Civil War in Libya

[Sarmatian]

You know what the fighters think, you know what the street protesters think. By your logic, do you really know what your own government is up to? Have you seen lengthy interviews with each and every member of the parlament? Are you worried about this?

No, but I have read and listened to lenghty interviews with most of the members of the government, president and most important opposition leaders. Quite a few of them, actually.

I have seen interviews with rebel leaders embracing democracy on the BBC (I believe they used that exact word), in the early days of the revolt. I cannot link to it as it is not easy to find it. You will, though, probably find interviews of a newer date where they express the same ideas.

I've seen Hashim Thaci embracing democracy after he dropped off another contingent of people to have their kidneys forcibly removed, but I digress. So, naming one of them shouldn't be too hard, should it? Know who your friends are, isn't that the plan? Shouldn't we be sure we aren't supporting some Saddam-wanna-a-be?

Given the unrest there as well as the small rallies in the capital (these kind of rallies are safe, remember?), do you honestly think the reality is much different? And what makes you think the situation in other cities is so much more different? What makes Tripoli, Zawiya and Misrata so special? Benghazi and Tobruk? Bayda? The list goes on - and nothing indicates that any of these cities are special cases.

I don't know but you seem to do. You're freely explaining the will of the Lybian people here based on a few words from random rebel fighters. Interestingly, there's quite a few CNN/BBC articles and news reports which source is "unnamed rebel".

This might all be true, but what you are doing is essentially cowardly sniping. It takes little to put forward ideas, what is harder is to actually back them up. I could just suggest that Serbia is a part of some grand conspiracy in Libya or elsewhere, a role which will not unfold before it is too late. Can you defend yourself against such a suggestion? Don't think so.

You might, but Serbia doesn't have a record of intervening in countries around the world, especially those strategically located or rich with mineral resources and energy. Additionally, unlike countries involved in Libyan intervention, Serbia doesn't have a history of colonial expansion, invading and regime changes in all four corners of the globe and most importantly, Serbia doesn't have the manpower, military and economic capabilities to pull it off.

Anyway, are the govts of Iraq and Afghanistan actually "Western puppets"? Doesn't really look like it.

Iraq is holding up better than expected, true, but Afghanistan can't take a leak without checking with Uncle Sam first.

[tibilicus]

Arab league now criticizes the actions of the US and others. Get a grip, what did they expect? For our planes to hover over gently and do sweet bugger all? The bombardment only hit military installations and were within the parameters of Resolution 1973. They shouldn't ask for our help and the distance themselves, this intervention exists because of them, there's no backing out now.

[Viking]

So, naming one of them shouldn't be too hard, should it? Know who your friends are, isn't that the plan? Shouldn't we be sure we aren't supporting some Saddam-wanna-a-be?

Names. I do not think of these people as particularly important - as far as we can see, neither of them have any personnel loyal to their names. They have their positions at the mercy of the revolutionaries.

I don't know but you seem to do. You're freely explaining the will of the Lybian people here based on a few words from random rebel fighters. Interestingly, there's quite a few CNN/BBC articles and news reports which source is "unnamed rebel".

The randomness is a strength of my assessment, not a weakness. They have also been scattered throughout the country. As I said, there is nothing indicating that any of the revolting cities are special cases. It thus makes utmost sense to extrapolate. Notice also how the pro-Gaddafi rallies are in Tripoli and not elswhere - presumably because it takes an extra effort to transport the pro-Gaddafi to other cities before filming them (read: he only has supporters in large numbers in the capital).

You might, but Serbia doesn't have a record of intervening in countries around the world, especially those strategically located or rich with mineral resources and energy. Additionally, unlike countries involved in Libyan intervention, Serbia doesn't have a history of colonial expansion, invading and regime changes in all four corners of the globe and most importantly, Serbia doesn't have the manpower, military and economic capabilities to pull it off.

That does not make you exempt from the duty to study each case individually and put up relevant arguments for each of them - such as explaining why they are the same, or not the same.

I could just move on to say that the arguments which represented above, is why Serbia is perfect for this conspiracy, nobody would expect them. Like this I may go on, and you can't really defeat me because I am vague and not representing my evidence.

Iraq is holding up better than expected, true, but Afghanistan can't take a leak without checking with Uncle Sam first.

The Americans haven't left Afghanistan just yet - I'd expect the country to slip further away from American control once they are out. In theory at least, democracy has been introduced, not a dictator that simply can be fed money and weapons.

Arab league now criticizes the actions of the US and others. Get a grip, what did they expect? For our planes to hover over gently and do sweet bugger all? The bombardment only hit military installations and were within the parameters of Resolution 1973. They shouldn't ask for our help and the distance themselves, this intervention exists because of them, there's no backing out now.

One wonders whether they actually buy the propagande from the Libyan state TV. In other news, Qatari aircraft are preparing to take part in the operation (BBC):

Meanwhile, US military chief Adm Mike Mullen says aircraft from Qatar are moving into position near Libya to participate in the operation establishing a no-fly zone.

Meanwhile, worrying reports are coming in from Misurata . One must hope that coalition aircraft can strike against the loyalists there sometime soon. The city better not fall.