...Should the West Arm Libya's Rebels?

[Magnificat]

As far as I understand the situation NATO has the UN mandate to protect innocent civilians.

When you see children maimed as badly as we have in the last few days as far as I am concerned we should go straight in and wipe the bastard of the face of the earth. This is not like Afghanistan the are no terrain problems, for example,the US and our forces along with the French ( for once they seem to be prepared to be involved!) with our overwhelming weapon superiority could achieve this in a very short time indeed.

The UN is,of course, a completely useless organisation, it has, for example, done nothing about the long standing tyrannies in China and Zimbabwe.

In the end it will be The United States that decides what is done as it always does. I am surprised the Lockerbie bombing hasn't already made up their minds as far as Libya is concerned.

[BetweenTheStaves]

I know that the basics of research are beyond you, from past experience. Substitute 'militant Islam' for 'communism' and you might see what I mean.

But I'm not holding my breath

Edit: And today we learn that 'the tribes' around misrata are getting fed up with the NATO support for the rebels and plan to sort them out themselves. Well done the West!

Oh do some research first. Your words. The tribe that you refer to is Gaddafi's tribe and so of course they are fed up with NATO support. Doh!

And just what is it with your childish purple prose?

[Serial_Apologist]

And just what is it with your childish purple prose?

Well, you tell us!

[amateur51]

Oh do some research first. Your words. The tribe that you refer to is Gaddafi's tribe and so of course they are fed up with NATO support. Doh!

And just what is it with your childish purple prose?

Always a pleasure, BTS - are you by any chance related to Gilbert Harding

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13179837

Contained within the above you'll find the following:

"On Saturday Mr Kaim said tribes around Misrata had given the army an ultimatum that if it couldn't defeat rebels in Misrata, their fighters would.

He said tribal leaders were angry that fighting had brought life and trade in the western city to a standstill.

But the loyalties of different tribes are not certain, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

While some groups may be supportive of Colonel Gaddafi, others, including the non-Arab tribes of Misrata, rebels say others have been fighting on their side.

There were conflicting reports about whether forces loyal to Col Gaddafi had pulled back from the centre of the city."

This rather gives the lie to your ill-tempered & typically poorly-researched assertion above.

As someone whose first language was not English, I take your reference to ;'purple prose' as a compliment. Thank you kind Sir!

[Freddie Campbell]

...Come on Simon- you know there is summit to say!

[BetweenTheStaves]

Always a pleasure, BTS - are you by any chance related to Gilbert Harding

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13179837

Contained within the above you'll find the following:

"On Saturday Mr Kaim said tribes around Misrata had given the army an ultimatum that if it couldn't defeat rebels in Misrata, their fighters would.

He said tribal leaders were angry that fighting had brought life and trade in the western city to a standstill.

But the loyalties of different tribes are not certain, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

While some groups may be supportive of Colonel Gaddafi, others, including the non-Arab tribes of Misrata, rebels say others have been fighting on their side.

There were conflicting reports about whether forces loyal to Col Gaddafi had pulled back from the centre of the city."

This rather gives the lie to your ill-tempered & typically poorly-researched assertion above.

As someone whose first language was not English, I take your reference to ;'purple prose' as a compliment. Thank you kind Sir!

It is interesting to revisit this thread and in particular your comments in light of recent events. I had not thought that you were so gullible as to quote verbatim the propaganda put forward by Kaim or is it that you only selectively quote viewpoints that support your very quaint world-view?

[Simon]

I had not thought that you were so gullible...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Since the West has already recognised the "Rebels" as being the legitimate government of Libya, it seem strange that they are still being labelled as such. Surely the terminology should be reversed, the "rebels" now being Col Gaddafi and Co.

[amateur51]

Since the West has already recognised the "Rebels" as being the legitimate government of Libya, it seem strange that they are still being labelled as such. Surely the terminology should be reversed, the "rebels" now being Col Gaddafi and Co.

Good point, EA!

But if you follow BTS' and Simon's "logic" you are not permitted to change your 'quaint worldview' as events roll out

Which is why they're both Neanderthals

Grubs and berries, anyone?

[scottycelt]

I deplore this current blatant prejudice against Neanderthals ...

[ahinton]

Another paid-up member of the emoticons-only club, I see (with no great surprise); are you its chairman and Mr Pee its CEO or is it the other way around?

You've not even written anything in this thread even after being invitied to do so! (not that I'm conferring any kind of obligation upon you, oh, no, siree!)...

[Mahlerei]

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the transitional council is just a rag-bag of disaffected parties, all of whom want something different from the new Libya. Unless they present a united front - and soon - the country will become ungovernable. As it is there are no core institutions to keep the country going. And what of Libya's fabled gold reserves? Where are they and who is making sure they aren't pilfered, as they were in Tunisia?

I had to smile at Davey and his mates all summoning the council for meetings next week, fully expecting some sort of payback. What's the bet they won't get it?

[amateur51]

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the transitional council is just a rag-bag of disaffected parties, all of whom want something different from the new Libya. Unless they present a united front - and soon - the country will become ungovernable. As it is there are no core institutions to keep the country going. And what of Libya's fabled gold reserves? Where are they and who is making sure they aren't pilfered, as they were in Tunisia?

I had to smile at Davey and his mates all summoning the council for meetings next week, fully expecting some sort of payback. What's the bet they won't get it?

He's lost his touch since Coulson left his employ, I reckon

There was a man who knew how to handle tricky financial negotiations :smiley

[scottycelt]

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the transitional council is just a rag-bag of disaffected parties, all of whom want something different from the new Libya. Unless they present a united front - and soon - the country will become ungovernable. As it is there are no core institutions to keep the country going. And what of Libya's fabled gold reserves? Where are they and who is making sure they aren't pilfered, as they were in Tunisia?

Sadly, I tend to agree with the sentiments expressed in those first three sentences ...

A BBC reporter on the ground attempted to reassure us this morning by stating that many of the 'rebels' he had interviewed are teachers, surgeons, doctors etc ... well, presumably they stepped forward because they were probably the only ones who can actually speak English? . If the screaming gun-toting mobs that we see daily on our TV screens are representative of the professional classes in the country, then God help Libya! The likely final removal of the thug and gangster Gaddafi is welcome but it remains to be seen whether what follows will be any better for the country or the rest of the world. Another military dictator may well emerge amid the current violence and chaos, so what does Nato do then? Hopefully, that view proves to be over-pessimistic, but it's going to be a close-run thing, I fear.

As to Libya's gold reserves I understand that these are scattered around the world with $12bn worth in the UK alone.

[Simon]

Since the West has already recognised the "Rebels" as being the legitimate government of Libya, it seem strange that they are still being labelled as such.

Not really so strange, Alpen. It's the media that is doing it; reporters are not necessarily bright nor perceptive, and I expect it will carry on thus for a few more days untill things settle down.

Most politicians, and those with business interests in the area, are no longer referring to the erstwhile rebels as rebels, but as the provisional government or some such similar phrase.

o o o o o

As to commenting further, Mr Hinton, there's no point, in my view, based on what's been said already. BTS has adequately dealt with the incorrect or misinformed ideas. Besides, I made the only points I needed to on another thread, all based on knowledge rather than fantasy and most proved correct by what has happened.

There's no point arguing with people who seem neither to understand reality nor to be at all concerned for the plight of anyone but themselves.

o o o o o

And as regards emoticons, I see no problem with using them if they get across the message. "A picture is worth a thousand words", etc. Of course, those against whom they are directed may well object. I don't have a problem with that: it's all part of the cut and thrust of debate. I've had plenty directed at me - some of which have also been successful in their message. I don't have a problem with that, either.