# 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:** 90
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1781 "2011-08-22T01:05:25Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Don’t know if these will work: Ummm, hopefully ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1782 "2011-08-22T02:24:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Statement from government official: Nato is working for Al-Qaeda. :smack::rolleyes::smack::rolleyes::smack::rolleyes::smack: Why, of course, that makes sense! Why they did not notice that before? [Super sarcasm] ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1783 "2011-08-22T03:38:01Z")
Gadaffi troops are trying to take back Green Square. Civilians have been evacuated, multiple rebel deaths. Tripoli is not secure. Decent article on post-Gadaffi Libya and factions. [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/21/us-libya-rebels-personalities-idUSTRE77K2AR20110821](http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/21/us-libya-rebels-personalities-idUSTRE77K2AR20110821) Rumor: Gaddafi is holed up in a hospital on the east side of Tripoli. Probably untrue. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1784 "2011-08-22T03:47:51Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Easily; when the end result fails to be a Libyan Utopia, they’ll claim that everything that goes wrong there is because he didn’t do enough or did too much. If it goes south it will have nothing to do with not doing enough. We involved ourselves in a civil war. Who are we supporting and why? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1785 "2011-08-22T04:07:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Der Trihs > Easily; when the end result fails to be a Libyan Utopia, they’ll claim that everything that goes wrong there is because he didn’t do enough or did too much. > [@Magiver](#): > > If it goes south it will have nothing to do with not doing enough. We involved ourselves in a civil war. Who are we supporting and why? And the ball lands on… We did too much. And we didn’t have a handy dictator to put in Quadaffi’s place. Sorry. Our bad. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1786 "2011-08-22T04:19:27Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Gadaffi troops are trying to take back Green Square. Civilians have been evacuated, multiple rebel deaths. Tripoli is not secure. Not sure where you’re seeing this. According to the BBC the rebels have 95% of Tripoli at least , and all of Green Square. I’m watching video from there right now, it’s full of people celebrating and there is no sign of resistance there. Indeed there was next to no resistance on the way into Tripoli at all. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1787 "2011-08-22T04:41:04Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > . We involved ourselves in a civil war. Who are we supporting and why? We are supporting our allies in NATO and the Libyan rebels. Because we were asked, and because we don’t like Gaddafi, and because sitting around doing nothing was making it embarrassingly obvious how little we actually care about our own supposed ideals. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1788 "2011-08-22T04:46:08Z")
“It’s over, frizz-head” This is what the rebels are chanting, according to multiple news sources. The man is a horrific dictator for scores of years, and the best chant they can come up with makes fun of his HAIR??? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1789 "2011-08-22T05:07:13Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > We are supporting our allies in NATO and the Libyan rebels. Because we were asked, and because we don’t like Gaddafi, and because sitting around doing nothing was making it embarrassingly obvious how little we actually care about our own supposed ideals. I fave to find my journal. There’s no way I’m leaving this out. I completely agree with _Der Trihs_ on an issue relating to military action. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1790 "2011-08-22T05:26:38Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > “It’s over, frizz-head” > > This is what the rebels are chanting, according to multiple news sources. The man is a horrific dictator for scores of years, and the best chant they can come up with makes fun of his HAIR??? Dude’s a vain man; that probably cuts deeper than most any other chant. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1791 "2011-08-22T06:10:49Z")
Astonishing stuff. Juan Cole has a trenchant [analysis](http://www.juancole.com/2011/08/the-great-tripoli-uprising.html)of what happened. This is still not over and the future will be a hard slog for Libya as it has been for Egypt. However so far these events look like a major vindication for Obama’s policy. If he hadn’t intervened Gaddafi’s forces would have crushed the rebellion months ago and perhaps stopped the Arab Spring in its tracks. Now it looks like his regime is finished and while we don’t know what will follow, odds are it will be an improvement for both Libya and for the US. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1792 "2011-08-22T08:34:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If it goes south it will have nothing to do with not doing enough. We involved ourselves in a civil war. Who are we supporting and why? You involved yourselves in a civil war because a dictator turned his army on peaceful demonstrators calling for liberty and this dictator had a proven history of making support to terrorism and to other dictators. And the rebellion calling for liberty asked for your help, not the made up lies of your war in Iraq. It is better to have as did France in your war of revolution, taken a little chance for a liberty to come out than to watch the slaughter of liberty just because the president you have is not from your party. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1793 "2011-08-22T09:42:05Z")
> **[Inside Tripoli's Rixos hotel as rebels close in](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14611043)** > > The BBC's Matthew Price reports from inside Tripoli's Rixos hotel, one of the last buildings held by Col Gaddafi's supporters. What it was like to be a journalist at the Rixos Hotel during the liberation of Tripoli. Askance: It wound up being very brief. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1794 "2011-08-22T09:44:12Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > It is better to have as did France in your war of revolution, taken a little chance for a liberty to come out than to watch the slaughter of liberty just because the president you have is not from your party. Darn, that means the US is doomed with a future bankruptcy that’s gonna turn into a revolution. Brace yourselves. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1795 "2011-08-22T10:31:40Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Not sure where you’re seeing this. According to the BBC the rebels have 95% of Tripoli at least , and all of Green Square. I’m watching video from there right now, it’s full of people celebrating and there is no sign of resistance there. Indeed there was next to no resistance on the way into Tripoli at all. [http://inagist.com/haynesdeborah/105475701074960384/Just\_been\_in\_Green\_Square.\_Gunfire\_erupted,\_sending\_rebels\_scattering.\_Then\_saw\_](http://inagist.com/haynesdeborah/105475701074960384/Just_been_in_Green_Square._Gunfire_erupted,_sending_rebels_scattering._Then_saw_) [http://inagist.com/sarasidnerCNN/105478560248107011/Green\_square\_nearly\_empty.\_We\_were\_warned\_to\_get\_out.\_Rebels\_say\_Gadhafi\_troops\_](http://inagist.com/sarasidnerCNN/105478560248107011/Green_square_nearly_empty._We_were_warned_to_get_out._Rebels_say_Gadhafi_troops_) Mostly here and here. CNN and the (British) Sunday Times reporter. Roughly 11:30 PM Eastern Time. It doesn’t seem to have lasted, though. There remain snipers. As well as unconfirmed reports Khamis Gaddafi is leading his forces into Tripoli. Oh, and the internet and cell phones appear to be back up in Libya. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1796 "2011-08-22T11:42:57Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > [This is just mind-blowing to watch.](http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16053951) \*\*Bibliovore, \*\* are you still here, or are you out celebrating? I’m here! I’ve been glued to the TV and internet for days, but I still can’t believe my eyes. I’m so happy, I’m fit to bust! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1797 "2011-08-22T13:48:06Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > I’m here! I’ve been glued to the TV and internet for days, but I still can’t believe my eyes. I’m so happy, I’m fit to bust! 🙂 OK, **now** you can huzzah! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1798 "2011-08-22T13:59:23Z")
When rebels reached the gates of Tripoli, the special battalion entrusted by Gadhafi with guarding the capital promptly surrendered. The reason: Its commander, whose brotherhad been executed by Gadhafi years ago, was secretly loyal to the rebellion. Also, Libyan rebels say they have detained a Libyan state television anchor who brandished a weapon on air and pledged to fight for Moammar Gadhafi. Rug may or may not be dead. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1799 "2011-08-22T14:05:39Z")
Libyan state TV is off air. Reported to be in the hands of the rebels. I’m waiting for the moment when it comes back on with the new bosses. I hope it’s more entertaining than it was under Gaddafi. I’ve been watching it off and on over the last few weeks. Man, it was dull. Endless lectures from talking heads and pre-recorded video with stirring music. [http://wwitv.com/tv\_channels/b1951.htm](http://wwitv.com/tv_channels/b1951.htm) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1800 "2011-08-22T14:32:45Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > When rebels reached the gates of Tripoli, the special battalion entrusted by Gadhafi with guarding the capital promptly surrendered. The reason: Its commander, whose brotherhad been executed by Gadhafi years ago, was secretly loyal to the rebellion. Need to make an addendum to the Evil Overlord Rules . . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=89) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=91)