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2011-03-06 Africa North

Libya's rebel army: I haven't had any training but I've seen lots of action films

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Posted by Frozen Al 2011-03-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 Much of Libya's rebellion is being fought by a dishevelled army of shopkeepers and waiters, welders and engineers,

How does one say Tea Party in Libyan Arabic?

Posted by Besoeker 2011-03-06 01:41|| 2011-03-06 01:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Thankfully, Gaddafi's regime never produced a credible military. His years of neglect of his military have clearly resulted in its having poor training, equipment, leadership and logistics.

Posted by Bernardz 2011-03-06 07:40|| 2011-03-06 07:40|| Front Page Top

#3 ...and how is that different from any other Arab army?

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-03-06 09:29|| 2011-03-06 09:29|| Front Page Top

#4 ...and how is that different from any other Arab army?

The Egyptian army has modern American equipment, and some of its mid-level and upper level officers have undergone some training with Americans. On the other hand, the enlisted men are draftees, which I suspect impacts effectiveness considerably. The volunteer Iraqi army has new equipment, and both officers and enlisted troops have been trained by and with Americans.

Posted by trailing wife 2011-03-06 10:47|| 2011-03-06 10:47|| Front Page Top

#5 I guess I wasn't specific, in that non-Arab Muslim armies vs ethnic Arab armies. Of which the Jordanians would probably qualify, but have had success only against the Paleos in Black September. The Iraqis have been left with a model which all the others, again with the probable exception of the Jordanians who were originally organized and trained by the Brits, lack - a working NCO corps.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-03-06 10:59|| 2011-03-06 10:59|| Front Page Top

#6 Remember, Chad defeated Libya in the Toyota War of 1987. Motivated soldiers on Toyota Land Cruisers with anti-tank missiles can defeat unmotivated conscripts, even with tanks..

Posted by Eric Jablow 2011-03-06 11:26|| 2011-03-06 11:26|| Front Page Top

#7 I did wonder, Procopius2k, because you actually know what you're talking about, whereas what I know I've picked up from comments you and others have made here at Rantburg. ;-) None of them seem to actually win wars with external enemies, though, nor Iran or Pakistan either. I'm not sure about Turkey.

Posted by trailing wife 2011-03-06 11:29|| 2011-03-06 11:29|| Front Page Top

#8 If they start shouting "Wolverines" I'll be really impressed.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-03-06 12:41|| 2011-03-06 12:41|| Front Page Top

#9 Charlie Sheen's words are only relevant pre-1990. MMMMhahahahahahahahaha
But "Wolverines", very relevant. Maybe he should make a webcast to send to the Libyans.

Posted by Ominous1 2011-03-06 13:29|| 2011-03-06 13:29|| Front Page Top

#10 Yeah, most 3rd world nation's military are little more than paid thugs with tanks. There are the exceptions, but that is generally true. Libya's was the worst of the worst so they really had to work on sucking so bad, which is admirable I guess... in a retarded sort of way.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-03-06 14:24|| 2011-03-06 14:24|| Front Page Top

#11 "I haven't had any training but I've seen lots of action films"

And I thought that was CBT training across the whole Middle East . Levi's and shades are added extras , but impress your local bacha bazi gang bangers

Posted by Oscar 2011-03-06 16:23|| 2011-03-06 16:23|| Front Page Top

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