GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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So Gaddafi folds?
U.N. Approves Airstrikes to Halt Attacks by Qaddafi Forces
- Thread starter Incodcito
- Start date
GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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Saif says NY Times reporters to be released, so some of the family are folding.
Rebels dont look like folding, so interesting to consider what will happen now.
Rebels dont look like folding, so interesting to consider what will happen now.
Verbose
Deity
Possibly Ghaddaffi will take his foot off the accelerator, but instead start building up his forces for a proper offensive later on? At least he will entrench further. We could end up with a proper stalemated civil war in Libya...
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
He controls most of the country now, no? He's calling a cease fire because an assault on the remaining rebel strongholds would result in his forces being bombarded by French, British, American, and whoever else forces, leading to the destruction of his best units.
As it stands now the rebels control little and aren't even able to make a push to reclaim any of the recently lost territory, which would be a violation of the cease fire... which is maybe what he's hoping for - that the rebels, and not his forces violate the cease fire. It would give him an upper hand
He also knows that the coalition isn't allowed to deploy ground forces.. The long this drags out, the better for Gaddafi
As it stands now the rebels control little and aren't even able to make a push to reclaim any of the recently lost territory, which would be a violation of the cease fire... which is maybe what he's hoping for - that the rebels, and not his forces violate the cease fire. It would give him an upper hand
He also knows that the coalition isn't allowed to deploy ground forces.. The long this drags out, the better for Gaddafi
GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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Gov forces shelling Misrata.
Verbose
Deity
He does not yet control the second and third cities in Libya, Benghazi and Misratah, which otoh is right smack in the middle of western Libya, and he's trying to fight his way into right now. There are still a lot of Libyans not under his control, though it might have shrunken to less than half.
The fact that his forces have (might have? seems to be fighting still?) taken Ajdabia is strategically serious, because then he controls the start of the desert route to Tobruk, and is theoretically able to (dunno if he has the logistics for it in place yet) send his forces to take Tobruk, cut communication across the border to Egypt, and isolate Benghazi.
EnglishEdward
Deity
Merkel has of course announced that Germany will not particitate becaue a new German military engagement might cost her and her party votes in the short run. She didn't say the last part, but it's Merkel
Instead she wants to calm our allies with more engagement in Afghanstan, as if there's still something to be won over there..
Man, first blocking every european decision, then getting cold feet about nuclear power in Germany because of earthquakes in Japan and now and now just shutting her eyes and all but telling our allies "not our problem". Grow some backbone, woman.
I hate this government. It seems she'd rather not bother with any foreign policy at all.
Where are Rommel and the Africa Korp when they are needed?
Godwynn
March to the Sea
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We need Richard O'Connor in Libya.
Though I suspect the Libyan government would put up a better fight than the Italians.
Holycannoli
Deity
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That's the kind of thing I've been wondering. The UN only decided to act after it looked for sure the rebels were going to lose. It's so transparent.
It's also a brilliant move to call a cease fire, if it holds true. I haven't been able to pay attention to the news today but I heard this morning there was still shelling, so we have to wait and see. Do we still bombard their defenses if they ceased hostilities? Do we let the rebels do anything?
Gogf
Indescribable
So? Are we supposed to be some sort of detached neutral actor?
~Corsair#01~
Deity
As far as I can tell the UN have authorised not just a no-fly zone but any means necessary except ground occupation forces- so air strikes on Gaddafi's forces are a real possibility. Also, a joint statement by US, UK and France has insisted among other things that Gaddafi must pull his troops out of captured towns like Zawiya and Misrata.
Seems to me that these terms are basically designed to be unfulfilled in order to justify an attack.
Personally, I've been hoping that this would happen- if air strikes start then the fighting will escalate until Gaddafi is removed. Which is a good thing for everybody.
This should've been done a fortnight ago, but better late than never.
Seems to me that these terms are basically designed to be unfulfilled in order to justify an attack.
Personally, I've been hoping that this would happen- if air strikes start then the fighting will escalate until Gaddafi is removed. Which is a good thing for everybody.
This should've been done a fortnight ago, but better late than never.
I think it's against American law.
NedimNapoleon
Weird Little Human
From 1976 if im correct
More likely because it wouldn't be as productive. Attempting to read cunning genius into the aims here is probably the wrong way to go.
So is the general argument that we can do this in Libya because (a) it's convenient and (b) because most of the world agrees Qaddaffi is a bad guy?
Sure, why not? They seem good enough reasons to me.
