011-02-18 23:31

#15

safetysue

You people are out of touch with reality. Signing off.

Sat, 2011-02-19 11:12

#16

Bec.De.Corbin Bec.De.Corbin's picture

OMG... the guy carries a swizzle stick.

Sun, 2011-02-20 08:39

#17

Doug

It's a reference to orientalism - which most certainly is applicable to a discussion of Egypt or Libya.

Sun, 2011-02-20 15:22

#18

Ghislaine

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/833... 140 'massacred' as Ghaddafi sends in snipers to crush dissent [/url]

Quote:
Snipers shot protesters, artillery and helicopter gunships were used against crowds of demonstrators, and thugs armed with hammers and swords attacked families in their homes as the Libyan regime sought to crush the uprising.

"Dozens were killed ... We are in the midst of a massacre here," a witness told Reuters. The man said he helped take victims to hospital in Benghazi.

This illustrates that the deciding factor really is the military. In Egypt, the military came out very early saying that they would not turn against the people.

Sun, 2011-02-20 17:40

#19

sanizadeh

Aljazeera reports that government troops and officials have started to defect in Binghazi:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/20112202148108558.html

This is also significant:

Quote:

Meanwhile the head of the Al-Zuwayya tribe in eastern Libya has threatened to cut off oil exports unless authorities stop what he called the "oppression of protesters", the Warfala tribe, one of Libya's biggest, has reportedly joined the anti-Gaddafi protests.

Sun, 2011-02-20 23:44

#20

NDPP

Gadaffi Leaves Libya: Report

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166231.html

"Libya's Muammar Gaddafi has left his country for Venezuela or Brazil, as protests calling on him to step down have turned violent, a report says. An opposition leader has said that all tribes across the country have joined the anti-government protests, reports said."

Mon, 2011-02-21 09:23

#21

NDPP

'Game Over for Iron-Hand Gadaffi'

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166316.html

"Pro democracy protests continue in Bahrain and other countries in the Arab world, mounting pressure on their authoritarian rulers.."

'Gadaffi Has No Legitimacy Left'

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166283.html

"I think it is going to be taken over by another adventurist military officer.."

Mon, 2011-02-21 14:49

#22

Caissa

Libya's ambassadors at the United Nations are calling for leader Moammar Gadhafi to step down as the country's ruler.

Deputy Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi said Monday that if Gadhafi does not relinquish power, "the Libyan people will get rid of him."

Dabbashi urged the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent mercenaries, weapons and other supplies from reaching Gadhafi and his security forces.

Dabbashi also said he was not resigning.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/02/21/libya-tripoli-clashes.html

Mon, 2011-02-21 18:13

#23

Boom Boom

As I mentioned in the new thread, CBC just announced they are waiting for Gaddafi to give a public address in the next hour. And CNN reports Americans are whining about higher gas prices today as a result of the crisis in Libya.

Mon, 2011-02-21 18:39

#24

Papal Bull

Oh, this is the kick off. This will not end well for Libya. If people thought that Egypt was a backwater, then there is Libya - which is a state that has been subsumed into the will of one individual. From what I've read over the past while (I remember back when I was a younger, less jaded individual learning a bit about Carthage, which kicked off an interest in Libya) Libya is basically Tripoli playing off the various clans and tribes of the society in order to maintain order, with the threat of the military/police institutions over the people. Any popularity within Libya that Gadaffi had has trickled off into those within the state who cannot survive without the system that Gadaffi has put into place. I cannot imagine that Libya will have a painless transition to whatever occurs after the elder Gadaffi has finally lost his legs of power.

It is a relatively large country of merely six million people. The dynamics of Egypt are not applicable to Libya. I can only with that the people will have dignity and know peace when what will happen has happened. The leadership is out for blood, whether it is spilled in the fashion that they hope is of little consequence - blood has been spilled, and it will continue to be spilled. I wish that I could feel optimism.

Mon, 2011-02-21 19:17

#25

Boom Boom

Gadafi's message was 40 seconds, under an umbrella while standing next to a car. He said he is in Tripoli, not Venezuela or France. that was it.

Mon, 2011-02-21 20:34

#26

NDPP

Massacre Unfolding in Libyan Capital

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166397.html

"Residents of the Libyan capital say 'armed mercenaries' have gone on a shooting spree, carrying out a massacre in Tripoli, a report says.."

Libyan Jets Open Fire on Protesters

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166354.html

"The government of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi has deployed fighter jets to open fire on prodemocracy protesters who have taken control of a number of cities.."

Gadaffi Commits Genocide: Libyan Envoy

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166412.html

"The Libyan deputy ambassador to the United Nations has called on the country's ruler Muammar Gadaffi to step down and face trial over 'war crimes and genocide'."

Mon, 2011-02-21 20:46

#27

NDPP

From Libya: 'Tell The World What is Happening!' (and vids)

http://alive.in/libya/2011/02/21/from-libya-tell-the-world-whats-happening/

Mon, 2011-02-21 21:27

#28

NDPP

Canadian Companies Scale Back Libya Presence

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/02/21/libya-canadian-companie...

"Suncor, SNC Lavalin Group, projects suspended, evacuations underway.."

Libya Crackdowns 'Outrageous': Harper

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/02/21/libya-canada-react.html

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper has denounced the violent crackdowns by security forces on anti-government protesters in Libya and called for them to stop immediately. 'We find the actions of the government firing upon its own citizens to be outrageous and unacceptable,' Harper told reporters in Vancouver Monday. 'We call on the government to cease these actions immediately."

Too bad no such denounciations come when Israel attacks unarmed civilians in Gaza

Tue, 2011-02-22 12:12

#29

Caissa

Defiant Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Tuesday called on his supporters to "secure Libya's streets" and said anti-government protesters deserve a death sentence.

In a lengthy and furious address broadcast on state television, Gadhafi also dismissed widespread reports of a violent crackdown on protesters demanding his ouster and insisted he would not relinquish control of his country's "revolution."

"Revolution means sacrifice, a continuous sacrifice until the end of one's life," Gadhafi said, standing in front of what appeared to be a bombed-out compound in Tripoli, the site of an U.S. airstrike in 1986.

"I will not leave the country. I will die as a martyr."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/02/22/libya-gadhafi-.html

Tue, 2011-02-22 12:27

#30

Boom Boom

Just to add to Caissa's post, I've been listening to the dictator speak on CNN, CBC, and AJE for about 40 minutes. He blames the riots on drunken and doped-up students; said the aircraft that bombed and fired on the protestors were from the US, not Libya; calls for a massive show of support from the people tomorrow; said he is not a Presidnet but rather the Leader of the Revolution; and that he will crush all opposition to him entirely, and he will die as a martyr.

CNN said one of Gadhafi's sons will probably take him out for the good of the country.

Tue, 2011-02-22 12:34

#31

Bec.De.Corbin Bec.De.Corbin's picture

Yeah US aircraft....LOL

I thought I heard of Libyan pilots defecting with their aircraft this morning while I got ready for work... they refused to fire on the people. I haven't heard anything since so I might be wrong.

Tue, 2011-02-22 13:00

#32

sknguy II

Bec.De.Corbin wrote:

Yeah US aircraft....LOL

I thought I heard of Libyan pilots defecting with their aircraft this morning while I got ready for work... they refused to fire on the people. I haven't heard anything since so I might be wrong.

Here's a news snippet on that. And here.

Tue, 2011-02-22 13:20

#33

jas

I'm a little unclear on how these "uprisings" in northern Africa were sparked. What was/were the catalyzing event(s) or incident(s)? Anyone?

Tue, 2011-02-22 13:26

#34

Pogo

Haven't you heard there was a speach by an American guy which instructed the people to think for themselves. Hollywood is already casting the movie.

Tue, 2011-02-22 13:27

#35

Pogo

Haven't you heard there was a speech by an American guy which instructed the people to think for themselves. Hollywood is already casting the movie.

Tue, 2011-02-22 13:57

#36

NDPP

Libya Unrest Ups Oil Price to $107

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166541.html

"Statements that are coming through the US and European partners, especially from Italy haven't been very strong...This has actually given time for Gaddafi to use his own means to crack down on the demonstraters - because from a business aspect the West was very happy with Gaddafi. They probably have disagreements with his style and character and politics, but as far as business goes they got out of it all they wanted from him.."

Al Jazeera Libya Live Blog

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/02/22/live-blog-libya-feb-22

Tue, 2011-02-22 14:06

#37

al-Qa'bong

jas wrote:

I'm a little unclear on how these "uprisings" in northern Africa were sparked. What was/were the catalyzing event(s) or incident(s)? Anyone?

Sparked? Did you say that on purpose?

Muhammad Bouazizi: the most famous Arab

Tue, 2011-02-22 14:11

#38

Catchfire

Pogo wrote:
Haven't you heard there was a speach by an American guy which instructed the people to think for themselves. Hollywood is already casting the movie.

Ha!

Tue, 2011-02-22 16:03

#39

Doug

NDPP wrote:

Libya Unrest Ups Oil Price to $107

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166541.html

Wait and see where it goes if someone in Saudi Arabia protests.

Tue, 2011-02-22 16:06

#40

Doug

Oh - and won't someone please think of the fashion designers?

Tue, 2011-02-22 16:32

#41

Snert

Apropos of nothing, his face, particularly the bottom half, makes me think of Robert Downey Jr.

Tue, 2011-02-22 17:13

#42

NDPP

Fidel Castro Says US Plans NATO Invasion of Libya

http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC110223-0000038/Fidel-Castro-says-US-...

"Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro said Tuesday that unrest in Libya may be a pretext for a NATO invasion. Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega has jumped to the support of the embattled leader of the North African nation, saying he telephoned to express solidarity. His [Gaddafi's] relations with Hugo Chavez are so warm that rumors that Gaddafi was headed to Venezuela swept the world on Monday."

Tue, 2011-02-22 17:44

#43

Doug

Way to jump on a bandwagon that's about to crash. Not that the foreign policy establishment elsewhere has a lot more of a clue. What all this is showing is the absolute inability of that establishment - wherever it is - to work at the speed of events.

Tue, 2011-02-22 18:57

#44

al-Qa'bong

Pogo wrote:

Haven't you heard there was a speach by an American guy which instructed the people to think for themselves. Hollywood is already casting the movie.

Tue, 2011-02-22 20:19

#45

NDPP

John Ivison: Embracing Gaddafi Was Canada's Shame

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/22/john-ivison-embracing-gad...

"Canadians shaking their heads in disbelief that such a monster is still in power should be aware of our own role in keeping him there...As the oil industry flooded Libya with petro-dollars the Gaddafi regime bought jet aircraft, machinery and wheat from Canada. SNC Lavalin, the Canadian engineering giant [and a major producer of ammo for the Iraq war] has since been awarded a $450 million contract to develop part of a water system. Bilateral trade has risen from zero in 2006 to nearly $300 million.."

Tue, 2011-02-22 20:30

#46

VanGoghs Ear

NDPP wrote:

Fidel Castro Says US Plans NATO Invasion of Libya

http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC110223-0000038/Fidel-Castro-says-US-...

"Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro said Tuesday that unrest in Libya may be a pretext for a NATO invasion. Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega has jumped to the support of the embattled leader of the North African nation, saying he telephoned to express solidarity. His [Gaddafi's] relations with Hugo Chavez are so warm that rumors that Gaddafi was headed to Venezuela swept the world on Monday."

I find that pretty disturbing considering what Gaddafi is currently doing and what he said he will do to the people of Libya who dare to voice their displeasure with him. After listening to some people downtown today carrying signs and talking about their hopes for their relatives and former country I really hope the protesters keep their fires burning for justice in their hearts but also that Gaddafi doen't unleash a massive bloodbath and things revert.

Gaddafi will never be a martyr but those he's already had killed could be. Casrto is grown into a conservative anti-revolutionary in his old age.

Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand

Wed, 2011-02-23 00:18

#47

NDPP

Gazans Slam Violent Crackdown in Libya

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166540.html

"Hundreds of university students have taken to the streets in Gaza to voice their protest against Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi and his regime's crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.."

Wed, 2011-02-23 10:21

#48

NDPP

Gaddafi Orders Bombing Oil Pipelines

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166687.html

"Reports say Gaddafi has reportedly ordered security forces to bomb oil pipelines to disrupt crude supplies to the Mediterranean countries.."

that should get their attention..

Wed, 2011-02-23 12:18

#49

Bec.De.Corbin Bec.De.Corbin's picture

NDPP wrote:

that should get their attention..

Or his attention if his men refuse to go through with it...

Wed, 2011-02-23 12:27

#50

Caissa

Libya's ex-justice minister claims Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered the airplane bombing that killed 270 people over Scotland in 1988, Swedish tabloid Expressen is reporting.

Expressen on Wednesday quoted Mustafa Abdel-Jalil as telling their correspondent in Libya: "I have proof that Gadhafi gave the order about Lockerbie." He didn't describe the proof.

Abdel-Jalil stepped down as justice minister to protest the violence against anti-government demonstrations.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/02/23/gadhafi-lockerbie-swedish-...

Wed, 2011-02-23 13:07

#51

Jingles

Quote:
Libya's ex-justice minister claims Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered the airplane bombing that killed 270 people over Scotland in 1988, Swedish tabloid Expressen is reporting.

Sounds like someone's trying to make a deal. It doesn't have to be true, but it has to play well with the prosecutors.

Reminds me of that scene in that horrible, horrible movie (Inglorius Basterds. Just bloody awful.) where the Nazi is making a deal to save his own ass.

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