MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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[url= http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/africa/21rebels.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=cjchivers ]To watch Libyan rebels head to battle is to watch young men calling for freedom step toward a bloody mismatch, and often their deaths. To arm them, though, is to assume other risks, some of which could last for years[/url]
Journalists have seen these high-explosive munitions fired repeatedly, and often haphazardly. The rebels firing them typically have no evident communication with forward observers who might watch where their ordnance lands, and have shown no ability to adjust their aim.In tactical terms, this is indiscriminate fire — the very behavior rebels and civilians have decried in the Qaddafi forces, albeit on a smaller scale.
There was a good bit on newsnight the other night showing the rebels charging about in pickups with various bits of oversized artillery welded to the back with rap music blaring from the cabs.
Looks marvellous fun 😀
I want a rocket pod mounted on my Zafira.
[url= http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/21/world/africa/20110421-libya-rebels-use-old-modified-weapons.html ]http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/21/world/africa/20110421-libya-rebels-use-old-modified-weapons.html[/url]
Can anyone tell the difference between the "rebels" in Libya and the "Insurgents" in Afghanistan and the "protesters" in Syria
Rebels play rap music to fight to. Insurgents don't. Protesters are lazy students.
I think the insurgents in Afghanistan are slightly different to the other two in that they have foreign funding and support.
But agree with the general point.
TJ The ones in Lybia wear Armani - simples. How can they be insurgents in Armani..? Pffft
And who is funding, arming and supporting the Libyan rebels with air support?
@carbon337 - what really worries me it how waepons like that rocket launcher cannot possibly be "accurate" in any sense. So, what is the difference between government forces threatening civilians with indiscriminate firing and rebel doing the same?
Why are our planes not targeting these home-made rocket launchers?
Rachel
Well the UN resolution isn't about taking sides, it's about protecting civillians which we should do on both sides.
That we are starting to take sides in a civil war is a problem for me.
The Uk is in clear breech of the UN resolution as are other countries
allthegear - Member
@carbon337 - what really worries me it how waepons like that rocket launcher cannot possibly be "accurate" in any sense. So, what is the difference between government forces threatening civilians with indiscriminate firing and rebel doing the same?Why are our planes not targeting these home-made rocket launchers?
Rachel
[url] http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/rebels-get-rockets-but-using-them-proves-tricky/ [/url]
In the past days, the rebels have driven more and more of these makeshift rocket systems to the battlefield, readying them for the next effort to push westward toward Libya’s oil infrastructure, and, in many rebels’ minds, toward Sirte and Tripoli. More of the pods seem to be recycled in this way. The picture at this link shows a load of newly scrounged pods being moved to Benghazi , the rebel capital, to be fitted to trucks. With weapons such as these arriving in large numbers, the dangers to civilians and to civilian infrastructure, and of friendly-fire against rebel formations, can only rise.
Under the UN resolution they should be targeted if threatening civillian areas imo
TandemJeremy - Member
The Uk is in clear breech of the UN resolution as are other countries
Yep completely agree.
Maybe the officers that are going in from France and the UK will be able to train the rebels to shoot straight and only hit military targets!!! Best leave them to their own devices in my opinion as it is rapidly heading towards a UN/Nato ground force getting involved to oust Gadaffi, boils my piss that we are getting involved let alone supporting a particular side
Its the hipocicy thqat really gets to me. Fighting against Afghanistan rebels, ignoring the Syrian rebels, fighting on the side of the Libyan rebels, supporting the Saudi dictators
We're simply going along with our familiar refrain
"my enemies enemy is my friend"
Can't see the problem myself. Its always worked so well in the past.
What's the point in giving them guns when they hold them above their heads when aiming or shoot round corners without looking? Why can't Arabs hold rifle properly?
Why can't Arabs hold rifles properly?
They can. When they're firing them into the air in celebration. Thus marking themselves out as targets for incoming aircraft who then think they're being fired on.