War In Libya Intensifies

Apr 25, 2011 by James

An unconfirmed image of Gaddhafi's final moments

Updates

October 20 – Gaddhafi has been KILLED!

The hunt for Gaddhafi is finally over. He has been killed by his own people and the Libyan people are already celebrating. Gaddhafi was initially captured in his birthplace of Sirte when fighting broke out between pro and anti Gaddhafi forces and he was ultimately shot in the head. His 42 years of terror came to an end in the way a violent dictator should go out; violently. Now the long road to a free and Democratic Libya begins. Source: BBC

The French defense chief says a French fighter jet, flying for NATO, fired on the convoy carrying Moammar Gaddhafi.

Al Jazeera has Colonel Gaddhafi’s obituary up already.

Al Arabiya reports Colonel Gaddhafi’s body has arrived in Misratah.

Video of Gaddhafi’s Capture before his death

“Gaddafi is dead, absolutely dead. He was shot in both legs and in the head,” National Transitional Council spokesman Abdullah Berrassali said.

NATO has confirmed that it hit a convoy belonging to Moammar Gaddhafi’s loyalists fleeing Sirte as the city fell Thursday, but say there are conflicting reports whether the ousted Libyan leader was in the convoy or possibly killed or captured.

The Misrata Military Council, one of multiple command groups for revolutionary forces, said its fighters captured Gadhafi. Another commander, Abdel-Basit Haroun, says Gadhafi was killed when an airstrike hit a convoy trying to flee.

Libya’s Transnational Council has claimed that they have captured Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

Unconfirmed reports are flooding in that Gaddhafi was killed in the final battle for the city of Sirte. He was trying to flee the besiged town when his convoy was allegedly attacked and he sustained fatal wounds. Some reports are saying he was captured however the American State Department says they’re unable to confirm any of the reports. Stay tuned for more updates.

Source: AP Source: BBC

End of October 20 Updates

Previous Updates Below

Gaddhafi’s long standing regime in Libya is quickly coming to an end thanks to the persistence of rebels who have been shedding blood for six months. The rebels have seized Tripoli and faced limited resistance from loyal supporters of the Gadhafi regime. Claiming rebels controlled 90% of the country and were days away from “a new Libya,” the rebel government said it is planning to move many of its key ministries to the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Wednesday. Gaddhafi remains defiant even though the World powers are now throwing their weight, and seized money, behind the rebel alliance. Gaddhafi vows to fight for years even though Western air power has severely limited his military capability. Gaddhafi spokesman Musa Ibrahim struck an equally defiant tone when he said government forces have the power to fight in Tripoli “not just for months — for years.” That doesn’t seem possible anymore as rebels seized Gaddhafi’s main compound in Tripoli and were looting thousands of weapons, ammo caches and big screen TV’s.

The international community has pledged its support for the rebels and are now working to free large sums of money that were seized from Gaddhafi. British Prime Minister David Cameron hinted that the UK would be the leading humanitarian force and has several hundred peace keeping troops ready to go at a moments notice. The international community does seen very wary of putting troops onto the ground however due to the fear that it may turn into another long fight like Iraq if the rebels cannot come together as one and choose what is right for Libya. One thing is certain though, the 42 year long brutal regime of Muammar Gaddafi is coming to an end. The man that preached power to the people is seeing how strong the people are.

The United States had originally only placed one foot inside the door in Libya and kept the other ready to bail but things are changing and fast. The same Senators and Congressmen who were saying that it was too late and we shouldn’t have gone into Libya are now pressing for ramped up efforts in what would be America’s 3rd war. Some are now even calling for the Obama administration to ignore the UN mandate that we agreed to so that we can provide the rebels with firearms and other weaponry as well as further support. Part of the UN mandate says that no foreign occupation force may step foot on the ground. In recent day’s NATO has utilized the United States’ predator drones to destroy targets which originally wasn’t an option for the Obama White House.

It appears as if both the United States and its allies are becoming concerned that this could become a very long and nasty war. Both sides are reportedly digging in and stockpiling weapons and ammo while NATO watches and only drops a few bombs a day. In what looks to be a warning to Col. Khadafy NATO reportedly targeted him when destroying a complex within his base. While assassination of political leaders is illegal according to international law it would certainly end our involvement in the conflict. In additon to the use of U.S. predator drones others are now calling for increased action by the U.S. Air Force’s fighter jets.

Senator John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and two other committee members called for immediate military aid for the rebels, stepped-up NATO airstrikes, and more direct US involvement.

John McCain said that U.S. air power could bring Khadafy to his knees. While John McCain is correct that would place the burden of responsibility on the United States. The U.S. certainly does not want to get involved in another stalemate that can cost billions but others disagree.

“The people around Khadafy need to wake up every day wondering, ‘Will this be my last?’ The military commanders in Tripoli supporting Khadafy should be pounded,’’ Graham said. “So I would not let the UN mandate stop what is the right thing to do. You cannot protect the Libyan people if Khadafy stays. You cannot protect our vital national security interests if Khadafy stays.’’

I’m not sure what our national security has to do with Libya considering they haven’t been a direct threat to the United States in a long time and we have been friends with Khadafy for awhile now. Most of the nations now bombing his regime have been the ones giving him the tanks and jets. Stepping up U.S. air power is probably the way to end this situation the fastest but thats as far as we should go. Listening to Lindsey Graham would just make us look bad. The only reason we acted in Libya was to ensure that the UN resolution had bite but if we ignore that resolution to do our own thing then we take away its bite. It would also open us up to further international scrutiny and pressure from Republican Presidential hopefuls to send troops in. We need to end this now before we get stuck knee deep in quicksand like we did in Iraq.

Source: Boston Globe