Libya war leaves Tripoli short of water and cash, but residents say: 'We'll cope'

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Not far from one of Colonel Gaddafi's former command posts, Osama Fazari and his family have been hunkered down in their homes for a week, without much power and with no water.

Shops are shut all along their street and the few cars that dare to move creep like snails towards gung-ho kids with Kalashnikovs running checkpoints.

Down the road is the Rixos hotel, where on any given night until about a week ago, regime henchmen would sip cappuccinos in its opulent lobby, surrounded by human shields from the world's press corps that they knew would protect them from Nato bombs.

This was a hardcore Gaddafi neighbourhood and remains a hostile place, unlike most of the now liberated capital. But Fazari, 47, no longer feels silenced by fear. He is happy to talk about his family's hardships, which he says can be endured in the short term.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/aug/28/libya-tripoli-shortages-residents-views

[jakeXT]

1. Did they really turn off the water or were they destroyed ?

The lack of a towel is less serious than it sounds because there has been no water in the hotel or most other places in Tripoli since last Friday. Pro-Gaddafi forces have seized the water wells 600km to the south in the Sahara and turned off the pumps. They are also said to have run out of fuel and cannot flee any further. As a result, there is no water for toilets or showers in the hotel and bottled drinking water is scarce and expensive. Journalists carry water from the swimming pool in waste paper bins to flush the toilets.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/08/29/the-new-rulers-are-in-tripoli/

[classysassy]

2. Are we Americans so blind

that we are not able to see what is happening before our very eyes?Wake up citizens we are being pushed into another war in order for the wealthy criminals to rape and pillage another country,do you feel threatened by Libya and Gaddafi?Ask yourself two questions does Libya have oil and are there Muslims in Libya.

[StarsInHerHair]

3. reports of ethnic cleansing of Black Africans by the 'rebels'

...."Yet, from as early as February, African migrants reported that, “they’ve become targets for Libyans who are enraged that African mercenaries are fighting on behalf of the regime.” The migrants work in Libya’s oil industry and certain other sectors. It was the reports of African mercenaries – which later turned out to be false – that induced the violence against African migrants, instead of simply justifying them. The Deputy Director of the North Africa Center at Cambridge University stated in late February, in an interview with NPR, “I tell you, these people, because of their skin, they will be slaughtered in Libya. There is so much anger there against those mercenaries, which suddenly sprung up. I think it is urgent to do something about it now, otherwise, a genocide against anyone who has black skin and who doesn’t speak perfect Arabic.”<58>"....


..."These cases were rarely reported in Western media, however, African media sources reported much more diligently on these events, as they were more directly effecting their own citizens; thus, the victims are those who may deemed – in the African media – as ‘worthy victims.’ Thus, the coverage was much more extensive. One African media outlet reported in early March, that “rebel fighters and their supporters in eastern Libya are detaining, beating and intimidating African immigrants and black Libyans, accusing them of being African mercenaries.” In some instances, “rebels have executed suspected mercenaries captured in battle, according to Human Rights Watch and local Libyans.” Even the rebel-led government “concedes it is rounding up suspects and detaining them for questioning.” Not only is it African migrants who were in danger, but regular black Libyans as well, as in some cases rebels had lynched black Africans, claiming they were mercenaries. Human Rights Watch referred to the assault against black Libyans as “widespread and systematic attacks… by rebels and their supporters.” A Human Rights Watch official explained, “thousands of Africans have come under attack and lost their homes and possessions during the recent fighting,” and referred to the rebels (who are, in our media mostly referred to as ‘pro-democracy’ protesters) as “ad hoc military and security forces.”<60>"....

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/

[No Elephants]

4. Did the world learn nothing from 911 and the BP oil spill?

Why aren't they out shopping in Tripoli, as any real patriot would be?