The NTC vs the Misrata Militia ?
I don't have a dog in this race; but it may be interesting to see how the NTC handles its most recent change in course.
From The Guardian, Gaddafi killer faces prosecution, says Libyan interim government - NTC backs down from insistence Gaddafi died in crossfire and pledges justice for anyone proven to have fired lethal shot (27 Oct 2011) (2 snips):
Quote:
Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, deputy chief of the National Transitional Council, said it would try to bring to justice anyone proven to have fired the shot to the head that killed Gaddafi.
Quote:
"With regards to Gaddafi, we do not wait for anybody to tell us," he told the al-Arabiya satellite channel. "We had already launched an investigation. We have issued a code of ethics in handling of prisoners of war. I am sure that was an individual act and not an act of revolutionaries or the national army. Whoever is responsible for that [Gaddafi's killing] will be judged and given a fair trial."
Attempts to launch an investigation are unlikely to be welcomed in Misrata, where the rebels who captured Gaddafi in his home town of Sirte are based. Asked this week about the questions surrounding his death by people outside Libya, Misrata's military chief, Ibrahim Beit al-Mal, said: "Why are they even asking this question? He was caught and he was killed. Would he have given us the same? Of course."
...
The identity of the man who allegedly pulled his 9mm pistol from his waistband and shot the wounded dictator in the left temple around 20 minutes after his capture is widely known in Misrata, as is the unit he belonged to, the Katiba Ghoran.
"They won't come near us," said the rebel who pulled Gaddafi from a drain last Thursday. "They won't dare. Gaddafi was saying: 'What's this, what's this?' After nine months of blood, he was saying: 'What's this?'. What does he expect?"
A video of the alleged executioner is running in the Herald Sun, Brutalised with a knife: Attack on Gaddafi casts dark shadow on Libya's rebirth (25 Oct 2011):
Quote:
In the leaked video, the young man, who has not yet been identified, says: "We grabbed him. I hit him in the face. Some fighters wanted to take him away and that's when I shot him, twice: in the face and in the chest."
He then holds up what he claims is Gaddafi's bloodstained shirt and gold ring.
The videos will put the spotlight on Libya's interim rulers, who are already facing hard questions over their conduct during the war to oust Gaddafi.
And so it goes.
Regards
Mike
No, your syllogism doesn't work
The correct phrase is: All successful insurgents are by definition "the new government".
In the eyes of that new government, our militiaman from Misrata is one of its many conquering heroes - none of whom have to worry about treason charges. That is, until they run afoul of the new government.
The issue is what (if anything) that new government decides to do about its hero - and any others involved in crimes (domestic and/or international) during the course of the successful insurgency.
Regards
Mike
This comment is not directed at anyone here
(including COL Jones and Dayuhan).
It is directed against those in my profession in the International Law field (both in the US and elsewhere) who (1) select "justice" where the US is involved - holding it to the strictest legal tests; but who (2) select "reconciliation" where insurgents are concerned - holding them to relaxed legal tests. This dichotomy in applied morality is simply a subset of the mentality that supported the development of the 1977 Additional Protocols and the "direct participation" (transitory guerrilla) doctrine.
Frankly, my dear new Libyan government, I don't really give a damn as to whether you select "justice" or "reconciliation" in this particular case, or in others that will come to light. I am interested in how the International Law Watchdogs will react to those cases. I suspect that "reconciliation" (spelled OIL) will win out in the governmental arena.
To conclude, from Salon's Daniel Williams, The murder brigades of Misrata - Gadhafi's demise was just a part of a vast revenge killing spree (28 Oct 2011):
Quote:
MISRATA, Libya — If anyone is surprised by the apparent killing of Moammar Gadhafi while in the custody of militia members from the town of Misrata, they shouldn’t be.
More than 100 militia brigades from Misrata have been operating outside of any official military and civilian command since Tripoli fell in August. Members of these militias have engaged in torture, pursued suspected enemies far and wide, detained them and shot them in detention, Human Rights Watch has found. Members of these brigades have stated that the entire displaced population of one town, Tawergha, which they believe largely supported Gadhafi avidly, cannot return home. ... (more in article)
As much as I lack fondness for Human Rights Watch, at least it so far is being consistent in this case.
Regards
Mike
Libya: 76% of weapons employed were precision guided
Hat tip to the Australian think tank, Lowry Institute, for identifying this fact and oh yes, it is the UK who did it.
Quote:
From the start of current operations in Libya up till 1 September 2011, UKforces have employed around 1,100 precision guided munitions, 110 direct fire weapons, 4,100 rounds of direct fire 30 mm cannon rounds, and around 240 high explosive or illumination rounds from 4.5 inch naval guns. Therefore, excluding 30 mm cannon rounds, 76% of weapons employed were precision guided. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk of civilian casualties.
The precision guided munitions used include Dual Mode Seeker Brimstone, Enhanced Paveway II, Paveway IV, Storm Shadow missiles and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles. Direct fire munitions include Hellfire missiles and CRV-7 rockets.
Link:http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/0...eptember-2011/
Inside story of the UK's secret mission to beat Gaddafi
A BBC Newsnight report, with a nine minute film clip on:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16624401
Yes, I know most SWC cannot access this; the written and more detailed report is on; which opens with:
Quote:
British efforts to help topple Colonel Gaddafi were not limited to air strikes. On the ground - and on the quiet - special forces soldiers were blending in with rebel fighters. This is the previously untold account of the crucial part they played.
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16573516
The role of Qatar, not to overlook Emirates and Jordanian elements, is mentioned:
Quote:
This Gulf emirate had taken a leading role in backing the NTC, and its defence chief was by June brokering an agreement with the UK and France to provide material back-up as well as training for the NTC....
Last October the Chief of the Qatar Defence Staff revealed that "hundreds" of his troops has been on the ground in Libya. British sources agree Qatar played a leading role - and accept it put more soldiers in than the UK - but question whether the number was this large.
The UK CDS has openly complimented the three Arab partners role in the Libyan campaign, in a speech at RUSI:
Quote:
Integrating the Qataris, Emiratis and Jordanians into the operation was key. Without them and their defence chiefs' leadership, especially the huge understanding they brought to the campaign, it is unlikely that the NTC's militias could have successfully acted as the land element without which the right outcome would have been impossible.
Link:http://www.rusi.org/events/past/ref:E4EA01B5272990/
The role of Qatar more widely features in this article, headlined 'Here comes Qatar' and sub-titled:
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Suddenly, the tiny Gulf emirate is the Middle East’s superpower
Which is not black & white, as the author concludes Qatar plays a double role:http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/al...es-qatar.thtml
Arab Thoughts on the Italian Colonial Wars in Libya
Arab Thoughts on the Italian Colonial Wars in Libya
Entry Excerpt:
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Spin a coin: Jihad or not Jihad?
The UK-based Quilliam Foundation, with an ex-LIFG member as an analyst, has drawn attention in a short briefing note 'Quilliam Briefing : Rising Jihadism in Libya: the Abdul Rahman Brigade’s goal in Attacking Western Targets':http://www.quilliamfoundation.org/co...s-releases/942
I do wonder how the Jihadist viewpoint has gained traction, after the Western intervention to help and protect their national interests, has so quickly waned that attacks are made. Quite clearly Libya has many problems to resolve, notably an ineffective government and too many people with guns.