http://www.juancole.com/2011/08/rebels-claim-leader-of-feared-khamis-brigade-dead.html
Rebels claim Leader of Feared Khamis Brigade Dead<http://www.juancole.com/2011/08/rebels-claim-leader-of-feared-khamis-brigade-dead.html> Posted on 08/05/2011 by Juan *Free Libya forces* <http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=14232201> are making unconfirmed allegations that Gen. Khamis Qaddafi has been killed in a NATO airstrike on a military outpost at Zlitan near Misrata. Khamis leads the feared Khamis Brigades, who are accused of using tanks, artillery and cluster bombs against civilians in Misrata. The Brigades is among the most lethal units among the Qaddafi brigades. (See *this account*<http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=37551&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=f0b3ef8200af7c3a039bc6f593c6ffc6>.) Khamis has been incorrectly declared dead before, so caution is in order. But if the report were true, it would be a major blow to Muammar Qaddafis attempts to remain in power. *Qaddafis eldest son, *<http://www.vancouversun.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=5210532>Saif al Islam, now says he will ally with Libyas Muslim fundamentalists in order to stay in power. The Qaddafis have long argued that the West should support them because the alternative is the fundamentalists. But in recent months they keep threatening to join al-Qaeda, so that rationale has collapsed. *David Zucchinos excellent piece*<http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/03/world/la-fg-libya-rebels-mood-20110803>on the mood in Benghazi and the economic difficulties facing the Free Libya regions in the east accords with what I have heard from other recent visitors to Benghazi. No one can understand why there hasnt been more humanitarian aid, given the poor economy. No one thinks the war will be over soon. The mood in Benghazi cheered considerably Thursday when an oil tanker made a big delivery. The handful of recent visitors to whom I spoke are divided on the likelihood of the rebels long term success. But logically speaking there are only four likely outcomes. 1. Qaddafi wins and conquers the East 2. The Free Libya forces over time win and take Tripoli 3. Elites in Tripoli overthrow Qaddafi and seek a national unity government with Benghazi 4. The country is partitioned The UN allies wont allow Qaddafi to take the east and massacre and imprison thousands, however much Alexander Cockburn, the Tea Party, and the World Socialist Web site would like to see that happen, or at least they object to practical steps to prevent it. I dont think a partition would be stable. Given international sanctions, Qaddafis part would grow weak, his weapons would degrade for lack of spare parts, and eventually he would fall to a wealthier and better-supplied Benghazi. So most likely either there will eventually be a coup against Qaddafi in Tripoli or the rebels will win in the end. The two Balkans interventions showed that air intervention is slow, difficult, & frustrating. But the alternative is to stand by while a Srebenica takes place. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:laamn-unsubscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:laamn-subscr...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:laamn-dig...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:laamn-ow...@egroups.com?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:la...@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/laamn@egroups.com> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: laamn-dig...@yahoogroups.com laamn-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: laamn-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
