Launched last week, the Libyan rebel offensive against Tripoli was touted as a potentially decisive move from the south, bolstered by French weapons. As with every other offensive launched by either side, however, it has quickly ground to a halt.
A few villages were captured, but the rebels, described by the Washington Post as clad in blue jeans and flip-flops but with comparatively few weapons, expressed surprise at their stalling offensive, with one commander expressing anger that NATO wasn’t providing more weapons and help for their offensive.
Still and all, the Gadhafi forces are back on the move, retaking much of the lost territory already and expressing confidence that they would return to the previous positions in short order.
This will leave the situation, as ever, in a stalemate, and with yet another offensive failed four months of war have convinced many that the NATO war has failed, and that a negotiated settlement if not outright partition is inevitable.
It's complete ignorance. This would have been over one week after we interviened. Of course we fostered this mess by telling the "Rebels" that they could take over the wealth and keep it to themselves with our help.
The Rebels are in the minority and felt excluded from the oil wealth. Regardless of the fact that Gadaffi used much of the money on social programs that were for everyone.
They had the longest lifespan of any nation in Africa, the best paid for education to anywere in the world, subsidized food, cars, gas and housing. Not to mention the largest water works program in the world that would have fed much of Africa.
Gadaffi might be many things but he did take care of his people. If he took care of his tribe first, that is really what is expected. These "Rebels" think that by climbing in bed with us they will be better off, to bad they have not really paid much attention to what our policies always lead to.
Back in my years in college in Canada, I met lots of Libyans. All of them told me that they were there on scholarships from their government. It was evident Libya really wanted to improve the standard of living of their people.
This quagmire is like a dance, one step forward and one backward. What a disaster! The combined forces of the biggest military mights around the world can't take down a demented dictator with rusty Russian weapons from last century.