Video Shows Gadhafi’s Increasing Attacks on Rebels
- Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:07am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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AJDABIYA, Libya (The Blaze/AP) — Moammar Gadhafi’s forces intensified the shelling of rebel positions outside a strategic eastern city Wednesday as they fought to prevent the opposition from taking advantage of the 5-day-old international air campaign to regroup in the east.
Western diplomats, meanwhile, said an agreement was emerging that NATO would take responsibility for a no-fly zone over Libya after the United States — which has effectively commanded the operation until now — reiterated that it was committed to the transition.
NATO warships were to begin patrolling off Libya’s coast Wednesday to enforce the U.N. arms embargo.
In what has become a common pattern, pro-Gadhafi troops who have besieged Ajdabiya — a city of 140,000 that is the gateway to the east — attacked a few hundred rebels gathered on the outskirts. The rebels fired back with Katyusha rockets but have found themselves outgunned by the Libyan government’s force.
Plumes of smoke rose over the city’s skyline.
“The weapons they have are heavy weapons and what we have are light weapons,” said Fawzi Hamid, a 33-year-old who joined the Libyan military when he was younger but is now on the rebels’ side. “The Gadhafi forces are more powerful than us so we are depending on airstrikes.”
The rebels and Gadhafi’s forces have been locked in a standoff over Ajdabiya for more than a week, with neither side able to muster enough force to take the city outright.
Gadhafi was defiant in his first public appearance in a week late Tuesday, promising enthusiastic supporters at his residential compound in Tripoli, “In the short term, we’ll beat them, in the long term, we’ll beat them.”
Libyan state TV broadcast what it said was live coverage of Gadhafi’s less-than-five-minute statement. Standing on a balcony, he denounced the coalition bombing attacks on his forces.
“O great Libyan people, you have to live now, this time of glory, this is a time of glory that we are living,” he said.
State TV said Gadhafi was speaking from his Bab Al-Aziziya residential compound, the same one hit by a cruise missile Sunday night. Reporters were not allowed to enter the compound as he spoke.
Heavy anti-aircraft fire and loud explosions sounded in Tripoli after nightfall, possibly a new attack in the international air campaign that so far has focused on military targets. Two explosions were heard in the city before daybreak Wednesday.
One of Gadhafi’s sons may have been killed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told ABC News on Tuesday. She cited unconfirmed reports and did not say which son she meant. She said the “evidence is not sufficient” to confirm this.
Clinton also told ABC that people close to Gadhafi are making contact with people abroad to explore options for the future, but she did not say that one of the options might be exile. She said they were asking, “What do we do? How do we get out of this? What happens next?”
Most of eastern Libya is in rebel hands but the force — with more enthusiasm than discipline — has struggled to take advantage of the gains from the international air campaign, which appears to have hobbled Gadhafi’s air defenses and artillery and rescued the rebels from impending defeat.
The coalition includes the U.S., Canada, several European countries and Qatar. Qatar was expected to start flying air patrols over Libya by this weekend, becoming the first member of the Arab League to participate directly in the military mission.
The Obama administration is eager to relinquish leadership of the hurriedly assembled coalition, but divisions have emerged over who would take over.
A compromise proposal would see NATO take a key role in the military operation guided by a political committee of foreign ministers from the West and the Arab world. Officials said the North Atlantic Council — NATO’s top decision-making body which already has approved military plans for enforcing the no-fly zone — may decide to start them later Wednesday.
Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon endorsed the proposal for handing over control of the Libya operation to a political committee. “We are comfortable with that,” she said.
___
Associated Press writers Maggie Michael in Cairo and Slobodan Lekic in Brussels contributed to this report.
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James
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 10:54amLibyan Humanitarian Concern? Concern Libyan citizens will be killed by Khaddafi, The Terrorist. In war that will happen, no doubt. I recall many Libyans rejoiced when 9/11 occurred and 3,000 Americans were slaughtered. I remember when the Brits released the Lockerbie Bomber, he received a hero’s welcome back in Libya. If Obama, Clinton, Rice and Power are so concerned about Libyan Humanitarian rights, I ask them each to express and act on at the same level of enthusiasm in Mexico and the US Mexico Border wherein over 30,0000 Mexican Citizens have been murdered and mutilated in worst way possible by the drug cartels. US Citizens have been murdered on both sides of the border also. Do you hide your humanitarism in your pocket and bring it out when it is politically correct or to attain a political accomodation? Where is your humanity? A word to Bill O’Reilly, you have the ability of great enfluence, but where is your humanitarian concern for the US Border and Mexico? Where? This president invites the ineffectual president of mexico to visit and the status quo remains unchanged. Parts of my state are signed as too dangerous to occupy, where is the humanity? My state has been bombarded by illegal invasion and when it made steps to address that issue, because the federal government will not, the full weight of the US Justice Dept. was brought down on my state. Where is your humanity? Some of our politicians are too busy wanting to be wannabe international statesmen rather than fully addressing the illegal invasion of our state and country. Where is their humanity for the American Citizen? Those who have been given political power and continue to ignor the plight of the American People, the American Tax Payer, you have assumed too much and incorrectly.
Report Post »VLADTEPES
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 6:58amMake it easy, take Mk out, pull back and tell the rest to fly right or we will be back and turn you into glass..
Report Post »ILUVJESUS
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 12:54amThis war is a stupid idea. The radical Terrorists will take over. America should have let these people kill each other. Now, millions more will die!
Report Post »Dems have never known how to end wars. They just know how, out of weakness, to get involved in them!
Three wars!
Blazer334
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 8:35pmWe should have killed Gadhafi from the get go.
Report Post »pablodez
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 7:18pmWhen gadaffi is gone I bet anyone $50 the rebels will be burning American flags and chanting: “Down with the great satan!”
Report Post »James
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 7:14pmBeing a strong conservative, I am deeply dissappointed in the Republican controlled house, on a weeks vacation again and just paying lip service to what this president has done in Libya. Why can’t you muster the courage, return to session and challenge this presidents actions. Does or does not the US Constitution prevail or not? Only you house republicans can make the challenge, where in the hell are you. Every day that goes by our country is getting harder and harder to find. All House Members, where is your courage; sprinkled somewhere in your political correctness?
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 6:54pmHow can the UN or a UN coalition take control over our USA military in ANY WAY? I thought that was unconstitutional?
Report Post »Augie4
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 6:34pmMARCH 7
GINGRICH: Exercise a no-fly zone this evening. … We don’t need to have the United Nations. All we have to say is that we think that slaughtering your own citizens is unacceptable and that we’re intervening.
MARCH 23
GINGRICH: The standard [Obama] has fallen back to of humanitarian intervention could apply to Sudan, to North Korea, to Zimbabwe, to Syria this week, to Yemen, to Bahrain. … The Arab League wanted us to do something. The minute we did something, the Arab League began criticizing us doing it. I think that two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is a lot. I think that the problems we have in Pakistan, Egypt — go around the region. We could get engaged by this standard in all sorts of places. I would not have intervened.
Report Post »NatGuardMom
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 3:53pmThey claim we have no troops on the ground but if you check out on Drudge they are on the ground
Report Post »NatGuardMom
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 3:51pmhttp://www.wcti12.com/news/27257042/detail.html and they claim no troops on the ground
Report Post »Phantom2487
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 3:13pmThe rocket video could be anything, if it’s unconfirmed then whats the point of even airing it!
Report Post »temple62
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 2:21pmYea, I love it when a plan comes together! What do you mean Hillary, Susan and Barack Baby had no plan? Well, at least this American-led action saved innocent civilians! What do you mean they are trainee terrorists free to re-load on the jet planes and train stations of the world? Well, at least the neighboring Middle eastern sandbox countries will pay the U.S. for the millions in tomahawk missiles! Why are you shaking your head? America spent how much on this fiasco? Come back with my billfold!!!
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:48amI just read that a Battalion of U.S. Marines has Landed In Libya. Looks like we are officially in a third ground war.
http://www.rabblechat.com
Report Post »temple62
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:44amThere needed to be a plan, I recommend the following: First, give the Libyans plenty of ammunition to thin out their own. Leave no terrorist unarmed. Next, turn it back over to Gaddafi and his people who are or will be future muslim terrorists. Dismantle all aircraft and airstrip so they cannot fly out of their sand box. This would force the neighboring muslim countries to invade for their own protection. Muslim wars are best fought by other muslims – that way we win no matter who wins! The U.S. has a lot of nerve acting as if we are sent from God to protect their infidel arses. Like Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush found out how the muslim react to outsiders invading their countries. But with Gates, Obama, Susan Rice and old Hillary we don’t learn from the past lessons.
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:40amImpeach Obama, we have not reason to be there.
Report Post »Flashman
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:37amI’m certain that we do have people on the ground. If noyhing else, then to direct those airstrikes.
Report Post »What happened to the “No blood for oil” chant? Don’t seem to be hearing it much these days.
ThoreauHD
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:21amGood. Considering we’re helping al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. I hope Kadaffi wins.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:19amOh so there would be a good reason for us to go into another military conflict that Republicans don’t feel a need to pay for. You wanna reduce the national debt, you wanna balance the budget, how about adding taxes to cover the $400 billion a year war in Iraq, the $200 billion a year conflict in Afghanistan. Ah got it, we’ll spend $100 billion in Libya and reduce taxes.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:44amActually, the coalition is in disarray. Germany just removed a warship and AWACS plane from the Med, lest they be pulled into the fighting. We are doing more over there than just keeping Gadhafi’s planes on the ground. Our forces are giving the rebels a de facto air force, which is blasting the crap out of Gadhafi’s military.
If I’m not mistaken, our air power broke the siege outside Ajdabiya with ground attacks. Stalemate is the one thing the coalition fears, because casualties will mount on both sides of the rebellion–defeating the whole purpose of the ‘humanitarian’ effort/excuse.
Sides are chosen, though it’s a lose/lose for the West no matter which one wins.
Barry really screwed our pooch with this.
Report Post »Drum Man
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 11:05amThat is the one thing Bammy is great at. Screwing the pooch. Lot’s of practice with wifey….
Report Post »warrior21
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 1:01pmAbsolutely right! We are backing a rebel force not knowing who they are or what their plans are. Additionally, we are helping safeguard Britain’s, France‘s and Germany’s gas station. All on our dime. We are going to turn over the leadership of the No Fly Zone to NATO. We are NATO the rest are just hanger-ons. NATO can’t agree on the time of day and has been a lost cause since day 1. They NATO nations know as long as the Uncle Sugar remains a member they can reduce their defense budgets… he will pay for everything.
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 1:52pm@warrior21
My dad always used to say, “There will always be an England…
…long as the US has money and troops.”
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:17amYou mean we just spend about 200 million on cruise missiles and lost an F-15 and this guy is still able to operate? If he is so bad why don‘t we just be don’t with him and take him out. REALLY, why the heck do we fight this way?
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:20amMeant to say, “why don’t we just be done with him”…duh
Report Post »expatinontariocanada
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:24am*A compromise proposal would see NATO take a key role in the military operation guided by a political committee of foreign ministers from the West and the Arab world. Officials said the North Atlantic Council…* Smells like command and control a al Rwanda. This aint gonna be over soon.
Report Post »robin.kevin
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:43amA better question is why we are even involved. We need to stop playing police and have our military guard our land and waters. If we did that we would be a lot better off and safer from attack in my mind. American rose to such greatness due to being able to survive without rest of the world. We have great amount of natural resources and a wonderful defensive stronghold with oceans to the east and west and bottle neck to the south. When will we wake up and realize we need to take care of ourselves and not rest of the world?
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:16amCall them what they are.
Rebels = Al Qaeda.
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:27amThe prophetic import of the arming of Syria by Iran and Russia
In July 2006, the liberal leaning Brookings Institute downplayed the signing of a mutual defense pact between Iran and Syria saying that Iran was unlikely to equip Syria with advanced hardware. But three recent events should be a prophetic warning to the watchmen of the end times. In February, Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal destined for Syria, where a naval defense agreement was signed. On March 16, Israel seized a cargo ship from Iran and Syria carrying six C-704 radar-guided anti-ship missiles, thousands of mortar shells and almost 67,000 assault rifle bullets for AK-47s to terrorists in Gaza. Turkey now finds weapons and ammo on a cargo plane from Iran to Syria.
In October 2001, BBC News reported that Russia and Iran announced the two countries had signed a $300 million a year arms supply agreement. But that was just a small beginning, since then, Russia has become Iran’s major arms supplier, adding another $700 million surface to air missile defense system, MiG-29 fighter jets and scores of battle tanks. According to a 2006 report by the Congressional Research Service, Russia increased arms shipments to Iran, China, and Venezuela, concluding, “Experts say Iran–as well as Syria–may have transferred some of these small arms to groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.” In May 2010 the Russian Itar-Tass news agency reported a Russian arms deal with Syria.
In the Middle East, terrorist groups are using what appears to be good intentions of the Islamic people toward freedom to gain power under the oppressive Sharia Law. There is unrest in most of the Arab nations. To a degree, the United States has encouraged this as reported in WikiLeaks released documents. The Muslim Brotherhood has been in Tehran meeting and coordinating with the Iranian leadership. According to the US Institute of Peace, Iran supports empowerment of the Muslim Brotherhood because “The Muslim Brotherhood is the largest Islamist organization in the Arab world that ignores Arab nationalism and Sunni identity to facilitate alliances with Islamist movements outside the Arab world.”
The Russia, Iran, Syria, Muslim Brotherhood connection and relationship is important to the end time scenario. We see in Ezekiel 38 that in the latter days Magog, which is Eastern Russia; Persia, today’s Iran; Ethiopia, Northeastern Africa; and Libya, Northwestern Africa; will come against Israel in a colossal end times battle. We also know from Isaiah 17:1, “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Vassal states like Syria sign defense agreements for protection, but the protectors only honor the agreement until it is expedient to sacrifice the vassal. Prophecy shows the boldness of Israel’s enemies as they advance under Islam. The mix is in the bowl; wrath is in the making.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Report Post »Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
http://www.dailyjot.com
bccrane
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:45amThe video of the rocket launchers was from a cell phone dropped by a soldier? Is there a time tag as to when it was taken? This could be just training exercises from months ago. It seems with that many rockets being launched there should be reports of where they are landing, I wouldn’t think they would just shoot them into the desert in an atempt to scare the rebels.
Report Post »Rogue
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:49amGood thing we’ll be out of this mess when NATO takes over.. oh wait.. we ARE NATO. We’ll still be bankrolling the operation, supplying equipment and personnel. The only change is that someone else will be telling us what to bomb, who to kill, and where to send the check.
Report Post »Revere1
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:55amI disagree, I don’t think the rebels are Al Qaeda. But I do think the Obama administration lacked the foresight to take a look at who the rebels are…
http://www.battlefield315.com/2011/03/obamas-libya-strategy-explained.html
Obama has utterly failed to take leadership. How can you have a plan without leadership?
joe3
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 3:51pmwhatever the liar in chief says, this is quickly turning into WW3. germany, russia, and china VS the USA. the french are flakes, the english will be fighting their muslim population. we have hope and change, they have an industrial base. pray for your loved ones, this will be a blood bath on US soil thanks to OBAMA the child. our first affirmative action potus. the UN is the enemy, they have planned this to destroy america. God bless America.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 4:24pmhey ,lighten up..he is protecting himself from terrorists….
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 8:49pmIt would do these so-called rebels a favor if they would quit shooting all their ammunition into the air whenever someone tells them the sun is coming up tomorrow. Not the sharpest knives in the drawer.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on March 23, 2011 at 9:07pmEvery rocket fired for the news boys (and girls) is just another rocket that cannot be aimed and fired in anger! Keep up the show, Burger King–it’s better than blowing airliners out of the sky (most people remember Pan Am 103, but few remember UTA 772 out of N’Djamena and Pan Am 73 in Karachi!)
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 10:59amGet the US out of OBAMAS ILLEGAL WAR!!! Congress was not consulted and gave no authorization for it. The UN does not have the authority to circumvent the US Constitution. Where is code pink now. Oh yeah helping the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
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