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© Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.NATO airstrike kills Gadhafi's youngest son, 3 grandchildren
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Toddo
Not only rejected his offer but promply dropped bombs on his three grandchildren and yes they were all children. Not only despicable but dumb. This will gain sympathy for Gaddafi. If NATO is going to carelessly blow up kids, its not much better than Gaddafi. So why bother?
Bebert61
Yes, why negotiate when assassinating Libya's leader (in violation of international law) seems to be NATO's strategy for resolving this conflict. But of course, don't expect to see anyone from NATO ending up on trial in the Hague after it is done. NATO killed Gadhafi's youngest son as well. But don't worry, this personal residence was an "operations center" so it was a legitimate target. Typical Anglo-American hypocrisy.
smithinjapan
"This will gain sympathy for Gaddafi."
I somehow doubt that.
"Typical Anglo-American hypocrisy."
The French are Anglo-Americans? More like your comment is simply poor assumption.
smithinjapan
Anyway, meant to add that any call by Gadhafi for peace is a publicity stunt, as officials stated, until he backs it up with action. Last time there was a call for peace he used it to shell rebels.
Sarge
It's a shame that 3 kids under 12 were killed, but Gadhafi is entirely to blame, the target house was also a command-and-control center.
Toddo
smithinjapan, at the very least you have to admit that Gaddafi's forces are going to be more loyal to him now. That is because of sympathy.
And Sarge, large house becomes villa becomes building becomes command center because why? Because Gaddafi made telephone calls and gave orders from there sometimes? So if the Taliban bombed the White House you would say its a shame Obama's daughters 10 and 14 were killed, but the target house was also a command center, right?
Lieberman2012
"So if the Taliban bombed the White House you would say its a shame Obama's daughters 10 and 14 were killed, but the target house was also a command center, right?"
I find it strange how quick some are to equate the Taliban with a sovereign nation. It is a terrorist organization, plain and simple.
Toddo
My definition of terrorists include those that drop bombs on children "accidentally" as well as those that plant them or strap them to their chests and blow up children "accidentally". So yeah, I found the comparison solid. But if you don't like the comparison of the Taliban, I guess you could just insert Gadaffi directly and answer the question.
I don't like Gaddafi, but what did his grandchildren do to deserve death or even to have their murders glossed over with excuses made up on the spot?
Lieberman2012
"I don't like Gaddafi, but what did his grandchildren do to deserve death or even to have their murders glossed over with excuses made up on the spot?"
Maybe you should question some of the Canadians here. The article has this :"The commander of the NATO operation, Canadian Lt Gen Charles Bouchard."
Molenir
Not a damn thing. But I also have to wonder, what did all those women in Misrata do to deserve being raped at Gaddafi's orders? Not justifying it. Hell, I don't think we should even be in there, but ya know what, I suspect there are a lot of women in Libya who don't give a damn about Gaddafi's grandkids being killed.
OneForAll
The commander of the NATO operation, Canadian Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, said he was aware of unconfirmed reports that some Gadhafi family members may have been killed and he regretted “all loss of life, specially the innocent civilians being harmed as a result of the ongoing conflict.”
Toddo
I suspect you are incorrect. Usually its only males teenage and above who get so stupid as to think the massacre of innocent children makes fine revenge. I bet the women know exactly who is and who is not responsible for what happened to them, a thing males can't seem to hold on to for more than two seconds before thinking any death with suffice at least temporarily.
lostrune2
Hey, war's a biatch. If ya don't want civilians killed, then don't shoot at civilians or hang around them. Otherwise, all hands on deck.
USNinJapan2
Toddo
Massacre of innocent children? That's a heavy-handed way of describing collateral damage. The grandchildren weren't targeted, neither was Gadhafi's son. Besides the fact that C4 ops were undoubtedly being conducted at the compound, they were killed because their loving father/grandfather, who currently happens to be a priority military target, was foolish and inconsiderate enough to visit them. This isn't the same as an errant missile or bomb killing a bunch of innocent civilians at a tribal gathering/wedding or something. The compound was a legitimate military target, regardless of who happened to be there at the time, much like the White House would be on a short list of primary targets in the US if another nation decided to declare war on the US.
Toddo
Collateral damage implies that nothing could be done, ie it was unknown that children were in the house. Let me say that again...children...in the...house.
The words "collateral damage" are being twisted into an excuse for pure barbarity.
So? If hitting him makes it okay to stomp innocents in the process, then it would be okay to just nuke the general area he is in. No way. If it takes a sniper bullet to end Gaddafi without killing kids, and you know, actually end Gaddafi, then that is what it takes. Excuses and apologies are soooo not compelling. They smell of bull manure frankly.
And compound? Obvious attempt to spin this. It has been described as a house and a large villa, but not a compound, which I think you only throw in their because it sounds sinister.
What we have here is some typical male pattern denial.
knews
Amazing how everyone seems to have forgotten that this all started as just enforcing a no-fly zone, not an invasion which it seems to have turned into. Big difference between a no-fly zone being enforced than repeated bombing of a sovereign state... I thought Obama had said the U.S. would never attack another country (Iraq-style) unless that country attacked the U.S. Very disappointing. Oil speaks very loudly.
imomofo
France is leading the way on this? That's a first.... But I think world sympathy is gonna go to Gadafi, doesn't matter what he done or which devil's reincarnation he is. Just another classic case of NATO and American bullying. I say if NATO and the states got ballz, go take on China. You know they'll get their butts so whooped.....
Virtuoso
Since war wasn't declared under the provisions of the Hague Convention, I don't buy the deaths of children under any pretext. And if I were Gadhafi right now, I'd be thinking of some nasty ways to extract demonic revenge.
Sarge
If I were Gadhafi right now, I'd be thinking of a way to save my own skin.
knews
Shocking double standards by NATO and the U.S. Nobody is rushing in to stop the leaders in countries like Sudan and Congo from massacring their own people in huge numbers compared to Libya.
arrestpaul
Medic Abdel-Monem Ibsheir considered the strike a form of justice. “Gadhafi was not far away, meaning he’s not safe,” he said as occasional explosions could be heard throughout the city. “It’s just like our children getting hit here. Now his children are getting hit there.”
It seems Khaddaffy's forces took their demonic revenge first.
Molenir
Already done, he passed out viagra to his soldiers. Ya know, so they can have some fun while they're fighting...
I don't feel sorry for Gadaffi, he loses his family, but there are a lot of other families on the other side who are hurting a lot worse.
I agree actually. Far as I'm concerned the US shouldn't be involved in any of it. I don't like Gadhafi, I think he's a monster who ought to be executed. However its not, or shouldn't be the job of the US to carry that out.
PeaceWarrior
Molenir,
That Viagra story is going to turn out as true as the incubator baby story.
Toddo
So many of my statements have been vindicated. I would like to alter one however. I said that killing his grandchildren will generate sympathy for Gaddafi. And while that is as true as it is misguided on the part of those who do it, there is a higher point. And that point is that it will generate hatred of NATO, and that, rightly so.
It seems Khaddaffy's forces took their demonic revenge first.
And that backs up my earlier point that only men would think killing children is fine revenge. Gaddafi's grandchildren never had anything to do with it. The only way to avenge the deaths of their children is to kill the men who did it and the men who ordered it and the men who allowed it, and Gaddafi is probably more in the latter group. Anyone justifying the murder of children is scum.
Toddo
It is kind of funny how people will believe the most unlikely of wild stories as long as it servers some sort of convenient purpose. With some people, its like they know they don't have a leg to stand on and just can't win the debate without being completely dishonest (and I am not referring to Molenir but to people like U.S. ambassador Susan Rice who tried to sell that fairy tale to the U.N.). Just because some viagra was found in the pockets of soldiers does not mean Gaddafi's military issued it. Making that leap is on the level of a moonbat.
SuperLib
Ehhh...but it's Europe doing the killing. I don't think too many people will really care.
dontpanic
Toddo - "Anyone justifying the murder of children is scum."
Under normal circumstances what you say would be true. But your portrayal comes under the "With some people, its like they know they don't have a leg to stand on and just can't win the debate without being completely dishonest" tag.
Bab al-Aziziya is a huge military base. It's well known to foreign forces and has been hit in the past. The death of innocent children is very regretable but they were on a military base in a time of conflict. To call it murder is simply stoking up hatred.
WilliB
The most amazing about this bombing campaign is the media and leftist complicity. If GWB was bombing an Arab dictator without a declaration of war and killing scores of civilians, we would not hear the end of the screaming protests.
Now, they have all turned into warmongering little chicken hawks.
lostrune2
If kids are killed in an "active" US military base, everybody would just say kids shouldn't had been there in the first place, when the base is actively conducting military operations.
I don't see the difference here.
USARonin
Well the US helped Osama Bin Laden achieve room temperature last week. I figure anyone who was standin' next to him when that process began can be written off as "shouldn't have been there in the first place."
Cheers.
DecisionPoints
Canada has taken the lead on this operation. There will be some collateral damage but I predict they will get their man.
manfromamerica
sarge,
he did. he "called for a cease-fire and negotiations", but apparently that wasn't NATO's goal.
arrestpaul
Apparently, considering Khadaffy's history of lies and deceit, they don't consider him believable or trustworthy.
Molenir
His troops also kept attacking in Misrata.