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21 Apr 2011 13:31

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World: Libyan rebel forces win strategic victory at Tunisian border

  • Libyan rebels claim Tunisian border post: The deputy leader of the rebel forces that seized this strategic piece of land, giving his name as Youssef, said they had killed about ten pro-Gaddafi soldiers in the process, and injured twenty-five. Their ability to hold this post is key, as open access to Tunisia allows more freedom of movement (Tunisia is likely now concerned about being able to support the increased influx of refugees, which should have a much easier time migrating), and gives them a new avenue to receive medical supplies. source
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20 Apr 2011 16:53

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World: Pentagon proposal for Libya aid awaits Obama’s approval

  • $25 million in proposed non-lethal aid to Libyan rebels source
  • » The Pentagon’s plan awaits President Obama’s approval. That said, $25 million is a relatively very minor cost to the U.S. in the context of a military action. It would, however, explicitly not go towards arming the rebels with western weaponry, but would rather send vehicles, supplies, medicines, and radios. The Gaddafi government threatened that such supply shipments would extend the bloody battles and “encourage the other side to be more defiant,” which is a pretty difficult quote to read with feeling unbearably angry.
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13 Apr 2011 14:28

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World: Telecom executive gives big help to Libyan rebels

  • YES the Libyan rebels have a  mobile phone network source
  • » Welcome to Free Libyana: With international support, in particular the help of a telecom executive in Abu Dhabi named Ousama Abushagur, the Libyan rebel forces now have a hijacked mobile phone network operating within the eastern part of the country. The network, called Free Libyana, was built on the equipment foundations of a Gaddafi controlled network called simply Libyana. Mr. Abushagur, a Libyan who was raised in Alabama, led a crew of engineers and some bodyguards into Benghazi in order to secure the network for the rebel forces located there.
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05 Apr 2011 16:04

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World: Libyan rebels plan to begin exporting oil themselves

  • This is a big deal for the opposition council. The Libyan rebel government’s deal with Qatar to export oil has obvious benefits to their cause, and they aren’t strictly economic. One aspect of the Libyan struggle we can’t overlook is the need for others to perceive their legitimacy — the more the rebellion shows a unified, proactive, and competent front, the more pressure it may put on Gaddafi’s beleaguered allies to desert him. The immediately refused rebel ceasefire offer was a good example, and this follows suit — the practical proof that oil exports can resume despite Gaddafi’s efforts to the contrary is another psychological victory against a regime that’s already reported as suffering key defections by officials. source
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05 Apr 2011 13:37

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World: NATO: Airstrikes decimate large chunk of Gaddafi’s prowess

  • 30%of Gaddafi military capacity destroyed by airstrikes source
  • » That’s what NATO says, at least. NATO Brigadier General Mark van Uhm made the claim to a bunch of reporters in Brussels. That said, though, some of Gaddafi’s tactics have made it harder for NATO to attack. “The operational tempo remains, but we have seen a change of tactics (from Gaddafi),” van Uhm said. “When human beings are used as shields we don’t engage.”
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01 Apr 2011 23:12

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World: Libyan rebels issue ceasefire demands

  • The necessary concessions are laid out: Protests against Muammar Gaddafi must continue safely, as must a process to replace the longtime dictator be agreed upon, if the Libyan rebellion is to halt its fight. The offer has already been rejected by the Gaddafi government, but this does have interesting implications for the reported mounting defections. The more the rebellion strikes the pose of a unified front with organized leadership and goals, as they have here, it may turn up the pressure on officials mulling whether they can ride this out or not. Also, it’s heartening from a foreign relations standpoint to see a few American flags in that crowd at the end. source
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31 Mar 2011 19:14

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World: More defections by Libyan officials reported

  • This is looking pretty significant: Al Jazeera reports that yesterday’s high-profile defection by former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa is no isolated incident. They say that four senior Libyan officials are outside the country (with Tunisia as a likely location), and have no intention to return. Without overstating the case, this is very welcome news. The more high-ranking internal support Gaddafi loses, the harder it should become for him to demand the sort of loyalty that’s needed to commit these atrocities on an international stage.  source
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31 Mar 2011 13:53

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World: British officials say no deal struck with Moussa Koussa

  • NOMoussa Koussa was not offered immunity to defect source
  • » So say British officials: Koussa, the former Libyan Foreign Minister who defected yesterday, had been a cornerstone of the Gaddafi regime dating back to the 1969 revolution. As such, it wasn’t unreasonable upon learning of his defection to wonder just how dirty his hands were. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court lists Koussa as having had command control over Libyan forces suspected of “crimes against humanity” during his long career as Gaddafi’s confidant. If he has indeed defected with no assurance of legal immunity, that might be indicative of how Gaddafi’s inner circle is feeling right now. Here’s hoping more of these dominoes start to fall.
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30 Mar 2011 22:01

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World: Secret authorization grants aid to Libyan rebels

  • Was Libyan military aid authorized? It’s being reported that President Obama signed an order, called a “finding,” which is effectively a secret authorization to militarily support the Libyan rebellion. The process is said to generally be used for secret CIA authorizations. The administration has gone to staggering lengths to avoid the perception that the Libyan intervention was an American decision rather than an international one, for reasons of perception both domestic and worldwide. This report, however, would suggest the U.S. had decided to actively support the rebellion of their own unilateral volition. source
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30 Mar 2011 19:11

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World: Moussa Koussa done working for Gaddafi’s regime

  • Gaddafi suffers high-profile defection: This man, Moussa Koussa, was the Foreign Minister in Libya. That ended today as Koussa, who according to Britain’s Foreign Office was “one of the most senior figures in Gaddafi’s government,” defected from Libya and flew into the UK’s Farnborough Airport. British officials say that he left of his own free will, and that he was no longer willing to act as an international representative of Gaddafi’s Libya. With recent reports suggesting tough losses for the rebels (while world leaders mull more active arms support), any news of Gaddafi’s officials defecting makes us hopeful for an internal weakening of his command. source
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