So much for the absurd rumors that he was ready to quit – from Sky News:
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces are reportedly using tanks and warplanes to attack the rebel-held town of Zawiyah in western Libya.
One eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, compared the town to “a city of ghosts” because of the violence and bloodshed.
He told Sky News: “Here, it is chaos. Buildings completely crumbled, mosques brought down to ashes, blood flowing through the streets.
“No human should go through this… what kind of human would do this to another human?”…
I suspected when I first heard it that the stories of Gaddafi’s imminent departure were a scam – someone trying to manipulate the oil and/or financial markets. Gaddafi has given no indication of a desire to leave – and the story earlier was that he was negotiating “safe passage” out of the country. That was just a stupid rumor – as in only a very stupid person would believe it. To get out, all Gaddafi has to do is hop on a plane to Saudi Arabia or Syria.
As I see it, only a robust, American intervention can ensure the end of the Gaddafi regime. It might be that the rebels will gain the upper hand, but I doubt it. Meanwhile, even if they do win, it will likely take weeks (and, perhaps, months) for it to be over, and all that time people are dying and the global economy is increasingly disrupted. Unfortunately, Obama seems determined to dither over this – while he is, about 10 days too late, finally saying some of the things he should, there is no indication of an imminent move by the United States.
This could get very much out of hand – and American leadership is lacking. Not a good thing.
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