WRAPUP 4-Assault on Gaddafi bastion ends in chaotic retreat

[jakeXT]

Source: Reuters



By Maria Golovnina and Alexander Dziadosz

BANI WALID/SIRTE, Libya, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Libyan interim government forces fled on Sunday in a chaotic retreat from the town of Bani Walid, after failing in yet another attempt to storm the final bastions of loyalists of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Since taking the capital Tripoli last month, motley forces of the ruling National Transitional Council have met stiff resistance in Bani Walid and Gaddafi's birthplace Sirte, which they must capture before they can declare Libya "liberated".

Anti-Gaddafi fighters have tried several times to storm Bani Walid, 150 km (95 miles) southeast of Tripoli, in recent days only to retreat in disorder under fire from defenders. Sunday's failed attempt appeared to be among the worst yet, setting off angry recriminations among the attackers.

NTC fighters said they had planned for tanks and pickup trucks with anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers to lead Sunday's attack, but foot soldiers had piled in first.

Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7KH0PV20110918

[happyslug]

1. Did those 95 miles south of Tripoli, mean the area is out of range of Air Cover?

The key to the defeat of Gaddafi has been Air Power. Anytime Gaddifi's forces took a stand, they were hit will massive air attacks. Since the US is no longer flying the planes, that means no Carrier launched air attacks (Yes Britain and France also have Carriers, but the British and French Carriers planes do NOT have the range or bombing capacity of land base or US Navy Carrier based planes).

From what I have read, the base for the Air attacks has been Italy. I have NOT heard of any fly over Tunisia, thus Southern Italy and/or Sicily seems to be where the places are coming from. As such they must also fly around Tunisia (Or get Tunisia permission to flay over). It is still a long haul. Now the US Air Force could be providing in flight refueling for these jets, but do to the war in Afghanistan (and the need to avoid Iranian air space, at least by the tankers) most US and British Tankers are in Pakistan being used to refuel flights from out Carriers in the Persian Gulf (and also to refuel planes based in Afghanistan to keep them flying).

Thus Tripoli may be within the operational range of French and other European planes out of Italy, but that extra 95 miles may push the limit of the fuel in those planes. Thus for this reason no air attacks are possible.

If the above is the case, and I can NOT tell if it is or is not, then this becomes a ground only fight, and in such a fight, I would tend to go with Gaddafi's forces, for Gaddafi's forces seem to have a better ability to fight together as integrated units, not a bunch of individualists (And this ability to fight as a unit, seems to be how Gaddafi was able to delay the rebels offensive against him so long. The Rebels would advance, hit a defensive barrier through up by Gaddafi's forces, then call in a Air Strike. During that Air Strike the Rebels would attack through bombed area, and Gaddafi's forces would retreat to their next line of defense.

Mow, given the inability of the rebels to unite in regards to anything but defeating Gaddafi, this situation could last forever. On the other hand the transfer of one or two tankers from Pakistan to Italy to give the French and other European Air Craft extra fuel for a long distance strike would be a replay of what happened along the Coast.

This the issue is, can the Rebels gets an Air Strike on the Defensive position? If yes, then they will push through, if no, then Gaddafi keep control of a corner of Libya,

[joshcryer]

2. NATO doesn't usually hit technicals and other movable machinery within cities.

Misrata was taken by ground, Tripoli was taken by ground (only 3 NATO airstrikes on that day, no one could argue that it was a game changer), Zawiya was taken by ground. Sirte is unique in that Gaddafi's forces are strong there. Tripoli's forces tucked tail and ran at the face of only 2000 combatants (and 6000 civilians setting up blockaids in their neighborhoods, never underestimate the power of a makeshift roadblock!).

The question of Sirte is how many citizens are loyal, and how many citizens are fed up. The longer it lasts the quicker it falls internally, because Gaddafi's men are reported to be not allowing anyone to leave their houses, and they shoot any movement, ala Sarajevo.

Another key is that the eastern fighters were never battle hardened. The Misrata fighters and the western mountain fighters both had to deal with a protracted months long battle (this helps dispel the myth that the uprising was all "the eastern people," no, it was the west). Misrata fighters are known on the field as the most experienced, Misrata was under siege by Gaddafi forces for 4 months, NATO was reluctant to hit any tanks within the city, until someone came up with the idea to drop a concrete training munitions. Any gains made so far are due to Misrata fighters and western mountain fighters.

Sirte will fall, and it will fall soon, it won't be months long. The defensive positions are not very secure as it is (Sirte has been undergoing airstrikes for months and months, a few now would not change the outcome). The rebels have been doing "hit and runs" driving into the heart of Sirte and retreating to cause chaos. All they need are roadblocks / barricades and technical movement is highly limited. It's interesting that Sirte did not learn from Misrata.

[bluebuzzard]

3. War=Money.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=26686

Bush it's for "Democracy"
Obama it's for the "People"
Bullsh@t both should be tried in court