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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Apr-2011
30-Apr-11 News -- Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia

Web Log - April, 2011

30-Apr-11 News -- Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia

Russia says that a ground war is near

Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia

Tunisia's interim government issued a sharp rebuke to the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi on Friday, after Gaddafi's forces crossed the border into Tunisia in pursuit of Libyan rebels, according to the AP.

In Dehiba, people gather around overturned car belonging to Libyan army (CS Monitor)

In Dehiba, people gather around overturned car belonging to Libyan army (CS Monitor)

On Friday, 15 Libyan military vehicles, carrying troops armed with anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers, crossed the Libyan border and reached the Tunisian town of in Dehiba (Dhuheiba) where many Libyan rebels were staying, with the intention of being out of reach of the Libyan army. When the military vehicles were spotted, angry Dehiba civilians set upon the Gaddafi troops, creating a "chaotic situation," according to the article. Finally the Tunisian army stopped "several members of Gadhafi's brigades, regrouping them and leading them back to Libyan territory," the Tunisian Defense Ministry said.

The population of Dehiba "feels great solidarity" with the Libyan rebels, and they "detest Qaddafi's soldiers, they have a horror of them," according to a Dehiba doctor quoted by CS Monitor.

The Tunisian Foreign Ministry summoned Libya's ambassador to convey its "most vigorous protests" for the "serious violations" at the Dehiba border area Thursday and Friday, a ministry statement said.

Tunisia itself is going through a regime change, and in fact was the first to experience an "Arab uprising" in January. Tunisia has pointedly remained neutral in the Libyan civil war, which is consistent with the fact that Tunisia is in a generational Awakening era. (See "24-Jan-11 News -- Police join the protesters in Tunisia.") Thus, there's very little or no chance that these border clashes will spiral into full scale war between the two countries.

Stalemate continues

The town of Misrata, in the western portion of Libya near Tripoli, has become the focus of fighting in the last week, as the war continues to settle into a stalemate.

Gaddafi's forces have been shelling Misrata, and on Friday threatened to prevent humanitarian aid to be delivered to Misrata by sea, according to the Washington Post. Gaddafi's forces are being accused of laying mines in Misrata's port. This is apparently a war crime, although shelling Misrata is not a war crime, just war.

Meanwhile Russia, whose strategy is to keep the stalemate in Libya going on as long as possible, in order to keep Nato forces pinned down, continued to apply pressure. Referring to a Nato plan to name a point of contact between Nato and the Libyan rebels in Benghazi, Viktor Litovkin, executive editor-in-chief of Russia's Independent Military Observer newspaper is certain about NATO`s true reason for naming a point contact in Benghazi, according to Voice of Russia:

"I see it as a step towards ground operation, no matter who will lead it. All these aides and experts are expected not just to teach the insurgents to fight Gaddafi but also explore Libyan territories to know where to dispatch troops and place weaponry."

The article points out that Nato has no clear goal in Libya, and that the Nato-led campaign in Libya is "a war without a goal."

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 30-Apr-11 News -- Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (30-Apr-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Apr-2011 30-Apr-11 News -- Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia

Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia

Stalemate continues

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Apr-2011
30-Apr-11 News -- Libyan war spreads briefly into Tunisia