Gaddafi renews attack on rebels
bb / John Simpson
08-Mar-2011 (2 comments)

The scale of the battle here may be small, but the importance for the future of Libya, and just possibly for the wider region, is great.

On Sunday night the rebels' morale, which had previously been immensely high, took a serious knock when they failed to capture the small coastal town of Bin Jawad.

For the previous five days they had become used to brushing Col Muammar Gaddafi's troops aside without much difficulty, driving from place to place for 150 miles (240km) along the coast road and capturing town after town.

In Bin Jawad, however, Col Gaddafi's men used different tactics.

Here they are much closer to their power centre at Sirte, and it is easy to bring up aircraft and heavier weaponry. And, according to the rebels (though this remains unconfirmed), they used the inhabitants of Bin Jawad as human shields.

The rebels, by contrast, have long drawn-out lines of communication, and sometimes find it difficult to get fuel for their vehicles. If the allegation about the human shields is true, that made it even harder to attack the town.

>>>
recommended by Darius Kadivar

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
Darius Kadivar

A Thought for three Fellow Colleagues who are War Correspondents

by Darius Kadivar on Tue Mar 08, 2011 06:18 AM PST

A Thought for three Fellow Colleagues who are War Correspondents for French and British Television and which I had the honor to befriend a few years ago at the Berlin Film Festival.

//iranian.com/PhotoDay/2007/February/bozorgnia.html 

War correspondents from left: Mehran Bozorgnia, Bafta nominees Inigo Gilmore and Richard Parry I was proud to have met them at the Berlin Film Festival. Thank you for bringing us images from all those dangerous places to inform us and above all please stay alive and in good shape! ( 2007)

Haven't heard from them for some time. Last time Richard was in Afghanistan and Inigo was heading to Iran to cover the post election crisis. I hope they are safe and sound where ever they are in this crazy world.

If you are reading this Tak...e Care Guys. Miss You and the Fun we had !

Keep Safe !


  •  
Darius Kadivar

One of the most professional &objective war correspondents today

by Darius Kadivar on Tue Mar 08, 2011 06:09 AM PST

 

John Simpson is probably the most professional, courageous and objective war correspondent today. He also covered the Iranian revolution and the Iran Iraq war and has been in all major zones of conflict since.

But what makes his insights unique is his ability to remain objective in all circumstances. A Lesson for us cowards writing and commenting from a safe haven.

Come to think of it ... we are no different from the "experts" sitting safely in the White House, Elysée Palace or Ten Downing Street trying to figure out if this is a revolution or a civil war ...


  •