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About LinkBacks[VID]Originally Posted by hmmm
Christ. I read recently that
Bahrain employs non-Shia's
from Pakistan & the Yemen
for its security forces. Libya
could be different, as cities
such as Benghazi have always
been tribally opposed to the
Ghadaffi fella.
[VID]
Christ. I read recently that
Bahrain employs non-Shia's
from Pakistan & the Yemen
for its security forces. Libya
could be different, as cities
such as Benghazi have always
been tribally opposed to the
Ghadaffi fella.
6.62/2.46
In their (partial) defence, there is
an election on.
Nonetheless, RTE's news coverage
outside of car crash porn has never
been that great. Worst thing is, I
suspect market research may actually
agree with them.
6.62/2.46
Some interesting videos from Libya today, all of unconfirmed legitimacy. The situation sounds pretty desperate, the loyal Khamis brigade of the army is involved in putting down unrest in the East.
1. Facebook
Citizens with some heavy military weaponry in Al Bayda
2. Mesrata [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8oCXzsrVto]YouTube - Mesrata Protest Libya[/ame]
3. Army with protestors in Benghazi
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgj0mx-Iu6A]YouTube - ‫[/ame]
4. The town of Shahat after security forces were forced out
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-HbsN12Nc"]YouTube - ‫شحات يوم امس بعد الهجوم على المعسكر‬‎[/ame]
It's a bloodbath in Libya tonight, graphically illustrated as I listened to mortars landing in the background as BBC radio talked live to a doctor in Benghazi. Hundreds are reported dead (probably exaggerated) as people stormed a military base in Benghazi. There are reports from across the country of conflict between mostly unarmed protestors and loyal regime units. Police units in the East are reported to mostly be on the side of the protestors (they are the same tribes). The allegations are that Gadaffi has shipped in foreign mercenaries & his regime special units to attack the people as he cannot rely on the loyalty of normal army units.
Tripoli is still mostly quiet, with a heavy security presence.
Hmm @ #15 reminded me of the old one: "Things must be getting serious. Kate Adie has arrived."
What is happening in Libya is horrid (look it up, it's more forceful than you think); and, despite a bit of trolling above, condemned across the whole political left.
Even so, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria ... we in the West can and should do nothing, even if we speak volumes (Hague is on the BBC and, to his credit, making a fair fist of just that). We have precious little traction at ground level (though a bit of string-pulling in Bahrain may be working).
Meanwhile, back at the ranch: Governor Scott Walker is forcing through a Tea Party-approved budget in the US State of Wisconsin (Ohio and Michigan are right behind). He aims to load the fiscal burden on public employees (sounds familiar), by sacking and reducing benefits, by ending collective bargaining. Walker has even been reduced to sending state troopers to drag democratic party state senators in to make up the quorum. Three days now protestors have been on the streets of Madison.
No comparison? Of course not: nobody firing live rounds. Yet.
Apparently he's brought in black African mercenaries paying them $30,000 dollars each to do the dirty work.
Libya forces 'open fire' at funeral - Africa - Al Jazeera English
Alex Salmond and the SNP will give Ghadaffi asylum.
The Daily Mail -- the world's biggest cut-and-paste operation.
Libya protests: 140 'massacred' as Gaddafi sends in snipers to crush dissent - TelegraphSnipers shot protesters, artillery and helicopter gunships were used against crowds of demonstrators, and thugs armed with hammers and swords attacked families in their homes as the Libyan regime sought to crush the uprising.
"Dozens were killed ... We are in the midst of a massacre here," a witness told Reuters. The man said he helped take victims to hospital in Benghazi.
Libyan Muslim leaders told security forces to stop killing civilians, responding to a spiralling death toll from unrest which threatens veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi's authority.
Mourners leaving a funeral for protesters in the eastern city of Benghazi came under fire, killing at least 15 people and wounding many more. A hospital official said one of those who died was apparently struck on the head by an anti-aircraft missile, and many had been shot in the head and chest.
The hospital was overwhelmed and people were streaming to the facility to donate blood. "Many of the dead and the injured are relatives of doctors here," he said. "They are crying and I keep telling them to please stand up and help us."
Yes, its in stark contrast to RTEs reporting scoops when the Berlin Wall fell. I assume as an organisation they have piled on too much tiger cub puppy fat to be botherd making a move.
Yeah, sad news. Gaddafis sons being called in as head goons is no suprise. One wonders though if his brat pact will alienate and sicken more that they inspire.
I am loath to make a prediction on this one, I was wrong about Mubarrack, I predicted he could ride out the protests early on. My gut says the Gaddafis cannot hang on. The toll could be simply too high to sustain and the ability to destroy all oppostion is almost nil. I see Gadaffi falling, but again, fingers crossed he does. He and his clan should hang, which I think is whats on the protesters minds increasingly.
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