Gadhafi Ducks Death in Minds of Rebels
- Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:45pm by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
PARIS (AP) — Libya’s rebels want to drive Moammar Gadhafi from power and see him tried — not have him killed, a European representative for the leading opposition group said in an interview Monday.
Ali Zeidan, an envoy for the Libyan National Transitional Council, also told The Associated Press that airstrikes led by France, Britain and the United States have helped the rebels, but that the opposition needs more weapons to win.
His comments suggested that rebels were considering a peaceful exit route for Gadhafi, whose autocratic 42-year reign in Libya has been marked by bloody battles between loyalist forces and rebels in recent weeks.
“You see, Gadhafi himself, we are able to target him, and we would like to have him alive to face the international or the Libyan court for his crime,” Zeidan said. “We don’t like to kill anybody … even Gadhafi himself.”
Western leaders have said allied missile strikes from air and sea since Saturday aimed to stop Gadhafi’s forces from harming civilians under a U.N. Security Council resolution have neutralized the government’s air defenses.
The rebels don’t want any international forces to invade the country and believe “we are able to deal with Gadhafi’s forces by ourselves” as long as it’s a fair fight, Zeidan said.
Even as combat continued, Zeidan said rebel fighters were only firing in self-defense — and were seeking to honor the ceasefire called for under the Security Council resolution.
“We have respected that, we are going to respect that, but if Gadhafi should shoot us, we will have to defend ourselves. He does not respect that,” he said. “(If) somebody starts to shoot, what, are we going to kiss him?”
The opposition hopes that international forces will wrap up their campaign “as soon as possible,” so that protesters can return safely into the streets to demand — peacefully — for change in the government, Zeidan said.
Earlier Monday, Henri Guaino, a top adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, said allied military intervention likely to last “a while,” and that the U.N.-mandated goal of protecting civilians is not “totally achieved.”
France was the first country to give diplomatic recognition to Libya’s opposition and Sarkozy pushed hard for Arab world support for the no-fly zone authorized by the Security Council. While not called for under the U.N. resolution, Gadhafi’s ouster is a key aim of France and the rebels.
“Gadhafi must disappear. He should leave as soon as possible,” Zeidan said. “We would like to establish a new state on the basis of democracy … we do not want an Islamist government.”
He said his movement’s long-term goal is to improve education, health care and bring back 50,000 educated Libyans living in the United States and Europe to Libya to restore the country’s intellectual fabric and economy.
Zeidan, who is based in Munich and has been traveling to European capitals to press the rebels’ cause, spoke to the AP ahead of meetings with French officials.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 690 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 487 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 375 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 337 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 326 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 310 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 326 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 224 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 310 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (54)
Jeffyb73
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:25pmI’d like to see Gaddafi gone too, but it makes me mad when these dumbass rebels ask the world for more weapons and then we see video of them wasting all their ammunition by shooting into the air to celebrate! Hey, guys, save some for the enemy!!!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:17pmOk… I have to ask. If & when Gadhafi is gone, who takes his place? Who exactly are these rebels/protesters? Seriously… who are they? Who is supporting them? Whose side are we as Americans supposed to be on? I like what ITS GONNA GETCHA said. God will set things right. But I still worry.
Report Post »restoretheusa
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 6:47pmSay what you want about Moammar but out of all the dictators in the region, he is the most fashionable. With all the things to be done in a dictators everyday life he still finds the time to look great! You go Moammar!
Report Post »Determinatus
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 6:39pmI think the photo at the header of this report is quite telling. The hand gesture he is giving for the photo has a different meaning in his world, than the one we know.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 6:36pmObama has turned America’s image in the world to that of a dirty wet mop used to clean the hallways of the UN. We are no longer A WORLD LEADER! France? England? Yeah, them. The Obama Administration has done in twenty-sex months what Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union couldn’t do in nearly a full century, CUT U.S. DOWN TO SIZE!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 6:37pmYeah, yeah, I meant “six” not sex…….That was when the other guy was in!
Report Post »Fight for America
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:26pmWe’re dropping millions and soon billions of dollars into this military offensive. And who will reimburse us? No one.
And we will eventually be called the bad guys.
Okay now let’s think about this – we’re spending our money, risking our people and we‘re supposed to be really really careful this man doesn’t die during the strikes?
You’re kidding right?
Where did our sanity go. Take a hill, give it back, more Americans die, take a swamp, give it back and eventually rebuild the countries we’re fighting. That’s not war, that’s stupidity.
In war, you fight to win not to place or show.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:15pmA lot of people in the older, way older, generation are extremely nervous about this decision on Libya. They are used to leaving a lot of chaotic people to themselves. Not sure what the corrrect choice is, but perhaps God allows for a wormhole where all the choices meet, so no matter the choice, there will be a preponderance of energy towards the correction path.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:19pmIts Gonna Getcha – Good comment. I worry about the future. In the end, God will remedy the situation.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 12:15pm@dontbotherme – Thanks. The worry is justified. God Bless.
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:52pmThose rebels can’t get to Qaddafi.
Since the globalist-backed rebels have FAILED, now the UN thinks it can order other countries to use military force against a sovereign nation to interfere with its internal affairs.
I don’t like Qaddafi either, but even Putin says this UN resolution gives any country license to use military force against any other country in the name of “humanitarian aid”, which really means “Our destabilization program is at the brink of failure, and our rebels that we armed and pay have been driven back, so now it’s time to use the force of war under the guise of humanitarian aid”.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:17pmI can’t believe we are invading another country and very little opposition ?
Report Post »Just wait until their sons and Daughters get drafted to fight in a few years
down the road.
We will reap what we sow.
Sinsta it makes me wonder if Qaddafi is apposed to the NWO ?
TrumpHuntsman2012
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:43pmAs long as there are more Mohammads than Thomas Jeffersons in Libya or elswhere in the Middle East, leaders like Zieden will never prevail. Islam is at the very heart of their culture. I know many young Arabs ‘try on’ Western secular democracy for a while but ultimately they go back to Islam.
Report Post »CarolinaGirl
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:42pmThis is one ugly looking, vile man!
Report Post »football lady
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:36pmYes, butt ugly.
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:29pmHe may have ducked death but good God almighty did he ever get a beating about the head and shoulders with a great big ugly stick.
Report Post »kspatriot
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:28pmI find it especially interesting that they were saying the Britains may have fired missiles into the Gheddafi compound. Weren’t the Brits the ones that cut the deal with Gheddafi to have the Lockerbie Bomber released for an oil deal? Hmmmmm……..it seems like maybe they are trying to “silence” the witnesses. If Gheddafi is caught alive he’ll surely spill his guts to all of the corruption that went on. Now wasn’t George Soros also in cahoots with Gheddafi? Hmmmmm……….
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:24pmGadhafi has the mind of a duck? “AFLAC”
Report Post »Randyrocker
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:25pmBased on the picture of Gaddafi, I can see why he appeals to Farrakhan.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:23pmI DON’T care what anyone says – there’s ONLY ONE WAY his man must go!
OTHERWSIE, he will have to be dealt with again – YEARS FROM NOW!
– Like Saddam Hussein –
HAVEN’T BEEN THREATENED OR BOTHERED BY HIM LATELY, HAVE WE?
THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY SOLVED.
Now that Obama has STEPPED IN IT – it’s GOT to be FIXED- FOREVER.
If they capture Gadaffi – imprison him – he will continue to spew his vile TO NEW GENERATIONS.
And you know – SOME BLEEDING HEART will be standing outside his prision cell PROTESTING FOR HIS RELEASE – AND THE IGNORANCE AND WIMPY WIMPS OF TODAY –
WILL LET HIM WALK FREE AND RESUME POWER – EVEN IF HE’S 100 YRS. OLD.
Since Obama’s gotten us in it – FULLY END THE PROBLEM NOW -
OR OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM.
No doubt, there will be OTHERS or MORE who will take up ANOTHER cause –
Report Post »BUT IF HANDLED RIGHT – IT WON’T BE HIM….THAT’S FOR SURE!
teachermitch32
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:02pm“we do not want an Islamist government”….if you can believe him. I guess, for now, you have to take him at his word.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:33pm“Gadhafi must disappear. He should leave as soon as possible,” Zeidan said. “We would like to establish a new state on the basis of democracy … we do not want an Islamist government.” – Sarkozy
And this is where the disappointment will come in.
Report Post »Jack007
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:30pmGo Moammar!!!!
Report Post »I don’t care who wins as long as many Mooslums as possible are killed; the More Mooslums killed are less that want U.S. killed, God Bless…………………..
mrsmileyface
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:29pm@Patriotdaze ROFL no doubt. Someone should recieve a bonus this week. Quadiffi Kadaffi Gadaffy must have taken a page from Usama Bin Laudin on how to duck a military onslaught.
Report Post »PatriotDaze
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:02pmGa DAFFY DUCKs death? Someone worked overtime to come up with that headline!!
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:25pmI love the picture. It’s the Muslim Fonze
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:33pm@RLTW
SNL once ran a fake commercial of him having his own line of designer jeans–Gadhafis.
Report Post »Goldlady
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 4:01pmI hope he was able to get all his matching Garanimal’s with hats out unstained or damaged.
Report Post »TerryDo
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:01pmHe said his movement’s long-term goal is to improve education, health care and bring back 50,000 educated Libyans living in the United States and Europe to Libya to restore the country’s intellectual fabric and economy.
**************************
That is one of the best plans ever thought out for the stablization and rejuveniation of all the Arab countries such as Egypt, Libya and even Saudi Arabia et al.
I believe it would probably take seven year to complete that task and for new leaders and the people to write a new constitution for each country…
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:56pmZeidan said. “We don’t like to kill anybody … even Gadhafi himself.”
Report Post »Unless they are infidels, right Ali?
Phantom2487
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:55pmWhen it gets this bad in the states who is going to help the small group of us who wants to set things straight?
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:00pmMaybe France. They helped us back in the war of independence and now they’ve taken the helm again in the strikes on Libya.
(No, I’m not really serious here)
Report Post »PatriotDaze
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:03pmThe ATF
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:08pmWell, if you’re a Progressive/liberal, yes – you are a small group (but dangerous) and hope no one helps you. If you’re a Consv./proConstitution, small govn’t person – Tea Party types are no “small group” !! They’re much bigger, effective & growing & hope with God’s help, they’ll be enough to vote the “other” regime out.
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 6:20pm@PHANTOM2487
I do not know Phantom. I am thinking…,no one?
I am watching Glenn Beck right now. He and his staff are very brave.
I appreciate what they are doing. I hope everyone here does too.
So many people in this country are truly “Fiddling while Rome burns”.
Barry and family are abroad. Congress is on Spring Break. Hillary is actually having to work for the first time in her life. Admiral(Foghorn Leghorn)Mullen is explaining our stratagy in Libya..,no, no, we are not trying to get rid of Gaddafi!
Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are being given “SENSITIVITY TRAINING” so they’ll make nice with their Gay Brothers.Pelosi had a BOTOX emergency in Italy. Harry Reid is against the defunding of “Cowboy Poetry”. There’s so much more that is amiss.
I WATCHED the Three Stooges on Saturday Morning T.V.. I never thought they would take up residence in D.C..
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:54pm“Gadhafi must disappear. He should leave as soon as possible,” Zeidan said. “We would like to establish a new state on the basis of democracy … we do not want an Islamist government.”
That’s the best news about Libya so far!!!
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:59pmWhat’s even better is that Egypt and Tunisia said the same thing. Here’s me hoping these nations end up like Turkey: Secular states with moderate Islamic societies.
Report Post »LAM2
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:01pmThe group best organized will determine how a post-Gadhafi Libya will be governed.
Report Post »KTSontag
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:02pmthat doesn‘t mean they won’t get it anyways
Report Post »Strictlybusiness
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:01pm@ Non-sequitur
You mean the way Turkey started out. They are headed in the way of extremeism again at a fast pace.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:49pmWell, REBELS, we can FIX that problem. You guys locate him away from women and children and we are on him, and he is dust!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:57pm“We don’t like to kill anybody … even Gadhafi himself.”
Well of course not .. in that part of the world he would just become a martyr … it is MUCH better to have humilitated and forced out.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:57pmAs stated in the article, that’s not what they want. They want a trial for him, like the Nuremberg trials in Germany after WW2. His loyalists need to see his crimes. A dead Ghaddafi would only make him a martyr.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:57pmThey don’t want Qadaffi killed.
“You see, Gadhafi himself, we are able to target him, and we would like to have him alive to face the international or the Libyan court for his crime,” Zeidan said. “We don’t like to kill anybody … even Gadhafi himself.”
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:02pmZeidan said. “We would like to establish a new state on the basis of democracy … we do not want an Islamist government.”
Report Post »Let the rebels fight their own fight.
eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:27pmYou’re right, KickaGrandma -
That’s the PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID WHEN STARTING WARS…..PEOPLE DIE!
WAR IS NOT FOR THE WEAK – NOR THE WEARY-
And, that’s just the way it is!
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:39pmIt’s better if the rebels take care of him. Just take out the obstacles in the way.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:01pmThey are Lying about Gadhafi just like you were lied to about
WTC tower 7 on 911, both events benefit Israel .
use Logic and Reason
resist the Reptilian brain response
of Hate and Fear.
Ask yourself what has Libera done to the US ? or Iraq for that matter.
Report Post »the 19 supposed hi Jackers were all SAUDI”S !!!!
come on wake up to the truth.
MiketheTrucker
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:31pmI wonder if Go-daffy’s opinion of Obama has changed?
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 8:06pmMan is this guy hard to kill or do they really not want him dead?
I recall Beck linking Obamas mentors back to this guy. Any connection with now wanting this man off the world stage… and in a big hurry. I mean this pres just up and calls for an airstrike on a sovereign nation like he’s ordering fast food through the drive up window and then what does he do? He hope son AF1 and boot scoots down to the land of Brazil for some good trade deal discussions on oil production from te country that benefited the most from the Gulf Oil shut downs and the re-structuring of the oil rigs to South America. Talking about leveling the playing field. Jeeez!
Report Post »