Is Gaddafi dead? Or just hiding?

There's an odd thing about dictators and terrorists (some of whom happen to be both at the same time) and that is we all seem uncertain as to whether they are actually dead when they are dead. There are some who thought Hitler survived the bunker. Others have speculated about the death of Stalin. Mussolini got strung up and Ceausescu got riddled with bullets, alongside his delectable wife, so there was some certainty there. Now Bin Laden is being gossiped about, much to the annoyance of the Americans.

So what of Colonel Gaddafi of Libya? Is he dead? Or just playing possum somewhere, hoping to skidaddle to somewhere better? NATO doesn't know of his whereabouts. Some reporters think he might have been killed in a bombing raid. NATO spokesman Brigadier General Claudio Gabellini said, "We have no evidence about what Gaddafi is doing right now. To tell you the truth, we're not really interested in what he's doing." Sounds rather vague. The whole reason for going into Libya was to protect the civilian population from his madness. I know we don't want a running commentary on his daily routine but wouldn't it be nice to know if he is still around?

It may suit the Libyan government to keep up a charade but the Western democracies could be wasting valuable time by not knowing. This isn't even in conspiracy theory territory. It's just not bothering much.

Gaddafi has vowed to die a martyr. Better that than dying in unknown circumstances with all the rumourmongers in full cry. We are told that his youngest son got killed in a raid, but even questions are being asked about that. Definitely a war of words as much as bombs.

Read more: http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/78793,people,news,is-colonel-gaddafi-dead-libyans-suspicious-of-vanishing-act#ixzz1M3feLlmC

Libyan rebels say NATO isn't doing enough

Rebels with a cause

The rebels have a general and the rest make do with a colonel going crazy. The general seems capable but has a few proper soldiers and a ragtag of a volunteer army. The colonel is incapable, has a lot of proper soldiers and a diminishing crowd of loyal flagwavers. A general should take precedence over a colonel. Libya is in real conflict, that's certain. Said Gaddafi is making it up as he goes along, a bit like his doctoral thesis. Old clips of raving supporters are shown on Libyan TV as if to prove some point. And the country is fast looking like a dumping ground for bits of old twisted metal. Do they have guys driving around in trucks blowing their horns like we do in Birmingham and Solihull?

The rebel leadership in Benghazi seems attractive to the Western powers. Thet are made up largely of pro-democracy types, ranging from doctors to entrepreneurs. The one thing they have in common is a desire to speak and live freely. But should NATO bomb what the rebels want them to bomb? How deep should NATO get into this conflict? Well, I think as far as possible without getting toes and fingers burnt. Proper help is letting the rebels do the defeating themselves, albeit with some effective help. They don't want swaggering British officers giving Gaddafi Senior a dressing down in public. They just want to get to Tripoli to tell him the game's up.

Libya is far too important a country, strategically, economically and culturally for NATO not to be seen to be doing things properly. That is knocking out Gaddafi's military capability.

No gadfly zone over Libya - Gaddafi to get swatted!

"Is it a bird? Is it a plane?"

So the United Nations finally came up with a decision. A no fly zone is just the beginning. It is far better that dictators who are contemplating slaughtering their own people are dealt with by the international community instead of by unilateral action of a few or even one. In the case of Libya, we now know that Gaddafi and his henchsons are on their own.

I really think the crunch point came with Gaddafi's rambling rhetoric. Even the other Arab nations were appalled at his depiction of people as dogs scavenging for titbits. He is a total embarrassment to them. Perhaps he may be gone very soon.

As part of the action against Gaddafi, perhaps the tracking down of his ill gotten gains would be a good start. It's one thing bombing his air bases but where it hurts most for these criminal types is in the pocket. No stolen dosh and they've got no purpose in life. Gaddafi stole loads of cash from his people. He stole their freedom too. In fact he's just one giant pickpocket.

A free Libya will be a great Libya. Surely in the 21st century there is not one country in the world that wants repressive leaders schooled in the Al Capone method of politically criminal gain to rule over them. There's still an A to Z of corrupt despots that will be in the line-up for removal. From Arabia to Zimbabwe!

The best thing for Libya, though, would be for the Libyan army to drive off in the direction of Benghazi with tank turrets draped in the real Libyan flag. Now that would be a sight to see.

Nigel Farage gives Van Rompuy some home truths

Belgian beer drinker meets Libyan camel milk drinker

This is delicious. Herman van Rompuy getting another dose of Nigel Farage's straight talking. The Belgian boss of the EU had been waffling on about what a nasty piece of work Gaddafi is. Seems that van Rumpuy knows the guy quite well. What a guy he is!