Gadhafi vows 'long war' after US, allies strike

[faz]

Source: yahoo news

TRIPOLI, Libya – A defiant Moammar Gadhafi vowed a "long war" after the U.S. and European militaries blasted his forces with airstrikes and over 100 cruise missiles, hitting air defenses and at least two major air bases early Sunday, shaking the Libyan capital with explosions and anti-aircraft fire.

Despite the strikes, Gadhafi's troops lashed back, bombarding the rebel-held city of Misrata with artillery and tanks on Sunday, the opposition reported.

The nighttime barrage, mainly by U.S and British ships and submarines, marked the widest international military effort since the Iraq war. The international air assault came as Gadhafi's overwhelming firepower was threatening to crush the month-old rebellion against his 41-year rule. State television said 48 people were killed in the strikes.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/af_libya

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Looks like now the Libyan civil war has transformed into national defense war of against modern imperialist aggression.

[faz]

1. Now the civil war opposition has instantly become

the traitorous anti-Libyan force due to foreigners bombing, and immediately lost legitimacy.

The best solution would have been quietly support the rebels with everything they need, from the Egypt side. Wow, do we have wise strategists?

[tabasco]

8. Says you. n/t

[neoralme]

9. Yep. What we have done with this last minute send in the ships,

fire a bunch of cruise missiles then flee out of there is the worst thing we could have done. We have just claimed our participation, no matter what happens. I can't figure it out. It's all so duplicitous.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

34. Giving the rebels supplies would not help much

We could give them all the guns and food they can carry, and they were still going to lose. I haven't seen much that looks like a coordinated effort with a good leadership structure and good communications/coordination. They don't have any sense of ammo conservation, shooting into the air every time they see a TV camera. And they shot down their own airplane. How dumb is that?

Now we've done some bombing with missiles and B2's, so we're committed. I think the next step will be to send in advisors and trainers to help the rebels become effective. Boots on the ground.

:hi:

[faz]

2. And since Sarkozy the big mouth wouldn't commit ground troops

Bombing is not going to do a thing.

Think Iraq.

How many years had US been bombing them before the Gulf War II ?

[faz]

3. Also, there is nothing better to motivate and unite

the Libyans than telling them the international imperialist gangs are coming.

The bombing actually strengthens Gaddafi's grip on the country.

Unless the allied commits ground troops, it's going to be another long war.

[neoralme]

10. Exactly. The same thing would happen if the Israelis bombed Iran. This

has just made Gaddafi look like a courageous leader fighting the forces of American and European Imperialism. Christ, I just left this small coffee shop where I left some Goodwill stuff and they're taking donations for Libya and selling Gaddafi Donuts.

[sendero]

4. He "vowed" a cease fire also..

... his "vow" is worth a bucket of warm spit.

[bulloney]

5. The MSM gerbils are fanning the flames today, saying Gadhafi MAY have chemical weapons.

And he's like a cornered animal and you don't know how he will respond.

Yeah, this sounds like the same shit we heard about Hussein and it pulled us into that quagmire that we're still in at Iraq.

Ladies and gentlemen...the MSM has the credibility of a kleptomaniac in a jewelry store. The MSM has diminished its role to become stooges for the Military Industrial Complex and its enabling warmongers. What I'm saying is IGNORE THE MSM. All they want to do is divert everyone's attention away from the economic and social problems that are happening here in this country. Dream up a boogeyman in another country and make it seem like it's mandatory that we put on our military faces and invade yet another country that we'll occupy indefinitely afterward.

[bemildred]

6. Run while you can, windbag. nt

[tabasco]

7. Has Baghdad Bob applied for a job with Ol' Muammar?

Ol' Muammar could use him right about now.

[faz]

11. The French used to be called

"surrendering Monkey" by some of you guys before.

Now Sarkozy is acting tough.

[No Elephants]

28. Who is "you guys?" DUers?

[bemildred]

33. That was not us, we agreed with France, that was "you guys" that called them names. nt

[SnakeEyes]

12. 48 people killed

Another country, more of the same :(

[Bodhi BloodWave]

13. how many people died til now from Gadhafi bombing rebel cities? n/t

[former9thward]

16. Is that the excuse?

If it is why aren't we bombing Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Sudan and about a dozen other countries that have dictators killing their own people?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

25. just a question, not an excuse

some say 48 people dead is way to many(and it is, it is exactly 48 people to many to be honest) but the alternate question is also how many more would now have been dead if the UN had not intervened. I have a very strong feeling that the number would be a lot higher then 48

[SnakeEyes]

26. That's what the right wing said for the last 8 years?

It doesn't matter that the president has a D next to his name now. It's still wrong.

[WatsonT]

29. We have to kill them to keep them from killing themselves.

[daleo]

14. Maybe not a long war

But a long occupation.

Iraq=8 years.

Afhanistan=10 years.

[NorthCarolina]

15. Prediction time: Which of the multinational forces will be the LAST to leave Libya?

I predict the USA.

[former9thward]

17. Given we haven't left Germany or Japan since 1945 I would say you are right.

[WatsonT]

30. I would guess either the US

or France.

[Vinee]

32. Europe has more to lose/gain here than us but I'm sure the strongest wolf will eat first and most

[faz]

18. I predict these would be Obama's word very soon

"We are going in Tripoli, Baby!"

[rabs]

19. There was an anti-Obama protest today in Rio

One of the gripes was that Obama had announced the U.S. cruise missile attacks against Libya while in Brazil. Protesters were not happy with that.


Spectacular photo published today in O Estado de Sao Paulo.

[SemperEadem]

20. blah blah blah blah blah... stfu gaddafi

[bhikkhu]

21. "despite the strikes, Gadhafi's troops lashed back"?

bombing the city of Misrata?

That's an interesting way to build the narrative. Its more like if, say, a guy was beating his wife and the police came to the door, so he shot his dog in defiance.

[faz]

22. I just found this out

...health care and education in Libya are FREE to every citizen!


And we are still in the stage of Obamacare!

[Zorro]

27. Mussolini made the trains run on time...

And I just found this out...you've been TS'ed.

Whoops!

[OnlinePoker]

23. Has Obama even consulted congress on this?

Bush lied to congress to get into Iraq, but as far as I can tell, Obama hasn't even done that to start a campaign against Libya.

[faz]

24. Are you kidding

We don't need no **** Congress for a little war like this.

[No Elephants]

31. Good point. I wonder if being part of a UN approved mission affects

his obligation to go to Congress? Or, is this part of the war on "terror?"

[onenote]

35. Yes he has. Google is your friend.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/obama-consults-with-congressional-leaders-on-libya/2011/03/18/ABc4iNq_blog.html

Now, of course, if you're John Boehner and you have to criticize everything the President does, you demand "more" consultation.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/03/boehner-first-libya-strikes-ok-obama-must-consult-congress-furthe