Libyan Loyalists Fight NATO, Rebels and Propaganda - by Stephen Lendman

Reporting more propaganda than legitimate news, Al Jazeera broadcast another lie about NTC fighters, claiming Mutassim Gaddafi's capture, saying:

"....(O)ne of Gaddafi's sons has been captured in Sirte, according to" NTC officials. He's "currently being held in Benghazi....after being arrested on Wednesday."

NTC Colonel Abdulah Naker said he was arrested in Sirte. Al Jazeera correspondent James Bays, "reporting from Tripoli, said he had spoken with several high-level NTC officials who had heard the news but could not confirm it."

Indeed not because Mutassim was live on radio when his capture was announced. Moreover, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said reports of his arrest were false. Bogus earlier ones said he and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi were captured.

In other words, believe nothing on Western media and Al Jazeera. No matter how often they lie, new ones follow regularly.

NSNBC's Christoff Lehmann also calls TNC officials notorious liars, "and the Libyan people know it."

NATO and TNC officials, in fact, "are desperately in need of showing at least some kind of victory" even if they have to fake it. Major media liars pitch in and help, falsifying reports instead of providing real news and information.

For nearly seven months, Libyans fought heroically against NATO's killing machine and cutthroat rebels. They're not about to give in now and let colonizers run their lives.

Libya's military is also well trained, equipped, and knowledgeable about Western occupations. "Libyan women would rather fight to their death than be forced to live under a Saudi-like regime" with no rights or fear of being arrested, whipped, stoned to death, or beheaded for wanting to live free.

Nor will Libyans accept UN paramilitary occupiers. Wherever they're deployed, they're infamous for repression, intimidation, assassinations, mass rapes, drugs and sex trafficking, as well as other atrocities and crimes.

Under Gaddafi, Libyans had important rights and benefits now lost. Libyan youths "enjoy(ed) freedom of expression and freedom of education with stipends" for qualified students to study abroad. Everyone got free healthcare, free electricity, free water, subsidized housing, and practically free gasoline.

Who'd give it up willingly for NATO, NTC opportunists and paramilitary killers? "Who is so naive to believe that" Black guest workers "would cease resisting (an aggressor that) massacred tens of thousands" of their people?

Who'd think Libyan tribes would surrender their political freedom to an aggressor, ravaging regional countries ruthlessly. The longer NATO terror bombs, kills and destroys, the more resolved millions wanting to live free resist.

On October 12, Syria's Arrai TV said TNC fighters in Bani Walid were defeated. NSNBC got similar reports. NATO and rebel forces again attacked Sirte. Bombing was "followed by a land assault of infantry and tanks that managed to" enter the city.

Strong resistance repelled it, "causing heavy casualties among the attackers." Sirte residents are fighting for their lives and won't quit. So far, they've bested weeks of NATO air and ground assaults successfully.

On October 12, New York Times writer Karim Fahim headlined, "Libyan Fighters Say Capture of Surt is Near," saying:

"Anti-Qaddafi fighters said they had edged closer to capturing the coastal city (with) fighting....confined to just two areas" of the city. TNC officials said they'll "declare the conflict over and announce a new government only after Surt is captured."

What about Tripoli, Benghazi and other Libyan cities mostly under loyalist control? What about Sirte, routing NTC fighters repeatedly? What about real reporting instead of falsified propaganda?

Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reported the same lies, saying NTC forces entered Sirte, "cutting off the last remaining land escape route for (Gaddafi loyalists) and isolating them in two remaining pockets inside the city."

"The fighters had so far encountered light resistance and suffered no casualties, but the fighting ahead was much more intense."

So much so, in fact, that routed rebel fighters took heavy casualties.

Western and Al Jazeera viewers, as well as New York Times and other broadsheet readers get regular falsified reports, not true accounts of heroic resistance against everything mighty NATO and its killer mercenaries try.

NSNBC gave one of many reasons why loyalists won't quit. In one Sirte suburb rebels held briefly, "nine entire families, including toddlers, children, and elderly men and women were shot in cold blood as a statement of what awaits 'Ghadafi Loyalists.' "

Besides being one of NATO's worst crimes, "(t)he battle of Sirte will undoubtedly become a classic study in military academies worldwide."

For their part, Libyans hope international protests will support them. They've been through hell and need all they can get, including from China and Russia. They're able to exert influence with other BRIC countries to help stop continuation of one of history's great crimes.

On October 14, NSNBC said Algerian tribes were entering the war. Reports also confirm "heavy clashes in the border region between Tunisia and Libya."

Tunisian tribes increased attacks on TNC forces and NATO convoys, carrying weapons and supplies cross border. "(T)wo convoys were intercepted." TNC fighters were "attacked and forced to return."

Other insurgents terrorized a Tunisian village. In retaliation, residents attacked them, killing a dozen.

On October 13, Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri called for expanding the Libyan war by attacking Algeria's government. Al Qaeda is a CIA creation used strategically as enemies and allies. Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) members are Al Qaeda.

In December 2004, the US State Department designated LIFG a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), accusing it of being allied with "Usama bin Ladin and believed to be part of al-Qaida's leadership and structure or active in the international terrorist network."

In August 2007, the State Department said "Libyans associated with the LIFG are part of the broader international terrorist movement. The LIFG is one of the groups believed to have planned the Casablanca suicide bombings in May 2003....The LIFG constitutes a serious threat to US interests and personnel."

The State Department also said they were responsible for a 1996 failed Gaddafi assassination attempt, and during the 1990s clashed with Libyan security forces.

Now active participants in NATO's Libya war, they've shifted over decades from US allies to enemies to North African allies. Ahead perhaps they'll again be enemies when their usefulness ends, and they're abandoned or used short-term repressively to solidify control.

Not freedom fighters or democrats, they're cutthroat killers used by America exploitively to win wars for imperial, not liberating reasons.

NSNBC believes Washington wants LIFG fighters to destabilize Algeria, calling it "one of the North and West African nations" standing in the way of its ambitions to control the entire Mediterranean Basin into Central Asia to Russia's borders.

Libya, Algeria and Ivory Coast before France deposed Laurent Gbagbo, worked actively to unify Africa free from imperial control. As a result, Gbagbo was toppled. War rages in Libya, and Algeria's perhaps next.

Heroically, Libyan loyalists remain determined to liberate their country, live free, and rebuild. They've beaten back repeated NATO and rebel attacks in Bani Walid, elsewhere across the country, and Sirte. Nonetheless, destruction throughout the city is widespread, and the humanitarian situation is dire.

Still, Libyans throughout the country know they've got "nothing to lose and everything to win" by continued resistance. They've also urged loyalists "to leave areas under TNC control to avoid unnecessary casualties, and declared all (TNC facilities) legitimate targets to be burned or destroyed. In numerous cities this call was heeded," forcing TNC representatives to leave.

In released audio recordings, Gaddafi's urged Libyans to rally across the country for liberation. In one message, he said:

"Go peacefully. Be courageous. Rise up. Go to the streets. Raise our green flags to the skies."

NSNBC said loyalists turned out across Libya, waving green flags, and battling to liberate some areas. Western bullies only understand armed resistance.

Libyan and Afghan freedom fighters lead vanguard efforts, encouraging others to contest repressive regimes and imperial occupations. Setting an impressive example, they're holding their own.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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