Libya

[777 fixer]

I'm suprised no one is talking about the present situation there. True, they are not exactly a US ally and their population is but a fraction of Egypt's. However it looks like things are starting to spiral out of control. There are factions of the military that have taken sides with the demonstartors while others have stayed loyal to Gadhafi. It appears that Libya's second largest city Benghazi is under the control of the opposition. Just yesterday two LAF pilots defected to Malta with their Mirage F-1 fighters. Eveidently they did not want to fire on the protestors below them.

 

[delldude]

Don't be surprised, I popped it in the Egypt Change thread when everybody started to turn it into a HC thread.

What about those two pilots? Hear about the ones that did drop on the crowds?

 

[777 fixer]

Have not heard anything about LAF strikes on protestors. Does not mean it has not happened, reliable reports are hard to come by a the present moment.

The two pilots have asked for political asylum, they will probably get it.

 

[delldude]

Which do you prefer?

WND or NYT ?

http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/02/22/libyan_forces_bomb_protests/

I post the URL link because DW is afraid to hit anything else. maybe we pitch together get him AVG Free.

 

[delldude]

Here some from AJ.....AJ is reputable, Sam Donaldson said so.

Libyan military aircraft fired live ammunition at crowds of anti-government protesters in Tripoli, Al Jazeera television reported on Monday, quoting witnesses for its information.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/report-libya-air-force-bombs-protesters-heading-for-army-base-1.344775?localLinksEnabled=false

 

[777 fixer]

Which do you prefer?

WND or NYT ?

http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/02/22/libyan_forces_bomb_protests/

I post the URL link because DW is afraid to hit anything else. maybe we pitch together get him AVG Free.

Please forgive me, I just got off a ten hour night shift.

 

[777 fixer]

If the pilots had the fuel you have wonder if they would have taken action in support of the protestors. Maybe take a run at a government building or the old man himself? They had rockets and two 30mm cannons at thier fingertips.


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Libya---Air/Dassault-Mirage-F1ED/1871075/L/

 

[delldude]

If the pilots had the fuel you have wonder if they would have taken action in support of the protestors. Maybe take a run at a government building or the old man himself? They had rockets and two 30mm cannons at thier fingertips.


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Libya---Air/Dassault-Mirage-F1ED/1871075/L/

In another forum, I called for an F-111 greeting card

 

[777 fixer]

In another forum, I called for an F-111 greeting card

You'll have to go to Tuscon to get one of those. 😉

 

[Ms Tree]

One of my favorite planes. Had a model hanging in my room as a kid.

Hard to keep track of the protests. Every day it seems someone else has joined in.

Iran and Libya are going to be hard nuts to crack. When the military is in on it and they are willing to kill civilians in larger numbers, that changes the game plan.

 

[777 fixer]

Here's a picture of the Mirage just after landing in malta.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Libya---Air/Dassault-Mirage-F1ED/1871388/L/

Have to admit, the French make them pretty.

 

[777 fixer]

Iran and Libya are going to be hard nuts to crack. When the military is in on it and they are willing to kill civilians in larger numbers, that changes the game plan.

Speaking of Iran Ahmadinejad has wieghed in on what's going on.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/23/iran.mideast.unrest/index.html

Nearly fell out of my chair when I read the story. Guess he means everywhere in the Mideast except Iran.

 

[Ms Tree]

Yea, his grasp on reality is tenuous at best. I think he and his puppeteers know that their days are numbered as well. He has longer than most since they are willing to kill to maintain power but that will fail to work as well at some point.

 

[777 fixer]

Looks like more pilots are refusing orders to bomb the opposition. This pair of pilots droped their ordanance in the desert and then punched out. I wonder why they did'nt go after one Ghadafi's home or a loyalist target. Me, I would have been hesitant to pull that yellow and black handle. Ironically one of the pilots is supposedly from Ghadafi's own tribe.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110223/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_libya

 

[Ms Tree]

May be it's because there is added defense around the palaces and other locals where he hangs out?

I always though punching out was quite dangerous? The other two pilots landed out side of Libya safely, I would have gone that route were it me.