Quantcast

Report: Gadhafi Survives NATO Missile That Kills His Son, Three Grandchildren

2011_04_gadhaison.jpg
Government officials and members of the media inspect ruins of a house at the site of a NATO missile attack in Tripoli, Libya, Saturday, April 30, 2011 (AP)

Yesterday, a NATO missile strike reportedly killed one of Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi's sons. The Libyan government said Saif al-Arab Gadhafi, as well as three of Col Gaddafi's grandchildren, died in the attack on a villa in Tripoli. The NY Times calls this "the sharpest intensification yet of the NATO air campaign intended to pressure the Libyan leader from power." However, Al Jazeera reports there's "growing scepticism" over whether Saif al-Arab Gadhafi was killed.

Sue Turton of Al Jazeera "said there were 'an awful lot' of suggestions in Libya that the news of the deaths could be fabricated. 'One of the main spokesmen for the Transitional National Council, Abdul Hafez Goga, is saying he thinks it could all be fabrication, that it may well be Gaddafi is trying to garner some sympathy,' she said." She added, "Back in 1986, Gaddafi once claimed that Ronald Reagan, then US president, had launched a strike on his compound in Tripoli and killed his daughter. Many journalists since then dug around and found out that the actual child that had died had nothing to do with Gaddafi, that he sort of adopted her posthumously." Another Al Jazeera reporter pointed out that Saif al-Arab Gadhafi is "one of the low-profile of his children and has been largely invisible since the conflict began... He hasn't been visible in any significant form. He hasn't appeared on TV or made any speeches, he hasn't been on any crowd-rallying marches."

Russia has denounced the air strike and asked for an "immediate cease-fire and political settlement." Allies started entering Libya airspace over a month ago. Now, after this latest NATO missile strike, the United Nations says it is withdrawing its staff from Tripoli "following a mob attack on its offices... UN buildings and some foreign missions were targeted by angry crowds," according to BBC News.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • scary scene of destruction.

    ( Editor Chefe - como ganhar dinheiro na internet )

  • complicated situation...

    Editor chefe como ganhar na mega-sena

  • Foi revelado o segredo de como ganhar dinheiro na internet: Conheça um sistema que gera dinheiro todos os dias da semana e 24hs por dia.

    como ganhar dinheiro

  • edgie168

    Sorry if I missed it, but where exactly does it say we have ground troops on the ground patrolling streets?

  • ANGRYGOD11

    The real question Americans should ask is: Would I be willing to die for this or let someone I care about die for this? We know the public won't pay the taxes to pay for this.

  • Roger_the_Shrubber

    Let's face it, if this were happening under a Bush administration, Code Pink, ANSWER and all the other anti-war groups and peaceniks would be loudly protesting in the streets in the thousands. Those "no blood for oil" signs must be lonely gathering dust in the closet.

  • actually, give the info from republicans ... they would have gone after it at full forces and sooner -the currect republican leaders all made those comments

  • Roger_the_Shrubber

    If any good comes of this, it's that perhaps 0bama is making those Nobel Peace Prize people feel like the dumb-ass nitwits they truly are. A case of premature adulation perhaps?

    BTW: has congress given its approval for military intervention in Libya yet, or is that only required when the president is a republican?

  • so the better thing would have been to let thousands b trapped and killed in one big massacre ?

  • Roger_the_Shrubber

    There are people being massacred all over the world by their governments. If you believe that preventing a massacre is the real reason for intervening in Libya, then I can get you a good deal on the Brooklyn Bridge.

    And anyway, how does massacring Gaddafi's grandchildren prevent a massacre?

    Also, people were being slaughtered by the thousands in Iraq under Saddam for many years - the gassing of the Kurds for example. Can I assume from your position on Libya that you also supported the invasion of Iraq to topple hussein?

  • Rocknrope

    I actually agree with you.

  • Roger_the_Shrubber

    Might be a good day for you to play Lotto.

  • blindmalice

    We are wading into an endless swamp there, w/ no exit and no tangible results. Mindless slaughter of innocent people on both sides. And we are being lied to about every aspect of this operation. Shameful behavior on both sides. Get out now.

  • what is meant by swamp?

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com