Rebels stream into Libya's capital

[discoberry]

Some news outlets are saying that Qaddafi's sons are dead, and others are saying that they both have been captured. I was watching Al-Jazeera, an hour ago and they were saying that one was dead and one was captured.

A convoy of rebels entered a western neighbourhood of the city, firing their weapons into the air. Rebels said the whole of the city was under their control except Qaddafi's Bab Al-Aziziya-Jazeera stronghold, according to al-Jazeera Television.

Qaddafi made two audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the rebels.

"I am afraid if we don't act, they will burn Tripoli," he said. "There will be no more water, food, electricity or freedom."

Qaddafi, in his second audio broadcast in 24 hours, dismissed the rebels as rats.

"I am giving the order to open the weapons stockpiles," Qaddafi said. "I call on all Libyans to join this fight. Those who are afraid, give your weapons to your mothers or sisters.

"Go out, I am with you until the end. I am in Tripoli. We will ... win."

A Libyan government official told Reuters that 376 people on both sides of the conflict were killed in fighting overnight on Saturday in Tripoli, with about 1,000 others wounded.

A diplomatic source in Paris, where the government has closely backed the rebels, said underground rebel cells in the capital had been following detailed plans drawn up months ago and had been waiting for a signal to act.

That signal was "iftar" -- the moment when Muslims observing the holy months of Ramadan break their daily fast. It was at this moment that imams started broadcasting their message from the mosques, residents said.

www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0821/Rebels-stream-into-Libya-s-capital-capturing-Qaddafi-s-sons/(page)/2

[kzn02]

Now the question is what happens next.

[Meshakhad]

Damn. Did not see this coming. And I'm happy - I was fearing a bloodbath.

Gaddafi is finished, no question about it.

[syaoranvee]

Honestly, wouldn't surprise me if the stronghold is rigged with a bomb if penetrated.

[Ellimist]

Rebellion recap pictures while we wait for the confirmation it's all over?

[Vene]

Aug 21, 2011 23:13:57 GMT -5 Ellimist said:

Rebellion recap pictures while we wait for the confirmation it's all over?

This one is the best

[kzn02]

Now cue back in America on credit-taking and criticism. And maybe some effects on the stock market?

[largeham]

No tears for Gaddafi, no cheers for NATO. The rebel leadership is scum and the way things are going, Libya will probably end up being a NATO vassal/puppet/something like the above two. Hopefully the Libyan people will decide their own future without NATO butting in.

[Yla]

These pics are really funny, where did you get them?

[Ellimist]

Various unsavoury places across the internet.

[Armand Tanzarian]

Aug 22, 2011 3:13:06 GMT -5 largeham said:

No tears for Gaddafi, no cheers for NATO. The rebel leadership is scum and the way things are going, Libya will probably end up being a NATO vassal/puppet/something like the above two. Hopefully the Libyan people will decide their own future without NATO butting in.

Same out here. But I tend to prefer to be given the opportunity of change (and the possibility of fucking it all up) as opposed to the horrible status quo.

I'm as on the fence about Syria as well. But while there is ample reason to not assist the protesters militarily as NATO did in Libya, there should at least be a progressive move to cut Assad off from outside resources. Assist the rebels if necessary. Attacking your own people with tanks is reason enough to warrant a humanitarian response.

[largeham]

I really hope something good can come out of this, and it is good that there is a chance for change instead sticking with a crazy megalomaniac proclaimed King of Africa. However, much of the rebel leadership is made up of ex-Gaddafi men, racists, religious extremists and pro-Western and privatisation quislings.
Also, much of the protests have been marked by anti-Semetism and anti-African racism. Not to mention the Africans who have been executed for almost no reason.
theredphoenixapl.org/2011/08/19/%E2%80%98funny%E2%80%99-anti-gaddafi-cartoons-reveal-rebel-racism-anti-semitism/
pajamasmedia.com/blog/democracy-or-jew-hatred-the-libyan-edition/
pajamasmedia.com/blog/mounting-evidence-of-rebel-atrocities-in-libya/
www.theage.com.au/world/africans-targeted-as-rebels-hunt-mercenaries-20110305-1bivv.html
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12585395
libyancivilwar.blogspot.com/2011/05/anti-black-racism-among-libyan-rebels.html
www.newsfrommiddleeast.com/?new=77978
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8365432/Libya-WikiLeaks-cables-warn-of-extremist-beliefs.html

The amazing thing about Syria is that some leftists and anti-imperialists are defending him. Western imperialism doesn't justify the same in the Arab world. I agree, moves should be taken to cut off Al-Assad from support. Freeze his assets and maybe send weapons to any rebels.

[big_electron]

news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/live-blog-gadhafi-releases-taped-message/?hpt=hp_t1

Gadhaffi's son wants cease-fire.

[Armand Tanzarian]

Aug 24, 2011 10:40:47 GMT -5 big_electron said:

news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/live-blog-gadhafi-releases-taped-message/?hpt=hp_t1

Gadhaffi's son wants cease-fire.

Too late for that innit.

[Whore of Spamylon]

Anyone else baffled as to why intervention in Libya, in comparison to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, was so unpopular upon its inception despite:

1. It was made clear from the onset that there was not going to be any formal occupation accompanied by a micro-managed, pie in the sky nation building effort?

2. It was further made clear that the operation would consist of surgical actions to fill in the gaps that the rebels could not fill themselves?

3. The opportunity presented itself because there was an active, emboldened rebellion that was facing down the gun barrel of an very serious, imminent threat (massacre of Benghazi), and considering the above in terms of logistics and capital spent it took minimal effort to address this dilemma (minimal in comparison to most interventions)?

If anything, this should serve as a blueprint, similar to the original Gulf War, as to how to conduct future intervention since it perfectly showcased where to draw the line as to how far one should intervention, but that may not resonate in the public's mind since the fiasco in Iraq and Afghanistan has soured the public's perception of intervention in general, and has done so without contemplation concerning the circumstances that made Iraq and Afghanistan fiascoes to begin with.