Breaking: Qaddafi captured, killed?
posted at 8:33 am on October 20, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Has Moammar Qaddafi finally been found? Libyan television stations have been broadcasting the news of his capture for a little while, and celebrations have erupted in Tripoli and elsewhere:
Former Libyan minister of information Ali Errishi tells Al Jazeera that top officials in the National Transitional Council have confirmed Gadhafi’s capture.
The Reuters reports says that Gadhafi was wounded in both legs.
Al Jazeera quotes an NTC official as saying only that a “high-profile target” has been captured.
Later updates from both news services seem to have confirmed it — as well as his death:
Update at 7:55 a.m. ET: There are numerous unconfirmed reports that Gadhafi may have died of wounds inflicted when his convoy was attacked. Reuters quotes a “senior NTC military official” as saying Gadhafi had died of wounds suffered in his capture near Sirte.
Al Jazeera reports that its sources also say that Gadhafi has been killed, but again no official confirmation.
The government in Tripoli now says that Qaddafi was shot in both the legs and the head, and is confirmed dead:
Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered on Thursday as fighters battling to complete an eight-month-old uprising against his rule overran his hometown Sirte, Libya’s interim rulers said.
His killing, which came swiftly after his capture near Sirte, is the most dramatic single development in the Arab Spring revolts that have unseated rulers in Egypt and Tunisia and threatened the grip on power of the leaders of Syria and Yemen.
“He (Gaddafi) was also hit in his head,” National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters. “There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”
That might conflict with an earlier report about the nature of Qaddafi’s capture:
An anti-Gaddafi fighter said Gaddafi had been found hiding in a hole in the ground and had said “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot” to the men who grabbed him.
So when did he get hit in the head? I suspect the “hole in the ground” story might have been cribbed by Libyan fighters from Saddam Hussein’s capture — or the fighters just delivered a coup de grace after grabbing him in retribution for the months of civil war that may have ended with Qaddafi’s death.
If indeed Qaddafi has been killed, it wasn’t long after his regime lost the last of its strongholds to the new Libyan government. Sirte was “liberated” today after protracted fighting:
Libyan fighters drove the last holdouts of Moammar Gadhafi out of his hometown of Sirte in a few hours of fierce gunbattles Thursday, then declared victory over the last major resistance two months after the fall of Tripoli. The ecstatic former rebels celebrated by firing endless rounds into the sky, pumping their guns, knives and even a meat cleaver in the air and singing the national anthem.
In the central quarter where the final battle took place, the fighters looking like the same ragtag force that started the uprising eight months ago jumped up and down with joy and flashed V-for-victory signs. Some burned the green Gadhafi flag, then stepped on it with their boots.
They chanted “Allah akbar,” or “God is great” in Arabic, while one fighter climbed a traffic light pole to unfurl the revolution’s flag, which he first kissed. Discarded military uniforms of Gadhafi’s fighters littered the streets. One revolutionary fighter waved a silver trophy in the air while another held up a box of firecrackers, then set them off.
“Our forces control the last neighborhood in Sirte,” Hassan Draoua, a member of Libya’s interim National Transitional Council, told The Associated Press in Tripoli. “The city has been liberated.”
The death of a terrorist-supporting tyrant cannot be bad news, if indeed Qaddafi’s death is confirmed. If he has died in a military action, it might have been the best end for which either side could hope. Qaddafi will end up being remembered by his small cadre of supporters not as a Saddam Hussein, diminished in captivity and finally humiliated on the gallows by the people he oppressed, but as someone who at least fought to the end. The new government doesn’t have to worry about holding Qaddafi and putting him on trial with the world watching, with the risk of him becoming a symbol of opposition that undermines their attempts to unite the country.
But unite the country into what, exactly? It still remains to see whether Libya has indeed been “liberated” and will now pursue the path of a liberal, pluralistic democracy — or whether the Libyans will follow the path of Egypt and a military/Islamist regime. At least the Libyans have an opportunity to make that choice for themselves now that the tyrant has been defeated and removed from the equation.
Update: The Atlantic has a photo that purports to be of Qaddafi’s corpse shortly after his death. It’s pretty graphic, and it’s also unconfirmed.
Blowback
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Excellent snark ferlita! And, I might add the transition in the U.S. in 2013……..when liberal heads “explode”.
Rovin on October 20, 2011 at 10:24 AM
That’s not Qaddafi – it’s clearly Alice Cooper.
EnglishMike on October 20, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Cooper never sported a goatee.
{Not sure if he never sported with a goat, however.]
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 10:31 AM
…..Anytime a dictator is taken out..it’s good news.
………the aftermath of this will be a jihadist victory has they fill in this power vacuum.
…..but an added victory to this is watching all those anti-war liberals celebrating Obama launching a war against an oil rich country without congressional approval,that did not attack us,and poised no imminent threat.
….now they are piled in front of Wall St. raging against all that money corrupting politicians while supporting President Goldman Sach’s who has taken more money from the fat cats than anybody.
What a joke liberals are.
Baxter Greene on October 20, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Wish it was a joke. But, it seems these liberal-types are serious and determined. Heaven help us if they ever elect a liberal or progressive guy as President….
Um, never mind.
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Good riddance to Gadhafi, but they should be careful what they wish or.Egypt anyone?
sandee on October 20, 2011 at 10:41 AM
sorry ,wish “for”
sandee on October 20, 2011 at 10:41 AM
But did he at least get due process? That would violate the fifth amendment!!!!
psrch on October 20, 2011 at 10:44 AM
….Obama:“All the choices we’ve made have been the right ones”…..
Absolutely delusional.
Baxter Greene on October 20, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Rev Wright and Louis Farrakhan allegedly very upset !
Sandybourne on October 20, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Ghadaffi’s last words were:
“It’s just a flesh wound!”
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 10:51 AM
“I warn my brother do you let these wicked demons move you in a direction that will absolutely ruin your future with your people in Africa and throughout the world…Why don’t you organize a group of respected Americans and ask for a meeting with Qaddafi, you can’t order him to step down and get out, who the hell do you think you are?
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Obligatory…
Another One Bites the Dust
Freelancer on October 20, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Louis Farrakhan hardest hit. Obama and his buddy Jerry Wright conflicted…
Jaibones on October 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Replacing a terrorist suporting dictator with actively aligned terrorists in a new government isn’t what I would call a ‘victory’ or even a ‘wash’.
Same evil with one face exchanged for a few other faces, but the evil remains.
ajacksonian on October 20, 2011 at 11:04 AM
Caliphate of the Maghreb from Cairo to Marrakesh.
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Still waiting for the:
“No (Lybian) laws were broken!!”
/crr6
If the rebels shot him while arresting arrest, it is better treatment than he ever gave his people after he took over the country…
Good riddance. Say hello to Saddam when you get to the hot place…
Khun Joe on October 20, 2011 at 11:15 AM
I’m sure the ACLU will file a lawsuit against the U.S. government for this atrocity.
jediwebdude on October 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM
It looks ugly enough to be him
J_Crater on October 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Now, I wonder which one of his 10,000 unique-aforms he’ll be buried in.
esnap on October 20, 2011 at 11:19 AM
considering that the islamist government that’s likely to succeed him will be as bad if not worse than OG…I really don’t care.
The only ‘uprising’ that I supported in the ME was Iran’s a few years back-the rest have been mostly or entirely islamist-driven.
Eff ‘em.
annoyinglittletwerp on October 20, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Looks like school’s out for Muammar.
whatcat on October 20, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Yobummer, sure has some father issues.
anikol on October 20, 2011 at 11:42 AM
So there are videos and pictures of a dead Qadaffi. When will we see Bin Laden??!?!?!?!?!?!?
jeffn21 on October 20, 2011 at 11:44 AM
This.
redwhiteblue on October 20, 2011 at 12:02 PM
It amazes me that it’s okay for us to see graphic photos of Gaddafi shot in the head, but not those of Hussein. That’s because Hussein was already dead, and it was a political smokescreen for Obozo.
It’s hard to believe that Obozo is going to try to take credit for killing Gaddafi, even though he had nothing to do with it except go against the Constitution and behind Congress’ back by sending our resources in to help the rebels and Al Quieda fighters.
stacman on October 20, 2011 at 12:05 PM
The only question remaining would be will the President take credit? Why yes he will.
Speakup on October 20, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Ooops! I meant bin Laden…
stacman on October 20, 2011 at 12:06 PM
coldwarrior on October 20, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Don’t start !
;-). ;-)
pambi on October 20, 2011 at 12:08 PM
I was just going to ask that..
El Presidente Downgrade would take credit for the sun coming up if he could.
Chip on October 20, 2011 at 12:11 PM
This is a joyous day for victims’ families everywhere.
I didn’t much care whether Kaddafi met a Predator drone or Mussolini’s fate on a meat-hook. But Kaddafi (personally) had to answer for his atrocities.
A very fitting end for this monster.
God bless our brave NATO airmen and their NTC allies.
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Getting rid of Blacks and Jews so far. Looks to be an Islamic dreamland setting up doesn’t it? There must be someone who can be
boughtrented for awhile if the price is right.BL@KBIRD on October 20, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Elsewhere in Edinburgh;
*satire*
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Has the US Navy offered to feed him to UBL’s hagfish yet?
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Take out Megrahi. The new regime already refused to hand him over to us, which speaks volumes about them.
Christien on October 20, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Oh, brother, leave it to McCain to credit Obama for what a bunch of rebel jihadists have done.
http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/1011/mccain_reax_e737649b-2890-46b7-b10a-863359c7d0bd.html
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Does this assassination mean that Michelle O gets the spoils from Qadaffi’s wardrobe? Imagine the savings to the American taxpayer.
onlineanalyst on October 20, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Thank goodness we weren’t involved in hostilities.
rogerb on October 20, 2011 at 1:09 PM
This will become another Egypt and/or al Qaeda base. Just wait and see. Qaddafi was no saint but he had been cooperating internationally with arms reductions:
“Libya has provided significant information about its nuclear, chemical, and missile programs, including data on foreign suppliers. In fact, Libya’s revelations about Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan’s nuclear black market dealings have aided IAEA inspections of Iran’s nuclear program andhelped prompt Pakistan to investigate Khan.”
Source: CRS Report for Congress, “Disarming Libya: Weapons of Mass Destruction,” Order No. RS21823, at CRS-3 (April 22, 2004). Link
And when, after 1986, was Libya ever a real threat to the United States? The MSM has not asked such questions and has not ever acknowledged the above cooperation from Libya in the early 1990′s.
I for one am NOT rejoicing over today’s news. We should cast a very jaundiced eye toward what the new Libyan “leadership” will be.
Al-Qaeda “issued a call for supporters to back the Libyan
rebellion, which it said would lead to the imposition of ‘the stage of Islam’ in the country.” Source: The Telegraph (Mar. 25, 2011).
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Gutsy call Mr. President.
El_Terrible on October 20, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Correction – I meant “early 2000′s” in previous post.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 1:38 PM
Oh yeah?
Well, let me be the first to donate my old jockstraps as pup-tents for the “Occupy Tripoli” protests by Ron Paul, Kucinich and all the Kaddafi-kuddlers out there. I hear Farrakhan and McKinney will be playing bagpipes at his wake.
Enjoy yourselves.
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Yeah. Tell you what – you yourself can participate in an “occupy Tripoli” sit-in once the new leadership consolidates is power. I am sure they will be very understanding. Enjoy YOURself.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 1:48 PM
meh… why would any sane American protest something that our brave NATO airmen fought to support?
Cluebat: You and Dennis Kucinich remain firmly aligned with Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and Robert Mugabe who also reject our Libyan-Contra allies.
Ron Paul!
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Because our military and NATO were being mis-used in an effort that aligned with the interests of your Al Qaeda-backed “Contra” allies. No vital interests of the United States were at stake. Our military should have never been involved in this. And, btw, I am not a Ron Paul supporter. Our miltary has been employed for legitimate purposes in Afghanistan and Iraq, but Obozo’s military action in Libya stands to backfire on all of us.
There is a very real danger that Al Qeada or an organization sympathetic to it will occupy the power vacuum that now exists. What is happening in Egypt will now happen in Libya. Second verse, same as the first.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Please present your evidence that our brave NATO airmen are supporting “Qaeda-backed” NTC allies. I’m sure NATO will be interested.
In the interim, kindly register with FARA if you’re going to peddle Chavez talking points.
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 2:35 PM
Hey, doofus, you’ve proven that you actually did not read my entire original post. I provided the evidence with a citation to The Telegraph. Oops, guess you missed that.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 2:54 PM
The Telegraph you say? NATO must be duly impressed. I expect the entire multi-national coalition to implode at the recitation of al-Qaeda talking points. You must be some kind of genius.
Q: How many months from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation Red Dawn did it take for Coalition Forces to pull Saddam out of his spiderhole?
A:
Ron Paul?nine (9) monthsFun Fact: Our heroic NATO airmen and their NTC allies outpaced General Odierno and Task Force 121.
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Twerp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Your answer to my citation of The Telegraph is completely nonresponsive. You didn’t read what it said and you got caught with your pants down. Now, without citing any contrary evidence, you flail about in search of coherence.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on a March 27, 2011 airing of “This Week” on ABC, answered “No, no” to Jake Tapper’s question: “Do you think Libya posed an actual or imminent threat to the United States?”
In a “Judge Jeannine” program aired on Fox News on March 26, 2011, Mike Baker, a former CIA Operations Officer, stated that Abdel-Hakim al-Hasidi, the Libyan rebel leader, recruited Libyans to fight in Iraq against U.S. forces. On that same program, Eric Stakelback, host of “Stakelback on Terror” for CBN, stated that in 2000, al-Hasidi, along with other extremists, even met personally with Osama bin-Laden concerning the planning ofthe 9/11 terror attacks. Both Mr. Baker and Mr. Stakelback said that the interests of al Qaeda and al-Hasidi are aligned.
Hey, but what is this compared to your “fun facts” of zero relevance? Please continue your aimless entertainment and enlightenment of us all.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 3:43 PM
@OneVision: No, clearly you’re right. Please take your Telegraph article to NATO HQ! They’ll be as impressed as I am.
PA103 Victims’ brother on VIDEO
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 3:57 PM
CLUEBAT to OneVision: Kaddafi was busy arming al-Qaeda
Q: The enemy of my enemy is…?
A:
Ron Paul!Terp Mole on October 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM
If you actually READ the article you cite, it says: “Perez Rubalcaba says fairly sophisticated weapons from Libyan army forces fighting to keep Moammar Khadafy in power are being sold by TRAFFICKERS at Libya’s southern border and possibly ending up in the hands of AQMI.” (emphasis added). It doesn’t say Qaddafi was selling them.
What evidence do you have that Qaddafi was approving those sales?
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 4:15 PM
Don’t have to. A U.S. Senator who delivered a powerful Republican Response to Obozo’s speech on Libya is already aware of it and referred to it at mark 2:15 of this clip. Who cares whether you are impressed?
Regarding your reference to Pan Am 103, in August 2003, “Libya
accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing in a letter to the United Nations.” Such actions prompted an EU official to state: “I think there’s been a considerable improvement in Libya’s cooperation with the international community.” Source: “EU: Arms Embargo on Libya Lifted, But Decision on China Delayed,” GlobalSecurity.org (Oct. 12, 2004).
Again, Qaddafi was no saint, and I certainly enjoyed it when we bombed his a$$ in 1986, but now we are dealing with issues even bigger than a single terrorst attack. If we were going to take him out, we should have done it only when knowing for certain who was going to fill the power vacuum.
OneVision on October 20, 2011 at 4:39 PM
eggs… omelets
Terp Mole on October 21, 2011 at 10:11 PM
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