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Suhaib Salem / Reuters
Protesters wave a Kingdom of Libya flag atop a burnt state security building during protests in Benghazi Wednesday. Click on the photo above to see a slideshow on the unrest in Libya.
Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city, which is situated in the oil-rich eastern region, is currently controlled by rebel forces trying to oust Moammar Gadhafi. NBC News’ correspondent Stephanie Gosk has been there for several days and reports on the latest developments in Gadhafi’s efforts to clamp down on the rebellion and take back control of some of the countries strategic oil assets.
What is the latest in Benghazi?
Gadhafi struck back at the eastern portion of this country today for the first time since the opposition took control of it just over a week ago. He first hit the town of Brega, which is a major oil-exporting terminal.
At first Gadhafi’s forces, which are estimated to be around 50 vehicles with mounted machine guns, took the opposition forces by surprise. It seems they quickly took over the oil facility. But then rebel forces struck back and they have been in a back-and-forth battle today. It’s unclear who has real control of the town. We are being told that the rebels have the airstrip and that Gadhafi forces are at the university, and that the battle is still ongoing.
It’s close to the town of Ajdabiya, which is really the western front for the opposition, which now controls almost the entire eastern half of the country.
Today, Gadhafi fighter jets actually bombed areas there. A munitions dump has now been hit several days in a row, with limited success. People in that town are concerned that if Gadhafi forces take over Brega, they will then move on to Ajdabiya, with their eye on the city of Benghazi.
For several days here they have been setting up a kind of interim national government – which people here say is the only legitimate government until Gadhafi steps down.
Today there have been discussions among the government council here on whether or not to ask the U.N. for a no-fly zone. Or whether to ask for something more specific – perhaps targeted assaults from the air on Gadhafi forces.
How much attention is focused on control of the oil fields?
It’s a huge concern. Earlier in the week, the rebel forces here in Benghazi claimed that they controlled 80 percent of the oil resources – most of which are in the eastern part of the country.
Now what we are seeing is Gadhafi striking back and trying to take control of those. He made a statement today to state TV where he said that all of the resources were safe and secure. However, the opposition says that they control the oil terminal in Tobruk, which is close to the Egyptian border and is one of the largest oil terminals. And they say that they have declared their independence from the state oil company and that they are now funneling the proceeds they get back to the opposition.
So there is now a real struggle back and forth over who controls the oil resources. We are getting two very different stories from each side.
How is it to be reporting there? It is a different situation from Tripoli where reporters’ movements are restricted by Gadhafi’s government minders, but how is it in terms of your safety and your access?
It’s been very easy getting around here. The rebel forces are incredibly welcoming – they want to tell their story. It is the only real voice that we hear. We don’t hear any pro-Gadhafi voices in this town. That doesn’t mean they aren’t here. It’s just that they are not speaking out – probably because they are afraid to speak out.
As far as moving around, the checkpoints in this part of the country are all manned by rebel forces and they have been very welcoming to the press. Reporters have been moving down to Ajdabiya, and even Brega, to check out the fighting there for themselves. So there has been, at least in this round of attacks, first-hand reporting from people on the ground.
What is daily life like for people in Benghazi? Is it safe to go out on the streets? Are shops shuttered?
They are doing their best to get things back up and running. It is functioning pretty normally. There is traffic here during rush hour times, shops are open. It certainly isn’t completely back to normal. At the courthouse – which was really the epicenter of the protests – you have this new government forming itself. It’s also become the place where every late afternoon and evening people gather to show their support for Tripoli and the rebel forces there.
You also have a movement here to recruit young fighters. There are an estimated 5,000 new conscripts to the rebel army that are going to be armed and trained. Most of them have never fought in a military before or even touched a gun. So these are not experienced fighting forces and they are going up against Gadhafi’s well trained brigades and militias.
How are the spirits of the opposition when Gadhafi says things like he will “fight to the death?” Are they getting discouraged or scared?
People here feel very confident. I think that’s because the city fell as fast as it did and they seized control of it as quickly as they did. They now have what they call their first taste of freedom and they are not willing to give it up without a fight. And they don’t think they are going to have to.
One thing that seriously concerns them though is the possibility of the city being struck by fighter jets. They really have very little defense against that. There are some anti-aircraft guns in certain places around the city, but they aren’t being operated by people who really know what they are doing and will be unable to fight back against any kind of air attack.
They are concerned about that and that’s why they are discussing asking for a no-fly zone, which is seriously being considered by the international community. It would be one surefire way to protect civilians on the ground here.
But ultimately people here believe Gadhafi is going to go – it’s just a matter of time.
What is their hesitation about asking for a no-fly zone?
People here are very uneasy about any kind of international intervention – specifically Western intervention, specifically United States intervention. And the idea that there could perhaps be U.S. forces on the ground is something most people here are vehemently opposed to. Many like the idea of a no-fly zone because it would protect them from air attacks, but they really don’t want to see boots on the ground.
They do talk about potential logistical support and perhaps even supply support for the military, including weapons and things.
In Egypt there is a big concern that Islamist forces could seize power in former President Hosni Mubarak’s absence. If Gadhafi were to eventually leave, are there concerns about Islamist forces stepping into the power vacuum there?
You don’t get the sense that there is going to be an Islamist group that can take advantage of the current situation. You certainly don’t get that sense from the people who are control here in Benghazi.
This is a tribal country – it is made up of about a dozen tribes. There certainly are Islamist influences in some, but it is not the dominant force in the politics here. It is much more regional and tribal than it is religious.
But the fact that there could be a power vacuum does seem like a possibility. Basically, during the last 40 years, Gadhafi has completely eliminated any form of civil society. No political parties, no municipal governments, no ability to really form any kind of independent party. So the people here really don’t know how to do that. So that’s going to be difficult. They are going to have to start from scratch.
What about the problem of refugees? Are you seeing a lot of people trying to flee Benghazi?
In Libya there is an enormous migrant worker population. They come in from all over – the largest population comes from Egypt, but there are also workers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, China. Getting those workers out of the country has been extremely difficult. Here in Benghazi there is still quite a large group that is struggling. There are only so many ferries a day that come in and can take people away.
Then on the Tunisian border, you see a lot of Egyptian workers escaping through that border and then finding themselves on the other side of where they want to be and needing transportation.
But a lot of the migrant workers are very poor. They don’t have much money and are literally just carrying blankets and pick-axes and shovels. They are manual laborers. And they don’t have much support. We saw them on our way into Libya from Egypt, stopped at the border. Some of them don’t have their passports because their companies are based in Tripoli and they have been sent out to the east to do work and the companies have held onto their passports. So they are stuck in a limbo between Libya and Egypt.
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Gadhafi why don't you leave already so this new military coup can finish so then gas prices go back down? Stop bogarting your position and step down so another tyrant can take your spot.
"Oh @!$%#, here come the humanitarians" Michael J. Smith
Materiel and personnel in place for military intervention in Libya
By Julie Hyland
2 March 2011
The United States, Britain and the European powers are deepening their preparations for intervention in Libya, including military action. They hope to exploit the popular revolt against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi to take control of Libya’s oil fields and establish a crucial base for further operations in the region under conditions where dictatorships on which they have relied for years are under siege.
In testimony before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives on Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned, “The entire region is changing and a strong and strategic American response will be essential.”
Her statement came as the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and two amphibious assault vessels complete with helicopters, the USS Kearsarge and USS Ponce, were taking up positions in the southwestern Mediterranean. A US military official said the aim was to “provide for flexibility once decisions are made” as to what action will be taken against Libya.
Britain is reported to have put in position a naval destroyer and a frigate off the coast of Libya. Echoing the statement of Susan Rice, US ambassador to the United Nations, that Gaddafi was “unfit to lead,” Prime Minister David Cameron stated that Gaddafi’s removal was Britain’s “highest priority.”...
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/mar2011/liby-m02.shtml
Disgusting, something is seriously wrong with the minds of Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and David Cameron. Amazing that Hillary, Rice, and Cameron couldnt take such a stand against George Bush, who engaged in genocide killing hundreds of thousands.
SacramentoMike
I don't know if Bush approved genocide or would have, but his actions/decisions caused the death of many in Iraq and elsewhere by others (Taliban, Al Quaeda, others). But you're right, as long as you are on the "right" side (USA, UK, Israel, etc), you aren't responsible for those deaths.
The unarmed Gaza and Palestinian civilians are killed by Israeli air strikes every week in the region in and around the tiny Apartheid state Israeli sandbox, with virtually no mention whatsoever in the Zionist led American news media outlets.
The Libyan leaders are fighting against those with tanks and heavy arms but the Zionist led American news media outlets are spewing about using equal force to stop them.
Israeli soldiers machine gunning children for throwing rocks at them, no mention in the media outlets.
Libyan soldiers returning fire on tanks and heavy arms being used by the rebels and the Zionist led media outlets demonizes them.
Such utter hypocrisy is at most self-serving to the Zionist agenda however it is entirely not useful for accurate information on events across the Middle East and how they are interrelated.
Because CLEARLY your an unbiased, media neutral party . That was sarcasm. What proof do you bring for these accusations? I find it hard to believe daily, weekly, or even yearly mowing down of children would not make the news in some fashion, heck - even facebook or twitter or something.
What state are you from A? Sounds like you really know what's going on. It's a B!tch being an American isn't it Mr Smith? I mean we are so hypocritcal! Hopefully all those middle east countries will become very stable with their new governments and can help out the world.
Lately whenever people use the word "Zionist" in this context, they turn out to be just plain old anti-Semitic, Jew haters that are also probably conspiracy nuts as well, claiming that Jews run the media, that we didn't land on the moon, that Obama isn't an American, blah blah blah blah.
Lesson learned: Get your facts straight before you go off on a rant. Because if you start spouting nonsensical ravings, people can see you for what you are. Whether it be a Tea-Party-er, a redneck, a neo-nazi, or whatever.
There is no Jewish conspiracy to rule the world
We DID land on the moon
And while Obama has proven to be a less than an adequate president, he is still an American.
DevAvo,
All self proclaimed rednecks don't ascribe to theories of "Zionist conspiracies" or anti-Semitism. Most of us (rednecks) also believe Obama was born in Hawaii and that there was a real moon landing. The jury's still out on the UFOs*.
*Sarcasm
Surprise, Surprise, A. Smith shows up once again with more of his typical anti-Semitic and anti Israel ranting. Smith, do you have a life other than posting nonsense? Do you live in Iran or what?
Don't pay any attention to A Smith-- he's like this all the time, a record with only one track, repeating endlessly without variation, an atonal cry for Israel's obliteration. If he stays true to form, here in a little while he will accuse me (and anyone else) of being a Zionist for not agreeing with him.
Maybe the little sh*ts shouldn't be throwing rocks at people with machine guns. It's not rocket science, you know.
Israeli air strikes on civilians should have led the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone on them a long time ago. Israelis cant see the right of Palestinians to their freedom.
Hey A. Smith, you must be a Muslim. Why are you justifying your relious ideology to criticize the West? What about all indiscriminate massacre you Muslim fellows do to your own innocent women and children in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, etc etc. and how do you explain in blowing up innocent people in plane as justification or retaliatory actions in the name of your religion Jihad? Are you sane? Does Americans, Israelis, or any other extreme religious factions go around blowing up planes and killing the innocents as your Muslim brothers do? Yes, there's always casualty on the other side when a country is attacked and they must defend themselves. However, who is creating all this world instability, turmoil, and living hell for its citizens and neighbors??? It's your Muslim religion that turns into radical Islamic teachings. Where is the trouble in the world today? It's all across the Middle East. Fix your country's problem and religious teachings or your fanatical tyrant rulers like Muammar Gadhafi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak, Saddam Hussien (past), will continue to suppress it's citizens and blame everything including plight of their country to the West. Only sane Muslim country is Turkey and all its neighbors should learn from them. So don't blame it on biased media which you have no clue or justification. Only measurable way to have fair judgment is oneself to educate themselves without any distractions as you are claiming. You need to ingrain in your brain that Muslim teaches hate not peace.
Me thinks Mr Smith is not really a MR Smith. Me thinks he is probably an Israeli secret agent who posts comments on website to antagonize the peaceful Muslims.
And where is the Mighty Arab League in all these messes? It's their "neck of the woods".
If NATO has to do the job, do it quick and clean and get the hell out of there. Then, hope for the best. Who knows what kind of government will replace The Colonel?
This is NOT the USA's fight.
come on now, a few week ago our president was encoureging the people to become a democracry , he lit the flame...........lets be realistic here, how are tribal people going to live in a countyr thats run with democracy, its really like us asking the indians 200 years ago to do so, and look what happen there.
We should really establish a no fly zone so they can't use jets against the rebels. Unfortunately that won't stop the attack helicopters and the like.
FactOfTheMatter @ #4, Who is We?
Are you perhaps suggesting We as in the USA?
I do hope not..... because the peoples of Libya do not want the USA involved in that way, rather they are wanting the UN and others in their region to assist with preventing Ghadaffi from bombing their country/people.
Perhaps some folks should listen/watch other news sources rather than just some certain talking heads who are just looking to spew forth whatever rubbish for ratings and get the US involved in another conflict.
There are many foreign channels like Aljazeera English, as well as channels like PBS, BBC America, that are reporting on the Middle East to give a rounded view of these events, and by getting/presenting the views of not only the Libyan protestors in Libya but also voices from those outside of the country as well as many respected scholars in other countries whether European or American..
Per the military it would not be easy to carry out this no fly zone and it would take time to do same. As Mr Gates noted that to set up a ''no fly zone'' the air force would FIRST have to destroy the flying capabilites of the Libyan air force by destroying all their fighter jets/air power. Hmmmmm
He also indicated that this would not stop being fired on from the ground by the Ghadaffi folks..... Hmmmm So what next? The USA move to destroy these ground to air missile sites? Eeek..... wouldn't we getting more militarily involved in the fighting in Libya, something that the Libyan people fighting for their liberty do not want?
Some of these talking heads on some of these channels need to know what they are talking about and also present truthful insight into the possible after effects - when actions they are pushing - are taken imo.......
One last thought..... so who is going to pay for this?
BZe1-- I think by "we" he meant the members of NATO, which is the entity that Libyan Rebel Interim Government figureheads are thinking of asking. They haven't yet, as the Article made clear:
But, as we (the US) are NATO members, and as we are the strongest air power of all NATO members, if Libyan rebels ask NATO to assist, and the members of NATO agree, then American air power will almost inevitably be the force called upon to act. We're simply the most capable.
I'm not proposing a unilateral action, I'm saying 'we' as in NATO or a U.N. peacekeeping force. To implement something like that is going to take some time though, maybe the government will fall before then.
I read another article that pretty much said that Senator Kerry was in favor of the use of Military force in this. I find it hilarious that now that a Democrat is in power the left is in favor of using our military in a fight that is in no way, any shape or form, ours to fight. Hypocrisy knows no bounds huh??
If you'd stop watching Faux News long enough you might find that people in both Democrats and Republicans support other people wanting to be free. And as a Democrat I agree with Kerry:
"But we can either pay now to help brave people build a better, democratic future for themselves or we will certainly pay later with increased threats to our own national security."
Uhh..I don't watch Fox News..And BTW..Saying "faux news" is really stupid....It makes you sound like the same lemming mouthpiece people like you accuse those on the right as being...
Funny you agree with Kerry, but I bet if it were flipped you'd be bashing the right if they thought of it..I can remember many on the left cry-eyeing about the Democracy push in Iraq, Afghanistan...I know, I know...It's different this time....
Move along...Nothing to see here but the same ol' stuff....
Interference by a foreign power in the American Civl War would be something no patriotic American would or should tolerate. Americans should not get involved in what is a Libyan civil war. Libya and its future belongs to the Libyans. Americans must not be dragged into their internal issues, or we will further worsen our foreign relations.
if the airman fire upon there own people, AAA there A$$e$. consider them traitors and gov't terrorists.
SacramentoMike: "Interference by a foreign power in the American Civl War would be something no patriotic American would or should tolerate." I take it you're a northerner, then -- the South continually sought for British and French intervention throughout the war. Many British did in fact favor supporting the South (largely due their need for cotton) and the British-built warship Alabama was a thorn in the side of the North throughout the war (exactly analogous to us giving some planes and tanks to the rebels).
Explain more fully the downside to our involvement. In the past we've intervened mostly to help dictators (sending them arms especially), which is why we are so widely hated among the oppressed multitudes. Siding with the freedom fighters for once might actually help to repair some of the hatred that so many in the region feel towards us.
Some Americans are worried that these revolts provide a huge opportunity to Al Qaeda and Iran. It's true, they do -- especially if we sit on the sidelines. But every opportunity is two-edged, and this is an opportunity for us as well.
The South acted in a treasonous manner by using unlawful force to try and get what they could not get by a democratic and lawful means. That they tried to bring foreign forces on to American soil was another one of their treasonable acts.
We have not intervened to help dictators, usually the dictators are puppet rulers put in power through the CIA subverting their governments and their democracies, because a US corporation wants to grab that countries resources, rubber in Vietnam, oil in Kuwait and Iraq. The Shah of Iran was a classic example of a CIA installed puppet put in place to control Irans oil. King Idris of Libya was another CIA installed puppet put in place to control Libyas oil. We cant go about speaking with "forked tongue" bawling about democracy and subverting their choices as leaders at the same time.
The term freedom fighter is demagoguery and rabble rousing to suit a two faced politician. Qaddafi can easily claim he is keeping Libya free, and is the legitimate freedom fighter, unlike the foreign directed Facebook agents who want Libya as an American puppet state. I can make the freedom fighter argument both ways, it is a useless term.
We have to sit on the sidelines, and what is more important, we must not instigate through the media or intelligence agencies, otherwise we will further antagonize an already belligerent and hostile opinion of America. We must actually respect their freedom, and their freedom to choose, even if we in our narcississtic minds think we are better.
This is not an opportunity for us whatsoever. This, I hope is Libya finding its own way forward and we must not violate our own principles of respecting the will of their people, no matter how hard a road they have to walk. We would not appreciate it if Libyans subverted our government through surreptitious means.
as long as Gadhafi is in the midst of this, peace may never resolve there..we will continue to hear & witness brutal Acts down the road..all this due the selfishness and meanness of a insane dictator..Saddam is his match, a no different scenario......
There will be no help from the US, Oblunder only hopes the world falls FURTHER into chaos, cementing himself in as frontrunner for the leader of the New World Government.
Prepare to take the mark of the beast folks, I know MSNBC fans have theirs already.
They look real happy up there, maybe they already won the war.
Not to worry! Obama is pondering our response. Or at least he was until Michelle sent the leader of the free world on an errand. After that, he will dial up Nicholas Sarkozy, the president of France, and ask him what he should do.
Why is there no no-fly zone--and why is it not enforced? Without an effective one, slaughter is inevitable. What are we waiting for ????
Alternatively, take out the pumps at airfields. Then the planes can't fly because they can't be fueled, they're not destroyed, and the landing capability is kept in case incursion of some kind is needed.
Had we not compromised our nations standing with the way our politicians, with broad support of citizens --militarily engaged in Iraq, the decision to unilaterally enforce a no-fly zone -- and all that that entails -- would be a simpler decision. There is a price for reckless, ill-planned actions, and unfortunately, we will continue to pay for in many ways for many years.
Ghadaffi is clearly in the late stages of syphyllis. The spirochetes are eating his brain, whats left of it.
Lets loan a predator to the highest ranking rebel fighter and let the old regime worry about no fly. We have already took a shot and missed. Let the Libyan people fight for their own freedom and they will protect it but we could help with an AC 130 to backup the predator bet one of his pilots that sought asylum outside Libya would like to operate the trigger on the gunship.That is of course if diplomacy fails and it becomes obvious that a delusional dictator really does want to die in his home country.
Just an observation. This entire contest in Libya is about whether Gadhafi stays in power or doesn't stay in power. Eliminate this contestant, and the contest is over. We have special payloads which leave no debris. I tend to think this may be the solution for the people of Libya. - RC
impose the damn no fly zone, what's the
world waiting for ? un is a sham
Hmmm
Tough Call, but I tend to support a no fly zone. However there is a much simpler answer I would think. What not drop off a couple hundread stinger missles or some other man portable AA system in the middle of the night at Bangazi airport. Couple C130's doing touch and goes. That should even the odd's I would think.
It's not our fight and boots on the ground is a Big No, But if this country stands for Anything it should stand with people who are fighting for their freedom against a dictator. Watching the events of the past few months going on in the ME has been simply amazing. We should not let Qadhafi stop it. Who knows Iran could be next.
I'm a Dem But I agree with Lindsey Gram. The fallout from doing nothing will be worse then throwing up a no fly zone.....
LV
I have a better idea than a no-fly zone. Quietly ship a couple thousand Stinger missiles to the rebels in Libya. Actually scratch that, send them the Russian made counterpart instead. That way the people of Libya can free themselves by their own efforts, and then hold their heads high and form a government by the people, for the people. No American troops on Libyan ground, no American planes in Libyan skies.
kaddhafi is evil, period. But reality I think is little bit different. If US or NATO attacks, he gets to play it just like Rick Perry in Texas - standing up for the state to the Federal Govt. - i.e. All the dictators in that region will try to capitalize on this notion that they have the guts to stand up to a super power. My humble opinion, try to get a Libyan take him out - pay them off - keep a tally of the expense which we will get back from Libya, when the regime changes, they can afford to spend a lot of money to get this thug nutralized. Any other option is going to be too expensive in terms of not only money and lives, but diploatic capital as well. We also need to start actively looking into making sure how we can make sure in the aftermath of these popular unrests, we end up with secular rational democracies in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and all the other countries. Spewing hate is easy, but if we honestly try, I dont see why we cant do this! People all over the world, wants the same basic things - a better life, a steady source of income, access to nutrition, healthcare a prospect of better life for their children etc. But, the extremists wants to take the easy way out, spew hate and rule their respective regions - its very much true in the west too. This now is a problem for the human race, we need great minds to work together to come up with solution for these socioeconomic problems. The so called leaders pretty much everywhere have failed the people.
It's interesting how the right say that libya is being caused by the left and vice versa. But neither right nor left is causing the revolt in libya.
It's a feeling of doom that pervades the entire planet now. People see the earth changes. They see the soaring food prices. They see the wild life becoming extinct. They say to themselves something has got to change. Business as usual will not work this time.
And the first countries to fall will be the ones who have robbed their people for decades. Where the leaders are the rich & powerful and the citizens live in poverty. But in fact, there simply isn't enough food to go around like there used to be.
Climate change droughts, floods, snow falls, sudden changes in the weather, killing off of the wild bee, bird, butterfly and nearly every other pollinator at 30% each year has had an effect. And china has a billion of mouths to feed but a disastrous crop and is buying food on the international market like crazy now. And according to theory, this is only the start of the extreme weather.
Could it be that the scientists and al gore was right after all. They will tell you that the problem is more with the gop, birthers, & tea party. More political than technical.
I dont see much of a difference between the tea party and the talibans......if really take a hard look. if you are incapable of thining, please ignore this post.
It's interesting to note that Obama was a community organizer in Chicago, but he can't muster enough stuff to export whatever knowledge or advice he has to the Libyan opposition.
Right now, organization and consolidation of power and influence in the opposition is as, or more important, than military attacks or no-fly zones.
Obama doesn't get it and has been relatively quiet about the situation. He should be (if he knows what the hell he's doing (which I doubt)) giving counsel on how to get the civil process of government in Libya up and running.
nigray, arent you quite the asswipe.