In an audio message delivered today in Tripoli, Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi warned Europe that it faced retaliation if NATO did not immediately halt its bombing campaign. He insisted that Libya could descend upon Europe “like locusts.”
Gadhafi went on to say that should such attacks on Europe begin, they would treat civilian homes and office buildings as “legitimate military targets, like you have targeted our homes.” One of Gadhafi’s sons, Saif al-Arab, was killed in a strike on his home in Tripoli early in the war.
While much was made of the comments in the Western media, however, it must not be forgotten that the audience for this speech was ten thousand or so pro-Gadhafi marchers in a capital city beset by over 100 days of bombardment, and looking for some indication, any indication, that the war will end.
In that context then the comments are indeed aimed more at rhetorical value among the besieged population of the capital than they are a serious statement of policy. Though Libya may retain the ability to launch such attacks, it seems the effort to end the war is better served not with escalation, but with reconciliation talks, which are rumored to be under way.
Is his position unreasonable?
We always talk about national defense. Do non-Western countries also have this right of national defense, or do only Western countries have this right?
Isuppose he is right.
Homes in Britain, France ,The USA and other NATO Nations taking part in bombing Libyan Homes are all legitimate targets.
BEWARE what you sow – so you shall reep.
The stupidity of the NATO is amazing. The old colonial powers depend on tourist industry and I doubt that a few bombs going off will help in the area. I am sure the old colonial powers will flatten Libya but they will do that any way. They have a long record of leaving destroyed nations and civilizations in their march over everyone. I am sure they will never understand the drop in tourist because they only know keeping the Libyan oil off the market keeps the price up by a third. Iraq and Libya lose of production account for over a million barrels a day off the market. BTW what ever happened to having wars decided by the United Nations rather than outdated war clubs like NATO.
Jason, to set the stage for what is to come, first off let me mention that you are definitely one of my favorite journalist. Your take on most issues is right on and you have helped thousands to get a better grip on events all over the globe.
However (OK, the proverbial however has arrived…), on Libya and Gaddafi you seem to parrot your EIC Justin R. a lot, who still refers to Gaddafi as a thug and pariah – a notion I take exception to.
Your comment "ten thousand or so pro-Gadhafi marchers in a capital …" is at the least amazingly uninformed, at worst downright deceptive. Check this out, it is raw footage of the "ten thousand or so" crowd on July 1st:
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I know crowd estimates are a slippery slope – but not THIS one!
I said it before, right at the onset of this so called revolt in Libya, when you started comparing what's going on in Libya to Egypt, Tunesia , Yemen and Bahrain. I say it again, it is not comparable – not by a longshot! Egypt, Tunesia, Yemen and Bahrain are US client states and the masses are revolting because they want to cut ties with the US, the want justice for Israel and they are pro-Palestinian. Yes, they also want freedom, decent wages, healthcare, etc.
Libya under Gaddafi was never a US client state, he's always been anti Israel, pro Palestinian. He gave decent wages and free healthcare to his people.
I contend, as I have 3 months ago, that the majority of Libyans would elect Gaddafi in free and fair election as their leader – and that is exactly why NATO has outright rejected it. They're scared shitless of a free and fair election in Libya!
Please comment, Jason! Personally, I think you may just be a little too young to the situation in Libya in full context. No offense, just a fact I fear.
"Libya under Gaddafi was never a US client state, he's always been anti Israel, pro Palestinian. He gave decent wages and free healthcare to his people.
If Qaddafi wasn't a US client state, how exactly do you explain the fact that he had 300 BILLION bucks neatly and safely tucked away in Wall Street? Or the fact that his beloved son Saif studied in the US? And the UK too for that matter.
As for the healthcare and education and blah blah blah…yeah, even the biggest tyrants and US admitted clients did that. Did you ever hear the Tunisians, Egyptians or any of the others demanding healthcare or education? No? Well, that's because they all had that. Here's a newsflash: the US is the ONLY country in the world that doesn't provide healthcare and education to its citizens. I'm not supporting the US – heavens, far from that! But Qaddafi ain't the saint and victim you leftists make him out to be. Far from that!
i would say Gaddafi have legal rights to attack Europe. They attacked Libya, and Libya must respond in defense.
I'd be interesting to see what it is exactly that Qaddafi retaliates with. Other than his big deranged mouth, of course. And, yeah, I don't think this is a US/NATO PR stunt or anything, of course. I'm afraid, very, very afraid of Qaddafi.
"I'd be interesting to see what it is exactly that Qaddafi retaliates with"
that sums up the mentality of armchair warriors who know secure that other party has no weapon to counter thier attack on unarfmed people. such a coward ! when retribution comes you will not be warned nor shoudl be warned because you will have desreved by your attitude to other human beings,