Libyan Rebels Regain Key City After Airstrikes
- Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:35am by
Scott Baker
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AJDABIYA, Libya (AP) – Libyan rebels regained control of the eastern gateway city of Ajdabiya on Saturday after international airstrikes crippled Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, in the first major turnaround for an uprising that once appeared on the verge of defeat. In a western city the opposition lost to Gadhafi, a resident said security agents had lists of rebel sympathizers and were dragging them from their homes.
Drivers honked in celebration and flew the tricolor rebel flag. Others in the city fired their guns into the air and danced on burned-out tanks that littered the road. Inside a building that had served as makeshift barracks for pro-Gadhafi forces, hastily discarded uniforms were piled on the floor.
“Without the planes we couldn’t have done this. Gadhafi’s weapons are at a different level than ours,” said Ahmed Faraj, 38, a rebel fighter from Ajdabiya. “With the help of the planes we are going to push onward to Tripoli, God willing.”
Ajdabiya‘s sudden fall to Gadhafi’s troops spurred the swift U.N. resolution authorizing international action in Libya, and its return to rebel hands on Saturday came after a week of airstrikes and missiles against the Libyan leader’s military.
Saif Sadawi, a 20-year-old rebel fighter with an RPG in his hands, said the city’s eastern gate fell late Friday and the western gate fell at dawn Saturday after airstrikes on both locations.
AP
“All of Ajdabiya is free,” he said.
The U.N. Security Council authorized the operation to protect Libyan civilians after Gadhafi launched attacks against anti-government protesters who demanded that he step down after 42 years in power. The airstrikes have sapped the strength of Gadhafi’s forces, but rebel advances have also foundered, and the two sides have been at stalemate in key cities.
Earlier Friday, British and French warplanes hit near Ajdabiya, destroying an artillery battery and armored vehicles. Ajdabiya, the gateway to the opposition’s eastern stronghold, and the western city of Misrata have especially suffered because the rebels lack the heavy weapons to lift Gadhafi’s siege.
On Saturday, rebels in Ajdabiya hauled away a captured rocket launcher and a dozen boxes of anti-aircraft ammunition, adding to their limited firepower.
On Friday, the U.S. commander in charge of the overall international mission, Army Gen. Carter Ham, told The Associated Press, “We could easily destroy all the regime forces that are in Ajdabiya,” but the city itself would be destroyed in the process. “We‘d be killing the very people that we’re charged with protecting.”
Instead, the focus was on disrupting the communications and supply lines that allow Gadhafi’s forces to keep fighting in Ajdabiya and other urban areas like Misrata, Ham said in a telephone interview from his U.S. Africa Command headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
The turnaround in Ajdabiya is a boost for President Barack Obama, who has faced complaints from lawmakers from both parties that he has not sought their input about the U.S. role in the war or explained with enough clarity about the U.S. goals and exit strategy. Obama was expected to give a speech to the nation Monday.
“The United States should not and cannot intervene every time there’s a crisis somewhere in the world,” Obama said in a radio and Internet address Saturday. But with Gadhafi threatening “a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region … it’s in our national interest to act. And it’s our responsibility. This is one of those times.”
Protecting civilians from Gadhafi’s forces has been the stated mission of the international action since the beginning, although some countries have offered variations on that theme at times.
A resident of Zwara, a former rebel holding in the west, said the regime has the town firmly in its grip again. He said pro-Gadhafi forces are dragging away people there and in the town of Zawiya who participated in protests that began Feb. 15 and were inspired by the uprisings that toppled autocratic leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.
“They have lists of demonstrators and videos and so on and they are seeking them out. We are all staying home and waiting for this to be over,” said the resident, who did not want to be named because he feared for his safety if discovered. He said a friend who helped coordinate checkpoints when the opposition held the city was taken away Friday.
“They came with four or five cars with four people in each one, all of them armed to the teeth with Kalashnikovs. They surrounded the house and took him out,” he said, adding that the whole thing was seen by a common friend.
He said neighbors now fear each other.
“During the demonstrations, many people contributed to the community, doing anything they could. This shows that the regime has collaborators to give them names. It’s a Big Brother type of show, so they can come in and take whomever they want.”
___
Hubbard contributed from Cairo.
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clockwatcher
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 8:45amThe black jimmy carter just put Al Quaida and the Muslum Brotherhood, in power. Cost to America in the billions. The stupity of the black jimmy carter priceless. VOTE VOTE this fool out of power, he could not run a hotdog cart and yet the left supports him running the country off the cliff.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:14amMore Islamania! From Gadhafi to al Qaeda! This is what our money is paying for.
The hope Obama’s been hoping for.
Report Post »M.Rapp
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 8:12pmI am an arabic linguist and have been looking at the Muslim Brotherhood’s website. This weekend is key in Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Jordan. Keep your eyes peeled for the new Global Islamic movement powered by the Muslim Brotherhood called “The International Forum for Islamist Parliamentarianism” (IFIP). These guys (MB) are orchestrating everything and are using Hamas as an executive arm. Hold on to your seats, things have not yet heated up yet….
Report Post »SIXFRIGATES
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:36pmAnyone else notice that guys barrel in the picture? A little hard to shoot with that band in it no?
Also, Only Barack Hussein Obama could ally America with Al Qaeda. Unbelieveable. 10 years. 10 YEARS is all it took. This country is lost. The day of the Lord is near, no doubt.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:24pmI thought Obama, Clinton, NATO, and NATO were suppose to enforce a no flight zone and destroy any aircraft on the ground. Have anyone ever seen a tank and a apc fly?..
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:34pmFrom the beginning our ‘guts’ were telling us this was a bad idea to mess with Libya. Pictures of the rebels in the beginning were of them sporting beards (Al Qaeda/Muslim Brotherhood). Then follows chatter from the ‘talking heads’ wondering who we were backing. Next pictures of the rebels have most of them clean shaven and Fox and Friends making the announcement (stunningly coincidental) that the rebels said they had not been able to shave for a while. What‘s your ’gut’ telling you now?! Mine still says we are NUTS for doing this, Barry should be ‘hung’ out to dry for going about it the way he did (outside Congress), and this is a sure-fire way of draining more $$’s off our system to push us over the edge, finally perhaps?!
Report Post »doncarr61
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:44pmHere’s another bit of news that should keep this administration happy. If I were a pilot being directed by the Commander in Chief I would refuse to fly. This government is run by morons. In cluding the military as most of the men of honor have been chased out.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/al-qaeda-snatched-missiles-in-libya/story-e6frfku0-1226028543204#ixzz1Hffm5oRa
If Obama get reelected we might as well invite Osama to the Obamas for the Rose Garden surrender.
Report Post »This has my blood boiling.
geonj
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:36pmthese rebels are being used. “nato”(USA LED) conducts air raids and missle attacks on govt forces(no need for a no-fly zone when the enemy airforces no longer exist) and uses the rebel forces as “boots on the ground”. co-operative one world warfare. small scale and cheap.
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:34pmWhy aren’t we hearing anything from Muslim organizations in America about all this?? This is exactly what they use against us for propaganda purposes. Not abu graib, not gitmo, not trials — This stuff… Next up- A return to Muslims in the street dancing to the chants of ‘death to America”.
Report Post »Something unseen since shortly after 9/11. Closest we have seen to that is Democrats and their Union masters at their bullhorn rallies…
tankerBigRed1
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:24pmSince ******* think it is part of the game to lie to achieve their ends- ya suppose the bamster might be a ****** & lying to us infidels to further the caliphate??
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:03pmBarry has lied with every speech he gives to us! Every time he gets on TV what comes out of his pie hole is a lie. Even had the audacity to lie about Gabby Giffords “Opening her eyes for the first time.” While Chewbacca played it up for the cameras holding tight to Mr. Giffords arm–this is the ultimate in my opinion! Wholatta BS coming outta that hole–why do you think flies buzz around it?
Report Post »RoughManReady
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:49amThe guy in the picture with the green hat…anyone notice his rifle barrel is bent?
Report Post »Shane the Golden
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:43amBetter the devil you know (ghaffidi) than the devil you know (al qaida). Its hard to imagine which one is the worst evil.
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:13amThanks for the link Gonzo, chilling stuff. Obama is helping our enemies yet again.
Report Post »Newtstrikezone
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:57amLet’s look at this scenario again and the circumstances – 1) Who do you support in this fiasco ? Gadhafi or Al-Qaeda supported Rebels. There isn’t a good choice either way. 2) We are fighting with the Brits, French and the UN, and we are not in charge of this?? Not a good situation here. As much as I thoroughly despise the policies and tactics of the current White House occupant, there isn‘t a good solution to this right now and it doesn’t matter who the President would be. It might be better to sit back and let those two factions fight it out to determine a winner then take out the winner and start over from scratch. Maybe I’m wrong, I’m sure others will disagree with me, but right now it appears to be a NO-WIN situation for the United States.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:50amI’m still stumped here. Gaddhafi has to go but we’re not making him a target. We’re supposed to be enforcing a no-fly zone, but we’re also striking Libyan targets on the ground. The rebels, by their own admission, have al-Quaeda supporters in their ranks, the breadth and depth of that influence still unknown. And 2200 more Marines are allegedly being deployed to the Med, though the UN resolution doesn’t authorize an invasion. All the people screaming about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are silent in this case. Congress as a whole is as quiet as a church mouse, when under Bush there was near-hysteria about the legitimacy of our actions.
This is the most incoherent and inconsistent foreign policy move I have ever seen.
Report Post »commentkazi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:03pmSince this is a “humanitarian” mission, I wouldn’t be surprised if we sent in ground troops without weapons to hand out MREs and water.
Report Post »t228
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:46amAnyone notice the guy in fronts barrel too his AK? I‘m not sure he’ll be hitting anything with that? Natural selection is all I’m saying.
Report Post »5410amh
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:45amWe should have stayed out of libya, does anybody even know why were are there? Even one of Al-Qaeda‘s senior camander’s said that they were helping the rebels. When it comes to the middle east it is always best to stay out. There is a reason why the middle east is nicknamed “The Land of Eternal War”
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:41amThe mid 1930′s were the economic pits here in the USA, a failed policy.
2011 we are in the economic pits here in the USA, a failed policy.
The solution in the late ’30s ? World War Two.
The solution NOW in 2011? ? ? ? ?
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:40ami am NOT sure i am confortable helping the rebels now that Al Qaeda is helping them.. isnt that what we did in afganistan?
Report Post »zman173rd
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:37amObama Does what the U.N. tells him to. All we are doing is assisting to create the next CALIPHATE. If there were enough protestors in any country that wants to overthrow a government and instill a Caliphate would we also assist? The only reason most Americans are moot on this is because most Americans have a disdain for Moahmar Khadafi (however it‘s spelled i don’t care). In a twist, if and when it begins happening here (Unions? Socialism?) will the U.N. send in the French? Will our soldiers fire on us? The twist is they would support the socialist agenda and the gov’t would shut the people up. The world would support the move to socialism/WWG. The article says the “rebels” are well armed. Aren’t the US rebels as well, only with union dollars? The only conflicts in the story are put to rest if you consider the possibility that the UN wants the US to get in line at toe it. Okay sheeple at the news desks. This is your chance to shine like Woodward and Bernstein. Blow the whistle. Get the Nobel Prize for rattin’ off your big brother. You did it before, do it again. Won’t happen.
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:28amThe 3,000 people who died on 9/11 have just rolled over in their graves.
Report Post »Insanityrules
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:15amI’m get so excited watching the US make clear the path for the Muslim Brotherhood. Ya gotta love it. The stupidity of liberals can not be measured through any means. :)
Report Post »ares338
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:01amIsn‘t it amazing that in these poor countries where there is barely enough shelter and food for everyone that every friggin’ one of them has an automatic weapon and all the ammo they need to fire these weapons into the air.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:03amI always wonder if the are so ill-educated that they know about gravity?
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:25pmIn countries without a non-corrupt police force you only get to keep what you can defend.
Report Post »Doug in Seattle
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:34pmActually they were armed by Daffy’s troops who opened the armories after refusing to shoot unarmed demonstrators. This happened about a month ago.
Report Post »Smitty1969
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:46amAnyone notice the bent barrel on rifle in the main picture. I hope he dose not fire it! LOL
Report Post »anigmanm
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:50amits the rebels version of the corner shot
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:53amThat weapon with probably still cycle and fire. I just hope he fires at a VERY large barn! Because thats all he’s going to be able to hit.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:40pmHe bought it on sale.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:27pmI hope he does ! fkng terrorist shet…
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:43amWe are now partnered up with Al-Qaeda in Libya, check it out.
Report Post »http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8407047/Libyan-rebel-commander-admits-his-fighters-have-al-Qaeda-links.html
82dAirborne
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:48amI have no problem with these slimeballs being bombed. I do have a couple of questions however: What exactly does this have to do with a no-fly zone? Who are these “rebels” we are helping? What exactly do these “rebels” stand for??
The “rebels” in Egypt seem to have won. They recently outlawed large gatherings of citizens, protests, civil disobedience and the muslim brotherhood seems to have control in concert with the Egyptian Military. Is this kind of outcome what they have in mind for Libya?????
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:56am82ndAirborne:
Very good questions, and there are next to no answers being given in any shape or form. Other than the fact of Al Quaida may be among them, or the Muslum Brotherhood, etc. this whole mess does smell worse than anything…it just does not make sense other than having been begun as one half baked operation, and is being morphed into any number of other half baked operations.
In otherwords for Obama and the UN “SNAFU” and “FUBAR” all wrapped up into one.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 9:58am82dAirborne
Report Post »According to The Telegraph in London, some of the rebels and leaders are Al-Qaeda. So, the U.S. is aiding Al-Qaeda now. Nice huh?
felina g
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:08amEx CIA officer`s message to all Americans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgj0ge6Iwu0&feature=player_embedded#at=370
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:25am“Obama’s war has been “authorized” as an effort to establish a “no-fly” zone in Libya to prevent Libyan air strikes against civilians. But everyone knows this is a lie. The Libyan air force has already been destroyed but the strikes go on because the real agenda is to help the (al-Qaeda?) rebels to win. Despite Obama’s assurance that there would be no American ground troops, there are reports that ground troops are already being sent in. To “protect civilians” does Obama propose to occupy the country and ensure that the rebels do not establish a regime more bloodthirsty than the present one? Is he interested in insuring that a new regime would not be a terrorist state as in Gaza and Lebanon, or would not ally with al-Qaeda, whom Gaddafi at least opposed? For the record I wish that some brave Libyan or secret agent would kill him. What I do not want to see is the American military invading Libya with no idea of what they are doing or why, which is the position into which the present commander-in-chief has put them.
The doctrine under which Hillary Clinton persuaded Obama to invade a sovereign country and thereby to disregard his Secretary of Defense (an actual pragmatist on Obama’s ship of state) is called “Responsibility to Protect.” It is the invention of NSC adviser Samantha Power and her patron George Soros. Soros describes the doctrine like this:
“If governments abuse the authority entrusted to them and citizens have no opportunity to correct such abuses, outside interference is justified. By specifying that sovereignty is based on the people, the international community can penetrate nation-states’ borders to protect the rights of citizens.”
The right to “penetrate nation-states’ borders.” Now where have we heard this excuse for a big power stomp on a little nation before? Czechoslovakia 1938 perhaps? Wasn’t Hitler, by his own lights, protecting the rights of German-speaking citizens at the time? If Obama really means to protect the rights of Libyans he would have to occupy the country for a decade, rewrite its constitution, re-educate its population and institute a democratic educational system.”
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:01amThanks for the link, Gonzo. I was thinking as I read, “why don’t we know who these people are?”
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:25amIt occurs to me that the fundamentalist Muslims probably believe that God has been on their side since 9/11, helping them to establish the Umma (the caliphate). The United States has elected a president who, in their eyes, is a Muslim. His father was a Muslim, and, to them, that means he is irrevocably a Muslim. Now, the United States is helping to remove secular leaders from the Muslim world. We helped push out Mubarak. We are now allied with al qaeda in Libya, for Pete’s sake. But, we don’t touch Iran, where the caliphate is already established. How blind do the American people have to be not to recognize a pattern here? As I said, I’m confident that devout Muslims see this a their own version of Divine Providence.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:23pm“Now, the United States is helping to remove secular leaders from the Muslim world.”
aka Dictators.
You would’ve made a great assistant to Goebbels.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:35pmAll this can be laid at the feet of the MSM failure to properly vetted and report to the American people that Obama was/is unqualified to be President of The United States. As always IMO
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:14pmstupidity reigns supreme…we are cutting our throats and promoting the new caliphate.owe bama is actively participating. where are the smart Generals in our military SCREAMING enough ?
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:19pmNon sequitur: The point is that we are only going after the secular dictators. Obama is careful not to encourage those who are trying to throw off the Islamic fundamentalist dictators, i.e. Iran. And, the people we are helping, more likely than not, only want freedom to establish their own brand of oppression.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:07amah… the west partnering with the enemy to speed up its own destruction ! what is wrong with our society…too stupid to see the big picture !
Report Post »TOSKIMAN
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:09pmThe end time stage is being set and Obama is helping things along quite nicely. The Muslim brotherhood will shortly have a half dozen countries in their hands. Then, they array against Israel and who’s side are we on?? Obama has no interest in supporting Israel – as he is a “brother of the hood” first and foremost. The U.S. is positioning itself with the greater of two evils. The Bible talks about calamity to the nation(s) that come against Israel – we need a 180 and now!!
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