starting this thread, which i hope will be short-lived, to keep the board up to date with latest reports gleaned from the net

Tell Gadaffe the UK will give him an ASBO if he does not behave.

almost like that isn't it

bahrain
just been speaking to my resident
FCO advice for nationals to leave is standard in any country that declares a state of emergency.
there are perhaps 6,000 protesters in total, most of whom are now armed - how would that be??
situation, certainly outside central manama, is quiet but uncomfortable as may be imagined

Who's next Dubai ?

South London chavs

lots of reasons why the religious and not necessarily extremist muslims would take exception to dubai and its lifestyle, burj khalifa etc .... however, though a one-off terrorist attack is not impossible, protests as elsewhere in the region are unlikely, not least because barely 30% of the population are emiratis, the rest being expats of various hues

libya - no-fly zone
what do you guys reckon should be or should have been done?
it seems to me that you've all been rather reluctant to comment

Should have been a no fly zone to make it a more even playing(battle) field - probably too late now!

leaving aside how it would be enforced, at what juncture do you think it should have been imposed and fronted by whom?

No fly zone would be a waste of time. When Gadaffe wins his little war watch Cameron, and obanana kiss his ass, and give him back his billions like before.

BM - would you have proposed doing anything at all to support the "rebels"?

Yes pay someone close to him and his family to top the lot of them.

Should have been enforced when rebels and arab league called for it. There are probably lots of problems operating a no fly zone that I don't appreciate but I just think as it is they've no chance C G has all their money and can pay as many mercenaries (sp?) as he likes to keep him in power and that's hardly the Libian people supporting him.
Bit confused but on my way out!

i confess i vacillate somewhat on this issue ..... the libyan "rebels" very understandably berate the "west" for not coming to their aid ..... however, i do not hear similar reproof of AL, which is curious ..... further if AL had backed their rhetoric with hardware and action, or at least the promise of same, it would have been much simpler (i think) for the "west" to have supported in similar vein

Would agree with those sentiments but presume the AL are not sure what way to jump If they support the rebels then other places could erupt in a similar fashion and perhaps they prefer to keep the lid on the hornet's nest. I did think, perhaps incorrectly, that they had already called for a NFZ

AL certainly approved same - but tacitly only so long as someone else did the dirty work!

obama . must be the worst president the usa has ever had totaly useless he is a wet blanket. and will not put himself forward for any decisions .he as let down the states big time .

George W would have sorted it out. Obanana is a pussy.

We are still trying to sort out the mess that Bush & Blair got us into.

Gadaffe has it in the bag. He will punnish the poor protestors, and their family's.

What will the West do. Talk a lot of punishment, and silly sanctions which will further hurt the population. Bet you he gets his billions back. Russia, and China will be kissing his ass.