Gaddafi’s position weakens

As Noman Benotman predicted, Colonel Gaddafi’s relations with his military are disintegrating. Reuters is reporting that 120 loyalist officers have defected and arrived in Rome.

Details are scant, but this is a major success for Britain and France’s attempt to effect regime change without intensifying their military deployment. There will be doubts as to how long the resilient dictator can survive without loyal military leadership. Gaddafi now has to choose how to respond to this treachery – rough justice may be tempting, but that might deepen the rebelliousness of his officers, increasing the likelihood of a coup. NATO will be trying to exploit this stroke of luck, encouraging further defections.

PS: Gaddafi’s coumpound has again been hit by NATO bombing. There’s a possibility that Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa, was in the compound at the time – he had been attempting to broker peace. Either way, Zuma was unhurt and is now on his way back to South Africa.