SERIOUS DISCUSSION: The Libyan Uprising

[Don]

Whoever has been following the news and looked beyond the Japanese disaster might (and should) have noticed this "little" civil war currently going on in Libya.
The conflict started with the Libyan people joining in to the "Muslim uprising" currently going on and starting to protest against their dictator, Colonel Gaddafi. After the first wave of protesters was shot down (literally ... that's how Libya handles protests), a huge rebel group quickly formed, captured half of Libya and started fighting against the Colonel's forces.
After a few days of fighting and moderate casualties on both sides, Gaddafi re-assembled his army (and hired a few mercenaries) in order to strike back at the rebels - which he successfully did and now the rebels are down to one single stronghold in the middle of nowhere after taking huge casualties in giant battles between rebel and support troops.

The UN has told Gaddafi to step down immediately, but he is still insisting that this is not a civil war and the UN is simply supporting terrorists against him ... Even though he is a known supporter and donator to many famous terrorist groups.

Anyway, after calling out for a simple No-Flight zone over Libya, the UN is now considering moving troops into Libya to support the rebels and fight against Colonel Gaddafi's forces - meaning America, Europe, Asia and Saudi-Arabia would declare war on Libya until Colonel Gaddafi decides to step down. Unfortunately, the rebels are mostly crushed and it might be too late for any help.
The only thing preventing a bombing of Colonel Gaddafi's air defences and therefore crippling his reinforcements (and preventing him from calling in airstrikes) is the unwillingness of China and Russia to start military actions against Libya. Other than that, any further actions are being discussed as we speak.

To further get information about this, read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_uprising

What are your thoughts on this?

Personally I think both the UN and Libya handle this horribly - Gaddafi is a simple terrorist and I can not understand as to why there has been no support whatsoever for the people fighting against him, especially after Gaddafi targeted civilian targets on purpose to demoralize the rebels. And if the UN doesn't react quick, it's too late anyway.

[Mr. Franklin]

Well, what he has done, is basically put down a rebellion, and he is trying to gain back his control over his people, that is what will happen in a basic Uprising.

[Rocket50]

This year is off to a greaaaat start: One big ass earthquake, 1 revolution, and a new uprising.

And within a few weeks, 1200 forces from the UN and WHO are dead from the Libyan Uprising

[Don]

This year is off to a greaaaat start: One big ass earthquake, 1 revolution, and a new uprising.

Egypt
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Libya
>1 revolution

EDIT:
I have just noticed that France, England and the US are indeed launching airstrikes against Gaddafi right now.

[Rocket50]

Egypt
Tunisia
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Libya
>1 revolution

Those are smaller ones I haven't heard too much about >.>

[Cake Faice]

So, when can the U.S. expect the gas prices to start dropping from $4?

[Don]

So, when can the U.S. expect the gas prices to start dropping from $4?

By declaring war on the third biggest provider of oil in the world ...
Don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

[Foofoojack]

As the days pass, the fighting in Libya is progressing rapidly as the rebel fighters obtain better weaponry and Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi bring in the big boys. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces have been bringing in tanks, heavy artillery, and air support aimed at the rebel controlled cities. And Qaddafi still holds what land he owns aggressively, shooting at anybody that dares to approach his checkpoints and borders. “…government troops controlled the city’s eastern gate, on the approach to Benghazi, securing it with four tanks. “There is no media in the city,” he said. “No photographers.” The UN is planning to do more than just issuing a no-flight zone over Libya. They are thinking about taking more meaningful action, to disable the heavy artillery and tanks somehow.
   The recent situations in Libya definitely isn’t it look good, and it proves just how well they can get along with each other- not at all. It was said by a government official in Libya that the fighting would end 48 hours from now, which I highly doubt. As long as the situation doesn’t get TOO out of hand, e.g. reaching other countries, other countries getting involved with the fighting, I can’t really say it affects me.
   I believe that the UN should get to work on Libya as soon as possible and take more physical actions towards what Muammar el-Qaddafi is doing to the civilians. “But residents said the city remained under a tight siege, with government loyalists running exit checkpoints and shooting at anyone who approached.”
   I predict that the fighting in Libya will end soon, probably within the next few months things will start to calm down. But only after the rebels are stopped or Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi is brought down. But Mr. Qaddafi doesn’t see him being put to an end as a possibility. He says “People are saying, ‘We fight until we die, or we surrender and we are humiliated and then we are killed,’ ” he said. “It will be a very, very bloody fight, and I know I will fight to the end.”
   If Mr. Qaddafi wins the war and continues as the ruler of Libya, it is only believed that the rebels that are left will keep on fighting to gain control, and they probably always will.

[Tiger Guy]

Watch about the Libya situation here

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Deacon]

as a leader, the best thing you can do is kill your own citizens.
that'll show the world that you are strong.

down with the bastard
hand the country to the revolution
stay until they say
"ok we've got this now"
then actually gtfo

[Tomcat]

too bad the rebels are getting ownt out their

we need NK Nukes to finish this

[Deacon]

OH GOD NO

[Don]

UPDATE:
After the departure of the bombing run planes of the US, England and France, Libya declared a ceasefire on its rebels and will halt any military actions against the rebels or anyone else.

This means the fighting is over without a result for now - the UN is still saying they will not back off without Gaddafi stepping back.

At least that's the official statement form both sides; there have been heavy fightings between pro-Gaddafi forces and rebels just before the ceasefire. We'll see how this goes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12787739

[Deacon]

We'll see how this goes.

[Don]

Lol, the Libyan Government is now denying having ever said anything about a ceasefire.
French, British and US bombers have arrived in Libya and are mainly just waiting now. The US Navy stationed some of its boats next to the main cities of Libya.