Libyan Revolution Week 25

[joshcryer]

Links to sites with updates: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya">AJE Libya Live Blog http://blogs.aljazeera.net/twitter-dashboard">AJE Twitter Dashboard http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/libya">The Guardian http://uk.reuters.com/places/libya">Reuters http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/">Telegraph 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://libya-alhurra.tumblr.com/">Libya Alhurra archives and updates http://www.ustream.tv/channel/benghaziradio">Benghazi Free Radio, in Arabic (may have translators present at times) http://www.tributefm.com/">Tribute FM (English broadcast 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 https://twitter.com/#!/TheyCallMeSof">Sofyan Amry (arrived in Benghazi recently) http://twitter.com/#!/KiloFoot">KiloFoot (general Arab Spring news aggregation)

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=439x1647393">Week 24 part 2 here.

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

Libyan children walked on the barrel of a destroyed artillery gun at a makeshift display of discarded weaponry and ammunition from battles earlier this year between rebels and Qaddafi loyalists in Misurata.

Darren Whiteside / Reuters


Day 164 July 30

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE76T03J20110730?sp=true">Rebels attack last Gaddafi stronghold in W. Mountains
Rebels have encircled Muammar Gaddafi's last stronghold in Libya's Western Mountain region and hope to seize it soon, a commander said on Saturday.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-30/qaddafi-forces-use-tanks-in-assault-on-rebel-stronghold-misrata.html">Qaddafi Forces Assault Rebel Stronghold of Misrata With Tanks, Artillery
Armed forces loyal to the regime of Muammar Qaddafi assaulted the Libyan city of Misrata, a rebel stronghold, using tanks and artillery as the siege for control in the North African country enters a fifth month.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE76T08Q20110730?sp=true">Libyans face Ramadan of shortages, fear as war drags on
In rebel-held Misrata, the vegetable market is half empty; shoppers fret over shortages and soaring prices.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20110730/165470805.html">Gaddafi threatens assassination of Italy's Berlusconi
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has sworn to assassinate Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Corriere della Sera reported on Saturday.
http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-rebel-military-cmdr-not-slain-treason-181053418.html">Libyan rebel: military commander not slain for treason
The head of the rebel National Transitional Council says the rebel's chief military commander had been arrested for investigation into complaints of mismanaging his forces and was killed while being transported to a safer place.
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/07/30/libyan-opposition-orders-militias-to-disband">Libyan Opposition Orders Militias To Disband
The head of Libya's Transitional National Council says the opposition group has ordered all militia factions to disband and come under its control in the wake of the murder of the group's military chief.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/02/27/libya-fewer-police-abuses-zuwara-under-control-anti-government-forces">Libya: Fewer Police Abuses in Zuwara, Under Control of Anti-government Forces
There have been few, if any, abuses by the police in the city of Zuwara, 109 kilometers west of Tripoli, during and since its takeover by anti-government forces a week ago, Libyan citizens and foreign workers from the city told Human Rights Watch. They said the police had not tried to suppress a series of anti-government demonstrations, and that police from Zuwara sided with the protesters, while police not originally from Zuwara had left the city.
http://www.juancole.com/2011/07/controversies-over-younis-assassination-in-libya.html">Juan Cole: Controversies over Younis assassination in Libya
Abdel Fattah Younis, military leader of the Free Libya Forces, was assassinated Thursday. Younis was too close to Qaddafi, despite his defection, to remain truly popular with the rebels, and it is a little unlikely that his death will affect the terms of the uprising, despite what some observers are saying. He was not allowed to be a field officer because of the mistrust, so his absence would not affect the battlefield.

Day 165 July 31

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/07/20117318226759888.html">Libya rebels overrun rogue faction ('no connection' with death of Younes)
Four dead and six wounded as main opposition army overruns base of rogue branch, and scrambles to dispel rumours.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-hangings-20110731,0,6798682,full.story">Ramadan brings back bitter memories for many Libyans
For some it was the moment the revolution began: in 1984, when Kadafi, in an extraordinary display of brutality, held 11 public executions during the Muslim holy month.

Day 166 August 1

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-jul-31-2011-2132">Rebel forces capture 40 at Zliten, suffer 3 KIA and 4 WIA at al-Jawsh, Tiji today
A rebel commander has told Al Jazeera that opposition forces captured 40 pro-Gaddafi soldiers during fighting in Zliten today.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/libya-rebels-making-steady-progress-in-western-mountains/2011/07/31/gIQAvnf3lI_story.html">Libya rebels making steady progress in western mountains
Libyan rebels battling on multiple fronts attacked and held ground Sunday in committed fighting that reached from a besieged oil refinery city in the east to the rugged desert mountain towns in the west.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/31/ap/middleeast/main20086150.shtml">With rebels in charge, life returns to Libyan town
For months, this front-line community in range of Moammar Gadhafi's rockets was a town of men — rebel fighters, doctors, drivers and others needed for the war. Women and children were sent to safety in nearby Tunisia.
http://news.yahoo.com/libya-rebels-chase-kadhafi-cells-024107943.html">Libya rebels chase Kadhafi cells
Libyan rebels rounded up at least 63 people in an ongoing bid to tighten security in the eastern city of Benghazi and rout armed groups loyal to Moamer Kadhafi, a spokesman told AFP.
http://enoughgaddafi.com/?p=802">Ibn Thabit: The Battle for Tikout
I woke up at around 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning and had a couple of glasses of milk and some cookies for suhour. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to fast the entire day, but I made my intentions nonetheless, knowing that since I was fasting voluntarily I could break it at any time.

Day 167 August 2

http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/France-259m-to-Libya-rebels-20110801">France - $259m to Libya rebels
France is to hand over $259m in funds confiscated from Muammar Gaddafi and his inner circle to Libya's opposition Transitional National Council (TNC), the Foreign Ministry in Paris announced on Monday.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-money-20110802,0,6266261.story">Western allies move cautiously on Libyan assets
U.S. and other nations are eager to help the Libyan rebel council gain access to Kadafi's funds frozen abroad. But they want to make sure his regime can't also get to the money.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/aug/02/syria-libya-and-middle-east-unrest-live-updates#block-30">Rebel forces hold positions after govt. counterattack at Zlitan
Opposition forces, reinforced by a brigade shipped in from the rebel capital Benghazi, say they have held their positions, and there is no word on casualties on the government side.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/libya-rebels-push-on-cell-hit-list-found-20110803-1ia95.html">AFP: Rogue militia had 'hit list' of 60 rebel leaders
AFP reports that Libya's rebels have uncovered a 'hit list' of 60 rebel leaders that a pro-Gaddafi militia was keeping on hand in Benghazi.
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/02/138900885/libyan-rebels-wage-mad-max-war-in-the-mountains">Libyan Rebels Wage 'Mad Max' War In The Mountains
The sleepy towns in the Western Mountains of Libya come to life right before the country's rebels engage in a fight with the forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The mostly deserted roads suddenly fill with pickup trucks. The rebel fighters bristle with the makeshift weapons that they rely on. The vehicles, some monster trucks, then peel off into the front lines deep in the desert, covered in dried mud that serves as camouflage.

Day 168 August 3

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0803/1224301774669.html">Libyan rebels are ready - but lack ammunition
LIBYAN REBELS surrounding Muammar Gadafy’s last major stronghold in the Western Mountains region are hungry for the kill. There’s just one problem – not enough ammunition.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/126642933.html">Rebels to staff Libyan Embassy in U.S.
The State Department has signed off on papers that allow the Libyan Embassy in Washington to reopen under control of the opposition Transitional National Council and give staffers access to roughly $13 million in mission assets that had been frozen.
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7720RD20110803?sp=true">Libyan rebels say counter-attack at Zlitan repelled
Libyan rebels said on Wednesday they had fought off a counter-attack on their positions around Zlitan, a town they hope will pave the way for an advance on the capital, Tripoli.
http://www.petroleum-economist.com/Article/2878095/Policy-and-Politics/Libya-rebels-seize-gasoline-tanker.html">Libya rebels seized a Gaddafi regime gasoline tanker last night and are sailing it to Benghazi
Libyan rebel forces last night boarded a fuel tanker belonging to the Gaddafi regime, seized it and are sailing the vessel laden with almost 40,000 tonnes of gasoline to Benghazi, according to a report by Derek Brower in Petroleum News today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/world/africa/04seif.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all?src=tp">Libya Allying With Islamists, Qaddafi Son Says
After six months battling a rebellion his family portrayed as an Islamist conspiracy, Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi’s son and one-time heir apparent said Wednesday that he was reversing course to forge a secret alliance with radical Islamist elements among the Libyan rebels to drive out their more liberal-minded confederates.

Day 169 August 4

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39224&Cr=Libya&Cr1=">UN distributes Ramadan meals to 55,000 Libyan refugees in Tunisia
The United Nations refugee agency and its partners in Tunisia are distributing food for more than 55,000 Libyans who have fled the fighting in their homeland to help them prepare their evening meals during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-fighters-tripoli-hope-free-capital-060753607.html">Libyan fighters from Tripoli hope to free capital
The rebel fighters of the Tripoli Brigade have one goal — to be among the first to enter the Libyan capital and kick out Moammar Gadhafi and his cronies.
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7730H520110804?sp=true">NATO says Libyan tanker cleared to enter Benghazi
A Libyan tanker reported to have been seized by rebels opposing Muammar Gaddafi is about to enter the rebel-held port of Benghazi having been cleared to proceed by NATO ships enforcing an arms embargo, a NATO official said on Thursday.
http://youtu.be/kNGE-YMkc1Y">Libya opposition town battles suspicions - video
Suspicion over the recent murder of the opposition forces commander Abdel Fattah Younes has fallen on a group of Islamists from the town of Derna, in eastern Libya.
http://news.sky.com/home/article/16043985">Fleeing Libyans perish at sea
Around 100 people are reported to have died on a boat carrying Libyan refugees that was picked up by Italian coastguards.

Day 170 August 5

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1647393&mesg_id=1664604">For Gaddafi supporters
tabatha compiled video and translations of Gaddafi massive oppression.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/04/libya.tiji.watchers">Rebels watch Gadhafi troops from ancient lookout
The lonely ridge that tops the Nafusa Mountains has been used for centuries as a lookout point, a place where enemies are watched.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/04/libya.war">Retreating Gadhafi forces leave behind deadly mines
The front lines of Libya's grinding war weave through the western mountains and around Zlitan, the last city east of Tripoli still under the grip of strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/08/05/soldiers-come-home-from-libya/">Soldiers come home from Libya
Nonetheless, Sandnes stated to NRK that Norwegian planes have not killed civilians, something that Minister of Defense Grete Faremo has confirmed publicly on many occassions. Sandnes described himself as “proud” of the mission.
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL6E7J50L920110805?sp=true">Rebels capture hill overlooking a residential area of the eastern oil hub of Brega
Rebels said on Friday they were moving closer to the eastern oil hub of Brega, capturing a hill overlooking part of the town from Gaddafi's forces and clearing landmines in their way as they prepared to make a push for it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/world/africa/05libya.html">Major Libyan Rebel Group Seeks Shake-Up in Ranks
Rebel leaders, still reeling from the assassination of their top military commander last week, braced for a reshuffling in their ranks on Thursday, while law enforcement officials said a full-fledged investigation into the murder of the rebel general had gotten under way.
http://english.libya.tv/2011/07/22/the-path-towards-the-future-is-not-easy-but-you-are-not-alone">The will of the many, not the whims of a few
The Libyan conflict is a battle for the future – your future. On one side, Gaddafi and his regime are trying to keep Libya frozen 40 years in the past. On the other, the Libyan people are fighting for a new future – one based on freedom, not fear; opportunity, not oppression; the will of the many, not the whims of a few. That is the future which NATO and the international community want to see, and the future which you deserve.

Day 171 August 6

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/06/libya.war">Rebels in western Libyan town claim victory over Gadhafi forces
Libyan rebel forces gained ground against ruler Moammar Gadhafi's forces Saturday after a massive offensive in the western town of Bir Al-Ghanam.
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77504220110806?sp=true">Libya rebels say they are advancing on Brega
Libyan rebels on Saturday said they had launched a push to capture the coastal oil town of Brega, but were advancing slowly because Muammar Gaddafi's forces had sown landmines on the approaches to the town.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-6-2011-1648">We need to unite now for a bigger cause"--rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil
Libyan rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil issued a plea for rebel unity on Saturday, as the cohesion of a five-month-long revolution wobbled under the weight of a high profile assassination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hgPyK6s3Bs">Gaddafi 2011 inspecting identities of some poor Libyans (with English subtitles) - video
Libya's Gaddafi wandering the streets of Tripoli, asking and inspecting identities of some poor people. (I've translated this conversation with accurate English subtitles).
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77504220110806?sp=true">4 rebels were killed, 17 wounded in capturing Bir Ghanam from Gaddafi forces this morning
In the west, rebel spokesman Abdulrahman said the town of Bir Ghanam near Zintan was now under rebel control after an offensive on government forces during the day in which four anti-Gaddafi guerrillas died.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/201186104459911885.html">Libyan rebels push towards Az Zawiyah
Fighting intensifies in western Libya as hundreds of opposition fighters capture the strategic town of Bir Ghanem.

Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_civil_war">here for updated map. The size of the circles show population, the color represents control, red for FFs, green for tyrants.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x594751">A topic on the women of the revolution, dispels myths about the treatment of women in Benghazi.

Videos to bring the Libyan Revolution into context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0vChMDuNd0">The Battle of Benghazi. BBC Panorama on Libya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyaPnMnpCAA">Part 1, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMzwQvcx62s">Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwWwOeZqz6M">Video of the convoy sent to take Benghazi, taken from a dead soliders cell phone (shows how massive the operation was). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAclhhHv43s&feature=player_embedded">Arab Awakening: Libya: Through the Fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD5tu5bJWKc">Tea of Freedom Song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z41kQvx4uKw">Libya: Part 2 - The Uprising http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vNWCGDkdWY">Benghazi - Backbone of the Libyan revolution

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.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397">Text of UN resolution 1973. How will a no fly zone work? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWEwehTtK2k">AJE reports.

Belgium: http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/monde/2011-03-21/les-f-16-belges-dans-le-feu-de-l-action-829588.php">Six F-16 Falcon fighter jets of the Belgian Air Component. Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Navy Wielingen class frigate Drazki http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2011-03-23&article=35828">will participate in the naval blockade. Canada: Canadian Forces Air Command has deployed http://www.cefcom-comfec.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/ops/mobile/index-eng.asp">a total 440 military personnel as well as the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown are participating in operations. Denmark: The Royal Danish Air Force http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/ECE1227910/denmark-to-send-squadron-on-libya-op/">is participating with six F-16AM fighters. France: French Air Force which realizes 25% of NATO's strikes http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/autres-operations/harmattan/libye-debut-des-operations-aeriennes-francaises">is participating in the mission with 51 Mirage and Rafale Aircraft. Greece: The Elli-class frigate Limnos of the Hellenic Navy http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2011/03/20/greek-defence-ministry-no-participation-in-operations-outside-the-nato/">is currently in the waters off Libya as part of the naval blockade. Italy: Four Tornado ECRs of the Italian Air Force http://www.corriere.it/esteri/11_marzo_20/tripoli-bombardamento-chiesta-riunione-onu_2e95d102-52c0-11e0-a725-dbe20f0ba2b5.shtml">participated in SEAD operations. Jordan: Six Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90043651?After%20hesitation%2C%20Jordan%20joins%20in%20Libya%20no-fly%20campaign">landed at a coalition airbase in Europe on 4 April to provide "logistical support." NATO: E-3 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/nordtrondelag/article1606878.ece">aircraft operated by NATO. Netherlands: The Royal Netherlands Air Force http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dutch-f-16s-operational-over-libya">provides six F-16AM fighters and a KDC-10 refuelling plane. Norway: The Royal Norwegian Air Force has http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/libya/artikkel.php?artid=10091294">deployed six F-16AM fighters to Souda Bay Air Base. Qatar: The Qatar Armed Forces are http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123248695">contributing six Mirage 2000-5EDA fighter jets and two C-17 strategic transport aircraft. Romania: The Romanian Naval Forces http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-8423876-traian-basescu-sustine-declaratie-presa-ora-21-00-dupa-sedinta-csat.htm">will participate in the naval blockade with the frigate Regele Ferdinand. Spain: The Spanish Armed Forces are http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Espana/intervendra/cazas/F-18/fragata/F-100/submarino/avion/vigilancia/maritima/elpepuint/20110319elpepuint_14/Tes">participating with four F-18 fighters. Sweden: The Royal Swedish Air Force will http://www.swedishwire.com/politics/9050-sweden-offers-eight-fighter-jets-for-libya-mission">commit eight JAS 39 Gripen jets for the international air campaign. Turkey: The Turkish Navy http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/24/general-libya-diplomacy_8373237.html">will participate with five ships and one submarine in the NATO-led naval blockade to enforce the arms embargo. United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates Air Force http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1300255413630&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews">sent six F-16 Falcon and six Mirage 2000 fighter jets to join the mission. United Kingdom: The Royal Air Force has http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/TyphoonJoinsTornadoInLibyaGroundAttackOperations.htm">deployed 12 Tornado and 10 Typhoon fighters, surveillance aircraft, and air refuelling tankers. United States: The United States has http://www.webcitation.org/5xJ8qNGGe">deployed a naval force of 11 ships and are using MQ-1 Predator UAVs to strike targets in Libya on 23 April.

As of this week the National Trasitional Council has been formally recognized by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_Libyan_Republic#Recognition">31 countries. France (March 10), Qatar (March 28), Maldives (April 3), Italy (April 4), Kuwait (April 13), The Gambia (April 22), Jordan (April 24), Sengal (April 28), The United Kingdom (June 4), Spain (June 8), Australia (June 9), UAE (June 12), Germany (June 13), Canada (June 14), Panama (June 14), Austria (June 18), Latvia (June 20), Denmark (June 22), Bulgaria (June 28), Croatia (June 28), Turkey (July 3), Poland (July 9), Netherlands (July 13), Belgium (July 13), Luxembourg (July 13), United States (July 15), Japan (July 15), Albania (July 18), Slovenia (July 20), Montenegro (July 21), Portugal (July 28).

"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://english.libya.tv/2011/04/25/eastern-libyans-believe-in-national-unity-distrust-au-and-turkish-mediation-survey-reveals/">The first free public opinion poll ever conducted in Libya reveals clues to Eastern Libyan sentiments
* 98 percent of the respondents do not support the division of Libya as a part of the political solution for the current conflict with the Gaddafi regime. Around 95 percent also don’t see any role for Gaddafi or his sons in a transitional period, and think it is impossible to implement any political reform in Libya if Gaddafi or one of his sons stays in power

* Around 96 percent of those polled, believe that the 17th of February revolution can consolidate the national unity of Libya and support the model of a democratic Libya based on a constitution which respects human rights

* Al-Qaeda has not played any role in the 17th of February revolution, say 94 percent of the Eastern Libyans, and 91 percent thinks it’s impossible for Al-Qaeda to play any political role in the new Libya

* The National Transitional Council is seen by 92 percent of those surveyed as “expressing the views and wishes of Libyans for change”

This is equivalent to 17% the entire population of Libya, doing the numbers very conservatively.

http://jenkinsear.com/2011/03/19/a-legal-war-the-united-nations-participation-act-and-libya/">A Legal War: The United Nations Participation Act and Libya
The above link is to an overview of why Obama's implementation of the NFZ and R2P is perfectly legal under the law. I will not post it entirely here, however, all objections come down to the misinformed position that Obama, by using forces in Libya, was invoking Article 43 of the United Nations. This is wrong. Obama invoked Article 42, which does not require congressional approval to implement. Proof of this is that Article 43 has http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/actions.shtml#rel5">never been used.

It goes like this: The US law (Title 22, Chap. 7, Subchap. XIV § 287d) grants the President the right to invoke UN Article 42 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode22/usc_sec_22_00000287---d000-.html">without authorization, the War Powers Act (Title 50, Chap. 33 § 1541) grants the President permission to act without authorization under http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/50/1541–1548.html">"specific statutory authorization" which, by definition, is what 287d does. § 1543 of the War Powers Act requires the President to report to Congress, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/obama_explains_libya_mission_to_congress/2011/03/03/ABU9377_blog.html">which he did. One can argue all day and night about the legality of the War Powers Act, doesn't change the fact that under the law as it is written, the President acted within the law.

Editorials and stories worth reading.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/2011/03/2011328194855872276.html">Libyan Karzai? Chalabi? Forget it, http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2011/04/04/110404taco_talk_anderson#ixzz1HvS7iW22">Who Are the Rebels?, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/29/vision-democratic-libya-interim-national-council">A vision of a democratic Libya, http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/is-qaddafi-an-anti-racist/">Is Qaddafi an anti-racist?, http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/04/20/left-slipping-towards-qaddafi">The left: slipping towards Gaddafi?, http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/04/27/once-again-“stop-bombing”">Once again on "stop the bombing", http://www.juancole.com/2011/03/an-open-letter-to-the-left-on-libya.html">An Open Letter to the Left on Libya, http://www.juancole.com/2011/03/top-ten-ways-that-libya-2011-is-not-iraq-2003.html">Top Ten Ways that Libya 2011 is Not Iraq 2003, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/09/110509fa_fact_anderson">Sons of the Revolution http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/voices/?ref=main-menu">Voices from the Field

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAclhhHv43s&feature=player_ded">Arab Awakening: Libya: Through the Fire is a documentary about Mo's last days, please watch it.

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

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

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

[joshcryer]

1. Libyan Revolution Day 171 updates below, current time in Libya, 1:08pm Sunday, August 7

A rebel climbed to an observation point overlooking the plains in the Western Mountains near the town of Kabaw, Libya.

Photo: Bob Strong / Reuters

The former building of the Qaddafi's revolutionary comitee, that was burned during the uprsing, is been transformed in a memorial museum.

http://marcosalustro.photoshelter.com/gallery/Amazigh-Nafusa-Mountains-Berber-Renaissance-in-Libyan-Revolutionn/G00002VMrGuPDZQw">Marco Salustro

Thanks to tabatha for the latter gallery, it's amazing what the Berbers have done with the revolution, in such a short period of time. There's no going back for them. And times will be tough even in the future, as Muslim countries are not particularly known for their multiculturalism. If Libya proves them wrong then it will change things forever in the Middle East.

Sorry for being late posting today, I woke up and my brother in Vegas wanted to immediately play an army game we play together (we haven't played in several days). The game lasted 5 hours. Funnily I'd stop ocassionally to do markup (well, copy links, etc, the markup is pretty easy) in the new post and he'd ask why my 'guy' was idle as we were getting attacked. :P

On another note I noticed pinboy3niner started changing the date by one day (August 6th), and I thought this couldn't possibly be right because I'm on top of these things. But apparently it is indeed correct! So intentional or not, the dates are right now. Kinda embarrassing that it went on for so long!

[joshcryer]

2. Nurses’ trip to Libya opens eyes, new dedication to Mo Nabbous

http://www.pressherald.com/news/nurses-trip-to-libya-opens-eyes-minds_2011-08-06.html">Nurses’ trip to Libya opens eyes, minds
“I asked one of the freedom fighters, ‘What happened to you?’” she said. “He turned on the cellphone and showed the entire battle, and then when he got hit.

“In another video, they found four of our fellow freedom fighters beheaded, and he showed it right on phone,” she said. “When you look at war in America, you can pick and choose what you want to see. There, you have video, you have the actual wound, you see the families affected. It’s very different.”

The nurses described the country as a series of incongruities. Benghazi had beautiful, high-tech hospitals, but no one to staff them. On some roads, small shacks stood in the shadows of Gadhafi’s opulent compounds.

The city helped make the nurses sympathetic to the rebels’ cause, they said. They saw prison cells — basically large holes in the ground with small ventilation holes — where Gadhafi kept prisoners for years at a time.

http://youtu.be/Q6UscdLaHh8">17,000 Members Strong and Our Message is One: FREE LIBYA!

[joshcryer]

3. In Libya’s Capital, Straight Talk From Christians

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/world/africa/07tripoli.html">In Libya’s Capital, Straight Talk From Christians
TRIPOLI, Libya — For this week’s sermon at the Libyan capital’s main Protestant church, the Rev. Hamdy Daoud chose to talk about the trial of Hosni Mubarak.

“You have seen the strong man judged in a bed in Egypt,” he told the two dozen immigrant members of his congregation who braved the city’s checkpoints to make it to Anglican Mass on Friday. “And so it works that the weak can overthrow the strong,” he added. “This is what is happening in our Middle East.”

In a city of tapped phone lines and ubiquitous government informers, the weekly Mass at the Church of Christ the King is a rare sanctuary: a place to speak freely with a group of Tripoli residents about the anxious, ever-shifting mood of the city.

“When NATO bombs at night, I hear my neighbors clap and cheer ‘bravo,’ and in the morning they are with the rebels,” a leading parishioner said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. “People are very, very down, and they are depending entirely on NATO.”

Another great find by pinboy3niner by the very good reporter Kirkpatrick.

[joshcryer]

4. Power, petrol shortages in Tripoli irk Libyans

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL6E7J700E20110807">Power, petrol shortages in Tripoli irk Libyans
TRIPOLI Aug 7 (Reuters) - Power and petrol shortages are gripping the Libyan capital Tripoli, giving rise to frustration as the months of conflict with NATO-backed rebels take their toll on a city that is the seat of embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi's power.

As rebels continue to fight loyalist forces along several fronts, blackouts have rolled across Tripoli with increasing frequency in recent weeks.

Many residents have no air conditioning during peak summer heat and no refrigeration as they prepare for evening meals during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Some areas of the Libyan capital are getting as little as four hours of power a day, residents said this week.

[tabatha]

5. Just yesterday I have heard what was going on in Benghazi on the day when AFY was killed.

Just yesterday I have heard what was going on in Benghazi on the day when AFY was killed.

It was just a triger for a chaos in Benghazi. G advisers count on panic which will arise in AFY special forces and suspecion of 17 Feb katiba (FF). In these tense days among armed civilians, gathered in independent kataib they will start to attac town from inside. The heavy weapon, lunch rockets....were found inside their camp. When they start the attack from inside everybody will start to shoot, defense himself not knowing hwo iexactly they are fighting. And this will happen if NTC and security personel did not follow the activity of that katiba...they knew that they are traitor just wanted to cauth as much as possible of them.

After assasination of AFY NTC knew that they can not wait any more and ask the katiba to hand over weapon..they have refused and in the same time they release some prisoners and brought them to their camp and gave them the weapon.

When start shooting the citizen of that area in Benghazi came out and together with FF surrender the camp. The fight lasted from 3am to 7 am.

In the mean time NATO informed Benghazi that 500 cars heading towards Benghazi on the road Jallo-Ajedabia. FF from Benghazi went and push them back after NATO finished the job.

It was perfect plan to brake Benghazi: Katiba Nida'will make chaos in the town, FF inside Benghazi will kill each other, throug Ajedabia will come reinforcement and FF from Brega fron will for sure come back when they know that benghazi is in danger....

For the second time Benghazi resist G. as every Libyan knows if Benghazi falls this will be the end of Revolution.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/07/14/gaddafis-suicidal-plan-tripoli#comment-279655575

[tabatha]

6. After few days boys above 16 were collected to fight for G.

Obruny I will just write what people of Benghazi talking...G had enogh time to prepare the defence of his dictatorship....since he dispersed army, he and his sons made private brigades to protect themselves from Libyans, all this weapon distrubuted in Libya was just for this aim.

He never put in one area weapon and ammunition. it was too dangerous as he never tusted Libyansknowing they hate him.

He has enormous number of mercaniries, some of them raised in Libya in special camps all over Libya. It was never secret.

The officers in carge are mostly Africans, of course there are some Libyans but under what condtions there are in G forces we shall know the truth after liberation.

For example: FF found out that there is huge numebr of young Libyans under age of 18 and simply they could not attack. This is one of the thing why FF are not alwayas attack when they can. Knowing there are Libyans they give them chance to stay alive.

In the beginning In Tripoli G used to give 500LD to each family. Every family must bring family booklet where are registered each memebr of the family.

After few days boys above 16 were collected to fight for G. This is comfird info.

The most dangerous are liyan tawriya. They are not in front fighting they are doing the dirty job in the cities, treathening, spying, making confusion, rumors....

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/07/14/gaddafis-suicidal-plan-tripoli#comment-279693068

[tabatha]

7. Libya artists relish newfound freedom

By David Zucchino, Los Angeles Times

August 7, 2011
Reporting from Benghazi, Libya—
The leering visage of Moammar Kadafi, surrounded by rats made of plaster, stares down at visitors to a new art exhibit on the Benghazi waterfront.

The Kadafi caricature stands 12 feet tall. It depicts the Libyan leader as a derelict imprisoned in a 15-foot-high trash bin and deluged with garbage.

Titled "Dustbin of History," the work is the centerpiece of a new art exhibit sanctioned by the rebel movement fighting to overthrow Kadafi after 41 years of suffocating rule.

"Kadafi is heading to the trash bin soon, God willing," said the artwork's creator, a long-haired, woolly-bearded former underground artist named Ali Wakwak.

Part art and part agitprop, the "Crimes of Kadafi" exhibit encapsulates the contempt and dread Libyans in the rebel-controlled east hold for the besieged strongman in Tripoli. Unveiled July 18, the show also reflects the burgeoning spirit of liberation and openness that has engulfed Benghazi since an uprising drove Kadafi's security forces from eastern Libya in mid-February.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-revolution-art-20110805,0,4692200.story

[pinboy3niner]

8. Libyan PM: Gadhafi government reclaims in key town

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Bir al-Ghanam is 53 miles from Tripoli, with little between

• The Libyan PM says the town is back in the government's control

• Rebels said 1,500 opposition members joined Saturday's battle

By the CNN Wire Staff
August 7, 2011 -- Updated 1511 GMT (2311 HKT)


Zintan, Libya (CNN) -- The Libyan government said Sunday it had retaken the key town of Bi Al-Ghanam after losing it briefly to rebel forces.


Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi told reporters in Tripoli that rebel forces had the town for only a few hours. Bir al-Ghanam "is now back in the hands of the honorable brave tribes, with its surface back in normal life and under the control of the legitimate government of Libya," Al-Mahmoudi said.


CNN could not immediately confirm the claim.


On Saturday, the rebels gained ground against ruler Moammar Gadhafi's forces after a massive offensive in the western town.

...


http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/07/libya.war/

[pinboy3niner]

9. Rebels still hold Bir Ghanam--Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reports that there are about 200 rebel fighters holding Bir Ghanam. Gaddafi forces have begun a counterattack, pounding the town with Grad rockets.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Syria tank assault kills at least 38 in eastern city

By Khaled Oweis and Suleiman Al-Khalidi | Reuters – 27 mins ago


AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian troops killed at least 38 people in a tank assault on the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Sunday, activists said, despite a direct U.N. appeal to President Bashar al-Assad to stop using military force against civilians.


The assault on Deir al-Zor, capital of an oil-producing province, began one week after Assad sent the army to seize control of Hama, focal point of nearly five months of protest against his autocratic rule.


In a separate tank-led attack on villages in the Houla plain north of the central city of Homs, security forces killed at least 13 people, activists said.


"The numbers of casualties are escalating by the hour," activist Suhair al-Atassi, a member of the Syrian Revolution Coordinating Committee, said by telephone from Damascus.

...


http://news.yahoo.com/tanks-enter-deir-al-zor-east-syria-residents-084839938.html

[pinboy3niner]

11. NATO airstrikes Saturday, August 6

Key Hits 6 AUGUST:


In the vicinity of Brega: 2 Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems


In the vicinity east of Tripoli: 1 Surface to Air System, 2 Anti Aircraft Guns, 6 Military Supply Vehicles, 1 Military Vehicle.


In the vicinity of Bir Al Ghanam: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher System, 1 Military vehicle.


In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Military Facility, 1 Tank.


In the vicinity of Tiji: 1 Military Facility, 1 Command and Control Node, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher Storage.



http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_08/20110807_110807-oup-update.pdf

[pinboy3niner]

12. Libya rebels say they hold gains south of capital

Sun Aug 7, 2011 5:00pm GMT


• Rebels say in firm control of town 80 km from Tripoli

• They deny government claim it has re-taken the town

• Heavy NATO air strikes overnight in capital

• Power blackouts worsening in Tripoli


By Michael Georgy


NALUT, Libya, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Libyan rebels said on Sunday they were firmly in control of the town of Bir al-Ghanam, a staging post about 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli, rejecting a government assertion they had been pushed back.

...


Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi said on Sunday that rebels, under NATO air cover, had seized Bir al-Ghanam temporarily but they had been driven out by local volunteers and Libyan forces.


"This is exactly what happened in Bir al-Ghanam, which is back in the hands of the honorable and brave local tribes ... and under the legitimate control of the government of Libya," he told a news conference in Tripoli.


But a local commander rejected that version of events. "Gaddafi is a liar because Bir al-Ghanam is under our control," Colonel Juma Ibrahim, a rebel commander from the nearby town of Zintan, told Reuters. "We are still in the same position we were yesterday."


He said that in the past 24 hours rebel forces had, in fact, pushed about 10 km (6 miles) northeast of Bir al-Ghanam, and were now planning to push towards the coastal town of Zawiyah.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77606U20110807?sp=true

[pinboy3niner]

13. Arab League urges Syria to stop violence 'immediately'

Posted in LBN by Turborama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4951337

[tabatha]

14. Libya rebels to form oil protection force

By Simeon Kerr in Benghazi

Libya’s rebels are close to establishing an oil protection force to ward off forces loyal to Colonel Muammer Gaddafi, as they seek to restart crude production and generate much-needed cash.

Previous statements from rebel officials indicating the likely resumption of production in the eastern oil fields have been followed by sabotage by pro-Gaddafi forces roaming the deserts in 4x4 convoys.

Whenever the flares go up, they attack,” said one rebel official, referring to the flames of natural gas that are burned off during crude production. “But security will be in place soon, so we will see.”

Three attacks on oil installations since April have led to almost 20 deaths of oil workers and rebel forces, meaning officials are reluctant to address the timetable for renewed exports.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c23c9014-c0f5-11e0-b8c2-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1UModDD00

[tabatha]

15. GH on AJE

regarding zawia
this area not only contain the rafinerie, but also is the most important farming comunity for tripoli.
so the shortage of fresh vegetable, meat and fruits will increase in tripoli in the next days.

daffi is a very nice man(joke)
all the gifts in the last days to the ff
first a complet tanker with fuel 40.000.000 liter
now 20 trucks with fuel 200.000 liter.
alot of amu, about 47pick ups 9 rocket launchers, some bmp and tanks.
worth of it around 100 million dollar
and he will spend a lot more in the next days.
he now bring a lot of his equippment into open for senceless counter offensive, nato say thanks for making work easy

bir g .situation
daffi fire rockets on bir from az z.
12 launcher in aktion 3 hours ago, meet than 2 pairs of raf tornados with brimstone missles.
i think you know the result of such meetings

slinger mean this comment yesterday that bir is taken from national libyan army. a retweet from hours before
slinger, nla not dta (daffis terrorist army)

nato use less than 3%of their airforces now and only precise weapons.
the little green dictator is not important enough to recive the full load

susan 5 hours ago in reply to Gerhard Heinz
Gerhard... I see you've got UN ambassadors now following you on facebook

(Bir al-Ghanam = well of the sheep)

[tabatha]

16. Reports that Gaddafi commanders have executed about 150 of their own officers

dovenews Libyan™

Reports that Gaddafi commanders have executed about 150 of their own officers & soldiers after the latter didnt want to continue 1/3

working when they requested to take a holiday in Ramadan & were refused 2/3

most officers & soldiers were originally from #BaniWalead & #Tarhuna tribes. 3/3

2 hours ago

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

[tabatha]

23. A number of troops and officers have officially defected from G's ranks

Zanga Zanga Dar Dar
Hope Movement (CONFIRMED): A number of troops and officers have officially defected from G's ranks due to the executions that occurred at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, by the hands of African mercenary troops from Chad and Niger.

http://www.facebook.com/LibyanYouthMovement

[pinboy3niner]

17. Fighting rages on several Libyan fronts

Source: Al Jazeera

Opposition under attack near Zlitan in north, while Gaddafi fighters launch operation to retake Bir Ghanem in west.




Last Modified: 07 Aug 2011 18:25


At least three Libyan opposition fighters have been killed in clashes near the northern town of Zlitan, just 160km from the capital, as government troops fought rebel forces for control of the town.


Several other opposition forces were injured in the fighting on Sunday, Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons reported, as troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continued an assault against anti-government fighters.


Opposition forces were also under attack in the newly captured town of Bir Ghanem, a strategic location in western Libya, 85km from the capital, Tripoli, where Gaddafi forces launched an offensive to regain control of the town.

...


Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Bir Ghanem just after rockets began falling on the frontline, said that there was a sense that the opposition fighters were better organised and better trained than in months prior.

...

"Rebels advanced some 30km and are only 50km from the city of Surman.


"If they manage to take that town they will be able to cut off Gaddafi's main supply line in the west," she said. "They know that they can get support from inside that city, that rebels there are ready to rise up against the Gaddafi regime but they need help from outside."

...


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/201187133915428.html

[tabatha]

18. Volunteers from all over the country are joining the fight

ALJAZEERA.NET (Sunday 7August). (…)

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting from Bir Ghanem just after rockets began falling on the frontline, said that there was a sense that the opposition fighters were better organised and better trained than in months prior.

“There is a sense that they know what they lack," she said. "Volunteers from all over the country are joining the fight. Not just people from the western mountains, rebels from Az Zawiya and rebels from Tripoli.

"Bir Ghanem is such a strategic town that when they take that town they have access to the main highway that reaches to Zawiya, which is just west of Tripoli." Khodr said the greatest challenge for the opposition forces in Bir Ghanem is "holding the offensive". "The most important thing for them now is to reach Az Zawiyah," our correspondent said. She said that an offensive was not only made in Bir Ghanem by opposition forces on Saturday but that an
offensive, which is holding, was also made to the road that leads to the city of Surman. "Rebels advanced some 30km and are only 50km from the city of
Surman. "If they manage to take that town they will be able to cut off Gaddafi's main supply line in the west", she said.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/08/201187133915428.html

[pinboy3niner]

19. Yemeni president leaves Saudi hospital

Aug 7, 1:58 PM EDT

By AHMED AL-HAJ
Associated Press


SANAA, Yemen (AP) -- Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has left a hospital in Saudi Arabia more than two months after being severely wounded in an attack on his palace compound in Sanaa, Yemen's state news agency said Sunday.


Saleh, who was badly burned in the June 3 blast, was discharged from the hospital in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and moved to a government residence in the city to further recuperate, the SABA news agency said. It was not immediately clear when - or if - Saleh would return to Yemen, which has been rocked by more than six months of mass protests calling for his ouster.

...


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_YEMEN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-08-07-13-58-23

[pinboy3niner]

20. Libyan rebels strike key oil pipeline

Source: The Telegraph

Libyan rebels have inflicted a devastating blow on Col Muammar Gaddafi’s Tripoli stronghold with a strike on a key oil pipeline that has triggered widespread electricity blackouts in the capital.

By Damien McElroy, Tripoli

9:00PM BST 07 Aug 2011


Advances by rebel forces in the west and east of Libya in recent days threaten to encircle the regime. Rebels claimed to have taken Bir Ghaneim, a fiercely contested town that is the gateway to the coastal road to Tunisia, and a Qatari shipment of arms on Saturday bolstered their advance on Zlitan in the east.


The severe disruption of electricity in Tripoli as a result of an attack at the end of July has enraged residents at the most sensitive time of the calendar. Festivities to celebrate the Muslim month of Ramadan were launched last week amid temperatures of 40C.


Khaled Kaim, the deputy foreign minister, said rebel forces had sabotaged a section of a pipeline carrying fuel supplies to the regime’s only electricity plant, knocking out one section and interrupting the flow through a second pipe. As a result there would be permanent damage to the regime’s generating capacity.


“The rebels turned off a valve and poured cement over it,” he said. “It took two days to clear the mess but even then there are disruptions. These attacks are aimed at starving and displacing the Libyan people and causing a humanitarian crisis.”

...


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8687316/Libyan-rebels-strike-key-oil-pipeline.html

[pinboy3niner]

21. UK Apaches in action over Libya

Source: BBC

7 August 2011 Last updated at 11:51 ET


British military action in Libya continues with Apache helicopters carrying out a strike on a major base of the Gaddafi regime on Sunday.


They also destroyed military vehicles at al Watiyah, near the border with Tunisia, the Ministry of Defence said.

...


Ministry of Defence spokesman Maj Gen Nick Pope said the Apache helicopters had flown from HMS Ocean in the early hours of Sunday morning to carry out strikes on "a concentration of troops" at Al Watiyah, before targeting the headquarters at Tiji.


"Hellfire missiles and cannon fire accounted for one headquarters and 12 military vehicles, including at least one armed with a surface-to-air weapon system, with another four vehicles left seriously damaged," he said.

...


"One such patrol (by fixed-wing aircraft) attacked a building used by artillery teams firing into Yafran, whilst another patrol struck a staging post for the former regime forces which have been concentrated around Gharyan," Maj Gen Pope said.

...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14437661

[pinboy3niner]

22. Photo Makes Somalia's Famine Front Page News

by NPR Staff


On Aug. 2, when most U.S. papers ran a front page photograph of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' return to the House, The New York Times went with Hicks' photo from Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)



New York Times photographer Tyler Hicks has been on the front lines of conflicts throughout the Middle East over the past decade, from Afghanistan to Iraq to Lebanon. This past March, Hicks was captured by Gadhafi loyalists while photographing the revolution in Libya and was held hostage for six days.


Yet Hicks has continued photographing the world's hot spots. This past month, Hicks went to Somalia to document the ongoing famine and humanitarian crisis.

...


Hicks' wrenching photographs of Banadir Hospital show the dire consequences of this lack of aid. He says the condition of the people in the hospital is one of the worst he has seen in his entire career. That's from someone who has photographed war zones and natural disasters alike.


"The children were vomiting, their eyes rolling back in their heads," Hicks says. Some, like the boy in the photograph, "you couldn't even tell if he was alive until you saw him move — just skin and bone."

...


http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/08/07/139025921/photo-puts-somalias-famine-on-the-front-page

[pinboy3niner]

24. LIBYAN REVOLUTION DAY 172: CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:01 AM MONDAY, AUGUST 8

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, UTC +1 hour, GMT +2 hours

[pinboy3niner]

25. In pictures: Libya's Boy Scouts become grave-diggers

Globe and Mail Update

Published Sunday, Aug. 07, 2011 6:28PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, Aug. 07, 2011 6:37PM EDT


Benghazi Boy Scouts construct about 12 graves a day to keep up with casualties in the civil
war, down from 60 graves a day when fighting began in February.
(Charla Jones for The Globe and Mail)

More photos:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/in-pictures-libyas-boy-scouts-become-grave-diggers/article2122219/

[tabatha]

26. libyanandproud

libyanproud libyanandproud
#Gaddafi TV just ordered a HIT on a Libyan residing in a #Tunisia hospital. Including target name and location. #Feb17 #Libya
1 hour ago

Video : #Gaddafi forces from the 32 Khamis brigade launching missile barrages on #misratta and celebrating http://t.co/RwIDRao #Feb17 #Libya
11 minutes ago

[tabatha]

27. A GREAT article written by Michèle LeCourtois

Thursday, August 4, 2011
The New War

This month, the Patrick John Mills Gallery is featuring a group exhibit on the subject of war. For the first time in history, social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube have given populations the ability to join forces and take on suppressive government regimes with the simple click of a button. These networks allow the average citizen to share his or her firsthand account and cellphone videos with the masses; thus, making any form of government censorship or propaganda more difficult to accomplish.

On February 17, 2011, the Libyan population joined the Middle Eastern uprising and challenged their dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. Thanks to technology, their plight is not going on unnoticed. As a Canadian artist, I feel fortunate to live in a country where I can communicate my thoughts without fear of censorship or reprimand. The following paintings express my impressions of the destruction of war.

http://patrickjohnmillsgallery.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-war_04.html?spref=fb

[tabatha]

28. Syrian website hacked by Anonymous

http://mod.gov.sy/

[pinboy3niner]

29. Rebels on the movein Libya

CNN's Michael Holmes reports on advances by Libyan rebels who have the capital, Tripoli, in their sights. Aug 7, 2011 | 02:52

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/international/2011/08/07/holmes.libya.rebels.on.the.move.cnn

[pinboy3niner]

30. Rebels' post-Gaddafi Libya plan revealed

Source: AFP

2011-08-08 07:39


London- A rebel blueprint for a post-Muammar Gaddafi Libya would retain much of the current regime's infrastructure in the hope of averting an Iraq-style descent into chaos, the London Times reported Monday.

...


The rebels claim that 800 current Gaddafi government officials have already been recruited to their cause, and could form a key plank of a post-conflict security apparatus, the paper reported.

...


The rebels estimate that around 70% of high-ranking Gaddafi officials will commit to the new regime.

...


Aref Ali Nayed, the head of the planning cell for the task force, said it was important that the general public "knows that there is an advance plan".


"What you have obtained was an early draft," he told the paper. "We are now working on a much bigger picture."

...


http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Rebels-post-Gaddafi-Libya-plan-revealed-20110808

[pinboy3niner]

31. Libya conflict: Rebels 'still holding' captured town

Source: BBC

8 August 2011 Last updated at 02:55 ET


The Libyan town of Bir al-Ghanam, close to Tripoli, appears to be still under rebel control after an assault on Saturday, despite government denials.

...


An AFP correspondent said they were still in control on Monday morning.


Hours earlier, the government said the town had been recaptured and life was "back to normal".

...


"The rebels are controlling the checkpoints," the AFP correspondent reported from the Bir al-Ghanam area.

...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14440843

[pinboy3niner]

34. Rebels control town near Tripoli - Reuters reporter

(Mon Aug 8, 2011 9:46am GMT)

The reporter said he was in the centre of Bir al-Ghanam where there was no sign of any government troops. He said he saw three burned out tanks and an abandoned artillery piece.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7770FA20110808

[Iterate]

32. After the fall of Gadhafi

After the fall of Gadhafi
ROLAND PARIS
From Monday's Globe and Mail
Published Monday, Jul. 04, 2011 2:00AM EDT

If the situation in Libya seems messy, just wait until the war ends. Transitions to democracy can be nasty, brutish and long.

No one knows, for example, how Libya’s rebels will behave if and when Moammar Gadhafi loses power. The Benghazi-based Transitional National Council has pledged to initiate a constitution-drafting process leading to elections, to respect the rights of all Libyans and to refrain from reprisal attacks against Gadhafi loyalists. This looks great on paper, but can the rebel council actually deliver on these promises?

Col. Gadhafi could fall suddenly, unleashing a chaotic scramble for control of Tripoli. Rebel unity and discipline may be sorely tested in the absence of their common enemy. Preventing violent score-settling will be an early priority. The last thing Libya needs is for former Gadhafi supporters to become permanent enemies of the state.

The model should be South Africa’s post-apartheid transition, which embraced reconciliation, not Iraq’s ostracism of former Baathists, which fuelled an insurgency. But even an enlightened transition model will face the reality of a tribally divided society.

more... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/after-the-fall-of-gadhafi/article2078898/

[Iterate]

33. Libya after Gaddafi: the grand design for a post-Gaddafi country

Libya after Gaddafi: the grand design for a post-Gaddafi country
Posted on August 8, 2011 by admin
Original at the Times http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article3117934.ece

Britain and other Western governments have helped to prepare a blueprint for a post-Gaddafi Libya that would retain much of the current regime’s security infrastructure to avoid an Iraq-style collapse into anarchy.

The Times has obtained a copy of the 70-page plan charting the first months after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. The document was drawn up by the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Benghazi with Western, and especially British, help.

The document reveals that rebel forces have little faith in their ability to topple Colonel Gaddafi, but expect the regime to crumble from within.

Despite their public rhetoric, the top secret document reveals that rebel planners conclude that a successful advance on Tripoli is unlikely, as is the death of Colonel Gaddafi in a Nato bombing raid. Instead they think that he is most likely to be ousted by a popular uprising or coup.

more... http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/08/libya-after-gaddafi-the-grand-design-for-a-post-gaddafi-country/

[pinboy3niner]

35. Inside Libya’s most notorious prison

Source: Global Post

It was a massacre at Abu Salim in Tripoli that sparked the Libyan uprising.

James Foley August 8, 2011 06:35


TRIPOLI, Libya — “Welcome to hell,” a Libyan prison guard told several new inmates. “This is Abu Salim.”


The words sent chills through Dr. Ahmed’s already badly beaten body. He had been helping an Al Jazeera reporting team in March, during the early days of the Libya uprising, when forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi surrounded the western city of Zawiya, capturing him and his colleagues.


After days of interrogations and torture, he was dropped under the cover of darkness in a large prison outside Tripoli known as Abu Salim. It was there, 15 years ago, that a now infamous massacre of political prisoners took place, an event that would ultimately lead to the open revolt that is now gripping the country.

...


When Dr. Ahmed arrived in March, he was placed in a solitary cell with no windows and given just enough bread and water to stay alive. Guards would summon him at all hours for interrogations, during which he was tortured — electrical shocks from a charged cattle prod applied to his head and groin, repeated blows to the head and whippings across his back with rubber hoses.

...


Editor’s note: Dr. Ahmed’s name has been changed to protect his family’s safety.


http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/110805/inside-libya%E2%80%99s-most-notorious-prison

[pinboy3niner]

36. Yemen: Arab newspaper reports U.S. has convinced Pres. Saleh not to reuturn from Saudi Arabia

Paul Owen writes in The Guardian's news blog:

The Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat is reporting that US officials have convinced Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, not to return to his home country from Saudi Arabia, where he has been receiving medical treatment following an assassination attempt in June. Yemeni officials denied the report and said Saleh would return to Sana'a, where fighting between troops loyal to Saleh and pro-opposition tribesmen has been increasing.


Saleh left hospital in Riyadh yesterday and was moved to a government residence, Reuters reports.


According to Asharq al-Awsat, Saleh was greatly influenced by the footage of Hosni Mubarak appearing in a cage at his trial in Cairo last week.


Saleh refused to sign a transition deal requiring him to stand down and hold an election three times but according to Reuters Saudi Arabia has told him he must sign the deal if he wants to stay there permanently.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/aug/08/syria-libya-bahrain-middle-east-unrest-live-updates#block-14

[pinboy3niner]

37. Rebels in captured town say to head towards Tripoli

Mon Aug 8, 2011 12:26pm GMT


• Rebels in control of town 80 km south of Tripoli

• They say they will push north to the coast

• Rebel advance likely to encounter stiff resistance

• Tripoli experiencing power blackouts


By Michael Georgy


BIR AL-GHANAM, Libya, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Libyan rebels who seized this town 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli said on Monday they would now push on towards Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold in the capital.


This small settlement in the desert is the closest rebel position to Tripoli and its capture at the weekend is likely to give new hope to a faltering six-month campaign to oust Gaddafi.

...


They said their next target was Zawiyah, a town on the Mediterranean coast 50 km west of Tripoli.

...


...five rebel fighters were killed, including a Libyan-American father and son, part of a large contingent of foreigners with Libyan roots who have come back to fight against Gaddafi.


The pair was hit by rocket fire and they died with the father clutching the son, Shawsh said.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7770JU20110808?sp=true

[pinboy3niner]

38. NATO airstrikes Sunday, August 7

Key Hits 7 AUGUST:


In the vicinity of Brega: 1 Military Facility, 2 Tanks, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher


In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Anti Aircraft Gun, 1 Military Facility, 1 Surface to Air System, 1 Surface-to- Surface Systems, 1 Surface-to-Air Launcher.


In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.


In the vicinity of Zlitan: 4 Command and Control Nodes, 1 Military Facility, 1 Weapons Storage, 1 Anti-Tank Weapon, 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher.


In the vicinity of Gharyan: 1 Artillery Piece.


In the vicinity of Misratah: 1 Military Facility.


http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_08/20110808_110808-oup-update.pdf

[tabatha]

39. Eyewitness: voices from Libya

Over recent months, the FCO has hosted a series of “Eyewitness” meetings, which sought to improve our understanding of the situation in Libya by focusing on particular regions and vulnerable groups. These included, in turn, Tripoli, Misrata, the Western Mountains, and the effect of the conflict on women and children.

The events allowed ordinary Libyans who had witnessed Qadhafi’s atrocities to speak to FCO Minister Alistair Burt, government officials, NGOs and UK and Arab journalists. The eyewitnesses gave their accounts in confidence, so that others could speak out on their behalf. With information on the situation in Libya often hard to come by, these events offered an invaluable opportunity to engage with those who had first-hand experience of the reality on the ground, and to allow the voices of ordinary Libyans to be heard.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/mena/libya/Libya-eyewitnessroundup/

[tabatha]

40. NATO "strike" on civilians in Zlitan

GH: a question need a answer

this civil who died in zlitan was from a rocket fired from a daffi position.

awacs and firefind -radar datas are fixed and on tape. the hole thing going to the criminal court in haag added to daffis crimes.

In other words, the recent deaths in Zlitan blamed on NATO were actually caused by Gaddafi forces. All of the information and data to prove that has been recorded by AWACs. Another lie by Gaddafi.

[tabatha]

41. Inside Libya’s most notorious prison

TRIPOLI, Libya — “Welcome to hell,” a Libyan prison guard told several new inmates. “This is Abu Salim.”

The words sent chills through Dr. Ahmed’s already badly beaten body. He had been helping an Al Jazeera reporting team in March, during the early days of the Libya uprising, when forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi surrounded the western city of Zawiya, capturing him and his colleagues.

After days of interrogations and torture, he was dropped under the cover of darkness in a large prison outside Tripoli known as Abu Salim. It was there, 15 years ago, that a now infamous massacre of political prisoners took place, an event that would ultimately lead to the open revolt that is now gripping the country.

It was 1996. Prisoners at Abu Salim began to riot over poor prison conditions. In response, the Gaddafi regime said it would send negotiators. Instead, it sent in a firing squad and systematically gunned down 1,200 people.

Hussein Al-Madni, 38, was there at the time.

He had been arrested for his involvement in political Islam — a movement Gaddafi long perceived as a threat to his rule — and imprisoned at Abu Salim in 1995, along with his twin brother Hassan, whose only offense was having a similar name.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/110805/inside-libya%E2%80%99s-most-notorious-prison

[pinboy3niner]

42. Rebels push north of Bir Ghanam, establish new front line near Nasr, 35 km from Zawiya

(From an update to an earlier Reuters report posted above.)

By Monday afternoon, rebel fighters had pushed on a few kilometres north of Bir al-Ghanam, coming to a stop at a point they said was about 35 km from Zawiyah.

Fighters near the new front line said pro-Gaddafi forces were positioned in the nearby village of Nasr. The rebels said they expected a tough fight to push onwards towards Zawiyah.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7770JU20110808?sp=true

[pinboy3niner]

43. Close air support from NATO helps rebels advance

Mon Aug 8, 2011 3:03pm


Aug 8 (Reuters) -

• Tanks hit by NATO strikes in decisive blow

• Military base totally destroyed

• Rebels now have eyes on Zawiyah, close to Tripoli


By Michael Georgy


BIR AL-GHANAM, Libya, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Libyan rebels who captured the strategic town of Bir al-Ghanam, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli, were basking in
glory on Monday when one saw a few vehicles approaching from the corner of his eye.


"They are coming," said the fighter as he and others ran to sand dunes and fired weapons at approaching Libyan army vehicles, forcing them to turn away.

...


Rebels said they opened fire with rockets from nearby ridges, then attacked government forces on foot and by pickup truck. Gaddafi's men hit back with rockets, killing five rebels, including a Libyan-American father and son who died holding each other in the battle lasting several hours, fighters said.


NATO airstrikes which pounded the small desert settlement may have been the deciding factor. They burned three government tanks to a crisp, leaving a crater in the dirt beside the town's main road. A nearby house and factory were also pulverized, with twisted metal sticking out of concrete.

...


"There were a lot of African mercenaries in Bir al-Ghanam and we expect a lot more on the way to Zawiyah. We just finished burying some of them," said Tareq Gazal, 19. "They are the best fighters Gaddafi has. They are not afraid of death."

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7770W620110808?sp=true

[tabatha]

44. Malnourished Somali baby thriving as rare success

DADAAB, Kenya — Only 10 days ago, Minhaj Gedi Farah was too weak to cry and his skin crumpled liked thin leather under the pressure of his mother's hands. Now doctors say the severely malnourished 7-month-old appears out of danger of joining the more than 29,000 children who already have died in the famine.

It's a rare success story amid unimaginable misery for parents at the world's largest refugee camp — a place where a father must bury two of his daughters one day, and their brother the next.

Seven-month-old Minhaj though now weighs more than 8 pounds (3.8 kilograms) — still well below what he should for his age, but a major improvement from 7 pounds (3.2 kilograms) when he first arrived at a field hospital ward here.

"He is in stable condition and he is doing well," said Dr. John Kiogora of the International Rescue Committee, who has been treating the infant since his arrival in late July.

Startling photos of Minhaj's twig-like arms and hollow cheeks made him the frail face of the worst famine in 60 years. On Saturday, though, the wide-eyed baby looked around the ward inquisitively and became captivated with a journalist who was taking his picture.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44044868/ns/world_news-africa/t/malnourished-somali-baby-thriving-rare-success/#.TkAB6GGz0Rd

[tabatha]

45. How Do You Hire Mercenaries?

As Libya cracks down on the ongoing protests against Muammar al-Qaddafi's government, reports have surfaced of African mercenaries attacking protesters and massing to defend the capital city of Tripoli. "They are from Africa, and speak French and other languages," said Ali al-Essawi, the Libyan ambassador to India who resigned this week. Libyan police in the town of Benghazi who have turned against the Qaddafi regime have reportedly captured foreign soldiers who are "black, spoke French and were identified by wearing yellow hats" stated an ABC News report. According to varying reports, the foreign mercenaries employed by Qaddafi may be from Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, Mali, Sudan and, even Eastern Europe. So how does one go about hiring mercenaries on such short notice these days?

It helps to have friends in the right places. Al Jazeera has reported that advertisements have been appearing in Guinea and Nigeria offering would-be mercenaries up to $2,000 to come to Qaddafi's aid. The reports are vague so far, but if the Libyan strongman has indeed been shopping for mercenaries, West Africa would be a good place to start. Recent conflicts in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast have generated a steady supply of unemployed ex-fighters willing to move from conflict to conflict for the right price. Foreign mercenaries, often paid in diamonds, kept Sierra Leone's brutal civil war going for years. U.N. peacekeepers have reported that the electorally ousted but defiant Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has brought in mercenaries from Liberia to aid him in his conflict against internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara.

Libyan money has helped prop up a number of unstable African regimes in recent years -- for example, Qaddafi was a longtime, enthusiastic backer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, now on trial in The Hague for war crimes -- so it makes sense that Libyan officials would have connections in the region. As of yet, there's no reliable reporting of how or when the mercenaries there, but some Libyan activists believe that they may have been housed at training camps in southern Libya for months, anticipating an uprising.

Mercenaries have a long and proud history in both warfare and conflict suppression. England's King Henry II hired foreign mercenaries to put down a domestic rebellion in the 12th century. The Italian condottieri famously served various papal states in wars throughout the late Middle Ages. King George III hired German "Hessian" mercenaries to fight against the rebels in the American Revolution. Standing national armies didn't even become the norm until the 19th century.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/02/23/how_do_you_hire_mercenaries#.Tj-1NlMYb1M.twitter

[pinboy3niner]

46. Tripoli power cuts anger Libyans in Gaddafi stronghold

8 August 2011 Last updated at 10:53 ET

By Matthew Price
BBC News, Tripoli


After months of war, rolling blackouts and rising prices in the Libyan capital Tripoli are taking their toll on Col Muammar Gaddafi's seat of power.

...


The government denies the power cuts have been turning the population against Libya's leadership.

...


The government blames both the rebels and Nato for the shortages.


The rebels - we are told - have attacked pipelines. Nato is accused of targeting the electricity supply network.


A Nato official - in an emailed statement - insisted the organisation had never targeted Libya's electrical power lines.

...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14447545

[pinboy3niner]

47. Exclusive: Qadhafi talks oil-tanker sales with Russians

Citing "a source close to the negotiations," The Petroleum Economist's Derek Brower reports that Russian investors are on the verge of buying a fleet of tankers from Libya's state-owned General National Maritime Transport (GNMTC), which is controlled by Gaddafi's son, Hannibal.

A deal could be worth $700 to $900 million to the cash-strapped regime, Brower reports, with part of the transaction involving payment-in-kind, such as weapons and fuel. Cash payment to a Libyan regime account would violate U.N. sanctions.

Read the full story here:

http://www.petroleum-economist.com/Article/2880291/News-and-Analysis-Archive/Exclusive-Qadhafi-talks-oil-tanker-sales-with-Russians.html

[pinboy3niner]

48. UN official deplores NATO attack on Libyan television station

Source: UN News Centre

8 August 2011 –


The head of the United Nations agency entrusted with safeguarding press freedom today deplored a recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attack on Libyan State broadcasting facilities last month which killed three media workers and injured 21 people.


“Media outlets should not be targeted in military actions,” UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova said in a statement, citing a Security Council resolution from 2006 that condemns acts of violence against journalists and media personnel in conflict situations.


“The NATO strike is also contrary to the principles of the Geneva Conventions that establish the civilian status of journalists in times of war even when they engage in propaganda,” she added. “Silencing the media is never a solution. Fostering independent and pluralistic media is the only way to enable people to form their own opinion.”


NATO issued a statement saying that the strike was conducted in accordance with Security Council resolution 1973 adopted in March, which authorizes the use of “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya, where the regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi has conducted a military offensive against citizens seeking both greater freedoms and his removal from power.


http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39255&Cr=Libya&Cr1=

[pinboy3niner]

49. BREAKING: Libya's National Transitional Council has fired its executive board--AJE

This was posted a half hour ago on the AJE Libya live blog, but I have not seen it corroborated by another source yet:

Libya's National Transitional Council has fired its executive board and has asked Mahmound Jabril, its chairman, to re-elect a new one.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-8-2011-2040

[pinboy3niner]

56. Confirmed by Reuters

See Post #54.

[pinboy3niner]

50. Libya rebels battle Gadhafi offensive

Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)

August 8, 2011


BENGHAZI, Libya - Libyan rebels battled to defend their gains in the face of an offensive by troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi on Monday, holding on to strategic Bir Ghanam but suffering casualties elsewhere.


Rebels fighting at Zliten, 120 kilometres to the east of Tripoli, admitted they were running low on ammunition as they struggled to hold off an assault by loyalist forces.


Abdul Wahab Melitan, a rebel spokesman in the port city of Misrata near Zliten, said forces loyal to strongman Gadhafi had launched an assault on their positions on Sunday in the Souk Telat area.


Since then, he said, four rebel fighters have been killed and 40 wounded. "The rebels lack ammunition to advance and we do not want to risk losing any ground," Melitan said.


The rebels on Tuesday punched into the centre of Zliten, sparking fierce clashes but later pulled back to the edge of the city.

...


http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Libya+rebels+battle+Gadhafi+offensive/5221719/story.html

[pinboy3niner]

51. NBC fixer killed by a rocket in Libya

Source: NBC News (World blog)

3 minutes ago

By Mike Taibbi, NBC News Correspondent, and Charlene Gubash, NBC News Producer


NEW YORK –

...


Two days later, the rebel revolution still stalled, but intact and invigorated for the next move, Salah led us across the border to Djerba, in Tunisia. Our assignment in Libya was done for the time being. He collected his mother, to bring her back home to Libya.


Then, last Thursday we got the news. Salah, driving two rebel soldiers to the front instead of a news team, was gone. One of those Grad rockets, fired from who knows where and targeted only by cursed bad luck, had hit his truck as it sped toward the town of Tigi, halfway between Nalut and Zintan. Salah and the two soldiers never knew what hit them.


Salah Mohamed Askar was 28, and unmarried. His mother was concerned about that, and last winter talked him into coming home to Nalut from Sweden, where he’d worked as a driver for a multi-national company for three years. “She wanted me to come home and find a nice Naluti girl,” he told us. But then, five months ago, the war started. In Nalut it began with a few dozen men with old hunting rifles ambushing a marauding team of Gadhafi mercenaries. Salah had fired at two of them, killing one and wounding the other who got away.


Across Libya a real civil war had started, with the NATO airstrikes greatly enhancing the prospects for a successful rebellion against Gadhafi’s 42-year-rule, and the Naluti men with hunting rifles morphed into the beginnings of an actual fighting force. Salah’s two brothers joined the rebels fulltime. Salah, armed and ready, was delayed by a family crisis he was obliged to resolve. When we arrived he became one of our drivers/fixers. A “fixer” is a journalist’s term for a hired assistant whose translation skills, local contacts and other capabilities are an essential part of foreign news coverage.

...


http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/08/7306986-good-man-gone-thanks-to-the-libyan-war

[pinboy3niner]

52. Syrian defense minister replaced

By BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press | AP – 49 mins ago


BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad replaced his defense minister Monday with the army chief of staff in the midst of a brutal military crackdown on a 5-month-old uprising, the state-run news agency said.


Gen. Ali Habib, the country's defense minister since 2009, was removed from his post because of health problems, the SANA report said, but some analysts said the general was unhappy with the crackdown.


He was replaced by Gen. Dawoud Rajha, a 64-year-old Christian, SANA said. The agency did not say who will succeed Rajha as chief of staff. His deputy is Maj. Gen. Assef Shawkat, who is married to Assad's sister, Bushra.

...


Radwan Ziadeh, a Syrian scholar at George Washington University, said Habib lost his job because he was a professional officer with no links to the country's dreaded security agencies.


"Habib was not happy with the acts being carried out by the army," said Ziadeh. "Habib is a professional and respected officer in the army and he is a member of the Alawite sect."

...


http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-defense-minister-replaced-164346437.html

[tabatha]

53. Younis Arrest Warrant Was Signed by #NTC # Ali #Essawy

FromJoanne Joanne
by hominoid555
#Younis Arrest Warrant Was Signed by #NTC # Ali #Essawy raising allegations that #NTC unknowingly helped facilitate his murder #Libya

SYRIA

carolv27 Carol Viana
What?? RT @SyrianFront #france24 : Syrian minister of defense found killed in his house. Syrian regime says it was natural death. #Syria
24 minutes ago


carolv27 Carol Viana
Via AlJazeera: #Syria's defense minister sacked! Is it because of yesterday's hack on his website? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1Sn9EpBGn8 #Anonymous
40 minutes ago

[pinboy3niner]

54. Libya rebels dissolve cabinet after commander's death

Mon Aug 8, 2011 7:28pm GMT


RABAT, August 8 (Reuters) - Libyan rebels have dissolved their executive committee after "shortcomings" by some members in the handling of the shooting dead 12 days ago of their military chief, a rebel spokesman said on Monday.


A spokesman for the rebels' governing National Transitional Council (NTC) told Al Jazeera television that rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril, who was head of the committee, had been asked to form a new executive body of ministers.


"Given the shortcomings in the performance of some members of the executive committee with regard to this crisis and this incident, the Council has decided to form a new committee," rebel spokesman Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga told the channel.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77717320110808?sp=true

[Iterate]

55. Distrust pervades streets of Tripoli

Distrust pervades streets of Tripoli
Posted on August 8, 2011 by noots

...
The organised opposition to Col Gaddafi in Tripoli remains an unquantifiable, dislocated and largely underground presence. It is a consequence of the mass arrests by the security forces as they tried to shore up their control of much of the west of the country in the early days of the crisis.

One Tripoli-based dissident said it was too dangerous to make more than symbolic protests, adding that regime agents had become more cunning: wearing plain clothes and driving saloon cars rather than ostentatious Toyota four-by-fours. He said: “There are more of them now and we can’t tell who is who. They wander around the streets, the mosques and the coffee shops – and they are not as obvious as they were in their uniforms.”

Another Gaddafi opponent suggested in frustration that foreign journalists, corralled in the Swiss Inn al Nasr hotel with government minders, should not bother coming to Tripoli, as they were prevented from experiencing the “apprehension and fear” as “zero hour” approached.

Elsewhere in the capital, away from the pro-Gaddafi demonstrations that have been growing in size, there are anecdotal signs of other residents contemplating a Libya without the colonel in charge.

more... http://feb17.info/news/distrust-pervades-streets-of-tripoli/
Source: Financial Times http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1f5397aa-bc52-11e0-80e0-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1USxS6vi9

Tripoli tweets:
FreeBenghazi Libya.elHurra
Electricity blackout in #Tripoli, from #Ain​​Zara til #Tajura, since 2pm yesterday, until now v @almanaramedia #Libya 1 hour ago

RRowleyTucson Robert Rowley
#Tripoli: #Janzur #Freedomfighters threw a grenade into home of top #Gaddafi goon Tuhmai Khalid. #Libya #Feb17 1 hour ago

Freedom_7uriyah ღ.¸¸Libeeya¸¸.ღ
Food is available but prices V.high & there's a lot of spoilage due to power cuts (freezers etc) #Tripoli #Libya 2 hours ago

RRowleyTucson Robert Rowley
#Tripoli: #Freedomfighters blew up the car of #Gaddafi informer Hisham Ali from #Souq AlJumaa. #Libya #Feb17 1 hour ago

[tabatha]

57. Lest we forget... Zawiya Live Phone Call - March 11th, 2011

Live phone call on March 11th from Zawiya - a city of 200,000 was destroyed. Evidence was destroyed, bodies were dug up and removed, people were shot in hospitals, and it goes on and on.

This is why the U.N. passed Resolution 1973, as Gaddafi threatened the same fate for Benghazi and Misrata and the Nafusa Mountains...

The reporter is asking : “What is happening in Zawiya ? We see demonstrations supporting Gaddafi on Libyan tv – can you tell us what is really going on in Zawiya ?”

Civilian : “What’s happening in Zawiya is tragic. There are no supporting demonstrations. There are people he brought here. He is sticking us with aircrafts. He is doing what Holako did. He is taking dead people from the ground. He has taken people from the hospitals. I have my dead son next to me here in the house. (He is crying, sobbing.) I can’t bury my own son. “

He is asking people from Sabha, from neighboring cities, to help.

He is saying, “Gaddafi doesn't fear God; he is not human. Doesn’t anyone have humanity any more? Why do Algeria and Syria not support the no-fly zone”

http://www.libyauprisingarchive.com/zawiya-311-lpc.html

[pinboy3niner]

58. LIBYAN REVOLUTION DAY 173: CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:40 AM TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, UTC +1 hour, GMT +2 hours

[pinboy3niner]

59. Libyan Embassy to reopen (today, in London)

10:47pm UK, Monday August 08, 2011


The Libyan embassy will officially reopen today under the control of the National Transitional Council (NTC).


Opponents of Colonel Gaddafi's regime are to hoist the new independence flag above the premises in London.

...


Mahmud Nacua, the newly appointed charge d'affaires, will lead the reopening ceremony this afternoon.


Participants will include Libyans who have had family members killed in the conflict.


Mr Nacua said:

"The reopening of the embassy symbolises how far we have come.


"The embassy represents the legitimate government of Libya and in line with this will serve all the Libyan community irrespective of their political allegiances.


"We will also continue to struggle for greater freedom for the Libyan people and Gaddafi's departure from Libya.


"I thank the British Government for its decision to recognise the NTC and its steadfast support for the Libyan people throughout our fight."

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16046079

[tabatha]

60. One of al-Gaddafi crimes executed 16 Egyptian

Al-Qadhafi has executed about 16 Egyptian workers who are working in a warehouse in the Alkarem in the city of Misurata.

http://youtu.be/NqAzvyvgLCU

[tabatha]

61. Post on AJE

Re" UNESCO comdemnation of NATO bombing of Libyan state TV..... I think that it is important to repeat and keep in the front of the news why it seems NATO bombed Libyan state TV. The bombing happened shortly after the assassination of General Younis.

Libyan state TV had announced around the week before that they "would shortly be able to announce good news about General Younis." The announcement was very puzzling at the time that Libyan state TV would have anything good to announce about General Younis, but after his death, it was widely seen as a message from Gaddafi to execute the "hit" on Younis leading to his death.

Because Gaddafi's command and control centers and equipment had been so widely damaged by NATO, it appeared that he was using Libyan state TV to communicate messages to his military forces (in this instance a 5th columnist group in Benghazi). Because Gaddafi was using state TV as part of his command and control, it became a legitimate target after Younis' death by NATO, and the NATO action was also probably a warning to Gaddafi. The further efforts to legally stop the Nilesat transmission of Libyan state TV continues the same effort.

[tabatha]

62. Libya TV program broadcast a tapped phone by Gaddafi PM AlBaghadadi

OnlyOneLibyaProudLibyan

Libya TV program broadcast a tapped phone by Gaddafi PM AlBaghadadi, where he ordered dead bodies to be used for false propaganda!

http://twitter.com/#!/OnlyOneLibya/status/100791314429394944

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

[tabatha]

78. Baghdadi call for fabricating scenes and victims of NATO bombing civilians

Mahmoud Warfali Balliba in a program displays some of the calls between members of the Gaddafi regime, including al-Baghdadi talking about fabricating scenes of the NATO bombing of civilians and Jeep says the bodies of sheep and Ahtohm well in place of NATO bombing NATO Nthmua Ashan ... Verde by al-Baghdadi says the people of the dead bodies of their sons refused to use for publicity ... And then he said Hovlje Wazwaz small

http://youtu.be/t7hM3K_6lqA

[joshcryer]

63. Amid a Berber Reawakening in Libya, Fears of Revenge

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/world/africa/09berbers.html">Amid a Berber Reawakening in Libya, Fears of Revenge
YAFRAN, Libya — In the evening, as the searing desert temperatures subside, the residents who have returned to this rebel-held city near the front lines appear on the streets. Some of them carry cans of paint, and begin to decorate murals with the characters of an ancient language that had been forbidden by the government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

The language is Tamazight, the tongue of the Amazigh, or Berbers, who, after decades of oppression in Libya are re-emerging as a political force.

As rebels have chased the Qaddafi military from much of the arid highlands in Libya’s west this spring and summer, Yafran has become the easternmost outpost of a cultural and linguistic reawakening that has expanded across the map, and it is expected to expand more.

Overlooking the Libyan desert plain, the city shows signs of a nascent sense of self-determination — a step, the Amazigh hope, toward full national and regional recognition.

[tabatha]

87. Chivers should talk to more people.

AJE poster - Libyan woman - Azizor

Beleive me it just despeerate try from G supporters to divide Libyans who are fighting for freedom.
Yesterday, I was listening on radio Benghazi the man who came back from the front in Naufsa Mountain and he was talking that they are very united, eating togheter, new friendship are made, they fight shoulder to shoulder from all the Libyan cities.
He is going back in few days.

Glad to see you are on line.
Please help to asure our friends from the blog that there is NO division between our Eastern and Western FF or civilians.
I am so angry that we came in situation to deny it.You are in Libya and you know what is going on...how people are united. LIBYA ONE BODY, TRIPOLI ITS HEART.

[Iterate]

64. Tripoli overnight

I'd rather that these were better sources, but as has been noted elsewhere here, the Rixos journos are prohibited from leaving the hotel and wouldn't have good communications if they did. I'll try to stick to chronological order.

Sarurah Sarah
NOW: Massive explosion in Ein Zara district of #Tripoli...Ammo depot hit. Gaddafi placing ammunition storage in middle of residential areas. 10 hours ago

Libya_United Libya_Awake_United
#Tripoli: Most families are on streets, in AinZara and Furnaj , cell phones Libyana and Madar difficult to reach, landlines are working. 9 hours ago

RRowleyTucson Robert Rowley
#Tripoli: Massive explosion in #EinZara. Ammo depot hit. #Gaddafi placing ammunition storage in middle of residential areas. #Libya #feb17 9 hours ago

IvanCNN Ivan Watson
Huge chemical fires burning & secondary explosions from 2 different parts of #Tripoli for better part of hour. Jets flying overhead again 9 hours ago

JomanaCNN jomana karadsheh
More explosions in #Tripoli ... been going on for 2 hrs now... #Libya 8 hours ago

EndTyranny101 Ahmed Sanalla
#NATO bombs #Gaddafi forces on coastal highway leading to #Zawia..#Tripoli #Feb17 #Libya 8 hours ago

libyanproud libyanandproud
Hay Alandalus : people in the streets , heavy gunfire and screaming LPC . #Tripoli #Libya 6 hours ago

Hiba_El_G Hiba El-Gamaty
"@LibyaUnited1944: made another call 2 #tripoli now & theres a massive gun battle goin on in city centre. I heard the shooting in b/ground!" 6 hours ago

FreeLibyan87 Free libya
just got through to #tripoli there was 2 massive explosion in Furnaj then a lot of secondary explosions dust reach Jama3 alsa9a3 6 hours ago

LibyanDictator The Dictator
Wefaq #Libya reporting that Apache helicopters were used in #Zawia and #Tripoli tonight. Over 15 explosions heard around the capital. 5 hours ago

EndTyranny101 Ahmed Sanalla
#Tripoli: Media in #Rixos Hotel need to revolt & cover the events that R happening in the city, otherwise why are they there? #Libya #Feb17 5 hours ago

FreeLibyan87 Free libya
There is lots of news/rumours coming out of #tripoli some say Gaddafi is using Grad missiles against some districts can anyone confirm 5 hours ago

alchemist585 Nasr Anaizi
Reports of a major revolt in #Tripoli tonight are greatly exaggerated. Mostly wishful thinking. Ppl R waiting 4 FF 2come knocking b4 rising. 4 hours ago

FromJoanne Joanne
#CONFIRMED #TRIPOLI #NATO did hit a Gaddafi shipDocked in harbour: 1 Weapons Storage, 1 Ship, 1 Surface to Air Missile System 26 minutes ago

[tabatha]

77. Video - NATO carried out multiple airstrikes in Tripoli - August 9, 2011

http://youtu.be/Lk2mZ2XRDZc

[pinboy3niner]

65. Canada expels remaining Libyan diplomats

updated 8/8/2011 10:34:44 PM ET

Associated Press


OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada has ordered all remaining Libyan diplomats to leave the country within five days, officials say.


Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement Monday that Canada has declared the diplomats persona non grata, effective immediately.

...


Baird says Canada is also cutting off the diplomats' access to the embassy's bank accounts.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44068592/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

[pinboy3niner]

66. Blasts rock Libyan capital

By Herve Bar (AFP) – 1 hour ago


BENGHAZI, Libya — Several powerful blasts rocked Libya's capital on Tuesday, as the executive branch of Libya's rebel government was sacked in a political crisis a week after their military chief's assassination.


The explosions in the Fernej district of southwest Tripoli struck at between 1:00 am (2300 GMT) and 2:00 am, sending flames shooting into the night sky, an AFP correspondent said.


They were followed by a series of smaller blasts, suggesting an arms depot had been hit. Two other explosions followed at around 6:00 am, he said.

...


http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jAWfcT5yD9z_GMaQPfXgXpBDfHZw?docId=CNG.4d4b16a138ea0e5a9a362644d2100b45.871

[pinboy3niner]

67. NATO airstrikes Monday, August 8

Key Hits 8 AUGUST:


In the vicinity of Brega: 3 Military Vehicles, 2 Multiple Rocket Launchers.


In the vicinity of Tripoli: 1 Weapons Storage, 1 Ship, 1 Surface to Air Missile System.


In the vicinity of Waddan: 1 Ammunition Storage Facility.


In the vicinity of Zlitan: 1 Military Facility, 1 Communications System.


In the vicinity of Zintan: 1 Multiple Rocket Launcher; 2 Military Vehicles.


http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_08/20110809_110809-oup-update.pdf

[pinboy3niner]

68. American trades university for life as Libya rebel

Tue Aug 9, 2011 10:49am GMT


• Fighter was studying psychology in U.S. college

• His parents have no idea he is fighting in Libya

• He is part of force trying to advance on Tripoli


By Michael Georgy


NALUT, Libya, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Adam, from Washington, D.C., was studying to become a family therapist. Then he felt a greater calling: fighting for freedom in Libya.


So he traded his university sociology and psychology books for a semi-automatic weapon bought with his own money in Libya and joined a group of rebels who believe they have the best chance of reaching Tripoli and toppling Muammar Gaddafi.


"I just had a year left before getting my degree but I dropped out," said Adam, 22, dressed in camouflage fatigues and a black bullet-proof vest at a training site in Libya's Western Mountains.


"But I had to do this. Gaddafi is killing so many people. I felt I needed to take a stand. Why not?"

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77604X20110809?sp=true

[pinboy3niner]

69. Syria: Rights group reports 17 killed in Deir ez-Zor, 2 in Idlib province

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 17 deaths in Deir ez-Zor, and two in Idlib province.

AFP quotes a human rights lawyer speaking of two deaths in Hama.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-aug-9-2011-1500

[pinboy3niner]

70. ANALYSIS-Libya rebels clean house after slaying of commander

Tue Aug 9, 2011 11:47am GMT


• Dismissal of rebel cabinet designed to restore confidence

• Slaying of rebel military chief alarmed backers

• Western allies frustrated at rebels' lack of unity


By Robert Birsel

BENGHAZI, Libya, Aug 9 (Reuters) -

...


While the Younes killing brought things to a head, Jalil is also seen as taking the opportunity to get rid of underperforming cabinet members and permit the reappointment of a more effective body.

...


It was also aimed at highlighting a commitment to democracy and transparency, and demonstrating a readiness to act to fix problems.


"Hopefully, this will improve things," said Omar Sallabi, manager of a political research centre at Garyounis University in the rebels' capital of Benghazi.

...


The sacking of the entire cabinet was a culturally acceptable way of getting rid of a few people without singling them out, one analyst said.


Many of the members are expected to come back to their old posts and foreign oil companies will be watching to see if Ali Tarhouni, in charge of the oil industry, makes a return.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7780IC20110809?sp=true

[Iterate]

71. Request to Investigate Massacre of Civilians of Al-Qala’a Nafusa Mountains

Press Release: Request to Investigate Massacre of Civilians of Al-Qala’a Nafusa Mountains August 9, 2011
August 9, 2011
Posted in News, Press Release | 06:55

Call for immediate task force from the Libyan National Transitional Council, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, UNICEF and the United Nations

ShababLibya-The Libyan Youth Movement and The Libyan Link have issued a press release today on behalf of the families of Al-Qala’a victims in the Nafusa Mountains condemning the barbaric massacre in cold blood of civilian men and children at the hands of Gadaffi militia. They are requesting immediate attention from the Libyan National Transitional Council and International Humanitarian NGO’s by:

1. Launching a full investigation into the massacre of approximately 34 civilians from the city of Al-Qala’a, in the Nafusa Mountains. A video captured using a mobile phone was confiscated by the Nafusa Mountain authorities from a Pro Gadaffi P.O.W.

The footage includes the bodies of approximately 34 civilians, according to sources these civilians were arrested on June 2, 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvOMMbIEixk&feature=channel_video_title

2. Providing de-mining experts to clear mines from the Al-Mal’ab Forest area. This will allow for the investigation team to carry out their work to discover the mass grave (s), conduct the crime against humanity investigation and to allow access to the families of the victims to retrieve there loved ones so that they may be given due respect and buried according to Islamic practices and International Human rights laws.

We request your immediate attention in this matter.

For more information and to coordinate efforts with the people of Al-Qala’a please email:

The Libyan Link:- [email protected]

ShababLibya-The Libyan Youth Movement- [email protected]

Regards,
Al-Qala’a Civil committee
The Families of the Al-Qala’a victims
ShababLibya-The Libyan Youth Movement
The Libyan Link

[pinboy3niner]

72. NATO bombs frigate in Tripoli harbour

Tue Aug 9, 2011 1:28pm GMT


BRUSSELS Aug 9 (Reuters) - NATO warplanes bombed a Libyan warship docked in Tripoli harbour after observing that weapons were being (taken) from it that were expected to be used to conduct attacks, the alliance said on Tuesday.


The Soviet-built Koni-class frigate was hit and badly damaged on the military side of the port of Tripoli, NATO military spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie told a news briefing.


"It became evident regime forces were removing weaponry and munitions from the warship with the intent of using them from other platforms," he said.


NATO was concerned the arms could have been used against civilians, NATO forces, or ships delivering humanitarian aid.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7780SY20110809

[pinboy3niner]

73. EU sanctions target two more Libyan entities

Tue Aug 9, 2011 2:29pm GMT


BRUSSELS Aug 9 (Reuters) - The European Union is set this week to widen sanctions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi by adding a Libyan oil firm and a government administrative department to a blacklist, an EU official said on Tuesday.


The two entities to be added to the list of organisations and people subject to asset freezes and travel bans were the al-Sharara oil company and the Organisation for Administrative Affairs, the official said.

...


The EU official said the new steps would bring to 49 the number of Libyan entities targeted by EU sanctions, which also affect six port authorities and 39 individuals.

...


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7780YT20110809

[pinboy3niner]

74. Rebel flag goes up at Libyan Embassy in London...

tweeted by @HanyBeshr: Rebel flag goes up at Libya embassy in London:




http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-9-2011-1900

[pinboy3niner]

75. NATO rejects criticism of Libyan TV bombing

By SLOBODAN LEKIC - Associated Press | AP – 1 hr 33 mins ago


BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO has rejected growing international criticism of its airstrike on Libyan television last month, saying Tuesday it has no evidence the attack caused any casualties.


Libyan officials have said the July 31 airstrike on the state television's satellite dishes killed three journalists and injured 15 others.


But NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero said the alliance had not deliberately targeted journalists and disputed the claim that anyone had been hurt.


"NATO targeted equipment that had been used to incite attacks against civilians," she said. "We are unaware of any evidence of casualties associated with this strike in these dishes."

The British military has said its warplanes had used Brimstone anti-tank missiles against the TV installation. The Brimstone — equipped with a small explosive warhead — has been used often during the Libyan campaign to avoid harming civilians.


Photos of the target show that the plastic dishes had been melted or blown apart, but the metal fairings to which they were attached appeared undamaged.

...


http://news.yahoo.com/nato-rejects-criticism-libyan-tv-bombing-133201540.html

[pinboy3niner]

76. Libya rebels push in eastern oil town, 2 killed (in rebel advance into Brega)

The Associated Press

Date: Tuesday Aug. 9, 2011 12:07 PM ET


BENGHAZI, Libya — A Libyan rebel spokesman says two people have been killed and 14 wounded in fighting around a strategic oil terminal town in the country's east.


Mohammad al-Rijali says rebels forces advanced Tuesday into Brega, which is located 200 kilometres southwest of the opposition stronghold of Benghazi. Rebels have been trying to dislodge Gadhafi forces from the town since April.

...


http://news.yahoo.com/libya-rebels-push-eastern-oil-town-2-killed-152538918.html

[pinboy3niner]

79. The Noose Is Tightening for Bashar Assad in Syria

Posted: 8/9/11 12:21 PM ET

Dr. Josef Olmert
Adjunct Professor, American University’s School of International Service


Thousands of victims, including newly-born babies in Hama, besieged cities, as well as artillery and tank attacks do not put an end to the brave Sunni uprising in Syria. Bashar Assad and his henchmen do what they know best -- they relentlessly kill their own people and commit unspeakable horrors. But they are losing the war, even though they win local battles.

...


As bad as all this is to the Alawite regime, even worse news came with the most recent developments in the relations between Syria and Turkey. PM Erdogan, a man of no-nonsense, sent his Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu to Damascus with an ultimatum to Bashar Assad: stop the massacre immediately, or else...


Ahead of the visit, Davutoglu did not mince his words, saying that Bashar is likely to end as Gaddafi in Libya, making it clear that it was the last attempt to bring a change. Bashar apparently did not pay too much attention to his guest, and at the same time that he was lectured by the Turkish visitor, Syrian tanks attacked a village very near to the Turkish border. This was an insult to Turkey and to Erdogan personally, and an insult of that magnitude will not go unnoticed in Ankara. The Turkish government managed to overcome the recent crisis with the Turkish military as Erdogan proved again that he is now the undisputed leader of the country. With a lot of self-confidence, Erdogan will move on and quickly isolate Bashar and put pressure on him.


Military action against Syria is in the cards, and Bashar will not be able to rely on too much external support in that case. Also Russian President Medvedev sent him a very blatant warning just few days ago. With all that happening, the Alawite regime finds itself in an impossible situation with almost complete regional and international isolation and a brave, unrelenting domestic opposition, that shows no signs of giving up.


It may be a matter of few months, perhaps even less, but Bashar Assad will not be able to survive. The noose is tightening and the clock is ticking.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-josef-olmert/assad-syria-downfall-_b_922218.html

[tabatha]

80. NATO says 'no evidence' of Libya civilian casualties

09 August 2011 | 16:57 | FOCUS News Agency
Home / World

Brussels. NATO on Tuesday said overnight air strikes near the city of Zliten in western Libya were "legitimate" and that it had no evidence of Tripoli claims that the bombs killed 85 villagers, AFP reported.

"We do not have evidence of civilian casualties at this stage," the NATO spokesman for the alliance's Libya campaign, Colonel Roland Lavoie, said at a video conference held at its Naples headquarters.

Raids by NATO planes south of Zliten were against "a legitimate target", two former farms used for military purposes by troops loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, he said.

"This was a military facility clearly," he added.

http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n256748

[pinboy3niner]

81. Telegraph reports 'discrepancies' at NATO bomb sites where regime claims civilians killed

The Telegraph's Damien McElroy finds "discrepancies at the bomb sites" where he and other journalists were taken by Gaddafi regime officials and press 'minders' who claimed that "85 civilians" or "20 families" were killed in NATO attacks at the remote village of Majar (near Zlitan).


Among the discrepancies McElroy found:

• "While up to seven homes were destroyed by large scale explosions, there was no evidence of the scale of slaughter suggested by officials."


• "Only a few traces of blood were smeared the rubble of the houses and there was no sign that bodies had been dragged through the dust."


• "A green army belt that one official quickly removed from the side of a teddy bear indicated that the army had established a presence in the area." (Regime officials and local residents claimed there was no military presence there.)


• "...a minor road through Majar from Misurata is (guarded) by a ridge near the Majar. The houses allegedly targeted by the airstrike command a natural vantage point overlooking the ridge.

McElroy and other journalists also were taken to a hospital where they were shown injured people as well as the bodies of several women and children "alongside men of military age."


You can read McElroy's full story here.

[Iterate]

85. Next up on stateTV...

The video that was broadcast was again heavily edited, but it is distinctly different from others that claimed civilian deaths. Whatever happened, it showed about eight killed and eight injured being treated at the same hospital. Some were women and children, most were men of military age (and fit build -whoever hasn't noticed the difference in build between Gaddafi troops and FF or other Libyan citizens hasn't been paying attention).

If anything, the difference undercuts the claims of civilian deaths in the other broadcasts, especially the Nato statetv satellite dish attack.

The nightime scene of the recovery/rescue is chaotic, but shows only one structure. The hospital scene, though also chaotic, shows nowhere near the overwhelming impact that having the 85 (or 88) dead that was claimed would have. I haven't seen a report that gives the number of injured.

I noticed this report got a disproportionate number of tweets in the non-English, non-Arabic twitter world for a few hours and most of the ones I checked hadn't tweeted anything else about Libya in their recent history. I think this story, however it is corrected, will always be repeated as it was presented by statetv.

Several of the reports mention two attacks, with a second more devastating one occurring as people gathered at the scene.

In recent days statetv (and their faithful repeaters) have been running a story of 50 (exactly 50) children killed in a hospital attack (and again no reports of injuries). That "story" didn't get widely picked up by the press.

Of course we know how trustworthy the regime is:

ChangeInLibya Mhalwes
LIBYA: Leaked PHONE CALL between BAGHDADI MAHMUDI (Gaddafi PM) & henchmen asking them to plant fake NATO victims youtu.be/t7hM3K_6lqA #libya
vor 6 Stunden

4Adam Adam
G men killed in Bir Ghanam were to be used by Gdfi's PM as victims of NATO in Tripoli but families 'refused' youtube.com/watch?v=t7hM3K… #Libya
vor 14 Stunden

ShababLibya LibyanYouthMovement
Hana Gaddafi, Libyan Leader's Presumed Dead Daughter, May Be Still Alive: Huffington post shabablibya.org/?p=4799 #Libya
vor 5 Stunden

Part of the truth in what happened might be found in this tweet, 20 hours ago:

Sarahdrah Zlitniya
#Zliten:Families from SuqThalath hv bn moved 2top floor of school in #Ghweelat .Mercenries,weapons&ammo bottom floor.2prevent #NATO strikes
vor 20 Stunden

ETA: from BBC News producer Jonny Hallam
Jonny_Hallam Jonny Hallam
#zlitan more. Most dead shown were men of fighting age; but with 2 children and 2 women also dead.
#zlitan. BBC shown about 30 body bags containing dead that GF claimed were killed by NATO bombs.

[pinboy3niner]

89. Thanks for that, Iterate

We've seen regime propaganda reports--even posted, unquestioned, here at DU.


Many MSM sources seem to believe that reporting regime propaganda claims is providing 'balanced' coverage--despite the thorough discrediting of the regime's past claims.


You'll notice that I did not post any 'news' item on the regime's claims in this case--until I had an item that questioned those claims. The regime's statements are, on their face, not credible. Apart from their discredted "civilian casualty" claims, I watched with my own eyes live reports from an AJ correspondent with the rebels in Bir Ghanam when the regime was insisting that it still held the town.


Moussa Ibrahim, Gaddafi's spokesperson, is right up there with "Baghdad Bob' when it comes to expert, delusional lying. (I'd aso throw in Jerome Corsi, but that's just me.)


Sadly, we may soon see a report on the regime's claims of "civilian casualties" posted on DU.

[Iterate]

92. We need it all.

Without the MSM reports that you cover (even the ones that copy the regime stories or others we know you don't agree with) the social media and blogs would just be a circus. I think it's the mix of media that works, with each one adding to the other. It just wouldn't make sense without it.

The way I look at it, you cover the good reporters embedded in mediocre organizations, and that's the best we can do. For that matter, I've posted (dozens? hundreds?) of reuters reports, many based on statetv that ended with the phase "couldn't be independently verified." In many ways it's the one posting unlikeable but widely reported stories that has the unenviable task -you just can't ignore it, and shouldn't ignore it because that in itself is a main part of the Libyan story. With social media though you must ignore it (mostly) or the place would be swamped with junk. If you didn't post the MSM stories, I would, and I'm not good at it. Sometimes I feel it's unfair, but you'd be surprised the number of times I've thought "I'm glad you posted that and glad I didn't have to", then I click through and read away...then see some subtle take on things I never would have thought of otherwise or, at worst, have a grounding on what most people are being told.

I've even thought about posting a sampler of pro-G or apologist blogs/tweets/video just for the record, but it's so vile and it might be troll bait, which we certainly don't want. I also don't want to give them extra links, hits, or a google path to DU. That goes for numerous translated G speeches as well.

I just wish we had a simple "thank you" button for posts rather than that rec/unrec business. You'd get one from me on every one.

[tabatha]

82. Libyan rebels recall horror stories from crackdown

They managed to take weapons like AK-47 assault rifles as well. But eventually ammunition ran out and Gaddafi's forces showed no mercy, the rebels said.

"You would be at a mosque and the person next to you would get hit in the forehead with a bullet. When you see a friend with half a face missing it really gets to you," said Galal.

The rebels' accounts could not be independently verified.

Gaddafi's government has denied allegations of human rights abuses during the six-month revolt in Libya. It describes the rebels as armed criminals inspired by al Qaeda.

The fighters, cleaning weapons near a sand bank on the edge of Bir al-Ghanam beside an army base destroyed in NATO airstrikes, said they did not know the exact number of people who died in Zawiyah. But many said they believed it could have been in the hundreds.

One rebel played a video on his cell phone showing what he said were bleeding victims of indiscriminate shootings by security forces being carried to a mosque as steady gunfire crackled in the distance.

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE77810520110809?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

[pinboy3niner]

83. Libyan Attempt To Bring Back Oil Cos Fails To Ignite Interest

Source: DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

AUGUST 9, 2011, 1:02 P.M. ET

By Benoit Faucon, Hassan Hafidh and Nicole Lundeen


LONDON (Dow Jones)--A new attempt by Libya's government to bring back foreign oil companies to the war-torn country has failed to ignite interest, people familiar with the contacts said in recent days.

...


According to industry officials, which include Libyan oil sources, Eni SpA (E), Total SA (TOT), Repsol SA (REP.MC) and OMV AG (OMV.VI) as well as U.S. companies were recently contacted by Tripoli to return to Libya.


Last month, the country's National Oil Corp., or NOC, "sent a circular to U.S. and European companies asking them to resume operations" and also sent one of its executives to Europe for this purpose.


A manager at a foreign company with interests in Libya said Omran Abukraa, the recently-appointed head of the National Oil Corp., "is trying to convince them to come back and do business in Libya, but he got nothing."

...


http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110809-714805.html

[pinboy3niner]

84. APNewsBreak: US Rep: Libya says writer (Matthew VanDyke) in custody (held by Gaddafi regime)

Published: August 9, 2011

SARAH BRUMFIELD


BALTIMORE (AP) — A U.S. Congressman says the Libyan government says a Baltimore writer who went missing in the early weeks of the uprising there is alive and in (Gaddafi regime) custody.


Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger's office says the Libyan officials acknowledged that Matthew VanDyke was in custody during talks with Hungarian officials before Ramadan began July 31.


VanDyke traveled to Libya this winter to write about the uprising against Moammar Gadhafi and disappeared in March.


http://newsok.com/apnewsbreak-us-rep-libya-says-writer-in-custody/article/feed/284195?custom_click=pod_headline_usnational-news

[Iterate]

86. So for now – Msalata is free

Alexblx (@Alexblx)

Posted Tuesday 9th August 2011 from Twitlonger

#Msalata - #Libya ‘s new #Misrata: Gaddafi appoints gangster as new overlord of Msalata – a new front that has required the Regime to use ‘seconded’ resources to deal with.

Here are the facts of the local #FF revolt:
Msalata – is a small city of 55000 – just beyond the larger city of Tahuna - which is on the outskirts of #Tripoli – so is right in the heart of ‘Gaddafiland’.

It has traditionally been a centre of Islamic study and learning - in same way as Fez in Morocco – but its most important modern economic resource is olive oil farming and production.

Here is a #MAP of #Msallata http://wikimapia.org/5834583/Msallata -
which is part of the #Libya district of #Tarhuna

Msallata like all cities in regime occupied Libya since Febriuay 2011 has suffered serious food shortages and last week clashes spontaneously arose in a bakery queue – that lead to the local Msalata people – including local #FF - attacking the Gaddafi officials – the ultimate causes of the food shortages - and winning control of the city.

The regime forces were driven out of the city - and their HQ within the city and the local government admin office building - set fire to and destroyed.
4 #FF were killed – and several Gaddafi officials were arrested.

The next day #Gaddafi unleashed his #HubalBrigade on the city:
“75 cars entered via the eastern entrance, from the Al-Khums-Msalata Road A number of them came via the southern entrance from the Msalata-Tarhunah Road They started firing to terrorize the residents. They did not respect the sanctity of anything, even the mosques. They violated the sanctity of the Youssef Al-Djarani mosque in the market area. They entered the sacred areas (where people pray) of the mosque with their boots and arrested eight of the worshipers and a caretaker, the Karmeesh area.” Per Al-Manara Media:

On Saturday - a local well known gangster named Milad Al-Daman arrived in Msalata.

Gaddafi had ‘appointed’ him – as a local strongman to restore control. This tactic of using local criminals was also used by the Mubarak regime in Egypt – who at the start of the Cairo revolt released 1000’s of them from custody to sow disorder and terrorize the local people who had dared to question the regimes authority.

Gaddafi is very short of army personnel – and an alliance with a criminal is no different from his alliance with the 1000’s of mercenaries he has imported into Libya – he effectively pays the criminal to act as his local Pasha or strongman – the ‘pay’ being the ‘right’ to do whatever he wants providing he keeps the #FF at bay.

As the Al-Manara Media report states:

The gangster leader Al-Daman

“requested a meeting with the local community, but they did not go to him. He then gathered a group of followers and asked them to deliver a message.
He said that he was ready to wipe out the city within one hour and that the city was completely surrounded.

He said that rocket launchers were in Al-Akeratt – a suburb in Msalata – and Al-Amamrah They were on standby in case the freedom fighters made any new move, and he would not hesitate to bomb the city.”

At present the exit roads from the city are controlled by Al-Daman and his private militia – who intermittedly drive through the cities shooting – but do not really control the city – as many neighbourhoods are armed and capable of resisting any attempt to restore the dead hand of the regimes day to day rule.

So for now – Msalata is free – in the sense that there is no day to day Gaddafi rule within the inner city districts – just a threatening gangster with a large private militia sponsored by the regime blockading the city - and threatening to annihilate it with rockets.

The story of Mislata is important in the #FF revolution – because it illustrates that ordinary people deep in the heart of Gaddafi territory – like the original ‘rebels’ of the French revolution who also revolted because they had no beard - will only tolerate food shortages for so long – before they reject the authority of the officials they consider ultimately responsible for them – regardless of the consequences.

The Mayor of Tripoli – if he can manage to emerge from the sewers of #BabAlAzizia to rule his daily diminishing territory – should perhaps now consider food just as important an import priority for his Regime’s survival - as gasoil – and much less likely to be ‘diverted’.

http://tl.gd/c9k8ku ·

[tabatha]

101. City of Mssilata May God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.

#Libya Mssillata - An Email Received by Al-Manara Media
af FreedomGroup, News in English den 9. august 2011 kl. 10:30
Translation of an email sent to
Al-Manara Media

Administrators of Al-Manara Media,
I would like you to publish news from the town of Mssilata received after I telephoned a freedom fighter in the area.

Firstly, last week, clashes began between freedom fighters of the city and the Brigades of "Hubal" , a pre-Islamic idol) which resulted in the expulsion of members of Gaddafi's forces from the city and burning their headquarters within the city. Four of the freedom fighters were martyred as a result of the operation. The next day, "Hubal's" forces stormed the city. 75 cars entered via the eastern entrance, from the Al-Khums-Mssillat Road. A number of them came via the southern entrance from the Mssilata-Tarhunah Road. They started firing to terrorize the residents.they did not respect the sanctity of anything, even the mosques. They violated the sanctity of the Youssef Al-Djarani mosque in the market area. They entered the sacred areas (where people pray) of the mosque with their boots and arrested eight of the worshipers and a caretaker, the Karmeesh area.
a mosque.

Secondly, last Saturday a criminal named Milad Al-Daman arrived in Mssilata. He is one of "Hubal'" cronies, who had siced him on our defenseless people. He (Al-Daman) requested a meeting with the local community, but they did not go to him. He then gathered a group of followers and asked them to deliver a message. He said that he was ready to wipe out the city within one hour and that the city was completely surrounded. He said that rocket launchers were in Al-Akeratt – a suburb in Mssilata – and Al-Amamrah They were on standby in case the freedom fighters made any new move, and he would not hesitate to bomb the city.

[Iterate]

88. Translation: Exclusive News Received Today From Sirte

Translation: Exclusive News Received Today From Sirte
von The Gulf of Sirte خليج سرت, Dienstag, 9. August 2011 um 13:14

1. Revolutionaries in Sirte have hanged Bilreesh one of Gaddafi's men, on a lamppost near Agjam Hotel. Bilreesh was a relative of an Interior Security Officer.

2. A group of youths from Ferjan tribe in Sirte, led by members of Ali Abushofa family chanted Anti-Gaddafi phrases and burned the green flag. Ali Abushofa was previously killed by Gaddafi's regime when he was Secretary of the People's Committee of the city of Sirte.

3. Last Saturday, there was a backfire between youths from Ferjan tribe (AlSadiq family) and Gaddafi mercenaries (Turshan AlHameel from Gaddafi's tribe; originally from Muritania). The event took place at a gas station in the heart of Sirte which resulted in many injuries on both sides. A man from AlHamamla tribe was killed and a Ferjani from Al-Mihalhil family was wounded.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-gulf-of-sirte-%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA/translation-exclusive-news-received-today-from-sirte/262634737096682

Et tu, Sirte?

As far as I'm concerned that makes it official: there is now no place in Libya with a population over 15,000 that Gaddafi can rule without the presence of the army and security forces.

[pinboy3niner]

90. I think you're right

But the public hanging, without due process, is a war crime.


This is precisely the kind of thing the NTC is trying to prevent. While human rights orgs have said that the Gaddafi regime is so abusive that there is no comparison to the abuses on the other side, this only gives more ammunition to the Gaddafi apologist with which to demonize the FFs.

[Iterate]

100. What the Libyan people will have to deal with...

hasn't been addressed by anyone yet without the topic being used as a propaganda point. I don't know if this case would be a civil crime or war crime but either way you're right, it has to come under control.

Now that the post-Gaddafi era is at least in view I hope to see some discussion of the deeper, longer-term implications and changes, with compassion and without blame. There was one evening on Tribute FM when it almost came up, in the form of a discussion about Libyans taking some time afterwards for soul-searching about how they had enabled the monster. The discussion didn't go very far, but it was a start.

Gaddafi supporters or not, they have about 10%-15% of the population that has been brutalizing the rest, and that brutality has insinuated itself into the political culture. You really see it in the cellphone videos. Those are trophy videos. I don't know how you make that go away quickly, but leadership does matter. Law and due process matters.

Somehow the pattern of spying on each other and turning each other in to authorities, as through the people's committees, has to stop. There's the hard feelings over old property disputes and regime seizures whereby "abandoned" property was given away to favorites. Your property was considered abandoned if you were put in jail for 30 days (without charges). Whole towns were given over to loyalists.

XX% of the population has their employment through cronyism and patronage. I don't see that it's a majority, but even 20% would be a hurdle. The fact that the Gaddafi family controlled so much and it was so concentrated may actually make this step easier, but that's still a large number of wealthy and influential people and more than a few favored employees. The new, free Libya can't continue that pattern.

And the racism, to the yet unknown degree that it exists...I don't see that it's even been brought up yet in a context that isn't based on attributing it to one side or the other. Gaddafi no doubt made it worse, but like I said, time to look past his era.

Ug, that makes it all look impossible and I haven't even mentioned the role of women or the countless cases of broken minds, bodies, families.

So I'll pull back from that grim view and look at what we have seen from those who are now liberated -Nafusa, Misrata, Benghazi, even Kufra. Remarkable, hopeful, and inspiring.

[joshcryer]

104. Agree about "no place in Libya with a pop. over 15k that Daffi can rule without resistance."

And have to agree with pinboy3niner about war crimes. However, war crimes can be dealt with internally or externally. It would behoove the TNC and the ensuing government to go after whoever committed those crimes, even if they're unable to. We see Colombia after the FARC/AUC wars, and how it's now cracking down on past criminals, the same needs to happen here.

[pinboy3niner]

91. LIBYAN REVOLUTION DAY 174: CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:01 AM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, UTC +1 hour, GMT +2 hours

[tabatha]

93. Removing gaddafi land mines near the oil city BREGA 7 8 11

http://youtu.be/HkSkgBvbxuo

Kamis Kaddafi Visiting Tripoli NATO Humanitarian Bombing Casualties 09.08.11, War On Libya.mp4
http://youtu.be/bwv6o9eAWYk
"Libyan tv claims Khamis is visiting patients in Zliten but d hospital looks like Zawya street hospital in Tripoli."

[pinboy3niner]

95. LOL!

These bald-faced liars need some training in Propaganda 101. They're not very good at it. :)

[tabatha]

102. Another AJE poster

thier's a program on Liban kul Alahrar TV called belibi presntedby dr Warfili, on his show last night he reveled a telphone recoroding of Baghdai Mahmudi and Hejaz( Health Minister) and they were talking about the death bodies that were killed in te frontlines and been transfeered to Tripoli on how to convence their families to show thier bodies to media and balme Nato for it. what a lie?/

[JackRiddler]

94. "Rebels Advance On Brega" -- same headline for five months...

The Rebels Advance On Brega

March 4 2011: Rebels Advance Their Frontline in Brega, Libya
March 26 2011: Libya revolt: Rebels advance from Ajdabiya to Brega
April 4 2011: Libya: Rebels move on Brega as Gaddafi aide holds talks
April 16 2011: Libya Rebels Advance to Brega - Leader says key oil town within reach
May 13 2011: Libya Rebels Advance on Oil Town of Brega After Misrata Victory
July 18 2011: Libyan Rebels Advancing Toward Brega, Rebel Spokesman Says
August 6 2011: Libya rebels say they are advancing on Brega

Ah, the magic of propaganda in the NATO countries! The nice thing is, in another month, most Americans and even most Europeans still won't remember last months imminent Brega capture, or know where or what Brega is.

Links to original news stories for each of the above at
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2011/08/in-june-the-rebels-did-not-advance-on-brega.html

[tabatha]

97. They WERE always advancing, but they never got there.

BTW, NATO does not report on rebels movements EVER - it is Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters, etc.

The Rebels have gone back and forth a few times as you know.

[pinboy3niner]

99. Funny--the rebels penetrated into Brega today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1682477&mesg_id=1699607

[joshcryer]

103. What a sad show here. There are just as many articles for "rebels repelled."

April 1: http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/rebel-attack-on-brega-ends-in-stalemate/">Rebel Attack on Brega Ends in Stalemate
June 13: http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article261374.ece">Gaddafi forces repel rebels at Brega
July 15: http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-15/news/29776974_1_brega-spokesman-moussa-ibrahim-nato-forces">Libya says it repelled attack

etc, etc

edit: May was a dead month because after they lost Brega in March they decided to regroup. They've tried every few weeks since, training and practicing and getting their ranks together.

[pinboy3niner]

105. Hey, Josh!

Good to see you, bro! :hug:

[joshcryer]

106. You too pinby3niner!

Your efforts are so amazing! :hug:

[Iterate]

107. Sorry you were duped...

but if you'd followed the threads and more you'd have known the point was never to take Brega, it was to defend Benghazi and Ajdabiya while getting Gaddafi to move troops out of other areas, especially Tripoli.

It was a pump, and it worked very well. Month after month he shipped troops and weapons out across the desert to meet their Nato fate out away from populated areas and into a town with very few civilians. Now all they can do is take the long walk home. When he has nothing left to pump, the rebels will take Brega will a minimum loss of (civilian fighter's) lives.

The same thing goes for the imminent seizure of Zliten. Defend Misrata at a safe distance, pump those troops and weapons out of Tripoli. Same with Garyan. Same with the imminent attack on Zawiya or Sorman. Bi'r al Ghanam, same deal. Nice big empty desert right in front of it. Keep'em coming 'til none are left.

[tabatha]

108. Thanks, I was going to go into

GH's Brega = great big POW camp stuff, but you did it better.

[joshcryer]

109. Excellent point, Iterate. Can we call this the "Zapp Brannigan" defense?

:hi:

[pinboy3niner]

96. Envoys want NATO answers about strike on Libyan TV

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Russia, India and other U.N. Security Council delegations voiced concerns on Tuesday about NATO strikes on Libyan state television last month, saying they were awaiting results of a NATO investigation.


The criticism of NATO's strikes came on the same day Tripoli accused the alliance of killing dozens of civilians and highlighted deepening divisions on the Security Council over a six-month war that most delegations originally hoped would last no more than a few weeks.


Speaking after a closed-door meeting of the 15-nation council, at which the July 30 attack on the Libyan broadcaster was discussed at length, several envoys said they wanted NATO to clarify what happened and why the facility was targeted.

...


In Rwanda, the broadcaster Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines aided the 1994 massacre of some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by broadcasting lists of people to be killed and announcing where they could be found.

[tabatha]

98. Gaddafi has called for killings of people in Tunisia via TV

Giving location in hospitals and name information.

It is also believed that his message about Younes before he was killed, was not a fluke.

[pinboy3niner]

110. Libyan TV shows footage of Khamis Gaddafi

Tue Aug 9, 2011 11:15pm GMT


BERLIN Aug 9 (Reuters) - Libyan state television showed on Tuesday what it said was footage of Muammar Gaddafi's son Khamis, who rebels said last week had been killed, visiting Libyans wounded in an air attack east of Tripoli.


The Libyan government has denied rebel claims that Khamis, commander of one of Gaddafi's most loyal and best-equipped units, had been killed by a NATO air strike near Zlitan.


Libyan TV said the footage was recorded on Tuesday. If genuine, it would be the first visual proof by Gaddafi's government that Khamis Gaddafi was still alive.


Wearing a military uniform and an orange beret and bearing a striking resemblance to Khamis, a man was heard chatting to people the network said were wounded earlier on Tuesday in a NATO air strike on farmhouses near Zlitan.


http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE77818V20110809

[pinboy3niner]

111. Well, I'm ecstatic

To have Josh, Tab and Iterate all on the thread at the same time--along with me.

That's very unusual due to our respective schedules/time zones.

I think it's a real kick!

Love to my peeps! :hug:

[joshcryer]

112. Aww, pinboy3niner, you are the best. :D

Now I feel bad for having to "AFK" to walk the dog, and then, to play a stupid game with my brother in Vegas, heh. :P

[pinboy3niner]

113. Dont feel bad, Josh

Just keep the OP's coming.

That's all we ask. That's a lot of work, but you do it well.

And you have a team behind you to keep it going.

I've done a lot of the news posting, but when I can't be there, others step up.

It really is a team effort, and you're a very big pat of it.

We all have real lives, outside of DU.

And your dedication to this effort is beyond question.

So relax, and chill.

I think we're doing just fine.

[tabatha]

114. There's a rumor that something big has happened.

RRowleyTucson Robert Rowley
#Libya: People celebrating in #Benghazi, news from the front that cannot be broken yet. Stay glued to Twitter for details. #Feb17
1 hour ago

[joshcryer]

115. Week 25 part 2 here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1707930