RAF Tornados destroy seven Libyan tanks

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

April 09 2011 Last updated at 14:17 GMT

RAF Tornados have destroyed seven tanks in Libya as air strikes there continue, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The jets hit two tanks in Ajdabiyah and five in Misratah on Friday - areas which have seen fighting between rebels and Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops.

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A spokesman said the Tornado GR4 planes used Brimstone missiles and Paveway IV bombs.

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A total of 34 nations are now involved in operations in Libya.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13023800

[hedgehog]

1. There was a story on NPR about British forces destroying tanks

in the hands of the rebels. The British commander made a rather sniffy comment that he wouldn't apologize, claiming he hadn't been informed that the rebels had any tanks. The rebels claim that had informed NATO. It all makes me wonder if certain people are ensuring that if/when Quaddaffi is deposed, no one has the means to object to the installation of a puppet favorable to European interests.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. Miscommunication is common in war

There's no reason to assume that this was due to a plot.

[hedgehog]

8. Two words: Pat Tillman

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Sure, in that one case

Actual cases of miscommunication, no plot involved, are very common in war and always have been. That sounds like what happened in this case.

[Baclava]

2. Rebels retreat as Kadhafi's forces shell Ajdabiya

Can you say stalemate?


Fresh fighting broke out in the east of Libya in Saturday, as world leaders announced new talks to try and reach a ceasefire. Meanwhile emergency supplies reached the besieged western city of Misrata.

Reports say Moamer Kadhafi’s forces shelled the eastern town of Ajdabiya, the gateway to the rebel stronghold Benghazi and the launch point for rebel attacks on the Brega oil refinery. Opposition fighters had apparently attempted to advance towards Brega. Witnesses say they heard gunfire and several large explosions. Rebels were then seen retreating east towards Benghazi.

The African Union’s special panel on Libya will travel to the country next week, South Africa announced on Saturday.

The delegation will meet Kadhafi in Tripoli and rebel leaders in Benghazi. Talks will focus on “the immediate implementation of a ceasefire from both sides”, Johannesburg said.


http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20110409-rebels-retreat-kadhafis-forces-shell-ajdabiya

[Trajan]

3. Stalemate ?

The rebels are headed toward disaster ...

With an ill informed NATO force lashing out blindly in spasms ... The rebels have neither the hardware nor the numbers to engage the Libyan national forces to any significant effect ...

This is a forlorn effort, and will end badly for everyone except Quaddafi and his family ...

[Turborama]

4. Wishful thinking?

Just asking.

[Trajan]

5. Cynical realist

This was hopeless from the get go .... based on a hope that Quaddafi would cut and run - He didn't ...

I have no desire to see him remain in power, and I defy you to show evidence to the contrary ...

Wishful thinking my ass ....

[Turborama]

6. Thanks for clarifying your position

It's hard to tell these days.

ETA I'm an unrelenting optimist, FWIW.

[hedgehog]

9. How much effort has been made to give Quaddafi a place to cut and run to?

It's rather odd to expect a rat to leave when you've stopped up all the bolt holes. I am really of two minds about this; whether certain people are interfering with a spontaneous uprising in an effort to control the outcome, or whether certain people instigated the uprising in the first place.

[Trajan]

11. You presume too much

Your assertion demands some sort of perfect execution by Quaddafi's foes .... The evidence proves more bumbling and miscues than ideal execution ...

Quaddafi could choose a number of pathways, but why leave now ? .... There is no real threat to him - The NATO coalition, along with the rebel forces, as they are, offer no real threat in the long run ...

Everybody is free to have an opinion - That is mine .... I have been wrong before ...

[Keith Bee]

12. Sen. Inhofe almost tweeted that

tornadoes in Libya are not proof of global warming. Then an aide gave him his meds.