• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Protests rock Libya's second city

Andalublue

Hello again!
DP Veteran
Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Messages
27,101
Reaction score
12,359
Location
Granada, España
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Libertarian - Left
Now THIS is the one we've all been waiting for. Who, in all honesty, wouldn't like to see Gaddafi humiliated and chased from office into ignominious exile in Saudi Arabia or Russia? I would.

Thing is, unlike Mubarak, I think he controls the armed forces directly and with a rod of iron. I think there will be much blood spilled before he orders his helicopter evacuation from the palace rooftop.

BBC News - Libya protests: Second city Benghazi hit by violence
 
It's about damn time.

When some of these rulers have been around as long Gaddafi and Mubarak one wonders how much can people endure before they break under the pressure and the (fit hits the shin) so to speak.

I could not be more pleased with this one and Iran if they both work out in favor of the people.
 
It's about damn time.

When some of these rulers have been around as long Gaddafi and Mubarak one wonders how much can people endure before they break under the pressure and the (fit hits the shin) so to speak.

I could not be more pleased with this one and Iran if they both work out in favor of the people.

Wouldn't hold your breath on a positive outcome with this one, though. Gaddafi is nothing if not brutally efficient. He'll kill thousands to stay in power.
 
Wouldn't hold your breath on a positive outcome with this one, though. Gaddafi is nothing if not brutally efficient. He'll kill thousands to stay in power.

You are absolutely right. I understand how buoyed and excited oppressed people in the ME must be by the success in Tunisia and Egypt... but what they don't understand is that if Egypt's military had obeyed orders to fire on the protesters, the entire demonstration would have been over in the first couple of days, with casualties and fatalities in the thousands.
 
You are absolutely right. I understand how buoyed and excited oppressed people in the ME must be by the success in Tunisia and Egypt... but what they don't understand is that if Egypt's military had obeyed orders to fire on the protesters, the entire demonstration would have been over in the first couple of days, with casualties and fatalities in the thousands.

And of course that the military has been running Eygpt since independance. They have simply reasserted their control after Mubarack made clear his intention to hand over power to his son, thus turning Eygpt from a military dictatorship to a Somoza-style family dictatorship. All we have basically seen so far is the old order reasserting itself, although hopefully this will change. Nothing that revolutionary has actually happend.
 
"The puppets of the USA, the puppets of Zionism are falling."

Seems to me it wasnt long ago that Colonel Douchebag was pretty compliant with the wishes of the US...
 
4.02pm – Libya: Pro-democracy activists from cities where protesters have already taken control are reported to be converging on Benghazi to confront the regime. Much of the violence is being blamed on "mercenaries" brought in from neighbouring Chad. Eastern Libya has traditionally been less loyal to the Gaddafi government.

ShababLibya tweets:

More reports now coming from Derna: people headed to Benghazi with weapons from Police to fight Mercenaries, its all out war #Libya #Feb17

Crackdown in Bahrain: live updates | World news | guardian.co.uk

Read a report elsewhere that government forces in Bahrain fired on unarmed protesters using anti-aircraft guns.

Twitter of on the ground reporters is a good way to get a sense of what is going on:

Nicholas Kristof (NickKristof) on Twitter (New York Times)
Hadeel Al-Shalchi (hadeelalsh) on Twitter (associated press)
 
Last edited:
Crackdown in Bahrain: live updates | World news | guardian.co.uk

Read a report elsewhere that government forces in Bahrain fired on unarmed protesters using anti-aircraft guns.

Twitter of on the ground reporters is a good way to get a sense of what is going on:

Nicholas Kristof (NickKristof) on Twitter (New York Times)
Hadeel Al-Shalchi (hadeelalsh) on Twitter (associated press)

Just saw some disturbing video from both Manama and Benghazi on CNN. Also have heard of violent (though not deadly, apparently) in Amman.
 
Very, very moving interview this lunchtime with an ordinary citizen in Tripoli on BBC Radio 4's The World at One. It appears a lot of people are fearful that the government is going to use poisonous gas on the population of troublesome areas.

It'll be available on this link in about 1-2 hours. I do recommend you listen. It couldn't be putting the situation in clearer relief.
 
Back
Top Bottom