Well, i still don´t see this news in a bit relating to chess... smart people should know that Ilyumzhinov is a political figure too, so this stuff doesn´t belong to a chess news website. Otherwise you could post articles about Kasparovs political activity every month, which wouldn´t belong here either don´t you think...

Also in the last weeks there were some comments on the so called "modernization proposals" by such figures like Kramnik, Sutovsky and a few others, even Korchnoi commented on Kasimdzhanovs suggestion, he said that Kasimdzhanov should get his former title of WC denied lol. Why don´t we read more such things here instead of this political crap which we can see in the mass media every day?

That Qaddafi showed guts means nothing. So did Bin Laden against the U.S., Iraq against Iran and suicide bombers against innocent civilians.
He's trying to hold out as long as possible, what are his other options? Either fleeing abroad or giving up. Since he has given up on the former, it will most likely end up as the latter.

Now, it is true that the rebels aren't your all-round democracy-seeking activists, but actually an amalgamation of more than a hundred tribal groups who are fighting between themselves and may hunker something far from democracy. But that does not mean Qaddafi should go. It will surely be good riddance for this world.

You're sad. Maybe you're Qaddafi or Ilyumzhinov agent? Btw: From where you take your REAL informations if not from mainstream media? Please, share your wisdom with us.

Is it only now that we are getting off topic? At least 30 of the comments here don't even have the faintest connection with chess.

NATO is handling just the air-strikes. Boots on the ground are Libyans.

Let me tell you that there is no way in hell Tripoli could have been taken by air-power alone. In fact air-power is almost useless in an urban environment, especially when the enemy is entrenched in the city.

First of all, there are no clear demarcations of the war theater. It will be house to house and hand to hand. This has to be done by the infantry and they better be well trained. You will probably need a 3:1 or higher ratio of attackers to take a city of two million people. Armor is also useless if the city is packed and the fighting is in narrow corridors. The rebels have no way to conduct night time operations so battle lines can shift overnight. Why do you think Israel had a hard time vs the Hezbollah? Urban warfare is the dirtiest and worst kind of fighting there is, especially with 2 million civilians to worry about.

The most likely event that led to the fall of Tripoli is mass defection by Ghaddafi's troops. This win is certainly by the Libyan Rebel ground and political forces, not NATO.

Being ridiculous doesn't make people leave. I thought you'd know :)

They are ridiculed for ages now. Yet still here. Still in power to grant YOU, Arne, a press pass if you attend a Fide event. You, volens nolens, acknowledge their legitimacy. While ridiculing them to their face or on the web, in the press etc. Thick skin and shamelessness cant be conquered by ridicule. Destroying the third world coallition that votes for him in fide elections seems the only way out. But the chess world needs real men not pussies like Karpov who now serves Kirsan after badmouthing him for an year if not more. Men with brains, clean, and unafraid to call a spade a spade even when losing and not run to cut a deal behind closed doors. Ex-soviet type of rule runs Fide. Man...these soviets brought so much to this game. Yet, their political figures and their less open political ways undermined the chess world to the extent that even a low level vasal like Kirsan can run it like it's a striptease bar off a New Jersey highway.

They are ridiculed for ages now. Yet still here. Still in power to grant YOU, Arne, a press pass if you attend a Fide event. You, volens nolens, acknowledge their legitimacy. While ridiculing them to their face or on the web, in the press etc. Thick skin and shamelessness cant be conquered by ridicule. Destroying the third world coallition that votes for him in fide elections seems the only way out. But the chess world needs real men not pussies like Karpov who now serves Kirsan after badmouthing him for an year if not more. Men with brains, clean, and unafraid to call a spade a spade even when losing and not run to cut a deal behind closed doors. Ex-soviet type of rule runs Fide. Man...these soviets brought so much to this game. Yet, their political figures and their less open political ways undermined the chess world to the extent that even a low level vasal like Kirsan can run it like it's a striptease bar off a New Jersey highway.

I'm happy to hear you also aren't pleased with the way things are going on this site, but I hope you won't discontinue it. There may be more positive ways to address the issue.

First, what about at least clearly discouraging (provide for some kind of 'mission statement' in the top line of the page), or even counteract anonymity? I don't understand that the great majority here doesn't seem to want to take responsibility for what they write. What's so bad about being proven wrong sometimes? (I know about that.) Next time better. People will start with thinking or will think better before they react. That may result in less, but better comments. And less comments is a gain: I don't like to go through 200 comments before joining a discussion.
But the greatest gain is that you probably lose 90 percent of the 'noise'. Most people will think twice about calling someone an idiot that can recognize them at the next chess tournament.
Of course, anonymity should be allowed when someone has an acceptable reason for it.

Secondly, you should be clear about what is not acceptable or unwanted, and what you will do about it. You may want an open discussion, but you need to set borders. If you don't do that, the biggest shouters will slowly take over – just because others will leave. Isn't that what is happening here?

Thirdly, there should be sanctions on misbehaviour. Give people warnings, ban them for three months, ban them for life. But maybe you're already doing that – you may have reasons not to go public about it.

Keep up your head, keep up the good work!

I find it odd that you are complaining about the discussion when it was your article that fostered it in the first place! Peter, I say this not with malice but merely as an observation.

I generally like your articles and you have done us fans a tremendous service by bringing in chess news, interviews and analysis. Thank you for your hard work!

you are right Peter! Please do not report news with Kirsan anymore...let's play Chess!!!!

There was Allied activity in North Africa, air raids on Germany and the sea blockade by the Western Allies well before D-day. I don't understand your obsession with D-day, is it maybe the only event in the West that you know of?

And once again, the point was not world war 2. Don't you understand that?