Libyan "rebels"

[telecat]

I'd say that Gadaffi KNOWS how to hang on to power and doesn't care if the West doesn't like him. He's been there before and survived. The only chance the rebels have is if he is assassinated.

[MVDD]

telecat said:

I'd say that Gadaffi KNOWS how to hang on to power and doesn't care if the West doesn't like him. He's been there before and survived. The only chance the rebels have is if he is assassinated.

"Gaddafi" has a few thousand people on the streets against him. It's not a Tunisia or an Egypt where you have a vast percentage of the population demonstrating / rebelling. I agree with you and also think it's a lot down to the media sensationalizing the whole issue. Gaddafi isn't going anywhere without some very serious help from external forces (no pun intended). I have many Libyan friends and they all love their country and love Gaddafi.

[collateral]

Killing Gadaffi (never the same spelling twice ) wouldn't achieve much. Some other twunt from his regime would just step up pledging to 'continue his great work'

[Mr Dave]

JonnyFive said:

Surely, if Gadaffi does wipe out the rebels.. He won't be able to continue as leader? It just doesn't work, half your Country hates you.

By that reasoning, half the country doesnt hate him.

The problem for the west, the reason why we arent campaigning for "democracy" too hard is that in the majority of Libya, the people for the main part support Gadaffi. Life for most is pretty good actually.

In Libya its always been a country split east/west and its in the east that anti-gadaffi sentiment is strongest. However Gadaffi has bided his time, consolidated support and consolidated his forces and they are now being VERY effective against the rebels, yes the rebels took a lot of ground but that was when they werent facing proper opposition.

Classic tactics, rebel forces with hiluxes with a long supply line and a relatively poor leadership that hasnt faced real opposition, gets overstretched by rushing ahead of themselves, gets cut off from ariel bombardment then combined arms attack to finish, that is why we do not hear any more about this push into Tripolli Disorganised rabel against well disciplined forces, including many eastern european mercenaries.

Its very common in the middle east for people to sit on the fence until there is a clear winner then they jump in on that side, its smart practice really and nowmany are throwing their lot in with Gadaffi. I think a no-fly zone is too late and we have missed our chance to get rid of Gadaffi, which is a shame because of his support of the IRA, but on the other hand, us helping the rebels is very close to him supporting the IRA.

[MVDD]

JonnyFive said:

Surely, if Gadaffi does wipe out the rebels.. He won't be able to continue as leader? It just doesn't work, half your Country hates you.

It does make me think we should drop them off a few Typhoons and some pilots and have a fair battle.

Where do you get the idea that half of Libya hates Gaddafi? I've seen a few thousand people on the streets. Have you seen differently?

It sensationalizing by the media and these "rebels" will soon disappear and life will be back to normal. The news media are more interested in Japan now anyway. When we're "bored" of Japan, they'll be back trying to sensationalize the whole Libya situation and try to make the world believe that the whole of his country hates him.

[Bill]

Huge topic here:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?...