And so it begins – “Rebel” “Civilians” cheer at shooting down their own plane

I’m taking a lot on faith here, which is a dangerous thing.

– that this is video from Libya
– that it occurred after the cease fire
– that the airplane is a government plane and not a rebel plane *
– that the plane was shot down by rebels, not Qadaffi *

* Faulty assumption

Video follows (and no, you won’t be rick rolled [Flash required]

Assuming this is real and accurately describing events, the next question it brings to my mind.   We have “Rebels” firing Anti Aircraft Artillery (AAA) into the air when they see a plane.   How are U.N. authorized aircraft going to fly near Benghazi without being shot down by the rebels?   Are the guys firing random things into the air smart enough about military aircraft to tell a MIG29 from an F16 using binoculars?   of a Libyan MIG29 from an Algerian MIG 29?

Note there is are two jump cuts in the video – a plane is flying from right to left, then it is flying from left to right, then a plane is shown crashing.

Part of the answer to that is you fly high enough that AAA can’t get to you, but that limits your ability to engage a low flying enemy aircraft.

Borrowing this material Wikipedia:

Rules of Engagement are critical to prevent air defences engaging friendly or neutral aircraft. Their use is assisted but not governed by IFF (identification friend or foe) electronic devices originally introduced in World War II. While these rules originate at the highest authority, different rules can apply to different types of air defence covering the same area at the same time. AAAD usually operates under the tightest rules.

NATO calls these rules Weapon Control Orders (WCO), they are:

• weapons free: a weapon control order imposing a status whereby weapons systems may be fired at any target not positively recognized as friendly.
• weapons hold: a weapon control order imposing a status whereby weapons systems may only be fired in self-defence or in response to a formal order.
• weapons tight: a weapon control order imposing a status whereby weapons systems may be fired only at targets recognized as hostile.^[1]

So having random untrained guys firing AAA into the air without discipline and rules of engagement would be a very dangerous thing for a UN force running a No Fly zone. Why a Benghazi fighter might accidentally shoot down a French fighter jet, and then blame it on the Government breaking a cease fire…

Confirmed from another Telegraph story:

12.11 A senior rebel official has told the AFP agency that the jet fighter destroyed over Benghazi today was loyal to the rebels.

Meanwhile reports all around the Middle East of government forces opening up crowds of rebels / protestors.

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