Tuesday, March 15, 2011

'Toontime' Obama Dithers; Qaddafi Rolls

[credit: Kevin Siers, Charlotte Observer]
Wackydoodle axes:  Has he check his shorts?
Update: Ajdabiyah has fallen, opening the way to Benghazi.  Qaddafi troops advanced behind a hail of rocket and artillery fire.  Tank columns fought into the city from two directions. Residents have fled towards Benghazi.  One rebel commander said, "The battle is lost. Qaddafi is throwing everything against us." Reprisals have begun. Western powers are divided on supporting the rebellion, so continuation of Qaddafi's brutal rule appears assured, but taking Benghazi, a city of 670,000 people, will be difficult event for a madman.

The international community, is still paralyzed over the question of intervening in the Libyan revolution. The indecision is allowing Col. Qaddafi's professional army equipped with artillery, tanks, and aircraft to roll up poorly equipped and untrained rebels along the coast road.  His forces have retaken Ras Lanouf, Zawiya and now Brega. There are unconfirmed reports rebels are still fighting in Brega, and the government assault on Misrata in the west has apparently stalled.   The ineffectual and usually anti-interventionist Arab League has asked the United Nations Security Council to establish a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace to prevent the use of fighter aircraft.  The UK and France have pressed for an aviation embargo before the Council, but it is opposed by China, Russia, and Germany. It is now unclear whether this late in the counter-offensive a no-fly zone would be effective in stopping Qaddafi's advances. His forces are preparing for an offensive on the town of Ajdabiya, 100 miles south of the rebel center of Benghazi and the last town in rebel hands. Unlike the oil terminals retaken by the government, Ajdabiya is an historic town. Natives have vowed to resist the government assault. Rebel commanders say they have 100 operational tanks which have not yet been deployed in the struggle.  Obama has demanded Qaddafi leave power, but has done little to accomplish his departure.  He is apparently holding out for Arab and African nation participation in any intervention.  The US under Ronald Reagan unilaterally bombed Libya in 1986 in response to a terror attack against a Berlin nightclub in which Americans were killed. Since then, Qaddafi worked his way back into the good graces of the west thanks to the efforts of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. A UN arms embargo was lifted in 2003 as a result of the thaw in relations.

As the world watches, Libyans are fighting for their lives against a mad despot equipped with western weapons of war. The United States has been on the wrong side of Middle East politics for a long time, supporting authoritarian regimes in an effort to secure its oil supply. Changing horses will not happen overnight, as it is still sorely dependent on Arab oil.  Its closest ally in the Arab region, the Saudi Kingdom, has answered the call for troops from its neighboring monarchy in Bahrain. Bahrain has experienced a month of democratic protests. The worst clash between protesters and police there occurred on Sunday when democrats seized the financial center and blocked Manama's main highway. On Monday, 1,000 troops crossed the causeway from Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's crown prince warned his country's security "will never be negotiable". Translation: I am not Mubarak.
الله أكبر