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RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#3652: Apr 1st 2011 at 9:54:31 PM

Two million.

Shit, I'd hop a plane over there and try to take him myself for that much.

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#3653: Apr 1st 2011 at 10:09:30 PM

How much is on Osama's head? I'd say twice or even thrice as much.

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#3654: Apr 1st 2011 at 10:10:57 PM

It's a lot. It's just that I'm convinced he got disintegrated by a daisy cutter, or finally succumbed to his multiple illnesses and was buried by Al Qaeda so that we would never know for sure if he was dead or not.

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#3655: Apr 1st 2011 at 10:11:31 PM

Ehhh, he can pay his mercenaries more with the gold he's stockpiled. If we want to motivate a betrayal, we'd need more. Especially as a Libyan Operation Valkyrie would require a combination of efforts if the executers wanted to live to collect their reward, so it needs to be enough to split.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#3656: Apr 1st 2011 at 10:29:28 PM

I wouldn't worry about a Xanatos Gambit on Gman's part (Dammit Got Me Doing It too )

I have not seen any evidence of him being able to pull off something that elaborate.

edited 1st Apr '11 10:29:54 PM by Thorn14

FFShinra Since: Jan, 2001
#3657: Apr 1st 2011 at 11:11:18 PM

Man, I missed Insane Troll Logic in action. Last I saw of it in these sort of circumstances was with Baghdad Bob, but the G-man's spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, is right up there with him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12944905

We need a nickname for Mr. Ibrahim. Tripoli Tim?

edited 1st Apr '11 11:40:08 PM by FFShinra

MayuZane I made my own avatar from SPACE Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
I made my own avatar
#3658: Apr 2nd 2011 at 12:13:32 AM

Anti-Gaddafi man in Tripoli attacked

March 31, 2011: In Tripoli, where Gaddafi supporters have all the freedom they please to gather, cheer, and rally in support of their dear brother leader, anyone else with opposing views do not share that luxury. Not only can they not voice their opinions, they are met with instant violence if they speak out against these Gaddafi orchestrated rallies. What you are watching in this clip is a pro-Gaddafi rally in Tripoli. When one older man says something to the supporters against Gaddafi, they all charge at him instantly — one man even draws a knife and tries to reach him to silence him.

At least this shows that there are people brave enough to even speak something against Gaddafi's chanters.

EDIT:

In Egypt, Gaddafi's supporters are kicked out of Tahrir Square.

Good show, Egyptians!

FYI: 'Barrah' in Arabic means 'GET OUT'

edited 2nd Apr '11 5:32:07 AM by MayuZane

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Ardiente I won't kill you. Since: Jan, 2011
I won't kill you.
#3659: Apr 2nd 2011 at 5:33:08 AM

undying yearning for freedom

That's a very dramatic way of saying "more pissed off than afraid" and "fuck this, I'd rather die than keep taking this shit". A lot of suffering brought forth that switch flip, and making them quit REGMODE will require lots of suffering too. However, winning in this sort of conflict will have either of these consequences:

  • If they aren't broken inside, they'll keep doing their best to undermine you at every opportunity until they can rise against you again.
  • If they are broken inside... you've got a lot of broken people. Broken people aren't usually very proactive... or energetic... or hardworking... or even moral... i.e. you'll have an entire demographic made of shit.

"Sweets are good. Sweets are justice."
MayuZane I made my own avatar from SPACE Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
I made my own avatar
#3660: Apr 2nd 2011 at 6:25:02 AM

Just some more news:

15 revolutionaries were killed when a coalition air strike hit their convoy west of Ajdabiya. The BBC reports that anti-aircraft fire was shot in the air from the convoy, which may have led the coalition planes to strike. BBC and Reuters report that according to some revolutionaries, Gaddafi forces sneaked in among them and fired the weapon to bring about such an attack, but this hasn’t been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera's live blog reports that Libyan pro-democracy fighters have taken control of most the Libyan city of Brega after having engaged in clashes with Gaddafi forces.

Also, anti-Gaddafi forces have set up checkpoints preventing any untrained personnel from advancing into the frontlines. It is said that the untrained are too much of a liability, with many young men sent back angry, but obliging and understanding the circumstances of the situation.

It really looks like they are starting to get organized, and sources in Benghazi say that people are discouraged from wasting ammuntion in celebratory gunfire. Last Friday prayer, only one person fired one round in celebration after prayers. About time!

edited 2nd Apr '11 6:40:10 AM by MayuZane

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Colonial1.1 Purveyor of Obscurity from The Marvelous River City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Purveyor of Obscurity
#3661: Apr 2nd 2011 at 7:28:57 AM

—Feels like dancing a jig—

Excellent.

"He could not know it. For it was not all a joke."
Ardiente I won't kill you. Since: Jan, 2011
I won't kill you.
#3662: Apr 2nd 2011 at 7:33:34 AM

"Sweets are good. Sweets are justice."
SavageHeathen Pro-Freedom Fanatic from Somewhere Since: Feb, 2011
Pro-Freedom Fanatic
#3663: Apr 2nd 2011 at 7:35:00 AM

A hundred million dollars would be a good bounty.

We're not getting out of Libya without wasting at least a billion, I tell ya. Put a significant fraction of that for the bounty and be done with it.

You exist because we allow it and you will end because we demand it.
betaalpha betaalpha from England Since: Jan, 2001
betaalpha
#3664: Apr 2nd 2011 at 7:36:48 AM

Ta for the update Mayu. As others have said, an army needs much more than fighters to operate, so all those angry young volunteers that were sent away will hopefully have plenty of other things to do. No dishonour to say to your kids that during the revolution you transported arms and equipment to the front.

Also from the Al Jazeera blog, a better (though unwieldy) title for the rebels- pro-democracy fighters. Although democracy is such an easily subverted word, there's no denying it's a good thing to put on your banner-and a reminder to pro-Gaddafi citizens of what they don't have and what they are fighting against.

MayuZane I made my own avatar from SPACE Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
I made my own avatar
#3665: Apr 2nd 2011 at 7:48:12 AM

You're welcome, betaalpha.

More from Al-Jazeera, it appears that the rebel troops at the frontline are equipped with radio equipment. According to James Bays, there are now technicals with radio antennas attached to them, presumably to serve as relays.

After weeks of assurances that they would get organized, it is good to see evidence they're actually making an effort.

EDIT:

The New Libyan Satellite Channel was launched a few days ago from the Qatari capital Doha. The channel can be watched via Nilesat on the following settings: 7° West – 11334 H 27500 3/4

Here's the video of their first live broadcast, and below the translation:

Good evening,

This is a new media window overlooking Libya, we look through it to the conditions of its people and their challenges, we listen to their voices regardless of their number or how dispersed they are and we make them audible to the world which is following their revolution.

The Libyan Satellite channel is run by the hands and minds of Libyans so that it may communicate with the Libyans in a language that is close to them. It does not carry from Libya simply the name, rather it also carries the burden on every Libyan's chest, and carries its aspirations to a better tomorrow where the country is free for everyone and not limited to one individual.

Libya Satellite channel visits you this evening and for the first time from the Qatari capital Doha and promises to convene with you from Tripoli very soon, God-willing. This is your channel, starts its broadcast today. The beginning starts with the news, and the news begin with the headlines.

edited 2nd Apr '11 8:07:35 AM by MayuZane

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BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#3666: Apr 2nd 2011 at 9:15:27 AM

Now that it seems that the revolution's armed forces are finally organising and preparing to make their first move, it's fun to look at the past couple of weeks, how people have declared the battle lost time and time again, calling the UN resolution and the operation failures before the revolution's first organised attempt at making military manoeuvres.

The revolution is clearly winning, even if they never take Sirte militarily. Gaddafi's ranks are thinning all the time and people are so supportive of the revolution and the coalition operation that even two disasters in two days - accidental killing of civilians and rebels - have not caused even the families of the victims to stop supporting the cause.

The pro-Gaddafi rallies in Tripoli, as stated many times before, are mainly composed of relatives and friends of people in high positions in the government, and some demonstrators have even admitted that they're being paid to wave the green flag around. Tripoli is a huge revolution waiting to happen as soon as the grip that the militias have on the city is loosened.

Gaddafi's land forces outnumber the revolution 10-to-1. But popular support for the revolution is at least 10 times as strong as that for Gaddafi, and at the moment, there is no good reason to say that the revolution is likely to fail.

The West does not need to step over the resolution, and the rest of the campaign, assuming that there's no major unexpected change in the direction of these events, can be carried out without the US playing a major role.

edited 2nd Apr '11 9:16:34 AM by BestOf

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
MayuZane I made my own avatar from SPACE Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
I made my own avatar
#3667: Apr 2nd 2011 at 9:30:27 AM

Superior strategy > superior numbers. The CIA is currently working with the TNC's military, it's very likely they are giving advice on how to fight Gaddafi's forces with what they got. Now that Gaddafi's troops on the frontlines are mostly using technicals and other light vehicles instead of tanks (because Gaddafi's forces have figured out that they are sitting ducks against aerial strikes), the rebels should have less need for heavy weapons.

In previous encounters, Gaddafi's forces would almost always launch mortar attacks on advancing rebels. What happens most of the time whenever a mortar lands near a rebel unit is that the untrained groups would panic and then immediately do a U-turn and do a chaotic scramble back. For all their machismo and hyperbole, it must be noted that their morale changes at the drop of a bullet. One encounter had Gaddafi forces commandeering buses moving towards a rebel group and opening fire. Despite the fact that the rebels had an anti-aircraft cannon mounted on a truck, which would have shredded the buses easily, they instead panicked and ran away.

Now that the better-trained personnel are there, I have a feeling that the fact that these troops don't immediately turn and scram when a mortar lands is a nasty surprise for Gaddafi's forces, who may have acquired a perception of the rebels as being a pack of easily-scared youths overly-dependent on airstrikes.

EDIT: With regards to the tragic mistakes of NATO's airstrikes-

Mustafa Gheriani, a Transitional National Council spokesman, told Al Jazeera’s Laurence Lee that the loss of lives is very much regretted.

“However we understand that collateral damage may also take place and we do accept it, because we look at the big picture which saving more lives. So a few people being victims of circumstances or of being at the wrong time or the wrong place it is more or less very bad luck.”

Last Edit and bit of news for today:

Gaddafi oil tank trucks arrived in Tunisia, but were sent away by the Tunisians. Now all of them are returning to Tripoli empty. Tripoli's fuel shortage has reached critical levels, and it seems Gaddafi's regime is desperate for petrol.

Those poor drivers are going to shit themselves trying to explain why they came back empty-handed.

edited 2nd Apr '11 9:50:03 AM by MayuZane

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GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#3669: Apr 2nd 2011 at 11:51:12 AM

See, this is why I was not too worried about the Rebels getting thrashed and retreating because I figured it was going to make the rebels get their shit in gear.

Am I the only one finding it kind of eerie that this is having alot of analogies to the American Revolution, only with a few but possibly significant twists?

Ardiente I won't kill you. Since: Jan, 2011
I won't kill you.
#3670: Apr 2nd 2011 at 11:52:50 AM

[up][up]You mean Tunis, right?

[up]I don't know the details of the American Revolution besides what I saw in The Patriot and as throwaway comedic references, especially Rushmore Defacement and Dollar Bill Parodies. (Why is it called a "Dollar" anyway?)

edited 2nd Apr '11 11:54:56 AM by Ardiente

"Sweets are good. Sweets are justice."
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#3671: Apr 2nd 2011 at 11:57:14 AM

[up]

Well not alot but mostly how that they started off having no idea what they were doing at first, then France came in and helped and after getting beat a few times they straightened up and became competent.

GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#3673: Apr 2nd 2011 at 12:49:58 PM

I personally dont see a lot of similarity to the American Revolution, but I see many potential similarities to the first Arab Revolt (a la Lawrence of Arabia fame).

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
SomeSortOfTroper Since: Jan, 2001
#3674: Apr 2nd 2011 at 1:22:26 PM

The best bit about this report is that it is my first indication that Egypt's government actively supports the Libyan rebellion and will give aid and succor to it.

The situation in Tripoli has been getting worse and worse. Doesn't matter if Gaddafi managed to have Brega and Ras Lanuf change hands a couple of times, he has only two cities that are managing to actually function, he's unable to make the pay outs to the sub-saharan african countries that make them support him, he's unable to keep a facade up in Tripoli and all his military successes win him are bullet ridden ghost towns.

For all we know, the failures of a zerg rush by folks who nicked a couple of AK's help us all in the long run. If there were al-Qaeda or Hezbollah fighters in those advances, they look kinda stupid now. This is Libya, you don't need to listen to guys who shoot inaccurate RPGs at Israeli semi-detached houses, you need 70 year old books by dead Germans. The important of keeping order in the east is being underlined, the calmer minds in the TNC are promoted in stature, the foreign coalition start to look a little cooler in front of the world "Look, see, we're letting them fuck up" and hopefully they'll stop shooting their weapons into the air like Team America World Police extras, for the love of God, please.

Colonial1.1 Purveyor of Obscurity from The Marvelous River City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Purveyor of Obscurity
#3675: Apr 2nd 2011 at 1:41:49 PM

Considering what happened when they fired off celebratory fire from an anti-air gun, I think they have an extra incentive to stop that.

"He could not know it. For it was not all a joke."

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