"Libyan Strongman Rolls Out the Vintage Military Hardware" Topic

"Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar wants the world to know he has weapons. They're vintage weapons, true, but in combination makes for a substantial arsenal. Since seizing control of Benghazi four years ago, Haftar's forces — under the political framework of the House of Representatives — have expanded to control eastern Libya with the support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

The operation to take Benghazi, Operation Dignity, is now a holiday and one celebrated in grand, dictatorial style. Photos from the Libyan army's general staff — meaning Haftar's forces and not those of the rival Government of National Accord in Tripoli — released photos of some of the hardware that survived the war and is still operational.

It is also a power move, coming soon after the 75-year-old Haftar's recent stroke prompted rumors of his imminent demise. The field marshal attended the parade. The point of being a strongman, after all, is to present an image that you mean business…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Is he going to make Libya great again? Or does it make any difference at this point?

Dan

I believe he's probably they're best hope right now. If he kicks it, then the Benghazi government will go into a frenzy of who's the new boss. The Tripoli gov will still be a shambles, but with giggles from watching their rivals go shambolic.

Ahhh, May on the Mediterranean Coast. Time for a little Arab Spring Cleaning.

"In April, Bolton suggested that the White House was looking at Libya as an example of how it will handle negotiations with North Korea to denuclearize.
"We have very much in mind the Libya model from 2003, 2004," Bolton said on Fox News. "There are obviously differences. The Libyan program was much smaller. But that was basically the agreement that we made."
The US agreed to ease sanctions on Libya in 2003 in exchange for a promise by Moammar Gadhafi to abandon his country's nuclear program. Eight years later, however, Gadhafi was overthrown and killed by rebels backed by Washington."

Some people hate it when history rhymes.

And that arsenal is more than good enough for the opposition it faces. He's not trying to take on the U.S., or even Egypt.

Man, I hate getting old. "Vintage weapons" should mean WWII, not some mid-60's crap.

It's like when the radio proudly declared that they were playing "golden oldies, from the 70's, 80's and 90's…"

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand