Tobruk - They say the Shabab, the young fighters, often adolescents, which last night democracy comes from the sky. Libya falls on the scale from "Rafale" and "Mirage", which is not always seen flying in the clouds Mediterranean, firing missiles per hour near Benghazi, threatened by the forces of evil.
The first message came from just before sunset, a French bullet hit a vehicle of Gaddafi who threatened the capital of Cyrenaica. The missile was a biblical sword of our millennium. Not only the Shabab, but everyone on the ground, insurgents and witnesses rely on air that action backed by Western and Arab, to finally drive out the dictator, who was imprisoned in the bunker of Tripoli.
In '86, when the shabab were not born yet, the Americans tried in vain to bury it forever beneath the ruins caused by the jet took off from aircraft carriers of the Sixth Fleet. Gaddafi re-emerged, ringagliardito from punishment imposed by the superpower. I really think that on that occasion he was convinced to be resurrected.
His invulnerability is now being put to the test again. The Europeans, the French head, try the operation again, with the blessing of the UN, and with the American rearguard, reluctant to engage directly in the front row. After the disaster of Iraq and with the heavy burden on the shoulders of Afghanistan, Barack Obama we should be cautious.
He is not Bush junior. Will not promote another war on the ground. He does not want to take the risk that might be implied, although so far rejected. This time the main role is up to the Europeans in particular the French and English Sarkozy Cameron. The dispatch has undeniable credentials noble and should be only air.
During the course of a civil war, chapter of the "Arab Spring" began in Tunis and Cairo, he sees a comparison of the despotic regime of Tripoli and the insurgents, eager for rights and freedom, as with Benghazi stronghold. Here you live with trepidation this time. Libya freed she felt abandoned and that is that the champions of democracy, Western and Arab, Libyan flying in the sky to rescue her.
Squares on the shabab shoot in the air, Kalashnikovs and machine guns as they do with the Arabs when they want to celebrate a victory, expressing approval, or simply to celebrate a wedding. Even here, where I write, there's the crackle of Kalashnikovs and machine guns. The boys turned into soldiers, more militia, discharging their enthusiasm, have the impression, firing against the empty sky, to participate in the battle.
But at the same time they practice, because the war is far from over. Despite the enthusiasm, it is believed that the no-fly zone, decreed by the UN and endorsed by the Arab League, the same "brothers" of Gaddafi Muslim, will not stop the repression. Not reduce to silence the dictator. It is formidable but not enough, say the leaders of the uprising.
When it was announced, and was believed to be now in place, the radio free of Libya has given false information to one of the night on Friday, Gaddafi's troops have launched an offensive near the western suburbs of Benghazi. They've shrugged French aircraft were said to be already in flight.
I was in my room, Alnoran hotel in Benghazi, where came the muffled sounds of distant explosions, when a security officer of the city, visibly excited, knocked on my door and suggested I go as soon as possible. "You have not seen the government of Tripoli, is an illegal immigrant may have some trouble if you get those Gaddafi." I was not convinced, I did not think that the danger was so imminent.
It was clear: the excitement of the head of security was exaggerated, but the window I saw the columns of cars heading for the eastern exit of town. The people believed to have fled behind the troops of the dictator. The scene was chaotic. Horn deployed. Cars that collided. Entire families piled into vehicles of all types, with the roof load of luggage.
And the shabab who were trying to regulate traffic. Even handing out water, cookies and chocolate bars. I was dragged by the exodus, which was diluted in the desert, on which lay a fog so thick and cold to prevent the continuation of the journey. The fleeing population, now far from the city, it is dispersed in cozy farmhouses where the farmers handed out blankets and hot drinks.
Large camps were formed in the middle of the night until dawn in the desert. This quick, casual experience has shown me how deep the fear that the men of Gaddafi inspire a large proportion of the population. The offensive on the outskirts of Benghazi has turned out to be modest. As often happens, the propaganda of the two sides had exaggerated.
To the point of believing that the city of Benghazi, with more than 800,000 people, was to be encircled. But in this situation neurotic troop strength of Tripoli multiplies, and the terror of the "blacks mercenaries" hired by Gaddafi becomes terribly effective weapon. This goes to show that despite the air operations, and even impossible to use aviation and small armored units, the dictator might be able to continue its work.
Adopting a different tactic, of course. His troops are better armed and more organized than those formed by the shabab. In the night between Friday and Saturday, crossing the desert in the direction of Tobruk, I came across dozens of militants anti-Gaddafi. Boys were trained and poorly armed.
A few Kalashnikovs and many clubs. And a rough framework, then the inevitable vulnerability. The Shabab need weapons. Those provided by nearby Egypt do not seem sufficient. The Air Force authorized by the United Nations marks a turning point in the civil war. But it might not be enough to push and a larger commitment.
On the ground? This is still not in the plans. The air strikes, even within the limits laid down, is a great show of solidarity: Europe, although not compact, for once moved in the right direction. But they say the Shabab, which fired with enthusiasm in the air, should be only a first step. 
The first message came from just before sunset, a French bullet hit a vehicle of Gaddafi who threatened the capital of Cyrenaica. The missile was a biblical sword of our millennium. Not only the Shabab, but everyone on the ground, insurgents and witnesses rely on air that action backed by Western and Arab, to finally drive out the dictator, who was imprisoned in the bunker of Tripoli.
In '86, when the shabab were not born yet, the Americans tried in vain to bury it forever beneath the ruins caused by the jet took off from aircraft carriers of the Sixth Fleet. Gaddafi re-emerged, ringagliardito from punishment imposed by the superpower. I really think that on that occasion he was convinced to be resurrected.
His invulnerability is now being put to the test again. The Europeans, the French head, try the operation again, with the blessing of the UN, and with the American rearguard, reluctant to engage directly in the front row. After the disaster of Iraq and with the heavy burden on the shoulders of Afghanistan, Barack Obama we should be cautious.
He is not Bush junior. Will not promote another war on the ground. He does not want to take the risk that might be implied, although so far rejected. This time the main role is up to the Europeans in particular the French and English Sarkozy Cameron. The dispatch has undeniable credentials noble and should be only air.
During the course of a civil war, chapter of the "Arab Spring" began in Tunis and Cairo, he sees a comparison of the despotic regime of Tripoli and the insurgents, eager for rights and freedom, as with Benghazi stronghold. Here you live with trepidation this time. Libya freed she felt abandoned and that is that the champions of democracy, Western and Arab, Libyan flying in the sky to rescue her.
Squares on the shabab shoot in the air, Kalashnikovs and machine guns as they do with the Arabs when they want to celebrate a victory, expressing approval, or simply to celebrate a wedding. Even here, where I write, there's the crackle of Kalashnikovs and machine guns. The boys turned into soldiers, more militia, discharging their enthusiasm, have the impression, firing against the empty sky, to participate in the battle.
But at the same time they practice, because the war is far from over. Despite the enthusiasm, it is believed that the no-fly zone, decreed by the UN and endorsed by the Arab League, the same "brothers" of Gaddafi Muslim, will not stop the repression. Not reduce to silence the dictator. It is formidable but not enough, say the leaders of the uprising.
When it was announced, and was believed to be now in place, the radio free of Libya has given false information to one of the night on Friday, Gaddafi's troops have launched an offensive near the western suburbs of Benghazi. They've shrugged French aircraft were said to be already in flight.
I was in my room, Alnoran hotel in Benghazi, where came the muffled sounds of distant explosions, when a security officer of the city, visibly excited, knocked on my door and suggested I go as soon as possible. "You have not seen the government of Tripoli, is an illegal immigrant may have some trouble if you get those Gaddafi." I was not convinced, I did not think that the danger was so imminent.
It was clear: the excitement of the head of security was exaggerated, but the window I saw the columns of cars heading for the eastern exit of town. The people believed to have fled behind the troops of the dictator. The scene was chaotic. Horn deployed. Cars that collided. Entire families piled into vehicles of all types, with the roof load of luggage.
And the shabab who were trying to regulate traffic. Even handing out water, cookies and chocolate bars. I was dragged by the exodus, which was diluted in the desert, on which lay a fog so thick and cold to prevent the continuation of the journey. The fleeing population, now far from the city, it is dispersed in cozy farmhouses where the farmers handed out blankets and hot drinks.
Large camps were formed in the middle of the night until dawn in the desert. This quick, casual experience has shown me how deep the fear that the men of Gaddafi inspire a large proportion of the population. The offensive on the outskirts of Benghazi has turned out to be modest. As often happens, the propaganda of the two sides had exaggerated.
To the point of believing that the city of Benghazi, with more than 800,000 people, was to be encircled. But in this situation neurotic troop strength of Tripoli multiplies, and the terror of the "blacks mercenaries" hired by Gaddafi becomes terribly effective weapon. This goes to show that despite the air operations, and even impossible to use aviation and small armored units, the dictator might be able to continue its work.
Adopting a different tactic, of course. His troops are better armed and more organized than those formed by the shabab. In the night between Friday and Saturday, crossing the desert in the direction of Tobruk, I came across dozens of militants anti-Gaddafi. Boys were trained and poorly armed.
A few Kalashnikovs and many clubs. And a rough framework, then the inevitable vulnerability. The Shabab need weapons. Those provided by nearby Egypt do not seem sufficient. The Air Force authorized by the United Nations marks a turning point in the civil war. But it might not be enough to push and a larger commitment.
On the ground? This is still not in the plans. The air strikes, even within the limits laid down, is a great show of solidarity: Europe, although not compact, for once moved in the right direction. But they say the Shabab, which fired with enthusiasm in the air, should be only a first step.
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