Article

2011-03-06 Africa North

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Posted by Steve White 2011-03-06 13:11|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 NOT a good move at all.

Posted by Frank G 2011-03-06 13:55|| 2011-03-06 13:55|| Front Page Top

#2 Sounds to me like there are multiple factions in the rebels and one either doesn't want the Brits talking to the other, or they panicked.

Either way, bad move.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-03-06 14:11|| 2011-03-06 14:11|| Front Page Top

#3 Bad move!

However, hostage taking has been rewarded by the West in recent years, and Gaddafi already nabbed Dutch marines.
Maybe they don't want to be in a worse bargaining position than the other side, and maybe they're aware of how friendly the British political class has been with Gaddafi, notwithstanding Lockerbie.

BTW how can a force that '(hasn't) had any training but (..) seen lots of action films' capture SAS soldiers?

Posted by Glick Grundy2223 2011-03-06 14:42|| 2011-03-06 14:42|| Front Page Top

#4 Maybe since they were trying to help the rebels, the SAS folks didn't think they needed to put up a fight because they would be released?

I'm pretty the rebels are aware of both sides of the equation.

Maybe take with a grain of salt? Could it be cover?

Could be there are idiots in charge of the rebels who havent personally tried taking on a tank with a peashooter yet.

Posted by gorb 2011-03-06 14:58|| 2011-03-06 14:58|| Front Page Top

#5 From the article at TW's link:

Audio of a telephone conversation between the UK's ambassador to Libya, Richard Northern, and a senior rebel leader was later leaked.

In it Mr Northern suggested the SAS team had been detained due to a "misunderstanding".

The rebel leader responded: "They made a big mistake, coming with a helicopter in an open area."

Mr Northern said: "I didn't know how they were coming."

A simple misunderstanding.

Could have been stupid pols, broken communication channels due to the chaotic situation, confused rebels, or any combination of the above.

In any case, the rebels are cool with it.

A good sign, indeed.

Posted by gorb 2011-03-06 15:44|| 2011-03-06 15:44|| Front Page Top

#6 They need all the help they can get and know it , its bound to be a tad tetchy on the ground . They (rebels) havent even got their groups organised yet , one hand doesnt know what the other is doing , and the situation on the ground looks pretty fluid whilst folks/groups jockey for position . Easier to get nabbed and taken direct to 'leadership' than to piss around going from one group to another , all with different minor demands and concerns . Just my opinion

Posted by Oscar 2011-03-06 15:55|| 2011-03-06 15:55|| Front Page Top

#7 Maybe not SAS at all, might be private individuals who like guns and money and sunshine who answered an ad on the Inter-tuben.

Posted by Rhodesiafever 2011-03-06 18:20|| 2011-03-06 18:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Doesn't sound like SAS to me.

Besides taking SAS personnel hostage is like trying to have a pet rattlesnake. They bite and they bite hard and often fatally. If these are really SAS hardboys, well the Libyans are to be pitied for their stupidity, may they rest in peace.

Posted by Bill Clinton 2011-03-06 23:38|| 2011-03-06 23:38|| Front Page Top

#9 CRAP, the dreaded multiple post thingee.
How'd I do that and how do I fix it?

Posted by Bill Clinton 2011-03-06 23:40|| 2011-03-06 23:40|| Front Page Top

23:56 JosephMendiola
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23:41 Bill Clinton
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23:04 Nimble Spemble
22:46 Hupose Barnsmell6744
22:25 Herman Clineck6144
22:18 anonymous2u
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21:29 Frank G
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20:43 Nimble Spemble