When a victory is a loss

The link here from the Frum Forum, an American right-wing blog, is about the "rebels" in Libya regaining (probably not permanently) "full control" of the city of Misurata.

I have not been following this very closely, but city has seen a lot of fighting over the past 2 months, and changed hands several times.

So, let's assume that the report is correct.

Before the fighting we had a regular city. Under Ghaddafi control certainly, but a city.

Now, the "rebels" have it. What has been the cost (so far)? How many dead? How many injured? How many buildings destroyed or damaged? Is this really a victory?

And what is known about the new guys in control? All we know for certain is that their own internal command structure is divided between two generals who can't stand each other. Ghaddafi says they are "Al Qaeda". If that is true, will this exercise make Al Qaeda more friendly to us? After all, when the Soviets were controlling Afghanistan, we were nomimally allied to Islamist forces, who then blamed the US (and the entire West) when they lost out after the Soviets withdrew.

Just some thoughts for the day, Good Friday, the one day in the Christian year when the mode is sombre, unlike Easter or Christmas when joyful hymns are sung.