Oorlog in Libië #93: De slag om Tripoli laat niet lang op zich wachten

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:16 schreef MisterJ.Lo het volgende:

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Er is een grote maten van verschil tussen mensen die getraind zijn in het uitoefenen van hun beroep (en in dit geval vrouwen) of als burger (die nog nooit in aanraking is geweest met vuurwapens) het risico te nemen om gedood te worden.

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:16 schreef MisterJ.Lo het volgende:

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Er is een grote maten van verschil tussen mensen die getraind zijn in het uitoefenen van hun beroep (en in dit geval vrouwen) of als burger (die nog nooit in aanraking is geweest met vuurwapens) het risico te nemen om gedood te worden.

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:21 schreef zoefbust het volgende:
B-1B Lancer

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:21 schreef zoefbust het volgende:
B-1B Lancer

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:25 schreef rakotto het volgende:

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Total Destruction

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:21 schreef zoefbust het volgende:
B-1B Lancer

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The Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signalled that Turkey is ready to act as a mediator to broker an early ceasefire in Libya, as he warned that a drawn-out conflict risked turning the country into a "second Iraq" or "another Afghanistan" with devastating repercussions both for Libya and the Nato states leading the intervention.

In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Erdogan said that talks were still under way with Muammar Gaddafi's government and the Transitional National Council. He also revealed that Turkey is about to take over the running of the rebel-held Benghazi harbour and airport to facilitate humanitarian aid, in agreement with Nato.

Speaking in Istanbul at the weekend, Erdogan said Gaddafi had to "provide some confidence to Nato forces right now" on the ground if there was to be progress towards the ceasefire the Libyan leader wanted and an "end to the blood being spilled in Libya".

His comments came as Nato leaders met in Brussels to finalise arrangements for the alliance - with Turkey's participation - to take over the enforcement of the UN no-fly zone from Tuesday, as well as for the more controversial air strikes against Gaddafi's ground forces.

Meanwhile, rebel forces completed their weekend take-over of a string of government-held oil towns, including Brega, Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, with the help of heavy coalition air strikes on pro-Gaddafi forces. By Sunday night their Their rapid advance westwards is heading for the Libyan leader's home town and stronghold, Sirte, where two loud explosions were heard.

The Turkish government, which is playing an increasingly important regional role and has the second largest armed forces within Nato, has been at the centre of the argument within the alliance over Libya, publicly clashing with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Turkey opposed any outside military involvement before it began Erdogan described the idea of Nato intervention as a "nonsense" but has now agreed to participate in a non-combat role in the wake of the UN security resolutions and Arab League appeal.

His public challenge to US, British and French direct military intervention is likely to deepen Nato dissension and alarm western leaders who hoped Turkey had now acquiesced in the thrust of the Libya mission.

"We have been opposed to any unilateral action and we could never accept appeals such as that by the French minister for a new crusade," Erdogan told the Guardian, in a reference to comments made by France's interior minister, Claude Guéant. His government would carry out its obligations under UN resolutions. "But for Turkey, it's out of the question to shoot at Libyan people or drop bombs on the Libyan people," Erdogan said in reference to the emerging "no-drive zone" policy. "Turkey's role will be to withdraw from Libya as soon as possible" and "restore the unity and integrity of the country based on the democratic demands of the people", he added.

It was vital, Erdogan said, that "this deployment should not be carried out for Libya's oil. Of course there will be a price for these actions and no one can guarantee that Libya won't have to pay a price."

Repeatedly drawing parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan which senior Turkish officials regard as a serious risk if there is a military stalemate Erdogan said Iraq was "still paying a price" 20 years after the Gulf war of 1991. "I'm afraid we could see another Afghanistan or a second Iraq emerging. When western forces entered Afghanistan nearly 10 years ago, people were talking of it being over in days, and people said the same in Iraq. But a million have died and a civilisation has as good as collapsed. We don't want to see a similar picture in Libya."

If the conflict was prolonged, the Turkish prime minister warned of a backlash against countries now carrying out air strikes. "It will be devastating for the entire Libyan people, and the repercussions will not be restricted to Libya, but will have a direct impact on those countries that have intervened."

Erdogan added: "There is a civil war in Libya and we have to bring that to an end."

He had spoken to Gaddafi repeatedly before the air strikes and to the Libyan prime minister since, while Turkey's foreign minister was in close touch with the Benghazi-based opposition.

It was crucial that contacts were maintained with both sides, he said. "Gaddafi wants a ceasefire, this came up when I was talking to the prime minister, but it's important for those circumstances to mature. It wouldn't be consistent to keep shooting while demanding a ceasefire."

If the two parties to the conflict requested Turkey to play the role of mediator, the Turkish prime minister said "we will take steps to do that" within the framework of Nato, the Arab League and African Union. "We can never ignore the democratic rights and liberties called for by the people of Libya, and change and transformation can never be delayed or postponed," Erdogan said, adding that a leader such as Gaddafi, with no formal position, should be able to "lay the foundation for such a transformation".

Erdogan's AKP party and its programme of Islamic democratisation and greater national independence is widely admired in the Arab world, and Erdogan widened his warning to autocratic governments facing popular uprisings throughout the region: "Leaders who are resistant to change and their people's demands may find that brings an end to their being a leader."

Erdogan was also fiercely critical of European governments he said had misunderstood Turkey's embrace of "Islam and democracy simultaneously".

In its negotiations to join the EU, Turkey had faced "obstacles that no country had ever witnessed before," adding: "Never mind, we will do what we will do."

He was at pains to rebut criticism in the western media over the jailing of journalists caught up in the long-running investigation into an attempted military coup and claims that the government has used the case to intimidate sections of the press.

"These criticisms upset us very much," he said, adding that a total of 27 journalists had been convicted and jailed for crimes, including membership of terrorist organisations, coup plotting and sexual harassment. "Would that be accepted as normal in your country?"

None of these cases had been brought to court at the initiative of the government which, he said, had taken action to increase the independence of judges and prosecutors, and the efficiency and speed of the judicial process.

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:52 schreef yavanna het volgende:
Gaddafi's exit strategy?

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A well-informed Libyan source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has held a number of secret meetings with officials in the French and British governments, discussing the idea of his replacing his father for a transitional period of between 2 3 years, in return for a comprehensive ceasefire and negotiating with the anti-Gaddafi rebels.

The sources also revealed that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is pushing for assurances that Colonel Gaddafi and his family will be granted immunity from prosecution, and will not be legally punished in any manner.

The sources revealed that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's plan would see him take over control of Libya from his father during a transitional period during which Libya would transform from a revolutionary state to a democratic state that enjoys public and economic freedoms.

The rebel forces are gaining strength and momentum, moving westwards towards the center of Gaddafi's support in Sirte, and the Libyan capital Tripoli. The rebels have recently captured the cities of Ajdabiyah, Brega, and Ras Lanuf, and Gaddafi's aides are racing against time to prevent the inevitable toppling of the regime in the face of the rebels' momentum.

Asharq Al-Awsat learnt that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who has not appeared in public for almost a week, has been in contact with officials in the US, British, and Italian governments, in an attempt to submit the above-mentioned plan. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said that his country will present an alternative diplomatic plan to the British French plan, on London on Tuesday.

The Italian Foreign Minister said that NATO will take control of the Libyan operation no latter than Monday, saying "NATO will take over Sunday or Monday." He also revealed that he would be participating in a meeting of NATO members in London that is scheduled for Tuesday.

Frattini also revealed that he has spoken with Mahmoud Jibil, head of the Libyan National Transitional Council in Benghazi, who reassured him that the rebel council is committed to a united Libya, and will respect all of Libya's oil contracts.

Sources within the National Transitional Council also informed Asharq Al-Awsat that what is happening on the ground with regards to the conflict between the Gaddafi forces and the rebels, cannot be resolved by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's plan [to replace his father], stressing that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is nothing more than an extension of his father.

An official within the Libyan National Transitional Council told Asharq Al-Awsat that "this is just a new political maneuver, and we will not participate with this in any way, shape, or form. If Gaddafi wants a solution, he must leave power immediately, otherwise he should wait for us; we are marching on him and will meet him on his home territory, whether in Sirte or Tripoli."

Libyan Transitional Council spokesman Abdul Monem al-Houni told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Libyan rebels consider this proposal to replace Colonel Gaddafi with his son, Saif al-Islam, to be nothing more than an attempt to gain time and fool public opinion. He described this proposal as being nothing more than a test balloon being floated by Gaddafi, saying that in his opinion, Colonel Gaddafi has no intention of relinquishing power peacefully.

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Op zondag 27 maart 2011 23:57 schreef MangoTree het volgende:

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Ze zetten hoog in zeg.

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Op maandag 28 maart 2011 00:01 schreef Lagrinta het volgende:

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Uiteraard.

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Op maandag 28 maart 2011 00:02 schreef MangoTree het volgende:

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Dan nog. Het lef.

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Op maandag 28 maart 2011 00:02 schreef MangoTree het volgende:

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Dan nog. Het lef.