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Digital News Report – Although some experts say there is no parallel between the rebellion in Libya and Lawrence of Arabia’s campaign against the Ottoman Empire, there is one similarity.
While Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence and the British Army are given credit for conceiving an internal insurgency in the Middle East during World War I, much of the work was done between the Arab Bureau of Britain’s Foreign Office and rebels.
One British defense expert is quoted as saying this coalition offensive is not comparable to Lawrence of Arabia’s rebellion. But there are some similarities.
Outside forces are getting involved in this conflict and the rebels are making progress. With the help of British air support, Libyan rebel forces regained control of Ajdabiya today. Gaddafi forces evacuated so quickly that they left their weapons.
Al Jazeera reports that the rebels had already captured the key oil-port town of Brega, 80 kilometers to the west of Ajdabiya. The control of the oil port may still be in dispute.
The French are also getting involved. AWACS surveillance aircraft supported 20 French aircraft as they hit targets outside Misurata. As soon as coalition airplanes showed up, Libyan government forces halted their shelling.
Whether you agree that this rebellion is similar to the WWI rebellion against the Turks, there is one similarity: the coalition of western nations is playing a role in this battle.
By Mark Williams