Libyan Civil War Megathread

[derspiess]

I wonder what will happen when it becomes abundantly clear that airstrikes are not enough to stop the Gaddhafian juggernaut towards Benghazi. 

They need to hurry up & fortify the Obama Line south of Benghazi. 

[Ed Anger]

CNN sez CIA in country.

[Darth Wagtaros]

So?

[Admiral Yi]

So?

So more laser pointers.  So more tanks go boom.

[Ed Anger]

So?

More hijinks from the Company. Like the Bihac pocket, when the Company was running guns and ammo under the noses of the Europeans.

[Darth Wagtaros]

So?

So more laser pointers.  So more tanks go boom.

It doesn't sound like tanks are the problem.  The rebels are. 

[The Minsky Moment]

Does Gadaffi have enough men to seize and hold all of eastern Libya and pacify it?

[jamesww]

Is there any point giving sophisticated weapons to the rebels; last week I say film of one rebel using a sa-7 as if it were an rpg.

Don't these rebels really need basic training and someone to form them into units ?

[Darth Wagtaros]

Eventually. They'd probably need a unified chain of command, some cohesive strategy, etc first.

[Admiral Yi]

I think before anyone forms them into units they have to be willing to be formed into units.

[jamesww]

Well BBC Newsnight just interviewed the 2nd in command of the rebels forces, a former regime general, and he all but admitted it was like herding cats.

Asked about the number of former libyan soldiers involved on the rebel side, he said it was a few thousand and these had basically taken off their uniforms, become civilians and gone of to the front to fight, just like all of the other rebels.

Maybe there isn't even what amounts to an organised platoon of ex-soldiers at the 'front' ? 

[Admiral Yi]

Whatever happened to that Tiger Blood Freedom Sword battalion that defected way back at the beginning?

[Hansmeister]

Does Gadaffi have enough men to seize and hold all of eastern Libya and pacify it?

You don't have hold it if you wipe them out.

It's funny how conflicts there always boil down to Tripoli vs. Cyrenaica.

[CountDeMoney]

Gadhafi's men have retaken Mersa Brega.

God, these rebels are a fucking JOKE.

Honestly though, I've seen more organization from the mob at College Park after upsetting Duke.  These guys put the LOL in LOL WUT

[Admiral Yi]

Honestly though, I've seen more organization from the mob at College Park after upsetting Duke.  These guys put the LOL in LOL WUT

College Park already has embryonic organization via the Greek system.