On Wednesday, when asked why the Libyan rebels were retreating, one of their spokesmen, Colonel Ahmed Bany, said archly, “You are obviously well aware of the difference between a tank and a Kalashnikov.” It could be the difference between victory and defeat.
The rebels have repeatedly emphasized their relative hopelessness in squaring off against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces, using only an apparently large supply of light arms, including AK-47s, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. These arms are no match for Gaddafi’s tanks, the rebels say. To succeed, they require large weapons to defeat the regime’s tanks and Grad missiles. “Our forces have only got light weapons, and are facing military might,” said Bany. “No matter how enthusiastic or courageous [the rebels may be], a handgun has no chance against [Gaddafi’s forces]. Might is might, but if you don’t have the military might behind it to enforce that might, then it’s useless.”
But what kind of armaments could the rebels use right now? Said Bany: “The types of weapons that we’re seeking are the type that would be able to eliminate or destroy [Gaddafi’s] military mechanization.” Asked whether his forces are also in need of communications and logistical support, Bany said, “Right now we are suffering from this problem — difficulty of communications. We are trying as best we can to have communications with the components of our forces. And we are in communications with them and are able to contact them, but we are in need of more-advanced equipment.”
Questioned about the presence of al-Qaeda elements in the ranks of the rebel army, Bany said, “We don’t have this type of fundamentalist thinking or attitudes. So it’s not on our part to be organizing any type of al-Qaeda cells within our ranks. If there are Libyans who were associated with al-Qaeda around the world previously and who are now back in Libya fighting, they are fighting as Libyans. The association with al-Qaeda is nonexistent here. They are fighting as Libyans.”
