Gaddafi's Regime

Libyan Rebels

See the full article here.
See a map of Libya here.
Review Libya’s background here.


Summary

- Libya remains in an awful political state.

-At a meeting in London, world leaders Hillary Clinton and David Cameron pressure Libyan ‘president’ Muammar Gaddafi to end his rule.

-Clinton says armed attacks will continue until this happens.

-After extensive allied air attacks Gaddafi forces left for their headquarters, Sirte.

-Rebel forces followed Gaddafi’s troops through the desert but were fended off with machineguns and even rockets.

-The UN and Britain decided to keep their military enforcements in Libya until Gaddafi’s regime meets all the requirements set by the UN.

-The decision to equip rebel soldiers with arms remains a possibility, but has not been discussed.

-Gaddafi has countered with publicised statements saying NATO supports al Qaeda and that the terrorist group is involved with the Egyptian rebels. He also says NATO forces are responsible for mass murders in Egypt.

-Controversy over what is really happening in Libya is still evident in the media. State-owned media is stating that Gaddafi forces have gained control of Misrata, a city in Northwest Libya, while rebels state that Gaddafi troops have tried several times now to regain the city and have caused several civilian casualties.

-Libyans are asking for emergency food aid as well as medicine.

Article Analalysis

Complex

Interrelated and Controversial

My Thoughts

     Maybe it’s because we’ve been discussing media truisms lately, but the mention of propaganda in the government-owned media noticeably stood out to me in this article. The media is obviously under Gaddafi’s influence and is publishing stories for his benefit. It also seems that on the side of the rebels, however, that their spokespeople are taking advantage of international sympathy. The only discrepancy I see is the use of the term ‘civilian death.’ I am unclear whether the casualties were innocent bystanders or rebel soldiers. In any case, the much larger counts of media-filtering go to the Gaddafi regime and its stubborn hold over some of the remaining institutes in the country.

    In regards to the actual issue; the continued run of the Gaddafi regime; the violence between government and rebel forces and the presence of NATO and UN influence, conflict is not likely to end in Libya in the near future. I think that the future for Libya has promise, the rebels “promise free and fair elections if Gaddafi is forced from power.” The possibility for democracy and fair leadership and government means the future may be bright, and this revolution will have served its purpose. If history is anything to judge by, there is a definite need for a plan. Post-Gaddafi Libya will be free, but without a political plan they will be vulnerable to all kinds of factors. If international powers contribute anything from this point onwards it should include guidance on future policy.

Mary Tress