There are reports that Libyan government forces, and pro-Gaddafi tribes, are leaving Gaddifi’s hometown of Sirte, to attack rebels in Tripoli.
At the same time, other reports say rebels are trying to stop government forces coming from Sirte. NATO bombed Sirte “heavily”. Rebel officials say they need another 72 hours to fully “liberate” Libya.
Pentagon spokesman Colonel Dave Lapan said Gaddafi’s forces remain dangerous.
130 employees, at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s West London office, complained that the food they got in the company cafeteria, was covered with mouse droppings!
This is not the first time the BBC has been criticized for the food it serves its employees. The famous comedian Peter Sellers (the original Pink Panther movies, Dr Strangelove) once said: “Lunch is now being served in the BBC canteen. Doctors are standing by.”
U.S. and European military “experts” are trying to create fears of chemical weapons being used by a desperate Gaddafi.
In the live rebel press conference the rebel official responded that “Everything is possible” regarding fears that Gaddafi would use chemical weapons.
The open Libyan desert is not conducive to chemical warfare. See my earlier posting: Chemical Weapons Primer.
Rebel official speculates that Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi, might have been kidnapped by government elites.
The official thinks that, because Gaddafi was apparently going to surrender, then a convoy of armored Toyota Land Cruisers showed up and took Gaddafi away.
Rebel officials say Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi escaped. Rebels say he indicated he was willing to surrender, but then changed his mind.
They also began thanking many Arab countries for helping them in their revolution, especially Qatar. Rebels admitted they had outside help from the very beginning.
Live press conference from rebels say Seif al Islam Gaddafi has been arrested, but they can’t confirm. This is not the first time they’ve made such a claim.
Rebel official says efforts will be made to allow Seif al Islam to make a statement by phone. Rebels say dozens of Libyan government officials have surrendered. Again, they can’t confirm it. They add that once Seif al Islam was arrested the Libyan government fell apart.
Al Jazerra reports that Libyan government troops, and possibly Gaddafi, are retreating to Sirte. Sirte is the hometown of Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi.
Some unconfirmed reports out of Libya: Rebels have entered the Libyan government military compound in Tripoli, and NATO claims the Libyan army launched SCUD missiles.
Unfortunately announcements by rebels, in the past, have a poor track record of truth. But there are many reports that they’ve broken into the large military compound in Tripoli, and one report said they made it inside Gaddafi’s office.
Another report says Muammar Muhammad al-Gaddafi is not in the compound.
Other reports say the Libyan army fired SCUD missiles at Misrata. Those reports come from NATO. They “confirm” that at least three SCUD missiles were launched.
Jane’s Defence estimates that Libya has 240 of the ballistic missiles, with a range of about 300km (186 miles).
Gaopeng.com, the Chinese arm of U.S. based Groupon Incorporated, has been laying off Chinese workers on a weekly basis, and has threatened current employees if they reveal the lay offs.
Many current and former employees are revealing the lay offs through social media.
One micro blog, called Gaopeng Will Fail (loose English translation), said the U.S. owned company started laying workers off last month, but made it official on August 19. They also ordered employees not to talk about it.
At least 30% of Gaopeng employees, and contract workers, will lose their jobs.
Ouyang Yun, Gaopeng’s chief operating officer, said that the company is just “…experiencing a reshuffling of personnel and only dismissed (employees) for poor performance.”
However, business analysts say Gaopeng can not blame employees, Gaopeng itself is a poor performer: “Backed by Groupon, Tencent and other venture capitals, Gaopeng should not be running low on cash. So its shrinking profitability indicates it needs more innovative ways to lure clients.”-Chen Shousong, Analysys International
“The United States aid to Egypt is predicated on the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, and so the relationship between Egypt and Israel is extremely important.”– Kay Granger, Congresswoman, in an interview with Israeli media
U.S. Congresswoman Kay Granger, told Egypt that if they retaliate for Israel’s killing of their border troops, all U.S. aid to Egypt will stop.
Granger is a recipient of bribes from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).