Two civilian buses loaded with armed personnel dressed as civilians have entered Misurata (ca. 60 peple) accompanied by 11 tanks and are positioned at the main hospital in Misurata (close the Time Square). The hospital has been out of service for 4 years. T…he tanks are positioned at the front garden of the hospital.

Gaddafi today announced that he’s going to arm the public to go out and clean the cities from the revolutionary. It seems that he wants to create a massacre in Misurata tomorrow, which he will go back and say it was the Libyan people who went to kill these rats (he refers to Libyans as Rats).

A massacre is about to happen in Misurata if the international coalition doesn’t wipe them out today.

Remember over 80 people have been killed yesterday in Misurata by snipers.

We need to get the news out to stop the massacre from happening.”

David S

Perhaps we couldn’t be of much practical use to the coalition, BUT we could still have offered what we could, or at the very least not refused even before being asked. That’s what makes us look so bad now.

“I would leave those to the AFM and their foreign colleagues”

Antoine, do you seriously believe that detailed decisions on our contribution could be taken without considering the wider implications? That is the politician’s job. All decisions must be taken by politicians based on advice given to them by the technical people.

At least commentators on this blog are now realising that military aircraft and civil aviation do not mix.

[Daphne – They’re mixing at Trapani. They mix when they have to. They are only kept separate when there is the luxury of space and choice. They mix at Malta International Airport. ]

What happened to all the “zghar, izda kbar” chest-beating which drove us to join the EU?

David, I am not a military expert and I take it neither are you. This is not about the technical aspects of how Malta can be useful; I would leave those to the AFM and their foreign colleagues.

This is about the political willingness to be part of the UN-backed coalition defending the Libyan people.

That – and only that – is the decision government should have taken. They would have then left it up to the experts to decide what would be our role and how we could help.

They are worse than he is as they do not have the excuse of insanity. They have made their bed and now must lie in it.

Update from a related source:

“Check Misrata, no food, no water, no electricity. As for air, I think thats the only thing they did not succeed to prevent from the people.”

“there is evidence in Musrata and Zintan right now, tanks trying to get into Musrata”

– comment from someone in Libya.

Gaddafi acts like a schoolyard bully who picks fights with weak victims but avoids challenges with strong opponents.

Every time I read or see a speech by the Gaddafis I notice the amount of threats, some of them veiled, which they utter.
They deserve to be bombed for another two days, and those who are ready to stay with them know the risks they are taking.

[Daphne – His ministers are locked up, John. They couldn’t leave even if they wanted to.]

WE SURRENDER should be the term instead of ceasefire. One cannot trust someone who doesn’t keep his word.