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.
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.