Arlington VA April 5, 2011
Gadhafi's son scrambling to be the next leader in Libya.
Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, has been not-so quietly offering proposals for him to take over from his father in exchange for peace in the country. You remember Seif, he indicated a few weeks back on international television that there would be a bloodbath in the cities if the rebels did not capitulate. Now he wants to be seen as a healer of his 'beloved country.' The rebels are not buying it, so don't expect a Gadhafi in power for too much longer.
There were explosions in the major Gadhafi compounds in Tripoli on the weekend, and it appeared to some media stationed there that either an aborted coup was moving or some action being taken to prevent more of the major players from deserting the Supreme leader. Who knows.
(In the rest of the Middle East...
Syria still has thousands marching in the streets each day. Bashar Assad has promised reforms and a new government, but the killing goes on. Soon, he will outreach his father's totals in killings.
Yemenhas apparently split into two countries--if you read the al-Quada press. an 'Islamic Emirate' has been formed from part of the country, while gassing of protesters and indiscriminate shooting still occurs daily in the streets. Now the Government has introduced a stronger version of tear gas that has, so far, injured over two hundred, and perhaps more. The US has now dropped any pretenses of supporting the Government.
In Oman,a group of terrorists took over an ammunition factory and blew themselves up--another result of good training which killed over 75 people outright. All in the cause of democracy.
Bahrain, meanwhile is still in the grip of their dictator/strongman who has banned the opposition and closed some newspapers. it does not seem to be stopping the people however, and one has to wonder what are the next steps here. The US carefully watching this nation, since the Fifth Fleet is based there in the harbor.
And in Israel..
Lots going on in that peace-loving nation. With the palestinians calling for the General Assembly to grant their their own nation, Israel is broadly hinting that it will simply annex the West Bank and other lands where vthere are mixed settlements, and the palestinians will get nothing--the rest of the world be damned. And, oh yes, we need more munitions, planes, and bombs from the US.
Netanyahu, the Israeli PM is now demanding the US abrogate the Goldstone report on the atrocities in Gaza since Lord Goldstone has revised his personal view of what happened. Not sure why Goldstone changed, but the numbers in the cemeteries have not, and the deaths are still attributable to Israel.
Iran is quiet, but still sending funding and fighters wherever it will help overturn governments and create fundamentalist regimes.
