The Attack on Ajdabiya

Earlier today, Libyan rebels were pushed back from Brega again toward the town of Ajdabiya.

Ajdabiya, once a home to 100,000 residents, is now nearly unpopulated since the war has chased people from their homes. Earlier, the rebels were on the road to Brega, but were outflanked by troops loyal to Libyan President Mummar el Qaddafi. Ajdabiya is a vital town for the rebels. It is the most important town besides Benghazi because it is a supply checkpoint. If it falls back into Qaddafi’s hands, front line supplies will have to come directly from Benghazi.

A sandstorm helped Qaddafi’s troops because that prevented the NATO airplanes from striking their heavy weapons, but it forced Qaddafi’s troops to attack Ajdabiya from the south. Also, it helped Qaddafi surprise the rebels. Through the sandstorm, at least 100 rockets were fired at Ajdabiya.

The rebels have a grip on Ajdabiya, but the government forces are pounding the town with shells and rockets. It looks as if the rebels have control of the town, but Qaddafi forces are getting closer and closer. Maybe Benghazi will be next for them.

The port town of Ajdabiya could change the outcome of the war. It is vital to both sides. The rebels need it for a supply checkpoint and Qaddafi needs to control a vital town in Eastern Libya that connects to the water.

Middle Eastern Revolutions 2011

Many people know about the revolutions in the Middle East, but how did it all begin? In Tunisia, a man set himself on fire, but why?

He was a poor man who owned a fruit stand named Mohammad Bouazizi, who was just trying to make enough money to support his family. Suddenly a female police officer came over to him. “Sir, “ she said, “you must give some of your profits to the government.” He pulled his cart away, ignoring her.

Later on a different block, she came again. “Sir, give the government some of your profits or I’ll have you arrested.” Bouazizi again walked away. He wanted her to stop bugging him. When he was not looking, the police officer handcuffed him and took him to jail.

In jail, handcuffed to a wooden bench, Bouazizi had a thought: he had had enough. He found a match, lit it and ignited the bench. That fire burned him alive. It also burned in the hearts of the citizens of the Middle East. They too had had enough. That was what began the protests in Tunisia, which soon spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria.

In Egypt, then-President Hosni Mubarak wanted his son to take power when he retired. After the Egyptians saw that it was possible to get a dictator out, they began protesting. After weeks of protest, Mubarak resigned.

In Libya, the protests against President Muammar el Gaddafi have been so intense that protestors were massacred. After that, a group in Benghazi began killing soldiers and eventually a civil war broke out. Gaddafi is not interested in giving up his power. Because of this, NATO has launched airstrikes against Gaddafi’s heavy weapons. This means that the conflict in Libya could be the start of a long-term war.

In Syria, President Bashar al Assad tries to make new laws, but many people want him to leave.

Even if there are differences in these countries, there is one main message: these countries don’t have democracy. Most of the rulers have been in power for decades so the people haven’t ever voted in real elections. It will be hard to force the rulers to leave, but even after they leave, there will be questions.

Who will take power? Will the new rulers be faced with protests also? Will the new rulers be democratic or will they be Islamic? The situation in the Middle East leaves a great deal of uncertainty.