Al Jazeera ran a story citing unnamed Israeli security sources who say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak not only back Muammar Gaddafi, but have also recruited African mercenaries in order to prevent "an Islamic regime" from taking over Libya.

A R A B I C A ارابيكا

By Kristen Gillespie

LATEST ON LIBYA

*Al Jazeera ran a story citing unnamed Israeli security sources who say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak not only back Muammar Gaddafi, but have also recruited African mercenaries in order to prevent "an Islamic regime" from taking over Libya. According to the report, Gaddafi paid Israel $5 billion for the recruiting service, with more to come if the mercenaries quell the revolution. No other evidence beyond anonymous "sources' is provided, and the story has not yet been featured on the home page of Al Jazeera English.

*Al Arabiya posted a picture of Libyan protesters in front of a tank. "Libya attempts dialogue with protesters before resorting to force."

*A tweet from Benghazi: "Gaddafi – you have less than one city left."

*Ammon News posted an item about Gaddafi's supposed Ukranian nurse leaving Libya to return home and a purported picture of said aide, described in a cable released by Wikileaks as "voluptuous' and nearly always by the Leader's side. Commenters gawked at the young, blonde lady in the picture, saying: "God is beauty and God loves beauty"…."No wonder he lost his mind"…and "so who is going to entertain him during exile in Jeddah?" Others concluded she was too young to be Gaddafi's nurse.

*A dance remix appeared on YouTube of Gaddafi's rant-filled speech last week in which he encouraged the people to fight for him, and repeatedly banged his fist on the podium (both of which are used to great effect in the clip). The song is called "Zenga zenga" – meaning "street" in Libyan Arabic. The caption underneath reads: "New 2011 "Zenga zenga" song by Muammar Gaddafi – Freedom for the Libyan people from this rabid dog Gaddafi."

FACEBOOKED

*A new facebook group called "the Syrian Revolution against Bashar al-Assad 2011" already has more than 28,000 fans. A recent post includes a report by DP-News and highlights a slum close to Damascus airport where the streets and open spaces are strewn with garbage. "No one comes to take it away," one unnamed father says, telling how his young son walks through garbage-filled dirt roads to get to school. "No paved road, no services, nothing," the man says, close to tears. The group administrator titled the post: "Syria - the way Bashar likes it."

Feb. 28, 2011

photo credit: illustir