Posted on 10/13/2011 11:57:04 AM PDT by Cardhu
Libya's new regime fighters retreated under heavy fire from Muammar Gaddafi loyalists in his hometown of Sirte on Thursday as their leaders backtracked on an announcement they had captured one of his sons.
The setback came as the National Transitional Council backtracked on claims it had captured Gaddafi's son Mutassim.
The advancing fighters, who had been hoping to mop up the last pockets of resistance in two residential neighbourhoods in the northwest of the city, withdrew at least a mile to the central police headquarters they had captured on Tuesday, according to reports.
"We have been told to retreat to the police HQ and will be using artillery cannon to hit Gaddafi's forces," fighter Hamid Neji of the Martys of Free Libya Brigade said on the new front line.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Here are more Libya links. The first has a video on street fighting in Sirte. I wondered about all the water in the street, but a comment said it was from a broken sewer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEI23_ULAVs
The second is a long article summarizing and analyzing the whole long struggle and the politics behind it. There are a number of interesting comments some disagreeing with the author’s assumptions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/13/lessons-from-libya-obama-cameron-sarkozy
Given that Libya only has a 5 million population, whereas Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq all have more than 25 million, the doability of this fight was much more feasibile. In addition, the revolt was homegrown on a large scale, unlike in Iraq. Whether this will be a key factor as Syria plays out I can’t guess. I also suspect that Russia and China may have decided to not veto the UN resolution to support Libya in exchange for no military intervention in Syria. As to the tribes, I agree that in the cities they have on the whole not been a major factor. However, the amazing surge to Tripoli from the Nafusa Berbers was very important. They were not just a tribe, but one whose entire culture and language was under attack by Gaddafi, so I suspect their motivation was an order of magnitude higher.
Water no doubt from broken storm sewer- due to NATO bombing. However, many claims being made that forces of New Libya are diverting sea water into the tunnel complex(s) under Sirte itself. Reports of water coming up/out of entrance ways and air shafts to these tunnels.
Ah, flooding the tunnels. That would force the Gaddafi rats to the surface wouldn’t it. Tunnels have definitely been used in the past in warfare.
Okay, every week we hear from NTC that Libya will be won “by the end of the week.” This week, that would be tomorrow or the next day. We shall see.
From what I see there has to be more of them killed by “friendly” fire than snipers.
Thanks gleeaikin. It’s only a matter of time before Gaddafy’s overthrown and, uh, then the purges, ethnic cleansing, score-settling, and gang wars can start.
it is not Moutassim who is at large.
At large are NATO war criminals and their AQ allies on the ground who wage war of aggression.
So far, NATO's mass murder of civilians by aerial bombing can be compared to Hitler's bombing of Rotterdam, Coventry and London blitz.
Yes, one week follows another, and always with that same claim.
Another familiar claim is that they have captured some key figure, and then it turns out to be false.
The Libyan capital saw its first major gunbattle since Muammar Gaddafi fled Tripoli more than two months ago, as his supporters traded fire with revolutionary forces after a crowd raised the ousted regime's green flag.
...The violence in Tripoli and fierce resistance on two other fronts set back the new rulers' stated goals of declaring total victory and establishing democracy as Gaddafi, the ruler for nearly 42 years, remains on the run.
I have to admit, it's pretty darn funny.
Yes, except for the mass murder of civilians done daily by Al Qaida Airforce - USAF, RAF, and French AF.
NATO has a choice - to send ground troops (and body bags) or give up. Their AQ scum will be eradicated.
A major setback for CIA, green flag is flying even in Dernah, AQ heartland.
Establishing the government in Tripoli has good days and bad days, but at least they are trying.
http://news.yahoo.com/libyans-bulldoze-gadhafis-tripoli-compound-191327562.html
Thanks gleeaikin.
More on establishing a new society in Libya. Report on reopening schools. I think the photo shows a good mix of both boys and girls in the classroom. Lack of Islamic sex separation a good sign?
Futher reports on the struggle at Bani Wallid. Slow progress, but good news from pro Gaddafi TV in Syria. It appears that reports in August that son Khamis, of the dreaded elite military Khamis Brigade actually was killed.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/17/MNGO1LIQUB.DTL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.