Is Libya Free Yet?

Photo Credit: AFP. Libyan rebels fight off Qadaffi.

Well,

Tripoli seems to be controlled by the rebels, but we still have not found Qadaffi. Hard to know what is going on.

According to the New York Times, "Aug. 31, 2011 Rebel fighters claimed to have cornered Colonel Qaddafi the desert town of Bani Walid, about 150 miles from Tripoli. Rebel leaders confirmed reports that a Qaddafi son, Saadi el-Qaddafi, had offered to negotiate a coalition government, but that the rebels rejected that out of hand. Another Qaddafi son, Khamis, was reported killed."

Also according to the NYT, The CIA was apparently very cozy with the Libyan intelligence unit. Charmingly, the American government would send terrorism suspects to Libya for questioning, despite the country's reputation for torture. This was part of the US rendition program.  Nice to know what the US government is spending my taxpayer money on . . .. James Bond's friends at the British MI-6 also were pretty lovey dovey with the Libyans, and the Americans even assisted Qadaffi with speechwriting. Files Note Close CIA Ties to Qadaffi Spy Unit . 

Egypt is prepared to help Libya as much as it can, according to Al Masry Al Youm. Libyans (which ones?) have reportedly asked Egypt's assistance in the fields of education, health and training. Further, Egypt's government (such as it is, or is not) says that Egyptian companies have a chance to share in Egypt's reconstruction.(Of course, everyone wants to get their hands on those tasty Libyan oil fields).

Also according to Al Masry Al Youm, as many as 100,000 have fled Libya streaming into Egypt and Tunisia, and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Refugees include Tunisians, Libyans, Chinese, Asians. There are almost certainly some Black Africans in there somewhere, but it was not in the news report I read.

According to Democracy Now, Col. Qadaffi's main compound has been captured by the rebels, however, the whereabouts of the new "desert fox" are unknown. At least he is keeping them guessing. I was soooo dissapointed by Saddam Hussein cowering in a pit. Keep the romance alive, Muammar! Britain may unfreeze Libya's assets to assist the National Transitional Council. Professor Gilbert Achar of SOAS says no one really knows who the Libyan rebels are. 

Human Rights Watch has asked that the Libya Contact Group put human rights at the top of the agenda in discussions with Libya's National Transitional Council. HRW also has asked that all political, ethnic and cultural groups should be included in building the new Libyan state. HRW: Put Rights at Top of Agenda 

Well, Ramadan is over folks. It is on.. . .

WMB. 

Update on Libyan Crisis: Week of June 12, 2011

The National, an Abu Dhabi Newspaper, reports that Libyan rebels are on the move, and are pushing deeper into government held territory. Strains are beginning to emerge, writes the paper, in the Western held alliance trying to topple Qadaffi. One rebel stronghold is in the Western mountains, reports the paper. The Western mountains are to the south-west of Tripoli. Government troops are better armed than the rebels. Qadaffi is describing the rebels as criminals and Al-Qaeda militants. In the words of The National,


"Though under attack from Nato warplanes and rebel fighters, Col Qaddafi's troops have showed they are still a potent force." June 16, 2011.
According to the New York Times — "Germany, which declined to participate in the NATO air campaign against Libya, on Monday recognized the opposition National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of Libya, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said during a visit to the rebel capital of Benghazi."(June 13, 2011) 

According to the New York Times, Loyalist forces are still clashing with rebels in the oil city of Zawiya. This town is the Qadaffi government's last remaining site of fuel. Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan government spokesman, denounced NATO. Qadaffi Government Defiant.  Qadaffi has told the Russian government that he has no intention of leaving. Ibrahim claims the rebels are rolling back under heavy pressure, and that they are Yemeni, Egyptian and Algerian.