Libya carnage: 'IT WAS REALLY LIKE WE ARE DOGS'

[pinboy3niner]

Source: AP


'IT WAS REALLY LIKE WE ARE DOGS'

Protesters hit by hail of gunfire in Libya march
By Bassem Mroue and Paul Schemm, Associated Press
Posted: 02/25/2011 12:49:17 PM PST
Updated: 02/25/2011 12:51:57 PM PST

BENGHAZI, Libya -- Militias loyal to Moammar Gadhafi opened fire Friday on protesters streaming out of mosques and marching across the Libyan capital to demand the regime's ouster, witnesses said, reporting multiple deaths. In rebellious cities in the east, tens of thousands held rallies in support of the first Tripoli protests in days.

Protesters described coming under a hail of bullets as they tried to march from several districts around the city toward Tripoli's central Green Square. One man among a crowd of thousands said gunmen on rooftops and in the streets opened fire with automatic weapons and even an anti-aircraft gun.

"In the first wave of fire, seven people within 10 meters (yards) of me were killed. Many people were shot in the head," the man, who was marching from Tripoli's eastern Tajoura district, told The Associated Press. "It was really like we are dogs."

"We can't see where it is coming from," another protester from Tajoura said of the gunfire. "They don't want to stop." He said a man next to him was shot in the neck.

Read more:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_17482973?source=rss


The death toll is likely already in the thousands (one Turkish evacuee who had been in Tripoli estimated 5,000 killed by mercenaries and Ghadafi's infamous 32nd Brigade led by his son, Khamis). There are widespread reports that bodies are being collected from morgues, hospitals and the streets and taken to mass graves elsewhere to conceal the extent of the killing.

The Libyan people are wondering: "Does the world even care?

[Matariki]

1. Gaddafi looks like he wants to get EATEN. Not just removed from power.

This is too terrible.

[pinboy3niner]

29. He's deluded

He thinks he can throw a few sops to the people and retain his power.

There is speculation in the media about the possibility that he might commit suicide. From all we know about him, that notion seems ludicrous. For one thing, I don't think he has the courage to do that.

He looks, more than anything, like what Rumsfeld called a "dead-ender." He's in it to the bitter end--no matter what it costs in the blood of the Libyan people.

[Desertrose]

2. The world does care...I hope they are getting that message somehow.

Qaddafi is just completely nuts....I can't imagine all the killings....and over 42 years. I shudder to think.

[pinboy3niner]

3. "These were mercenaries firing into the crowd"

Report coming up on CNN soon featuring evacuee's eyewitness account from Tripoli.

[BeFree]

4. BBC today

It's coverage never even mentioned all the dead and the killings. The other day they did mention it.

The Beeb is run by the govt. in BP's homeland, right?

[pinboy3niner]

5. I haven't followed BBC today

They had done some good reporting earlier, iirc.

NBC's Richard Engle and CNN's Ben Wedeman have been doing good reporting from inside Libya, and Al Jazeera has had extensive coverage.

Catherina's live threads on tweets coming from Libya are full of reports on events throughout Libya. (Tweets are slow at the moment, as it is the middle of the night there--approaching 3 AM). These are mostly unconfirmed reports, of course, but Catherina has winnowed the material to sources she has found to be the most reliable. Besides twitter messages, the threads also include media reports and other sources.

The more coverage, the better. We may be powerless to do a single thing to help those whose lives are in grave danger in Libya, but there is one thing we can do--we can bear witness.

[BeFree]

6. Yep

That's why the Beeb struck me funny today. Past coverage was pretty good but today it was like:

""Oh they have a problem there but otherwise... "" its like the beeb decided to downplay the carnage that Catherina's tweets have borne witness too.

[pinboy3niner]

9. It's a good question

Thanks for noticing that. I usually only see their print reports, not the live coverage, but you've aroused my curiosity. I'd like to see how their coverage goes from now on. It would be a damn shame if your observation is correct.

[Turborama]

10. No, the BBC is not "run by the government"

It is publicly funded, British TV owners have to pay a "licence fee" which goes to the BBC, but they are not "run by the government".

In fact, Britain, unlike America, has strict TV impartiality rules in place.


http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code/impartiality/

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/

[BeFree]

12. Ah, thanks

So, they get paid by the government? The British government where BP is the real king?

Just wondering.

[Turborama]

13. No, they don't get paid by the government. British citizens fund them directly

via paying the compulsory licence fee to them. Like I explained above.

The government controls how much the fee is, but they don't pay it.

People do.

Individually.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/licencefee/

[BeFree]

16. Heard the Beeb's budget just got cut.

Did license fees decline?

[Turborama]

19. I know this is nothing to do with the OP but I'll reply to help keep it kicked

What are you suggesting? That the British government personally make money out of the licence fee?

No matter how hard you try, the fact will remain that the BBC is not "run by the British government".

[BeFree]

20. The Beeb's budget got cut. How? Why? Who cut it?

If you can't answer the question, that's ok.

I am suggesting the Beeb is under great pressure to tell the story a certain way.
From what I have seen and heard, it sure seems they have been manipulated.

[Turborama]

21. Link to the news about the cuts you are referring to

Otherwise, "heard" = just a specious argument made up in "cyberspace" by an anonymous person.

:kick:

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turborama]

25. You have no link to the cuts you're talking about then?

How can we discuss/debate something you have no details on?

It is just a specious argument until you do.

:kick:

[BeFree]

30. Huh?

I 'Heard' about this directly from the BBC.

I don't get all this... what is your problem?

Your comment is just BS:
""Otherwise, "heard" = just a specious argument made up in "cyberspace" by an anonymous person.""

Your conversation, tho, does hit your mark. A specious argument by anonymous person.
What is it we're supposed to be arguing about? I don't have a clue.

[Turborama]

31. Correct. You don't have a clue

You started off with a wrong statement that the BBC is run by the British government.

You have been corrected.

For some reason you are trying to prove that they are by coming up with a story about cuts which you "heard".

Unless you can come back with a reference to what you "heard" then it's just hearsay.

I have read a lot of articles about the BBC and cuts.

Here's one where Britain's Prime Minister moans about the BBC talking about them too much.

Cameron condemns the whingeing BBC: It's the British Broadcasting Cuts Corporation, he says
By DANIEL MARTIN
Last updated at 11:07 PM on 25th February 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1360786/David-Cameron-brands-BBC--British-Broadcasting-Cuts-Corporation.html?ITO=1490

LOL Yeah, he's really in control of what the BBC does or doesn't broadcast, isn't he.

Hopefully you have more of a clue now.

Oh, and... :kick:

[BeFree]

32. Right

I don't have a clue what your problem is.

Again... what I heard was what the BBC told me, ya know, on the boob tube.

And what I saw and heard on the Beeb boob tubing, was that one day they were talking about hundreds dead and the next they didn't even mention the deaths, the mass graves, the mercenaries, the bombs.

And so, I was wondering and connecting what I heard and saw on the Beeb, with the rest of today's M$M ways of manipulating information to help elites, with the thought that maybe the Beeb is being manipulated as well?

Which is a very good question.

[Turborama]

33. Oh, ok

My "problem" is with people who come up with wrong statements/conspiracy theories, won't accept they were wrong when proven so and just won't let go of it.

" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=510283&mesg_id=510512">BBC today

It's coverage never even mentioned all the dead and the killings. The other day they did mention it.

The Beeb is run by the govt. in BP's homeland, right?"

1st: In answer to your question, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=510283&mesg_id=511047">I explained to you that the BBC is not "run by" the British government.

2nd: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=510283&mesg_id=512404">I watched the BBC at a randomly chosen hour and their main story was about Libya and they covered it for 11 minutes.

Damn, forgot again... :kick:

[pinboy3niner]

22. Thanks for all your info, Turborama

Still, I think it's fair to question whether or not coverage is affected by any government influence or pressure.

I have no idea if the observed dropoff in coverage is accurate or not. But if it is accurate, it's fair to ask why?

Thanks for the kick. It's sickening to watch reports on Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan while these atrocities are going on. On CNN, Piers Morgan actually featured some good reporting on Libya tonight--juxtaposed with a segment on Sheen!

Solidarnosc, brother! Thanks again for all you bring here...

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[Turborama]

24. I get "BBC World" on TV and to give accuracy will switch from Al Jazeera English to see...

...if these accusations are accurate.

I am no defender of the British government, as you know, but I do think BBC World provide some of the most objective and wide-ranging news broadcast across the world.

The British channel which I'd be more suspicious of being linked to Britain's ruling party is Murdoch's Sky News, who's sister newspaper tabloid "The Sun" backed Cameron during the election, has an extremely subtle pro-Tory slant and has very close ties with Cameron and his party.

Rightbackatcha!

T

[Turborama]

27. Main story on BBC World, talking about the slaughter and the freezing of Gadaffi's assets

Then a report discussing the UN sanctions & what Libya's former ambassador to the UN and other former Libyan diplomats are saying and studio discussion with a Libyan journalist about it.

Then they were talking to a BBC correspondent who is in Libya about what's going on there.

Back to a Libyan journalist in the studio to discuss what might happen next with the "mad man and his mad son" - the possibility of Gaddafi using his heavy artillery and war planes on Libyan citizens.

So, 1st 11 minutes were all about Libya.

[BeFree]

34. Possibility?

See, from earlier reports, it wasn't a 'possibility', it was a FACT that heavy artillery and airplanes were being used.

Thank you for confirming what I am complaining about.

[CommonSensePLZ]

7. Nearly his last stand

When he's captured and tried I bet you he's gonna be JUST LIKE SADDAM - Cocky, loud, rude, pretending he's still in charge and when found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death No! Please! I don't want to die! I'm sorry! D'=

I shouldn't, but I'm gonna especially enjoy watching that big-mouthed kid of his squirm, the one who said he'd rather kill everyone in Libya than not be in power. :evilgrin:

[tekisui]

8. I doubt he'll make it to trial. It seems that he is begging for assassination.

[Turborama]

11. It looks like we are witnessing another Rwanda happening right before our eyes. See missing graphic

[joshcryer]

14. Do you advocate an invasion?

[Turborama]

15. I advocate a no fly zone.

What do you advocate?

[joshcryer]

17. Same. Also, humanitarian aid.

Trying to understand the sentiment from DUers, half the time it's no intervention, the other half it's intervene, no clear idea of if they mean militarily, or what.

At the bare minimum Gaddafi must be stopped from shipping in mercs.

[pinboy3niner]

18. Humanitarian aid is critical

Both now, and in the aftermath.

The tweet messages from Libyans indicate a range of views on establishment of a no-fly zone--some plead for it, some absolutely reject it, and some have conditions. Pretty much the same as DU.

Humanitarian aid, though, is something all can agree upon.

[tuckessee]

26. You're more right than you think.

NPR interviewed an evacuated Turkish oil worker who said that anti-Ghadafi forces massacred 30-40 of his sub-Saharan African co-workers as a reprisal for the fact many of Ghadafi's mercs are of the same color.

[pinboy3niner]

28. Testimony of the evacuees...

...is corroborating the accounts that Libyans have been relating for days now, with few listening or giving them credence.

The world is only now beginning to wake up to the horrors that are occurring in Libya.

I heard one evacuee say on cable news today, "I SAW CARNAGE" and "THIS IS A HORRIBLE CRIME!"

[pinboy3niner]

35. "where is the world, your country's silence will never be forgotten...."

--From a tweet out of Tripoli this morning
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=514448&mesg_id=514692