123tim
07-15-2011, 05:24 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/libya-rebels-regroup-battle-exposes-weakness-032754246.html
Could I ask just why these rebels are having such a hard time ousting Muammar Gaddafi with all of the U.N. support that they've been getting? Seems like I'm missing a large part of the story.
Would someone be able to fill me in on who the "rebels" really are?
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Rebel leaders won recognition as the legitimate government of Libya from the United States and other world powers on Friday in a major boost to the rebels' faltering campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi.
Western nations said they also planned to increase the military pressure on Gaddafi's forces to press him to give up power after 41 years at the head of the North African state.
Recognition of the rebels, announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a meeting in Turkey of the international contact group on Libya, is an important diplomatic step which could unlock billions of dollars in frozen Libyan funds.
The decision comes as reports are circulating Gaddafi has sent out emissaries seeking a negotiated end to the conflict, although he remains defiant in his public utterance.
In a speech broadcast as thousands of loyalists rallied in a street demonstration, Gaddafi rejected international recognition of the rebels.
"Trample on those recognitions, trample on them under your feet," he told his supporters. "They are worthless."
He said he enjoyed the support of millions of Libyans who yearned for death, martyrdom and suicide.
Edit:
Answered my own question...
The NCLO web site (Arabic) carries a document (Arabic; Google Cache; legible in automatic translation) dated February 15th (the day the protests began), which clearly spells out NCLO's objections to Qaddafi's rule. The main points of "Qaddafi: Islam's no. 1 enemy" are as follows:
Qaddafi has closed an Islamic university and a seminary, has forbidden some Islamist publications, and has thrown thousands of Islamist activists into jail.
Qaddafi has urged to put the Qur'an on the shelf, as no longer appropriate for this age.
Qaddafi has made fun of the Islamic veil, calling it a "rag" and a "tent".
Qaddafi has dared to say that Christians and Jews should be allowed to visit Mecca.
Qaddafi has rejected the Hadith and Sunnah, and said he follows the Qur'an alone.
http://www.nolanchart.com/article8465_Who_are_Libya%27s_rebels.html
Could I ask just why these rebels are having such a hard time ousting Muammar Gaddafi with all of the U.N. support that they've been getting? Seems like I'm missing a large part of the story.
Would someone be able to fill me in on who the "rebels" really are?
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Rebel leaders won recognition as the legitimate government of Libya from the United States and other world powers on Friday in a major boost to the rebels' faltering campaign to oust Muammar Gaddafi.
Western nations said they also planned to increase the military pressure on Gaddafi's forces to press him to give up power after 41 years at the head of the North African state.
Recognition of the rebels, announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a meeting in Turkey of the international contact group on Libya, is an important diplomatic step which could unlock billions of dollars in frozen Libyan funds.
The decision comes as reports are circulating Gaddafi has sent out emissaries seeking a negotiated end to the conflict, although he remains defiant in his public utterance.
In a speech broadcast as thousands of loyalists rallied in a street demonstration, Gaddafi rejected international recognition of the rebels.
"Trample on those recognitions, trample on them under your feet," he told his supporters. "They are worthless."
He said he enjoyed the support of millions of Libyans who yearned for death, martyrdom and suicide.
Edit:
Answered my own question...
The NCLO web site (Arabic) carries a document (Arabic; Google Cache; legible in automatic translation) dated February 15th (the day the protests began), which clearly spells out NCLO's objections to Qaddafi's rule. The main points of "Qaddafi: Islam's no. 1 enemy" are as follows:
Qaddafi has closed an Islamic university and a seminary, has forbidden some Islamist publications, and has thrown thousands of Islamist activists into jail.
Qaddafi has urged to put the Qur'an on the shelf, as no longer appropriate for this age.
Qaddafi has made fun of the Islamic veil, calling it a "rag" and a "tent".
Qaddafi has dared to say that Christians and Jews should be allowed to visit Mecca.
Qaddafi has rejected the Hadith and Sunnah, and said he follows the Qur'an alone.
http://www.nolanchart.com/article8465_Who_are_Libya%27s_rebels.html