Libya: Benghazi unrest, to Civil War, to a new government and Gaddafi's death.

[King]

lol you can't make this shi' up.  Well, they can:

From the youtube description of the rebels: "This young man is murdered in front of a crowd by the NATO, CIA, MI5, Mossad, al Qaeda supported notoriously racist ex-monarchists."

[J. J.]

He made a radio broadcast today.

[King]

He made a radio broadcast today.

Clearly a man who doesn't have the capability to securely film himself is on the verge of regaining power.

[Lief 🗽]

Qaddafi's gun found in his compound/palace/whatever:

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Reuters reports Abu Slim is being stormed for realsies; could still be a fog of war issue though.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE77O0SH20110825

[The Mikado]

King, Qaddafi might have been fabulous, but he was definitely batting for our team.

[Lief 🗽]

In other news, this picture is AWESOME

[King]

In other news, this picture is AWESOME

Looks like the Superdome in the background.

Uwe Boll's Hurricane Katrina

[Tender Branson]

The picture reminds me of Malcolm in the Middle, in which Dewey's hamster sometimes rolls by:

[Lief 🗽]

[Antonio the Sixth]

Lulz. We're gonna learn a lot about insanity in these days...

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Gaddafi is making politicaladdict appear normal.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Well we'll see if the U.S. is better off when the rebels take total control and the MadMan is gone........I'm not so sure.  We knew what we were getting with him and he was nothing more than a pimple on our ass....

Are we better off in Egypt so far?

[2952-0-0]

Well we'll see if the U.S. is better off when the rebels take total control and the MadMan is gone........I'm not so sure.  We knew what we were getting with him and he was nothing more than a pimple on our ass....

Are we better off in Egypt so far?

In mid-1990 we were also not sure what was going on in Eastern Europe. In fact there was genuine reason to fear some countries were relapsing into Milosevic-style dictatorships.

[Lief 🗽]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0826/breaking15.html?fb_ref=.TlhqMZo5Gwk.like&fb_source=home_multiline

hahah, what

[J. J.]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0826/breaking15.html?fb_ref=.TlhqMZo5Gwk.like&fb_source=home_multiline

hahah, what

This was reported a few days ago.

Qaddafi found a dead baby and trotted out the body for the press.  Dictators have been doing stuff like that since at least 1939.

[Mr. Morden]

Intrade has "Gaddafi to no longer be leader of Libya before midnight ET 31 Aug 2011" trading at 70.0 right now.

Uh....how are they determining "leader of Libya"?

[Frodo]

With Qaddafi gone, now it's on to Syria...  

[Antonio the Sixth]

With Qaddafi gone, now it's on to Syria...  

Sadly, I fear this time the international community will do nothing while the rebels get crushed. If ever there was enough willingness among the western powers, I doubt China and Russia would let them go once again.

[© tweed]

Intrade has "Gaddafi to no longer be leader of Libya before midnight ET 31 Aug 2011" trading at 70.0 right now.

Uh....how are they determining "leader of Libya"?

*Settlement (expiry) will be based on the status of Muammar al-Gaddafi as leader of Libya. If there is any ambiguity over this status Intrade reserves the absolute right to determine how this market will be settled (when and at what price). This will be done using all reliable mainstream information that is publicly available at that time. Intrade reserves the right to wait for further information before settling this or any other market.

[GMantis]

With Qaddafi gone, now it's on to Syria...  

Too little oil.

[Frodo]

With Qaddafi gone, now it's on to Syria...  

Too little oil.

What Syria may lack in natural resources, it makes up for in strategic importance as an ally of Iran and benefactor of Islamist terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas. 

Sooner or later, once the opposition unifies and broadens its appeal to Aleppo and Damascus, the United States -though NATO- will intervene there as well. 

[The Mikado]

I highly doubt that there will be a military intervention in Syria.  The Syrian military's strong enough and the rebellion disorganized enough that the "NATO airpower plus local rebel soldiers on the ground" model has zero chance of success (call me back if the Syrian rebels become a realistic military force).  Without that, there's simply no way to oust Assad without NATO (esp. American) boots on the ground, and that simply is not going to happen.

[phk]

Syria will go sectarian once Assad's position looks fragile.

[Sbane]

Syria will go sectarian once Assad's position looks fragile.

Have the protests been mostly sunni led?