Silovik (Russian: силови́к, IPA: [sʲɪlɐˈvʲik]; plural: siloviki, Russian: силовики́, IPA: [sʲɪləvʲɪˈkʲi]) is a Russian word for politicians from the security or military services, often the officers of the former KGB, the FSB, the Federal Narcotics Control Service and military or other security services who came into power. It can also refer to security-service personnel from any country or nationality.
wikipedia
They have a tendency to regard any upheaval or unrest by population as a threat to a country's stability. Not very pro-democratic oriented.
There was a series called "A force more powerful" or somesuch on the History Channel as well, where they showed how non-compliance and boycott, for instance, managed to throw the local tyrants (from individuals to apartheid) out the local airlock.
Of course, there are situations where sit-ins are useless and a bullet is recommended instead. Hell, we're doing that to animals! If we're killing dogs to stop their pain, then why not do that to people who cause harm to millions?
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Apparently, there is massive evacuation of the foreign workers in progress (western workers that is - the evacuation of the workers from other countries is spotty and pretty much depends on the ability and the will of the owners). Reading their reports (not from the westerners - they are usually insulated from the locals) one can judge the situation.
The gangs of looters still roam around but slowly there is a resemblance of some control forming. This info is valid for Benghazi.
Not only is the border of Egypt is abandoned by the troops and yesterday the same was true for Tunisian border too.
There appears also to be a gap between what is being told by media and what really is happening on the ground. No air bombing of tripoli ever happened. Internet was never down but the phone lines are unreliable.
But there are rumors of massacres and occasional firefights. The reports of police stations being burned down and lootings of the army depots are true.
Gadaffi have given the protesters two days to agree to the talks with him. Apparently the ultimatum ends tomorrow and there are expectations that the tomorrow would be a bloody day indeed.
On the evacuation front, a ship is already in Libya in order to evacuate any Greek and any non Libyan, with four more on the way. China has asked Greece and Italy for help regarding the 40.000 chinese that are now in Libya.
Egypt has chartered ships in order to transport their civilians to Alexandria.
The 'rats' are abandoning ship.
Last edited by Dragoongfa on Tue, 22. Feb 11, 19:48, edited 1 time in total.
Lets hope that they have chosen a port that is outside the control of the government forces.
Libya demands visas for leaving the country - I doubt they would demand it from Greece citizens though but situation for chinese may very well be different. 40.000 isn't a small number either...
If any unexpected happens during the evacuation then some ... unexpected preventive/protective actions seems quite expectable due the strong foreign presence in Libya.
Ps.: every members of the UN SC is worried and even the Arab League is pissed off. Gadaffi has no allies anymore.
Nobody invaded anybody because of the bureaucracy... Would Chinese invade Libya because of paperwork? A bribe is cheaper and more efficient (and faster).
And implying the use of military force only works if you got a division standing outside the office and you are commanding it.
Apparently the regime is in the control of Tripoli once again...
People there have started talking that the revolt has failed...
The foreign aircraft have started to land in Tripoli and evacuate their citizens...
This is either gonna be over by a coup or by lengthy civil war. I seriously doubt that protesters will win this one through street protests.
The fallout of this will be that revolutions in ME will temporary stop.
Warenwolf wrote:More news through the non-media channels:
Apparently the regime is in the control of Tripoli once again...
People there have started talking that the revolt has failed...
The foreign aircraft have started to land in Tripoli and evacuate their citizens...
This is either gonna be over by a coup or by lengthy civil war. I seriously doubt that protesters will win this one through street protests.
The fallout of this will be that revolutions in ME will temporary stop.
It's hard to say what's true and not. Saw some footage supposedly from Tripoli of Gadaffi supporters, but it could have been filmed last year or at any time. Meanwhile the press are not reporting that it is over, anything but.
felter wrote:
It's hard to say what's true and not. Saw some footage supposedly from Tripoli of Gadaffi supporters, but it could have been filmed last year or at any time. Meanwhile the press are not reporting that it is over, anything but.
Well if you can call them "supporters". There were indeed crowds cheering the regime in tripoli yesterday according to some people that are in Tripoli right now. However there was a joke that the very same people were calling for Gadaffi to be hanged down yesterday. And then there is always the rent-a-crowds, a feature of authoritarian regimes.
Rive wrote:My Most Humble Opinion is that the stating of readinesses will start soon.
Ps.: the president of Nicaragua is still ally for Ghadaffi. What A Mad World...
I'll bet Gadaffi is relieved about that. He probably thought nobody liked him any more, but . . the President of Nicaragua. Thank heavens.
Morkonan wrote:What really happened isn't as exciting. Putin flexed his left thigh during his morning ride on a flying bear, right after beating fifty Judo blackbelts, which he does upon rising every morning. (Not that Putin sleeps, it's just that he doesn't want to make others feel inadequate.)
Well not really, but its giving the human rights movement a new example to point at, and the Chinese government a new reason to lock them up.
"Shoot for the Moon. If you miss, you'll end up co-orbiting the Sun alongside Earth, living out your days alone in the void within sight of the lush, welcoming home you left behind." - XKCD
I only wanted to say that I've learned today about certain things, like there's some preparations going on before something nasty. In case you wonder, conspiracy is the last thing I was thinking about.
Ripley, scaremongering, signing off.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Aye Capn wrote:Wael Ghonim may be the best hope for Egyptian democracy, but he's also a loser in the most basic sense.
Perhaps not so much a loser, as a tool.
Well he's certainly a better choice than the religious fundamentalists and/or rape gangs who seem to be the alternative.
If you're right about Wael Ghonim and he is unacceptable as a leader of the democracy movement then the lesser of evils is clearly for the Egyptian people to be ruled by military dictatorship until such time as a more reasonable faction of democratic reformers emerges to bring about positive change -- a faction whose leaders are unencumbered by whatever it is about Wael Ghonim that makes him unacceptable.
It's an unpleasant reality to contemplate, but by the logic of "lesser of evils" the conclusion is inevitable. Wael Ghonim said all the right things. If even he is unacceptable then Egypt is simply not ready for democracy.
What we need for the people are a government who is able to bring about economic growth and secure rights for the people. If this can be done another way then so be it. Admittedly democracy is the best way to achieve such things, but its not beyond reason to see other government styles do it.
Split now give me death? Nah. Just give me your ship.
