EQUIPO NIZKOR |
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26Apr11
Gaddafi must die
It is naive to think that the participants in the military operation against Libya have never discussed Colonel Gaddafi’s fate.
It is hard to believe that the leader of the Jamahiriya will be judged by an international tribunal. None of the Western leaders actually say they doubt that events will take such a civilized turn. However, one can only guess as to what is actually discussed behind closed doors, far from the vigilant “human-rights-protecting” ears. The longer the NATO operation in Libya continues, the less obvious are its results and the more frequently the NATO generals call Gaddafi their legitimate target.
In reality, the adopted UN resolution does not raise the issue of the demise of the leader of the Jamahiriya. But neither is there any mention of legal guarantees of his security. The resolution does not allow a hunt for Gaddafi, personally, but does not exclude his death as a result of a well-planned ragic accident.
Information about how these types of incidents, which at the intent of the international coalition participants will lead to the demise of the Tripoli regime, will look appear increasingly often in media reports. For example, British Secretary of Defence, Liam Fox, has flatly called Gaddafi “a target for air attacks”. In turn, the UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has permitted the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the destruction of the leader of the Jamahiriya – for the murder, as a prisoner of war, sentenced to death without the possibility of an appeal. This plan is also supported by a number of US Republican senators. They believe that only Gaddafi’s death will bring victory to the rebels.
Talks about the colonel’s physical destruction were particularly prevalent after it became clear that the previous plan, which hoped for the betrayal of the Jamahiriya leader at the hands of close associates, had failed. Some Libyan ministers did, indeed, flee to the West. But most of the army remained loyal to Gaddafi. London and Washington officials say that despite the adopted sanctions, which have allowed the freezing of around $60 billion of the regime’s money, Gaddafi’s relatives continue to have enough funds to keep their supporters and to fund military operations. This means that no betrayals are to be expected from the people loyal to the colonel.
The strike delivered by NATO aircraft against the Bab al-Azizia residence where, as was stated by Tripoli, Gaddafi held his meetings, is regarded by some experts as a change in the tactics of the coalition forces. Moreover, there is some speculation that during the bombing Gaddafi was in an underground bunker located under the damaged residence. As a result of the air strike, three buildings were destroyed. The press service of the Libyan government reported 45 people injured. Unsettling reports for the coalition are coming in from the frontlines. The Libyan army has resumed the shelling of Misrata, Gaddafi’s envoys are recruiting mercenaries from Egypt to fight against rebel forces, and fierce battles have begun in the mountainous regions between the state army and the Berber territorial army. Libya’s official state TV channels report that Gaddafi’s supporters held a demonstration in the rebels’ capital of Benghazi.
Meanwhile, French President Nikolas Sarkozy, during his meeting with the head of the Libyan National Council in Paris, promised to visit Benghazi to raise the rebels’ morale. British Prime Minister David Cameron may accompany him on his trip as “a formality”. It is possible that during their meeting with the rebels in Benghazi, the head of the British government and the French president will announce that the hunting season for Gaddafi and his relatives has officially begun.
[Source: By Yevgeny Shestakov, RT, Moscow, 26Apr11]
 | This document has been published on 04May11 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |