A Libyan colonel that defected to the rebel side last month has said that the regime has had to use soldiers from its elite special forces to command popular militias after suffering months of desertions.
The rebels' hold near the town of Bir Ghanem represents their closet position to Tripoli as they continue the push to the country's capital Photo: GETTYBy Ruth Sherlock in Yefren
10:47PM BST 17 Jul 2011
69 Comments
The officer escaped from a government town in the plains below the country's Western Mountains. Lying only 60 miles from Tripoli, the rebels have launched repeated offensives in the effort to reach the capital.
Leaders of the elite fighting force belonging to Gaddafi's son Khamis had left their brigades to fight elsewhere and came to man this front line reported the Colonel. "The leaders are from the Khamis Brigades, but the rest are new recruits or volunteers. They were inexperienced; some barely could hold a gun".
After six months of fighting in a war that is raging across the country, and has three major front lines, the colonel's account depicts signs of strain in government ranks.
Hundreds of young men from low income families in Libya, many with roots in neighbouring Mali and Niger were recruited from their homes in the south of the country, captured government soldiers told the Daily Telegraph from inside a locked hospital ward in the rebel held western mountain town of Yefren.
"I was promised 500 dinar to fight. My father died long ago, and my family needed the money. When I got there I was frightened and I wanted to go home.
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My mother didn't want me to come," said a black soldier from Mali aged 20.
The Colonel and the captives report that lies and death threats being used to keep soldiers in line. "They told us we were fighting an invading force of Al Qaeda. A few months ago, they told us Osama Bin Laden had visited," said a captive member of Gaddafi's security brigades. "And on state television we saw that NATO was hitting the homes of innocent civilians.
Watching other news channels is a punishable offense." Some fighters are hardened regime loyalists, including men who left their posts in the Navy to come and fight for Gaddafi. But up to "80 per cent" would leave if they could, said the Colonel, who depended on the help of his fellow officers to escape.
"When we realised we were battling Libyans, many of the boys said that because they were Muslims, was sinful to fight. A lot of the soldiers don't want to fight" said a captured Libyan soldier.
"Many of the officers I was with got excited when they heard that the rebels had made progress. But it is hard to escape. If they think you might defect, they will execute you immediately," said the Colonel.
The Nato bombing campaign has also weakened the government troops significantly he reported. It has also stopped lethal attacks on the rebel capital Benghazi.
"Gaddafi intended to strike the court house with scud missiles, but the scud missile launcher had to be moved from his home town of Sirte. They couldn't do it because NATO would bomb them."
Despite the allegations, government troops have so far succeeded in curtailing rebel advances on the capital. Rebel offenses to the east and west of the country have seen fierce fighting, but have failed to break a months' long stalemate.
"Gaddafi still has lots of ammunition," said the Colonel. "And there are loyalists who have joined him. In my group men volunteered to leave the Navy to fight for him on the front lines".
In preparation for the long fight, the defected colonel is now training rebel fighters in the mountain town of Nalut. "I know how Gaddafi works, and I have trained 150 to battle against him. Tomorrow they graduate, and I will train more and more until we end this".
***
Showing 25 of 69 comments
mikeorgan1955
Today 10:16 AM Recommended by 2 people
Its seems to me the western haters here are not pro-Gaddafi
but jealous of the freedoms and liberties enjoyed by millions in democracies.
If you live in a democracy shame on you, if you don’t you should try it you
won’t be going back to the dictatorship/corrupt democracy you live under. Yes
its true many people in the UK don’t like Cameron and the same is true for all
democracies that’s what makes them great. We can elect them freely and fairly
every 4/5 years and then spend the next term openly criticising them, at the
end of which if they don’t respond to the criticism in a constructive way we
can send them on their way, hopefully never to be seen again (or at least
humbled aka Blair/Bush). But Libyans have had no such liberty. In the past 42
years they have had to accept the rule of one family rule with no chance to criticise or get rid of
them. Now they have the chance and we should help and applaud them, not to do
so would make us hypocrites of the highest order which unfortunately we have
been in the past far too often. But Gaddafi and those like him must go and only
the people of their countries have the right and duty to do that. We should
help only when it is clear they constitute the majority and in Libya it is
clear they do.
______ davinciclaude
Today 02:28 PM Recommended by 3 people
We are free to write our disgust and disapproval about the war we are waging against Libya. The same amount of freedom did not exist in Libya under the government of Libya.
But then criticism of the government is not allowed in
Morocco
Algeria
Egypt
Yemen,
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
UAE
Qatar
Dubai
Iraq,
We are much more sophisticated here in the west, you can shout , write what you like because the powers that 'are' take no notice and couldn't give a damn what the people think.
______ achoquenao
Today 12:04 PM Recommended by 10 people
Is the magical liberty you wish to provide to the Libyan people similar to the "liberty" the Iraqis now enjoy? Or do you prefer to bless the Libyans with the Afghan-type liberty?
By the way, by all accounts a great majority of Libyans are AGAINST the Nato rebels and in support of the current gov't. Libya was never a popular uprising like Egypt or Tunisia. We have seen massive shows of support for the Libyan gov't in recent days and weeks. Where is some proof that the rebels/insurgents have broad support (within Libya, that is, and not just in Nato capitals)?
__________ mikeorgan1955
Today 02:23 PM Recommended by 4 people
You live in a dream world. I have recently spoken to many Libyans and have
friends from my time in Malta who live in Libya. If you don’t believe that the
rebels have support make a random call to Benghazi or better still talk to
Libyans free to express their opinion and get an eye opener as in most cases
they would like to see Gaddafi hung from a lamppost. If Gaddafi had great
popular support within Libya why does he need so many foreign mercenaries? I don’t
see mercenaries on the rebel’s side and at the last count they outnumbered the
Libyan troops. Truth is the popular uprising in Tripoli was suppressed brutally
by this madman and I hate to think what will happen to him and his family when
the rebels finally get to the outskirts of Tripoli. I would guess that he will
suffer the same fate as Nicolae Ceaușescu
__________ Simon_Cambs
4 minutes ago
Alot has been said about merceneries. However, a French study group out there found that there numbers were limited and most of the 'black African' mercenries were in fact Libyans from the south.
I think one could say merceneries are playing an important role mainly for the rebels. The 'military-advisors' and 'private-contractor' armies out there are directing and fighting alongside the rebels. This has been reported on and is in contravention of UN resolution 1973.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/t...
Not to mention some foreign nationals from Eygpt who have taken to arms against the Libyan government.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/Ne...
Sure Gaddafi is a dictator, but so are the Saudi, Bahraini's and other little sheikhdoms that we support in crushing dissent in their own nations. The way forwards has got to be a negotiated settlement rather than further war. As we have seen with Iraq and Afghanistan, war usually leaves us with an outcome much worse than we would have expected (ala David Cameron calling for negotiations with the Taliban).
What would be best is an immediate ceasefire (adhered to by ALL) and followed-up by internationally monitored elections at the earliest opportunity. That would decide a 'legitimate' government whom all would have to recognise.
Simon
vernier
Today 09:43 AM Recommended by 4 people
The few have always controlled the many.
In communist countries like N Korea it is
blatant. they say: "Do exactly as we dictate or we
will kill you".
In the West faux democracy worked while PR and
management of news fed the voters a sanitized
fiction.
Today, electronic media is exposing politicians
as insidiously corrupt in some cases, mostly
incompetent. Always autocratic.
Unfair? Then consider. For many years a decisive
majority in UK wants out of the EU. Successive
govts decided otherwise.
A UK majority wants severely capped immigration.
Politicians not listening.
A majority wants the evil "yuman rites" laws all scrapped.
Politicians not listening.
Labour engineered the UK vast underclass of welfare
spongers that leech on the dwindling band of
tax payers.
Blair made parliament redundant. He formed a
kitchen cabinet and devolved absolute power to
Cambell and Mandelson, 'advisors'.
How democratic was his rule?
The dilemma now is - which group of people will
step forward and bring about reforms that accord
with the wishes of the majority?
ryeatley
Today 09:26 AM Recommended by 10 people
"the rebels have launched repeated offensives in the effort to reach the capital"
No they haven't - we, the UK and NATO have. The rebels merely follow.
ryeatley
Today 09:24 AM Recommended by 7 people
The "black soldier from Mali" faces short shrift if he's caught by the rebels - they'll probably murder him, as they have others like him.
------ Pedro Rabaçal
Today 09:55 AM Recommended by 3 people
After all the civilians killed by khadafi, are you surprised that the rebels hate the mercenaries who fight for that tyrant?
How many of the mercenaries you care so much murdered , robbed or tortured libyan civilians?
___________ ryeatley
Today 10:13 AM Recommended by 6 people
I am concerned about all people, you vile multi-personna'd creature.
___________ markus12
Today 03:25 PM
You care about mercenaries? Sorry but if he went to fight and he loses, he dies. He's a gun for hire, on what basis in the middle of a war should he deserve mercy?
marxbrother
Today 09:03 AM Recommended by 10 people
Sounds like the sort of thing Cameron would want us to believe. I wonder how long until we hear the "weapons of mass destruction" line, lifted straight from the dodgy dossier? 45 minutes?
Isn't it sad when a country has a civil war and neighbour fights neighbour in a previously peaceful country? It is even sadder when this war is only brought about and then prolonged because of the vanity of failed western politicians, some wishing to get rise in their domestic poll ratings.
And of course, when all is said and done, the war is over, thousands are tortured and killed, that we end up picking up the bill for it all.
I dislike the money wasted, but more than that I dislike what it has been wasted on - death and destruction. I wish Cameron and Hague would go and fight themselves if they feel that strongly about it and leave the rest of us, including our brave armed forces, out of it altogether!
______ markus12
Today 03:26 PM Failed Western politicians? Versus what system as well? I assume Marxism Leninism by your name.
Ahh the good old days of Russia....
ricky62
Today 06:11 AM Recommended by 8 people
Good sound bite .
not true though.................
Happeh
Today 05:57 AM Recommended by 11 people
I wonder if he will run out of commanders before the West runs out of money to buy more bombs?
Rogoraeck
Today 04:50 AM Recommended by 5 people
Yupp.......I believe it! I do believe in Lybian green leprechaun as well................. Don't you????
______ Pedro Rabaçal
Today 09:56 AM
Green leprechaun is more credible and probable than the news of Khadafi`s media.
Is also more rational than the suckers who believe in Khadafi.
______ urbanleprechaun
Today 08:06 AM Recommended by 1 person
Yes.
U Lep
:)
gadafian
Today 04:33 AM Recommended by 27 people
Libyan Government supporters who marched in Libyan capital are not fools and they are not afraid about Mr.Gadafi. How can one person frighten millions of people? Try with some other lies. Every one in the world has the right to follow some leader. Libyans they follow their leader Mr.Gadaffi. Americans they follow their leader President Obama. You cannot compare Mr.Gadaffi with Hitler. May be you can compare Mr.Gadaffi with Mr.Obama or Mr.Camerone. They are chosen by people and Mr.Gadaffi has been accepted by Libyans for more than 40 years. In democracy whoever been supported by majority of people will be a president. Same case here. whoever has been accepted my majority of Libyans is Leader. There are always a group of people constantly opposing the ruling government. No mater is in USA or UK. They spread bad news about the ruling government and they use all their resources to conduct a early reelection. That is what happening in Libya. Some opposition group spread bad news about the great people march in Tripoli. But now people of the world are very clear. At least they want to know the fact. Unlike the past generation they questioning their leaders and doubting media messages. This is a healthy sign for the world. The issues in a glass box and visible for everyone. It will avoid future invasions. So the oil thieves must find some other ways to improve the financial situations.
Just imagine when one person in president position everyone support him. This is common. But when a person being attacked by the world superpowers and people who betray their own country , people of his own country stand behind him. This is the evidence to the world. This is the message that the Libyans want to say to the world public.
Can any one lets say Russia ask President Obama to stepping down? No nobody can.Because he has been elected by majority of Americans. Can you call President Obama as DICTATOR.?No you cant.The same story in Libya you cannot call Mr.Gadaffi as dictator and no one has the right to ask him to step down as he has been supported by majority of Libyans
Ask the invaders one question before you comment badly about Libyan public-WHY DO YOU AFRAID ABOUT FREE ELECTION IN LIBYA?
______ markus12
Today 03:28 PM Recommended by 4 people
How can one man frrighten millions? By firing into unarmed crowds with anti aircraft guns perhaps?
______ ryeatley
Today 10:04 AM Recommended by 8 people
A very interesting question. Why is the UK and NATO afraid of free and internationally-supervised elections in Libya?
______ spiritfree
Today 08:30 AM Recommended by 8 people
The post by Gadafian is total rubbish. Gaddafi chosen by his people? Drivel. He will go, that's obvious. Right will prevail. The light will prevail. Gaddafi has held his country in darkness for far too long. So it's only a question of time and the longer he remains, the more pain he inflicts on 'his' people.
I only wish that NATO were doing more to assist the rebels. Those on here who constantly mock the whole idea of assisting the rebels....I despair. They're almost as bad as Gaddafi supporters.
__________ Pedro Rabaçal
Today 10:00 AM Recommended by 2 people
You deserve your name, spiritfree.
These supporters of Khadafi here never lived in his dictatorship.
They are just bigots who hate imperialism so much that they support any monster who insults USA, Israel and other parroted bullshit.
They want to be ruled by dictators and hate the freedoms that they still got in western world.
Slaves and prostitutes who sold themselves to a criminal. Nothing more...
Keep defending the right cause: the fall of a tyrant and a dictatorship.
__________ marxbrother
Today 01:16 PM Recommended by 4 people
Pedro,
never before has someone needed a lie-down so much. Go and rest, maybe you'll feel better later.
If you want to rant against a tyrrany, why not try the EU?
I don't like Gaddafi, but I don't like NATO bombing a country into submission under the cover of humanitarian intervention either. I am not a liar or a cheat, I object to being ruled by one.
__________ markus12
Today 03:30 PM Recommended by 1 person
The EU Parliament is elected, Ghaddafi isn't. Its laws are also not repressive.
Can you please provide some evidence that the majority are not in favour of the bombing? All other evidence seems to point that way. There are no popular protests in Benghazi or the liberated towns against the revolution... there were protests in Tripoli in favour before they were totally crushed and people were bussed in to claim they loved Ghaddafi.
______________
Các anh chị có ý kiến, nhận định, phê bình gì qua bài viết "Libya: Gaddafi 'running out of commanders'" và khỏang 25 ý kiến phê bình trong số "69 comments" của đọc giả ?
Có nhiều ý kiến khác nhau để có thể thảo luận và tìm hiểu thêm nhiều vấn đề rất đáng học hỏi từ cuộc chiến Libya .
Các anh chị nghĩ thế nào về về chế độ cầm quyền suốt 42 năm vẫn chưa chịu nhả của Gadhafi, cũng như Ben Ali của Tunisia suốt 23 năm, Hosni Mubarak của Ai Cập suốt 33 năm, bị dân Tunisi, Ai Cập LẬT ĐỔ, trục xuất ra khỏi nước, đã và đang bị tòa án xét xử với những tội rất nặng dù đã và đang trong bệnh viện trong tù ?.
Giữa Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Gadhafi .. có những điểm tương đồng gì ?
Trong 25 (25/69) ý kiến phê bình khác nhau của đọc giả , có hai ý kiến cuối cùng của đọc giả có nick marxbrother và markus12 cũng là những ý kiến rất đáng quan tâm suy nghĩ trong thảo luận.
Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .
conbenho
Tiểu Muội quantu
Nguyễn Hoài Trang
19072011
___________
Cộng sản Việt Nam là TỘI ÁC
Bao che, dung dưỡng TỘI ÁC là đồng lõa với TỘI ÁC
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