Arming the Libyan Rebels

 

Jon Stewart:

Jon Stewart: Oh, people, we are now into our third week of a military bombing campaign in Libya, Operation Odyssey Dawn.  The operation cleverly named for the Odyssey, a 20-year harrowing journey through a hellscape where nearly everyone is killed.  Adding “dawn” . . . so it’s the earliest part of that day. . . .

Geraldo Rivera: There is a lot of talk now to arm the rebels.  I swear to god, if you give these people weapons more powerful than they have right now, they will be a grave danger to themselves and others.  The real danger here are these crazy kids with machine guns.  They have no discipline in combat.

Jon Stewart: If only someone would come forth to take control of this ragtag bunch, a charismatic, brave, somewhat narcissistic figure who already possesses the confidence and facial hair configuration of an old-world guerrilla force leader.

* * *

David Letterman: So now the CIA is arming the Libyan rebels.  Great!  You know what that means?  In 10 years we’ll be fighting them.


Cf. Charles Levinson, “Rebel Chief Asks for Timely Strikes, Helicopters” (Wall Street Journal, 4 April 2011); As’ad AbuKhalil, “Al-Qa’idah Pledges Allegiance to US-supported ‘Abdul-Jalil” (The Angry Arab News Service, 4 April 2011); As’ad AbuKhalil, “Have We Not Seen This Movie Before?” (The Angry Arab News Service, 6 April 2011); “Gaddafi on the Offensive” (Voice of Russia, 6 April 2011); Leila Fadel and Debbi Wilgoren, “Libyan Rebels Say NATO Airstrikes Targeted Them Again” (Washington Post, 7 April 2011); “Thousands Flee from Ajdabiya before Gaddafi Advance” (Voice of Russia, 7 April 2011); Kim Sengupta, “Divided and Disorganised, Libyan Rebel Military Turn on Nato Allies” (Independent, 7 April 2011); C.J. Chivers, “Libyan Rebels Don’t Really Add Up to an Army” (New York Times, 7 April 2011).




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