# Libya too?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 16, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595 "2011-02-16T16:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/181 "2011-02-22T15:46:58Z")
I’m Libyan and so is my wife. Both of us have family there in Benghazi and Tripoli. Both of us have been following the news with absolute horror and have barely been able to sleep as we learned of atrocity after atrocity. But amidst the truly stunning brutality being inflicted on the protestors, we’ve heard of some absolutely unbelievable acts of heroism on the part of those fighting for their freedom and their very lives. I used to be embarassed of being Libyan, wanting to distance myself from any connection with that crazy, ugly bastard who ran the country. Now, hearing of protestors fighting off snipers with stones, of the women walking the streets of Benghazi calling out to any men still in their homes to come out and fight for their people, of the protestors storming Security Service buildings to take on armed mercenaries…well…words fail me. I couldn’t be prouder of my people now. Go Libya - go and take the freedom you deserve. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/182 "2011-02-22T15:48:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I think the Palestinians have reached the point where (1) they’ve figured out that never works, not in their case and (2) if they rebel against anybody, it’s going to be Abbas. It worked in India. It worked in Egypt. It worked in Tunisia. Why wouldn’t it work in Israel. If all the pelstestinians and israeli muslims lied down in traffic in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, why wouldn’t it work eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/183 "2011-02-22T15:55:50Z")
> [@wmfellows](#): > > Which has fuck all to do with the Revolutions, he’s calling for Palestinians to take a run at Israel. He’s been calling for that stuff for years I think. Anyway it’s neither domestic revolt nor internal to the Arabs. Its standing up against an oppressive regime. You may not agree that Israel is an oppressive regime (at leat wrt Palestinians) but I don’t see why thats such a huge leap. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/184 "2011-02-22T15:56:35Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > If all the pelstestinians and israeli muslims lied down in traffic in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, why wouldn’t it work eventually. …in order to bring democracy to Israel? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/185 "2011-02-22T15:58:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Money can bring power, and power can bring money, but the two are not synonymous. There are richer people than the Koch brothers with less power - because the Koch brothers actively seek power. And even they can’t bring tens of thousands of supporters to the streets, nor can they order an air strike. In certain ways, your average African tinpot dictator has more \*immediate \*power than they do. The richer than Koch suckers have lots of political power. The Waltons of Walmart get state , local and federal laws changed to suit them . Gates ran a ruthless monopoly for decades . Have you not seen the tea baggers in the streets? They were started and financed with money of the rich and powerful. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/186 "2011-02-22T16:03:21Z")
[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tea\_Party](http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tea_Party) The Mellons, the Kochs and many others with great wealth are financing the tea baggers, baggers, ask yourself why? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/187 "2011-02-22T16:04:50Z")
> [@Agnostic\_Pagan](#): > > With ‘friends’ like these, socialists like me don’t need enemies. Conservatives get stuck with Ann Coulter and Glenn Beck. We get stuck with Gaddafi and Chavez. The opposite of conservative is not socialist. The opposite of conservative is progressive. The opposite of socialism is probably closer to libertarianism isn’t it? In what sense is Qaddafi a progressive compared Ann Coulter? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/188 "2011-02-22T16:11:43Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > money=power There is really little difference. Ask the Koch brothers for a lesson. Money is but one of several **forms** of power. You’ll find an insightful analysis in [_Power,_](http://books.google.com/books?id=pZ7NtoL6_SoC&printsec=frontcover&dq=power+bertrand+russell&source=bl&ots=pcS-_woWpR&sig=er1xx9efio2nOJWoHmUNdlFGacU&hl=en&ei=IOBjTcHGItO9tgeuoqzuCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false) by Bertrand Russell. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/189 "2011-02-22T16:12:44Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > If all the pelstestinians and israeli muslims lied down in traffic in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv . . . They’d have to get there first. There’s this Wall, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/190 "2011-02-22T16:13:32Z")
> [@Agnostic\_Pagan](#): > > Your welcome. I still can’t find data on how large those tribes are, but considering over 80% of the country lives in the coastal cities, and the whole population is only about 6-7 million, they cannot be that many. > > I would love to know what percentage of the military they control. And seeing pilots defect is a _huge_ sign of the regime falling apart. According to the article, the air force is base of Gaddafi’s tribe and is who put down the last coup attempt. If he loses control of them, I’d say game over. > > The pic of the girl is awesome - that should be on the cover of every news magazine! I see Palestinians protesting against Qaddafi (is that something you would expect?). What picture of a girl? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/191 "2011-02-22T16:13:55Z")
Gaddafi is making a speech now. Extraordinary. Tune in now. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/192 "2011-02-22T16:14:26Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > In what sense is Qaddafi a progressive compared Ann Coulter? In the sense that he is an Islamist-socialist psychopath. Look, whaddaya want? Khomeini was progressive compared to Ann Coulter. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/193 "2011-02-22T16:22:23Z")
A few highlights from Gaddafi’s speech right now, according to the BBC: Col Gaddafi renews accusations that protesters were young people who had been given “hallucinatory drugs”. “Fighting will carry on street by street until Libyan soil is liberated.” “If matters require, we will use force, according to international law and Libyan consitution.” Col Gaddafi says he will not leave Libya, he will die on Libyan soil. Well, he’s right on that last part… ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/194 "2011-02-22T16:24:45Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Gaddafi is making a speech now. Extraordinary. Tune in now. I know he has been one of the oddest world leaders around for some time now but this is just a bizarre performance. Beyond delusional to the point where I wonder if he is suffering from some form of dementia. He has no idea what is actually going on does he? Its like it is beyond his ability to comprehend the situation. ETA: The protesters are on drugs?!?! WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/195 "2011-02-22T16:24:58Z")
More from Gaddafi: “All African nations look up to Libya, all the rulers of the world look up to Libya. Protesters are serving the devil, they want to humiliate you. We want to recover, to react effectively on the ground.” ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/196 "2011-02-22T16:26:02Z")
[QUOTE=Bibliovore] Well, he’s right on that last part… [/QUOTE] It’s too bad that a lot of other Libyans from all walks of life will have to die with him though. ☹ -XT ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/197 "2011-02-22T16:26:23Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > A few highlights from Gaddafi’s speech right now, according to the BBC: > Col Gaddafi renews accusations that protesters were young people who had been given “hallucinatory drugs”. > > “Fighting will carry on street by street until Libyan soil is liberated.” > > “If matters require, we will use force, according to international law and Libyan consitution.” > > Col Gaddafi says he will not leave Libya, he will die on Libyan soil. > > Well, he’s right on that last part… We should establish a no fly zone over all of libya, like we did with Iraq. I want to see this fracker and his sons hung by the neck from lamp posts. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/198 "2011-02-22T16:27:33Z")
He’s 69 and has been absolute ruler for 42 years - the man is about as crazy as you can get while still being physically capable of walking and talking. And crazier and he’d dissolve into a puddle of gibbering plastic nonsense as his face melts. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/199 "2011-02-22T16:32:18Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > It’s too bad that a lot of other Libyans from all walks of life will have to die with him though. ☹ > > -XT I absolutely agree. It’s astounding how many have been killed, and I really think he’ll get his wish. The people simply won’t be allowed to abscond or face trial - if they get their hands on him, they will either tear him limb from limb with their bare hands or they’ll hang him from a lamp-post - or both. The Libyans won’t be as forgiving as the Egyptians - they’ve simply lost too many loved ones. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/200 "2011-02-22T16:32:57Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Libya’s status as a recently-elected member of the UN Human Rights Council might provide it some insulation. Not if there is regime change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=11)