Libyan Resistance is preparing for a long War on multiple Fronts.

Dr. Moussa Ibrahim

The Libyan war continues, and the resistance is preparing for a long war on multiple fronts. The spokesperson for the resistance, Dr. Moussa Ibrahim has announced that a tribal alliance is being reinforced. Battles and fighting is reported from cities throughout Northern Libya. The war for political influence is most likely being prepared as well, as elections will be held within the first half of 2012. The war for diplomacy and justice has hardly even begun. The Libyan resistance, the people of Libya, and those acting in solidarity with the resistance are bracing themselves for a long war.

From a humanitarian perspective one would wish that the mass murder that is usually described as war in Libya would come to an immediate halt. It is saddening that the crimes of aggression force those with peaceful intentions to think along similar utilitarian lines of reasoning as those who have forced the aggression on Libya. Thus, it is necessary to consider the cost of not resisting. The human cost of failure to resist would, as saddening as it may be for those among us that work for peace, be significantly higher than the violence caused by the resistance

According to an article published at Libya S.O.S., the spokesperson of the Libyan resistance, Dr. Moussa Ibrahim has announced to a reporter of seven day news, that the United Leaders of All Tribes are preparing for a “Document of Honor“. (1) The document will be a declaration of unity and solidarity and be putting those who are collaborating with the aggressors and those who fail to resist to shame. The formation of a more formal alliance will most likely facilitate the beginning of a new phase of resistance, where the front lines and alliances, that can be confusing to say the least, are becoming formalized. The new phase of resistance will not only help clarify the very volatile front lines but enable the resistance to target infrastructure as well as persons and organizations that are facilitating the aggression and the plunder of Libya inside Libya as well as abroad.

The front lines in Libya are often changing from hour to hour, as battles are raging both between rebel fractions, foreign forces and the resistance. In Tripoli fighting broke out at the harbor, where rebel fractions were involved in small arms and mortar duels with foreign troops. Most likely the fighting broke out over weapons and ammunitions. Other fighting inside Tripoli city broke out when foreign forces and rebels loyal to the TNC attempted to disarm another rebel fraction. The laughing third will be NATO, who first sold weapons to the TNC and rebel fractions, and who is now beginning to collect the weapons it has sold without refund. War is not only a crime, it´s also business. Big business.  Fighting broke also out around both the International and Military Airports in Tripoli, and around several checkpoints throughout the city. The situation in Tripoli with the checkpoints begins increasingly to remind of the horrible atrocities at checkpoints during the civil war in Lebanon.Will we soon see ID card killings in Tripoli, like those old enough to remember the civil war in Lebanon only remember all too well.

Fighting broke also out in Zawaya, where so far unidentified forces clashed with small arms, mortars and small artillery at the port. Clashes between so called rebels and the resistance were also reported from Bani Walid, that is predominantly controlled by the Libyan resistance, near the airport, and throughout the region around the city. Fighting between the resistance and foreign troops and or “rebels” was also reported from Gheryan, as well as Tobruk. Southern Libya and the strategically significant Sabah in central Libya remain relatively calm. The region is predominantly controlled by the Libyan resistance. It is striking to see that law and order as well as security are predominantly maintained in regions and cities that have not been “liberated” by the aggressors. Bengazi is predominantly controlled by Al Qaeda fractions, including the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, and there are numerous reports of the most serious crimes against the population in general and women in particular.

The average Libyan is often in dismay, and according to a source that has been reporting for nsnbc since August, the average Libyan citizen in Northern Libya would wish the aggression would never have been initiated. Many are worrying about the future, most do not look forwards to elections, and most are worried because the resistance has problems communicating to the masses. The same weariness can be observed among many abroad who are supporting the Libyan resistance. The current phase is a phase of regrouping; of shaking of the initial chock; of careful consolidation and evaluation, before the next storm. A storm that will see battles on military, diplomatic, legal and other fronts. One should ask those waiting in anticipation to give those preparing the next storm time and rest to shake of their losses, the chock and confusion. Many leading cadres of the resistance have to cope with personal losses and orient them selves in an entirely new and hostile world. Time to consolidate and not to make rash decisions that endanger the future of Libya´s liberation.

Sadly, the women in Bengazi, who are shot at sight for refusing to obey their new Al Qaeda masters do not have this time. And thus, those who prefer to think and act on the basis of humanitarian principles are forced to think in utilitarian terms. Utilitarian terms forced upon them by the aggression; in Libya, and everywhere where people reject the crimes that are committed against it´s people.

Christof Lehmann

03.11.2011