# 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:** 91
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1801 "2011-08-22T16:33:19Z")
[Gaddafi holdouts are under seige in Sirte:](http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Libya) > [@](#): > > 1 hour 18 min ago - Libya > According to Mustafa Jalil, Sirte is under seige. > > Al Jazeera’s sources confirm that electricity to the city has been cut and communications disrupted and senior Gaddafi officials have taken refuge there. Amongst them is the Information Minister Ali al Kilani. > > While in Brega ppposition fighters have entered the industrial area after a rebel artillery barrage drove off Gaddafi forces. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1802 "2011-08-23T00:29:07Z")
Hm. Apparently [Saif Gaddafi was not captured, he is holed up in the Bab al-Azizya compound.](http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/libya/2011/08/2011822235934828611.html) And Mohammad was captured but escaped. ---
**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 23, 2011, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1803 "2011-08-23T04:03:15Z")
Random trivia: Three SCUD missiles have been launched from Sirte towards Libya, according to NATO. All three have been destroyed. (shot down by NATO fighters) ---
**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 23, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1804 "2011-08-23T10:16:27Z")
Safir and Mohammed Gaddafi are both free, having escaped. They apparently were both in custody at one point, but now no longer are. Nobody’s sure how. Rebels are withdrawing from the center of town at night, going back in at daylight. Misrata rebels should be entering Tripoli soon with heavy armor. Gaddafi’s compound shouldn’t last much longer. ---
**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 23, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1805 "2011-08-23T12:01:50Z")
Nobody’s sure how? Everybody on the planet knows how. They simply bribed someone. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1806 "2011-08-23T12:45:38Z")
This just in- John Boehner will not accept Khaddafi’s surrender without cuts to Medicare and Social Security. ---
**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 23, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1807 "2011-08-23T14:35:19Z")
Well, bribing is possible. A secret escape tunnel in the building they were in is possible. So is some loyalists coming and killing their minders. ---
**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 23, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1808 "2011-08-23T15:54:01Z")
There is direct reporting that Bab Aziziyah has partially fallen, and they control the house of Qadafi. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1809 "2011-08-23T16:19:06Z")
BBC is showing footage of the rebels inside Ka-Daffy’s compound now, but the dear boy is nowhere to be found. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1810 "2011-08-23T16:19:58Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > There is direct reporting that Bab Aziziyah has partially fallen, and they control the house of Qadafi. [CBS confirms.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/23/501364/main20096019.shtml) No sign of Gaddafi, though. Apparently he called the head of the World Chess Federation to confirm he still is in Tripoli. All very through-the-looking-glass. ---
**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 23, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1811 "2011-08-23T16:46:08Z")
I just have listened to discussion on Al Jazeera where they discussed with someon who knew the compound that there are tunnels to outside city or far away from compound. He thought that the sudden disappearance of the Bridages of Qadafi meant that they had organised an exit out via the tunnels. ---
**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 24, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1812 "2011-08-24T00:50:04Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Random trivia: Three SCUD missiles have been launched\*\* from Sirte towards Libya\*\*, according to NATO Did they throw them by hand? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1813 "2011-08-24T01:00:52Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Did they throw them by hand? I shot a SCUD into the air; It fell to Earth I know not where. ---
**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 24, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1814 "2011-08-24T01:07:11Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Well, bribing is possible. A secret escape tunnel in the building they were in is possible. So is some loyalists coming and killing their minders. Of course it’s possible. If there had been a secret tunnel, the rebels would no doubt be showing that to the press. Also, if some loyalists had killed the minders, the rebels would certainly have mentioned that. The only two options I see left are: [ol][li]The minders were bribed and skedaddled with the dictator.[/li][li]The minders were informed by the loyalists or the captives that the minders’ families would be slaughtered unless the captives were set free.[/ol][/li] I see Option #1 as the most likely. ---
**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 24, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1815 "2011-08-24T03:24:53Z")
Still hearing about multiple random scud launches towards the general direction of Bengazi. Probably. They kinda go… that way. And I’m trying not to speculate, Monty. I’m repeating what I hear, and if I don’t know something, I’m saying I don’t know. As far as Saif Al-Islam, perhaps he was never captured at all. As far as Mohammed… well, he was giving an interview, and then there was gunfire inside his house, and then the interview was cut off. ---
**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 24, 2011, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1816 "2011-08-24T10:40:02Z")
Hotel Rixos may be the last major stronghold of Gaddafi forces. Because of the hostage situation. Guess who’s in there? https://www.youtube.com/embed/ts_D5CoCWdY?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Thierry Meyssan! He does operate out of Syria as an operative for russian television. RT is a fun thing to watch. Anyhow, he’s claiming that the hotel is full of CIA agents and MI6 agents. > **[Libya conflict: Trapped among Gaddafi loyalists](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14644953)** > > The BBC's Matthew Price describes the scene in a Tripoli hotel where about 35 foreigners are trapped among forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi. Interview with Matthew Price on the situation, from the inside. Here’s a partial list of hostages, by the way. With twitter accounts where available. > [@](#): > > Matthew Price, BBC matthewwprice > > Matthew Chance CNN mchancecnn > > Jomana Karadsheh CNN JomanaCNN > > Annie Phrommayon, Bangkok BBC, Tailand anniephr > > Dario Lopez Mills, AP Photog Central America DarioLopezMills > > Missy Ryan, Reuters missy\_ryan > > Paul Hackett, Reuters > > Mahdi Nazemroaya, independent journalist, Canada, AP > > Sze Ho-wai, CCTV > > Feng Yunxian, CCTV > > Jiang Xiaofeng, Phoenix TV > > 2 others, Phoenix TV > > Thierry Meyssan, French > > Tadek Markowski, FoxNews > > Rolando Segura, TeleSUR (Venezuela) @rolandoteleSUR > > Walter E. Fauntroy, pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and civil rights activist > > John Hutton (at the Rixos, no work info) jnyhutton > > Possible: > > Mahdi Nazemroaya > > Julien Teil > > Mathieu Ozanon From [mathaba.net](http://mathaba.net) (pro-Gaddafi) > > Jon Williams, BBC > > Martin Geissler, ITV News China wants in on the looting. [http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFB9E7JJ03120110824](http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFB9E7JJ03120110824) (worth reading the whole thing, all four paragraphs.) > [@](#): > > China hopes to play an active role in rebuilding Libya, a Chinese Ministry of Commerce official said, as rebel forces appeared to strike a decisive blow in ousting long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. > > China yesterday urged Libya to protect its investment and said their oil trade benefited both countries, after a Libyan rebel warned that Chinese oil companies could lose out after the ousting of Gaddafi. Russia… may be a bit behind the times. [http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/idINIndia-58942920110824](http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/idINIndia-58942920110824) > [@](#): > > ``` > Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Muammar Gaddafi and Libya's rebels to stop fighting and sit down for talks. > > "We want the Libyans to come to an agreement among themselves," Medvedev said after talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at a Siberian military base. > > ``` Juan Cole wrote something on what should happen next. It’s pretty good. > **[How to Avoid Bush's Iraq Mistakes in Libya](https://www.juancole.com/2011/08/how-to-avoid-bushs-iraq-mistakes-in-libya.html)** > > The illegal American invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation was so epochal a catastrophe that it spawned a negative phrase in Arabic, 'to Iraqize' or \`arqana. Tonight I heard an Alarabiya anchor ask a spokesman for the new government in Libya... ---
**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 24, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1817 "2011-08-24T15:54:46Z")
[http://i.imgur.com/KCFNT.png](http://i.imgur.com/KCFNT.png) Current status, Tripoli. Red is in conflict, green is Gaddafi controlled, tan is rebel. ---
**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 24, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1818 "2011-08-24T15:59:42Z")
Thierry Meyssan works for the Russian television in Syria now? Wow. Chinese diplomacy is going to have to work extra hard. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1819 "2011-08-24T16:11:05Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/KCFNT.png) Current status, Tripoli. Red is in conflict, green is Gaddafi controlled, tan is rebel. Looks like it’s **all** in conflict. ---
**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 24, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595/1820 "2011-08-24T16:30:17Z")
Brainglutton: Being colorblind doesn’t help. Red for rebels, tan for disputed, green for Gaddafi. From Matthew Chance, via twitter. > [@](#): > > ``` > Here is timeline of events that have happened in the last hour at the #Rixos.... > 330p local time: Negotiating with guards for our release. They said we can leave, but in small groups > We are expecting the ICRC and Chinese embassy to send cars to pick us up. Fingers crossed. > We are expecting the ICRC and Chinese embassy to send cars to pick us up. Fingers crossed. > 410p local time: After a heart to heart with Arab speaking journos, two Gadhafi guards disarmed > 415p local time: This feels like the end game in this dramatic and unpleasant situation. > Running across upper floors of hotel to find a flag with TV written on it. They want to put it on the car. > BBC cars arrives at #rixos, BBC crew is leaving the hotel. > 436pm local time: BBC has left the hotel > 437pm local time: ICRC cars have arrived at the hotel. > 438pm local time: Now pulling out of #rixos hotel after 6 days of a complete nightmare. Still dodgy situation > 439pm local time: Crammed with other journos in the car. Reuters, other cameramen, FOX, and AP > We have been holed up together for what seems like an eternity. We could finally get out freedom!!! > I can see the NTC rebels. We are nearly there! > #Rixos crisis ends. All journalists are out! > > ``` A rebel spokesman tells Reuters that rebel authorities have called on oil workers to restart Ras Lanouf and Brega oil facilities. Map of country control > **[Libya unrest: fighting continues in Tripoli](https://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/aug/22/libya-middle-east-tripoli-interactive)** > > Fighting is still going on in Tripoli as pockets of pro-Gaddafi supporters fire on rebels [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=90) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libya-too/571595.md?page=92)